Sports News

Leading 41-0 at the half, the Hillsboro Burros coasted to their eighth win of the season Friday, beating Griggs County Central, 49-28, on the Burros’ home field.
The win clinched the Region 2 title for the undefeated Burros, who played Hankinson yesterday (Thursday) in the final game on the regular season schedule.
Hillsboro drew a bye in the first round of the 9-man football playoffs. The Mark Rerick-coached Burros will play next Saturday (Oct. 20) in Hillsboro. The Burros will meet the winner of Tuesday’s game between the No. 4 team in Region 1 and the No. 3 team out of Region 3.
The 8-0 Burros ran through, over and around the outmanned Cougars of Griggs County last Friday.
Spearheading the Burro option offense, fullback Andrew Grothmann scored three touchdowns and ran for 122 yards in the 21-point victory.
Once again, the Burro veer backfield of Grothmann, quarterback Aaron Meyer and running back Brian Smelden each gained more than 100 yards. Meyer picked up 106 yards and Smelden 103.
Grothmann, whose longest run was for 48 yards, averaged 13.6 yards per carry. Meyer took home honors for the longest carry from the line of scrimmage, a 58 yard touchdown run in the first quarter. Grothmann’s 48 yard run was also for a touchdown.
The Burros, who rushed for 360 yards in the first half, finished with 437 yards on the ground. Meyer threw three passes, completing one for 17 yards, giving the Burros 454 yards on offense.
The first half blitz allowed the Burro starters a rest in the second half. The Griggs County win followed a pattern set by the 2007 Burros: put the opposing team away early; don’t let ‘em hang round.
The game proved to be another good learning experience for the freshmen Burros, said coach Rerick.
“Our young guys are learning some valuable knowledge during these minutes.”
For one, they’re learning the varsity game is “faster” than the junior varsity game they usually play, Rerick explained.
The Hillsboro coach is crediting his junior and senior players with the Burros winning a second straight region title. The Burros are still a young team, according to Rerick.
“I can’t say enough about the leadership on this team. It’s incredible, absolutely.”
The sophomore and junior players promise an exciting next couple of years for Hillsboro football, Rerick tells.
The Burros’ victories this year have been over Thompson, Central Valley, Richland, Northern Cass, Wyndmere-Lidgerwood, Barnes County North, Finley-Sharon-Hope-Page and Griggs County Central of Cooperstown.