Indian Hill snaps Wyoming's record win streak, takes control of CHL race, 21-3
WYOMING, Ohio – Indian Hill was the last Cincinnati Hills League team to beat Wyoming in football, doing so in the 2015 playoffs after beating the Cowboys during the regular season.
Wyoming also lost to Reading that year, its last loss in a regular-season game before Indian Hill came to Bob Lewis Stadium and continued a streak of its own Friday night.
The Braves beat Wyoming, 21-3, snapping Wyoming’s state-record 75-game regular-season winning streak. Indian Hill (7-2) clinched a share of the CHL title, and with a win over Taylor next week would win it outright and break the Cowboys’ seven-year reign atop the league.
More: Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky Week 9 high school football scores
Wyoming had beaten Indian Hill 48-7 last year, part of a 3-7 campaign for the Braves. They returned all but one starter coming into this season.
“We were just everyone’s team that they were going to step on and roll over,” IH senior Jonathon Copfer said. “And it feels great to be on the opposite side this year. We worked really hard in the weight room this year. We gave our coaches time to get used to the program.”
Senior quarterback John Podojil returned to action after suffering an injury in the first game of the season. He completed 10-of-12 passes for 214 yards and threw three touchdown passes to three different receivers. He was named the most valuable player of the Skyline Chili Crosstown Showdown game.
Ethan Cole had been the QB in Podojil's absence.
“John’s a senior,” IH head coach John Rodenberg said. “When he got released I was going to put him back at quarterback because I thought in the beginning of the year he was a potential CHL player of the year. Ethan did a great job for us, but John is a senior and he gives us some great leadership. I’m just so proud of him. He’s got that experience which helped put us over the top.”
The victory should bring about a change in the Ohio High School Athletic Association computer ratings for Division IV, Region 20. Wyoming was second in the region coming into the game and IH seventh.
“It means we’re taking a step in the right direction,” Rodenberg said. “Now we have to go back in tomorrow and get ready for Taylor. I know that sounds harsh, but we have to get ready for Taylor because we’re trying to win a state championship and that’s what I want these guys to believe in.”
Three keys to Indian Hill’s win
Mental game: The Braves came in believing they had the physical skills to beat Wyoming. But the mental hurdle of Wyoming’s winning streaks was still in front of them.
A big key for Indian Hill was getting an early lead. Wyoming scored on its opening drive, taking up the first six minutes of the game and driving inside the IH 20. Joel Hancock had nine rushes for 61 yards in the drive, but the Braves defense stiffened and held the Cowboys to a field goal.
Indian Hill took the lead three minutes later on a 53-yard touchdown pass from Podojil to Jonathan Copfer and then forced a fumble on Wyoming’s next possession. The Braves played with confidence and the lead after that.
“The whole week we were just prepping for another game,” Copfer said. “We came in here and played our game and came out on the right side. It was awesome. The mental side of things is what won us the game. I thought we stacked up pretty well. Coach Rodenberg told us all week it would come to who made the most mental mistakes.”
Said Rodenberg: “We thought the first quarter would be a key to the game. We didn’t want to make any stupid mistakes and let them get up 14-0."
2. Indian Hill’s defense shut down the Cowboys. After that opening drive, the Braves limited the Cowboys to less than 100 rushing yards the rest of the game, and 154 overall. Wyoming passed for 140 yards, and about 60 of that came in the Cowboys’ last drive of the game when they were trailing, 21-3.
Rodenberg said the Braves adjusted well to that opening drive when Hancock gashed their defense for one chunk-play run after another.
“What it comes down to is you bend but don’t break,” Rodenberg said. “What happens is all week long you go up against a scout team, and then you go up against the (other) team and they’re a little faster, a little stronger, a little bigger. They didn’t do anything we didn’t think they would do, but it takes a little time to catch up to that speed, size and strength.”
IH forced three turnovers and stopped Wyoming on a fourth down at its 31 after the score was 21-3.
3. Offensive versatility: Wyoming had allowed only nine points per game this season. The Braves put up the most points of any Wyoming opponent and had 355 yards of offense. Podojil put up 214 in the air, completing 10 passes to seven different receivers. Devlan Daniel rushed for 163 yards.
“That first touchdown really got us going,” Podojil said. “We knew we could take advantage of them in some areas of the game, and we did that. These guys catch everything for me. When I throw it up to them, I know they’ll come down with it. Credit to them, they made some big plays.”
Standout players
Jonathan Copfer, Indian Hill: He had a 53-yard touchdown and two passes defended on defense.
Dan O’Brien, Indian Hill: The senior scored IH’s third touchdown to make it 21-3. On the ensuing drive, he had a tackle for a loss and broke up two passes to help thwart any comeback attempt.
George Vollmer, Indian Hill: He recovered a fumble off a muffed punt and intercepted a pass in the second half to shut down Wyoming’s comeback attempt.
Turning point/Play of the game
As noted, Podojil’s 53-yard scoring bomb to Copfer not only gave the Braves the lead but filled them with confidence after the rough start.
What’s next for both teams
Indian Hill will finish the regular season at Taylor (4-5, 3-3), which lost 55-20 to Reading Friday night, while Wyoming will play at Finneytown (3-6, 1-5), which fell to Madeira.
Indian Hill 21, Wyoming 3
Indian Hill 7 7 7 0-21
Wyoming 3 0 0 0-3
W – Rummer 34 field goal
IH – Copfer 53 pass from Podojil (Grace kick)
IH – Frye 13 pass from Podojil (Grace kick)
IH – O’Brien 27 pass from Podojil (Grace kick)
Records: IH 7-2 (6-0 CHL), W 8-1 (5-1)
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Indian Hill snaps Wyoming's record win streak with 21-3 victory
