— BLANCHARD – Frustration took a seat on Hilldale’s bench early in this Class 3A quarterfinal playoff game and never left.

The Hornets could only manage 113 yards of total offense and five first downs in falling 42-0 to the Blanchard Lions at the Oscar Brooks Sports Complex on Friday night.

Hilldale’s first possession only lasted a minute and 12 seconds when quarterback Chandler Puckett was intercepted by Kyle Self with 10:43 left in the first period.

Eight seconds later, the Lions got on the board when 6-foot-3 wide receiver Zach Hill grabbed 36-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Brock Lamle for the 7-0 lead with 10:35 left in the first period.

It only got worse for the Hornets.

Puckett wouldn’t complete a pass in the first half on five total attempts. He was intercepted three times. He would finish the game by completing 4 of 16 passes for 29 yards.

“It was just hard to throw the ball,” Puckett said. “I forced some things. It was pretty frustrating out there. I wished the game had turned out differently.”

Hilldale’s best season in school history comes to a crashing end at 11-2. Blanchard, ranked No. 10 in the final Associated Press poll, improved to 11-1 and will plays Jones in the semifinals next week at a date, time and site to be determined. Jones beat Claremore Sequoyah 10-3.

The Hornets were so frustrated offensively that they didn’t get their first down in the game until Jamaul Cullom’s four-yard run with 8:53 left in the third period. He finished with 37 yards rushing on 12 carries.

Puckett would have the longest run from scrimmage for the District 3A-7 champion on a 21-yard scamper with 22 seconds left in the game.

It was the first time for the Hornets to be shut out this season.

“You got to take your hats off to them. They beat us and that’s the bottom line,” said a visibly disappointed Hilldale coach Chad Kirkhart said. “We didn’t block them very well. We couldn’t run the football and when you can’t do that, it makes for a long night.”

It was a good night for Lamle, Hill and the Lions.

The Blanchard quarterback completed 17 of 25 passes for 224 and two touchdowns. He also tossed a 12-yard TD to Tanner Foster in the third quarter. Hill had six catches for 124 yards.

The Lions, out of District 1-3A, also scored on the ground as Braden Stringer scored on a three-yard run with 2:41 left in the 2:41 remaining in the opening period. He finished the game with 55 yards rushing on 11 carries. Stephan Davis had a 62-yard touchdown run to close out the game’s scoring with 8:14 left in the contest.

Blanchard’s other points came on a Lamle’s 13-yard run with 11:06 left in the game and Self’s 19-yard catch on a halfback pass thrown by Tanner Foster.



BLANCHARD 42, HILLDALE 0

Hilldale    0    0    0    0—0

Blanchard    14    7     7    14—42

Scoring summary

First quarter

Blanchard – Zach Hill 36 pass from Brock Lamle (Blake Barker kick),10:35

Blanchard – Braden Stringer 3 run (Blake Barker kick), 2:41

Second quarter

Blanchard – Kyle Self 19 pass from Tanner Foster (Barker kick), 7:13

Third quarter

Blanchard – Tanner Foster 12 pass from Brock Lamle (Barker kick), 9:50

Fourth quarter

Blanchard – Brock Lamle 13 run (Barker kick), 11:06

Blanchard – Stephen Davis 62 run (Barker kick), 8:14

TEAM STATS

    Hilldale    Blanchard

First Downs    5    15

Rushes-Yards    16-84    21-190

Passing Yards    29    224

Passes (C-A-I)    4-16-3    17-23-0

Punts-Avg.    6-36.5    3-24.3

Fumbles-Lost    1-1    2-2

Penalties-Yards    5-25    3-35

Individual Leaders

RUSHING: Hilldale, Jamaul Cullom 12-37. Blanchard, Braden Stringer 11-55

PASSING: Hilldale, Chandler Puckett 4-16-0—29. Blanchard, Brock Lamle 17-23-0--224

RECEIVING: Hilldale, Miles Jackson 2-13. Blanchard, Zach Hill 6-124.