HIRAM, Ohio - September 13, 2024 - Hiram finished its home opener on a high note, as it put together a nine-play scoring drive in the fourth quarter, which was capped off by the first career touchdown by Dylan Hargas and the first career extra point by Breyana Buxton, which marked the first ever snap taken by a female student-athlete in Hiram football history.

The effort ultimately ended in a 28-7 loss for the Terriers against a formidable opponent in Mount St. Joseph on Friday night at Henry Field in Hiram, Ohio.

The Hiram defense again had its exciting moments, as it held the Lions scoreless in the first and fourth quarters to keep the team within striking distance throughout the non-conference battle. Kole Tarary, Devyn Mercilliott and Ayden Smith each recorded a sack, while Kade Scott had a team-high two pass breakups.

The first quarter was a back-and-forth affair, with both defenses limiting the opposition to a pair of scoreless drives. The score stood at 0-0 through one quarter, with Gavin Cruser and Tarary being active and eventually finishing the contest with a combined 23 tackles.

Mount St. Joseph broke the scoring barrier in the second quarter on a pair of touchdowns – one on the ground and one through the air – to pull ahead by 14 points at the intermission.

The Lions' tacked onto their lead thanks to the receiving prowess of Kadin Pollard, who caught 40- and 21-yard touchdown passes from Jaxon Schreiber to take a 28-0 lead. Pollard finished the game with three catches for a game-high 65 yards.

Hiram found the end zone in the final quarter on a drive that was set-up by a 28-yard completion from freshman Miles Miller to freshman Casey McClain Jr. A few plays later, Miller found Hargas for a nine-yard touchdown to avoid the shutout.

Buxton would then enter the game for the first time in her career, a chance to make history as one of the few females to score in a collegiate football game at any level. Her extra-point attempt found the middle of the uprights and gave Hiram a boost in the later stages of the non-conference matchup.

MSJ would run out the remainder of the clock to close out the game, but Hiram had something to build on moving into its Homecoming Weekend next week.

Hiram will celebrate Homecoming and Hollinger Hall of Fame Weekend next Saturday, when it hosts Wittenberg at 4 p.m. from Henry Field in Hiram, Ohio.