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Indian Hill knocks off New Richmond

The Thursday night slate of the 2016 Skyline Chili Crosstown Showdown featured a rematch of two teams who faced off in the season opener last year. On Thursday, it was the Indian Hill Braves who knocked off the New Richmond Lions for the second consecutive year, 49-36, on a steamy, muggy night at the University of Cincinnati’s Sheakley Athletics Center.

Indian Hill head coach Tony Acuri and LB Dan Becker (photo by Clayton Castle / TriStateFootball.com)

Indian Hill head coach Tony Acuri and LB Dan Becker (photo by Clayton Castle / TriStateFootball.com)

The storyline of the game was the strength of the Indian Hill defense, led by linebacker Dan Becker. After giving up just 15 points in the first half, the Braves defense held New Richmond scoreless for the first quarter and a half of the second half, before putting the second team defense in to close out the game. The defense also added points on the scoreboard, aiding the Indian Hill offense in the win.

Becker was named the game MVP for the Braves after scoring picking off New Richmond quarterback Josh Anderson twice, retuning both for touchdowns in the second half, sealing the win for Indian Hill.

With Indian Hill already up 29-15, Anderson’s pass fell into the hands of Becker, who returned it for the touchdown to put Indian Hill up by 21 with 2:36 remaining in the third quarter.

Becker struck again when he returned another interception early in the fourth quarter, extending Indian Hill’s lead to 49-15.

Aside from Becker, the Indian Hill defense held the New Richmond offense to 15 points for the first 42 minutes of the game, including a scoreless string for the first 18 minutes of the second half before putting in the second string defense.

Indian Hill Head Coach Tony Arcuri gave the defense accolades after the game for its performance.

“I love it,” Arcuri said of his defense’s performance. “We had 10 freshmen out there against the varsity offense (in the final six minutes). Those things are going to happen, but we wanted to get them playing time. Aside from two big plays in the first half, we played pretty darn well.”

New Richmond began the game with the ball, but struggled with long snapping. While attempting to punt, the ball sailed over punter Peyton Schweickart’s head into the endzone, leading to a safety and putting Indian Hill on top 2-0 early.

Indian Hill also flashed on offense, led by senior quarterback Reed Aicholz. Reed sat out the first drive for the Braves, but entered the game for the second drive of the game and picked up where he left off in 2015.

Freshman Trey Lopez started at quarterback for the Braves, leading a drive that ended in a one-yard touchdown run by Zarian Hunter-Cure to put the Braves up 8-0.

New Richmond responded on its next drive when Anderson found tight end Gage Kramer for a 65-yard touchdown pass. The score at the end of the first quarter favored Indian Hill 8-7.

Reed Aicholz began to heat up in the second quarter, finding Ben Withlin for a 29-yard reception to the New Richmond seven-yard line. After a sack and penalty, Reed Aicholz found his twin brother Dawson Aicholz for a 15-yard touchdown pass.

“Reed did his thing,” Arcuri said. “We still need to knock a little rust off him, but he’ll be fine.”

New Richmond responded again with a 69-yard touchdown toss from Anderson to Corey Bozic. After a successful two-point conversion, the game was tied at 15. It remained that way at halftime.

The Braves came out of the halftime locker room on fire. The second half began with a bang as Indian Hill’s Dimitrious Baylor returned the second half opening kickoff 76 yards for a quick Braves touchdown.

After a Reed Aicholz keeper, Tennyson Holmes run, and two interception returns throughout the third and fourth quarters, the Braves found themselves up 49-15 with just a little over six minutes left.

Despite the large scoring gap, the Lions didn’t give up, scoring 21 unanswered points in the final six minutes of the game on Indian Hill’s second-string defense. However, it just wasn’t enough as the Braves pulled out the victory to begin the season 1-0.

Arcuri was happy to get the first win, but said he expects more from his team down the stretch.

“I’m not going to take the win away from the kids, however our expectations are way beyond this,” Arcuri said. “To perform, even with young guys playing there the last six minutes and giving up all those scores, we expect more from our kids. We’re happy, but we’re also happy we have a lot to learn from this.”

Indian Hill was led on offense by Reed Aicholz, who was 14-for-26 on 196 yards with one passing touchdown and one rushing touchdown. Hunter-Cure led the backfield for the Braves, rushing 19 times for 70 yards and one touchdown.

Josh Anderson led the Lions offense with 220 yards and three touchdowns through the air, but also threw two interceptions. Chandler Kinalt rushed for 75 yards and a touchdown for New Richmond, leading the Lions in rushing. Gage Kramer, the MVP for New Richmond, caught five passes for 101 yards and a touchdown.

Indian Hill (1-0) will play host to Waynesville next week at 7:00 P.M. in another 2015 matchup. In 2015, Indian Hill neat Waynesville 61-19 on the road.

New Richmond (0-1) will look to rebound next week when it takes on Taylor on the road.

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