Hinton tallies win on road

(Photo by Donna Forsyth of the Griswold American) Hinton quarterback Joe Popken looks upfield to gain more yardage during the Blackhawks' 34-14 win at Griswold on Wednesday in Class 1A substate football action. Hinton plays at No. 5 West Lyon on Monday. [Click to enlarge]

The Blackhawks showed little effect from a two hour-plus bus ride as they dismantled substate opponent Griswold 34-14 on Wednesday. Hinton's second substate win over the Tigers in as many seasons earns them another shot at defending Class 1A runner-up and No. 5 West Lyon on Monday in Inwood.

"We talked about that earlier," Hinton co-head coach/offensive coordinator Bruce Held said. "We knew that was coming and that's what we want. We're looking forward to the challenge. It will be a challenge, obviously, but we've got some things ready for them."

West Lyon handed Hinton a 21-18 homecoming game loss in October and the Wildcats also ended the Blackhawks' 2008 campaign with a 24-14 defeat in the first round of the state playoffs.

"I think our kids know now that we can certainly play with (West Lyon)," Hinton co-head coach/defensive coordinator Steve Diediker said. "We don't mind the traveling. You always like to have home games, but one advantage with traveling is that you have the whole team together for two hours before the game. You know what everybody's doing and everybody's mindset."

On Wednesday, the Blackhawks scored on their first two possessions and added a third touchdown in the second quarter to lead 21-7 at halftime.

"We really handled the line of scrimmage," Held said. "We pretty much did what wanted to do on the ground in the first quarter and threw in a pass here and there."

Stephen Koithan capped a seven-play, 52-yard drive with a 1-yard run for Hinton's first score and Keegan Bak scored on a 4-yard run on Hinton's next drive for the 13-0 lead. Bak's run was set up by a Zach Yoerger 54-yard scamper. Joe Popken hit Riley Peirce for a 19-yard touchdown pass halfway through the second quarter after Tanner Knop recovered a fumble.

"I'm pleased with how we executed on offense," Held said. "Koithan had a really good game in the middle tonight. They took away the edges and he took advantage of that."

Bak added a 6-yard run in a third quarter that featured a pair of turnovers and saw the Tigers run just six plays.

"It's pretty easy to play defense when they don't have the ball," Diediker quipped.

Yoerger capped the scoring with a 20-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter and finished with 142 rushing yards on 15 attempts. Bak added 60 yards on 11 carries and Koithan had 51 yards on 14 attempts.

Popken completed 5-of-10 pass attempts for 46 yards. Nick Becker hauled in two passes for 18 yards.

Diediker said a key to controlling the game was limiting Griswold running back Christian Van Scyoc, who entered the game having rushed for 1,554 yards and 18 touchdowns.

The Blackhawks held him to 70 yards, most of which came late in the contest.

"The defensive line really controlled the line of scrimmage, just like the offensive line did," Diediker said. "(Mitch) Udell and (Tanner) Knop had really good games on the defensive line and we rotated Ethan Kroll and Jake Barkley and they had good games up front. They gave our linebackers a chance to go in and make tackles."

Blake Hoefling and Kole Vondrak each had 10 tackles to lead the Hinton defense. Vondrak also added an interception that led to Hinton's fourth touchdown.

Rick Vander Kooi and Adam Struve each added seven tackles.

"I thought our focus was great and I thought our intensity was great," Held said. "We're glad to be moving on and be one step closer toward that ultimate goal."

The trip to that goal will have to go through Inwood, where the Wildcats defeated Underwood 35-15 in their substate game.