Drew Thornsley had a big night toting the rock, but Circleville wasn’t able to get the stops it needed to slow down visiting Hamilton Township as the Rangers left town with a 53-28 win.
The Mid-State League foes traded scores in the first quarter with the Rangers scoring first and Circleville coming back with a 30-yard TD pass from Hudson Phalin to Kole Nugester.
After another HT score, Thornsley broke off a 52-yard run to tie the game at 14 each.
The Rangers’ Dezmond Branch ended the first-quarter scoring with a 24-yard run.
A couple of defensive stops gave the Rangers the opportunity to take control with a pair of short scoring runs from Gabriel Komrabai Kanu for a 35-14 lead.
Circleville put a drive together as the half was coming to a close and Thornsley scored from 10 yards out with 59 seconds on the clock.
That was more than enough time for HT as the Rangers covered 63 yards in four plays with Jovon McBride grabbing a deep pass from Lucas King for a 47-yard score and a 41-21 halftime lead.
Circleville closed to 41-28 taking the opening possession of the second half 75 yards with Thornsley scoring from 10 yards out.
That was as close as Circleville could get as HT added another TD pass from King to McBride late in the third and a Komrabai Kanu 1-yard run early in the fourth to finish out the scoring.
To go with his three touchdowns, Thornsley had 262 yards rushing on 31 carries.
Phalin was 11-20 passing for 100 yards with a touchdown and an interception.
Nungester had six catches for 85 yards to lead the CHS receivers.
Circleville finished the game with 394 yards of offense while HT had 531.
Circleville (3-4, 0-3) hosts Fairfield Union (3-4, 2-2) next week.
First Quarter
HT — Daviace Packnett 31 pass from Lucas King (kick), 10:22.
CV — Kole Nungester 30 pass from Hudson Phalin (Kaden Paxton kick), 7:41
HT — Kyren Sheppard 18 pass from Lucas King (kick), 5:48.
CV — Drew Thornsley 52 run (Kaden Paxton kick), 4:27.
HT — Dezmond Branch 24 run (kick), 1:42.
Second Quarter
HT — Gabriel Komrabai Kanu 3 run (kick), 8:19.
HT — Gabriel Komrabai Kanu 1 run (kick), 3:25.
CV — Drew Thornsley 10 run (Kaden Paxton kick), 0:59.
HT — Jovon McBride 47 pass from Lucas King (kick failed), 0:20.
Third Quarter
CV — Drew Thornsley 4 run (Kaden Paxton kick), 8:04.
HT — Jovon McBride 14 pass from Lucas King (kick failed), 1:28
Fourth Quarter
HT — Gabriel Komrabai Kanu 1 run (kick failed), 10:32.