PR Sports

The Hillcrest Knights took their first step toward defending their championship by shutting out the Minico Spartans 46-0 to open the 4A state playoffs Friday at Thunder Stadium.

Hillcrest (8-1) took control and never let up, scoring touchdowns on its first six drives.

Hillcrest pounded the ball out of the double wing, averaging seven yard a carry and finishing with 395 yards on the ground.

Wing backs Jordan Speirs and Devin Droghei, gashed the Minico defense for 12 runs of 10 or more yards. Speirs finished with 150 yards on 20 carries with four touchdowns, and Droghei ran 18 times for 145 yards and a score.

Both Speirs and Droghei gained the bulk of their yardage after absorbing a hit or dragging defenders.

Minico’s season ends with a 4-6 record. Minico coach Tim Perrigot said Hillcrest is hard to prepare for.

“You can try to simulate as much as you want in practice, but you just can’t replicate that speed,” Perrigot said. “Those two backs are special.”

Hillcrest coach Darin Owens was pleased his team kept up its intensity after taking a 28-0 lead into the half. The shutout was Hillcrest’s first of the season.

“I was more impressed with how our defense tonight,” Owens said. “Defense wins championships, and I think kids are stepping up and we’re starting to see that.”

Hillcrest caught a break on the last play in the first half. Minico receiver Coltin Johnson caught a ball behind the Hillcrest defense and streaked to the end zone, but Brent Johnson recovered and got just enough of Coltin Johnson to knock him out at the one-yard line. The clock clicked to 0:00, retiring the first half and Minico’s best scoring opportunity.

The Hillcrest defense laid down the hammer in the third quarter when Ben Eaton laid a vicious blind side sack on Miller. The ball squirted loose, and Jake Belnap picked it up and ran 60 yards to the house.

Belnap, who also scored on a 1-yard run, said the defense was bent on preserving the shutout.

“Ben gave him the old kaboosh,” Belnap said. “I just happened to be where the ball was.”

The win sets up a showdown at Thunder Stadium next Friday with 3-6 Pocatello, which beat Jerome 35-33 in its state opener.

Owens said Pocatello’s reputation for toughness isn’t unfounded, but Hillcrest will be ready for Pocatello’s physicality.

“I think we’re pretty tough and physical, too,” Owens said. “We’ve proven ourselves over and over again for a year and a half now.”

Perrigot, for one, isn’t betting against Hillcrest.

“They are very physical, explosive and difficult to stop,” Perrigot said. “What makes it even worse is their defense finds a way to keep you out of the end zone. It’s a great team. They should make another run.”

Hillcrest 46, Minico 0
Minico 0 0 0 0 – 0
Hillcrest 7 21 18 0 – 46
First quarter
M – Jordan Speirs 4 (Sam Horman kick)
Second quarter
M – Jake Belnap 1 (run failed)
M – Speirs 5 (Speirs run)
M – Speirs 6 (run failed)
Third quarter
M – Devin Droghei 1 (run failed)
M – Speirs 14 (kick failed)
M – Belnap 60 fumble return (Horman kick)
Individual statistics
RUSHING – Minico: Kade Miller 4-4, Colby May 16-54, Brady May 9-74, Mark Leon 5-6, Moises Iturra 2-9, Coltin Johnson 2-9, Edgar Espinoza 1-2, Pete Coats 1-4. Hillcrest: Devin Droghei 18-145, TD, Jordan Speirs 20-150, 4 TD, Johnny Griffiths 1-7, Jake Belnap 5-26, TD, Brent Johnson 2-10, Odum Schyler 3-6, Tyler Belnap 1-3, Shane Bailey 6-56.
PASSING – Minico: Kade Miller 5-11, 56 yards, David Griffin 0-1. Hillcrest: Johnny Griffiths 1-1, 36.
RECEIVING – Minico: Mark Leon 1- -2, Shad Hubsmith 1-1, Pete Coats 1-7, Coltin Johnson 2-51. Hillcrest: Jordan Speirs 1-36.