North County Defeats Hillsboro in Battle for Spot in District Championship

North County vs Hillsboro

(Hillsboro) The North County Raiders defeated the Hillsboro Hawks in the Class 4 District 1 Semifinals tonight heard on J98. The game started off with bang as Raider senior Karter Kekec took the opening kickoff 67 yards to set up the first score of the game. After a missed two point conversion the Raiders led 6-0.

Hillsboro answered quickly with a six play 61 yard drive capped off by sophomore running back Jaxin Patterson.

The Hawks struck again late in the first quarter on a long touchdown pass from quarterback Griffin Ray to sophomore running back Austin Romaine.

The second quarter slowed down as both teams traded the ball back and forth. With two minutes and 41 seconds remaining in the half things would heat up.

They tied the game on the two point try, but Hillsboro wasn’t done.

That score left just 57 seconds on the clock before half, and North County took full advantage of all 57.

North County converted the two point try to tie the game at 22 heading into the break.

each team scored once in the third quarter and missed the two point conversion to leave the game tied at 28 heading into the final frame. Hillsboro drove down the North County 12 yard line but failed to convert on fourth down. The Raiders drove 88 yards in 13 plays finished off by Raider quarterback Nolan Reed.

With all the offense on the field it was the North County defense that sealed the win.

Raiders’ head coach Brian Jones was very emotional after the game, and told us what was going through his head after his team took the final lead.

After the game Hawks head coach Bill Sucharski focused on his teams effort.

North County improves to 6-3 and advances to play Festus in the Class 4 District 1 Championship Game next week. Hillsboros’ season comes to an end at 5-5.

Post game with Brian Jones