JEROMESVILLE — Given their size difference, one could safely describe Briar Funk and Garrett Smith as the thunder and lightning of the Hillsdale offense.
But the way the 5-foot-8, 165-pound Smith ran on Friday night during a 36-6 Division VI first-round win against Northwood demonstrated size has nothing to with generating noise.
Smith, a senior, pounded away for 150 yards on 15 carries and and one TD while the 210-pound Funk rushed for 85 more on eight attempts, and two additional scores, as the Falcons won their first-ever home playoff game.
The win moves Hillsdale (9-2) into the regional semifinals for the second straight season. The Falcons, who will take on Fairview (8-3) next Friday on a neutral site, made it all the way to the regional title game one year ago. The Apaches rolled Gibsonburg 35-0 on Friday night.
Northwood, from the Toledo Area Athletic Conference, finished the season 9-2.
It’s easy to tell the size question is something Smith is prepared to answer.
“I hear that a lot,” he said with a laugh. “We have so many weapons on this team. It’s hard to guard all of us.”
First-year head coach Trevor Cline, who just turned 25 while coaching at his alma mater, smiled when asked to describe Smith’s efforts and also pointed out something that can’t be measured.
“Smitty … I don’t think you will find too many players who have the size of the heart that he has,” Cline said. “He plays hard on every play and gives you everything he has got.”
SLOPPY TRACK: None of the Hillsdale backs were slowed by the wet and muddy field conditions at Hillsdale Community Stadium. That list included Garrett Goodwin, who scored on a 4-yard run of his own.
“I love it. It’s an advantage for us,” Smith said. “Since week five, we have played in nothing but mud and crappy weather. We are used to it.”
After a scoreless first quarter, Funk got the Falcons rolling in the second, scoring on jet sweeps from 21 and 22 yards out to put Hillsdale ahead 15-0 with 3:03 remaining in the half.
After getting the ball back quickly, Hillsdale made it 22-0 with 30 seconds left when quarterback Alex Becker connected with Ty Williams on a 16-yard TD pass.
“Brian runs hard and he will do anything you ask of him,” Cline said. “In the first half, we asked him to run the ball quite a bit. In the second, we asked him to block a lot for Smitty and others and he did that well.
“For a first-year head coach, I have a great group of players. They are fun to be around. They don’t care who gets the credit. My assistant coaches, I played for them when I was in school here, and now coaching with them, I couldn’t ask for more.”
DEFENSE, DEFENSE: Northwood averaged almost 54 points per game this season. But the Rangers didn’t score until the fourth quarter on a 1-yard run by Dalton Dempsey and managed just 84 yards rushing and completed just 3 of 8 passes for 37 yards.
Having shown a swift option game on film, Northwood was unable to trick the Falcons’ defense.
“Our big worry was going up against their option,” Cline said. “The big thing we talked to the kids about all week on defense was do your job and be disciplined. I couldn’t be prouder of a group of kids.”
One player who definitely heeded the message was 6-5, 205-pound senior lineman Mike Garn, who lived in the Northwood backfield.
“We knew they thought they were just going to pound it down our throats, just like Loudonville did when we took it for granted. We just came in with the mentality we’re not going to let them through,” Garn said.
Garn demonstrates his speed each spring on the Hillsdale track team — and he showed it again Friday night.
“I feel like my speed is huge,” he said. “Sometimes they run the option the other way and I can chase down the quarterback. They don’t expect it and it really helps.”
Cline said, “(Opposing) coaches have told me throughout the year that Mike is hard to block. He was was in the backfield a lot again tonight.”
EXPERIENCE MATTERS: Hillsdale has 13 seniors on its roster and many other players now with varsity experience.
“We had a lot of playoff experience last year. Whenever you get experience like that, it’s only going to benefit you,” Cline said. “We have 13 seniors and a lot of other kids who have gotten varsity experience.
“That experience pays off. The moment wasn’t too big for them tonight.”
For Smith, it’s just living out a dream.
“We (seniors) used to joke about it in the sixth or seventh grade. We would tell each other we’re going to be the best class to come through. Everyone says that, I know, but we wanted to make it happen.
“We are having fun as we are winning. It’s just been an awesome experience. I am at a loss for words how to describe it. It’s amazing to get to play every week with friends that I have known my whole life,” Smith said.
REGION 22: In other scores from around Region 22 on Friday night, No. 1-seed Seneca East defeated 8-seed Loudonville, 33-9; No. 7-seed Fairview upset No. 2-seed Gibsonburg, 35-7; and No. 4-seed Columbus Grove eliminated No. 5-seed Carey, 21-7.
Official matchups and locations for the regional semifinals will be announced by the OHSAA on Sunday afternoon.
