WHEELERSBURG - Before the season, the Wheelersburg Pirates served notice that their defense would be The Swarm.

So far, The Swarm has been stinging opposing offenses including a 40-6 stinging of the Hillsboro Indians Friday night.

The Pirates limited Hillsboro to just 118 total yards and improved to 3-1 on the season.

"The defense has played real well. Take away the second half against Ironton, and we've played pretty well all year. Our defense is going to have to carry us all year," Pirates coach Tony Lewis said.

The Pirates rolled up 322 total yards with quarterback Tom Kaskey hitting 7 of 11 for 177 yards and three touchdowns. Justin Parlin had two catches for 54 yards and two scores.

Wheelersburg ran for 145 yards led by Kaskey with 29 yards on 10 carries.

"Our offense still needs work, but the other kids are starting to take some of the pressure off of Kaskey. Tom's confidence is growing and he's getting more comfortable with the position," Lewis said.

Kaskey hit Parlin with a 29-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter for a 7-0 lead.

The duo hooked up again in the second quarter for 25 yards and a touchdown and it was 14-0.

The Pirates went up 20-0 midway through the quarter on a 3-yard run by Nathan Timberlake, then closed the half on another Kaskey TD pass as he found Matt Watson for a 24-yard scoring completion.

Wheelersburg extended the lead to 40-0 with a pair of touchdowns in the third quarter on a 3-yard run by Brian Stephenson and a 1-yard burst by Brandon Jackson.

The Pirates face Minford next week at Northwest in a Southern Ohio Conference game.

Hillsboro0006-6

Wheelersburg720130-40

First Quarter

Wh - Justin Parlin 29 pass from Tom Kaskey (Tom Kaskey kick)

Second Quarter

Wh - Justin Parlin 25 pass from Tom Kaskey (Tom Kaskey kick)

Wh - Nathan Timberlake 3 run (kick blocked)

Wh - Matt Watson 24 pass from Tom Kaskey (Tom Kaskey kick)

Third Quarter

Wh - Brian Stephenson 3 run (Tom Kaskey kick)

Wh - Brandon Jackson 1 run (kick blocked)

Fourth Quarter

Hil - Jones 6 run (kick failed)

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HilWh

First downs813

Rushes-yards98145

Passing yards20177

Totals yards118322

Cmp-Att-IntNA7-11-0

Fumbles-lost5-41-0

Penalties-yards6-359-65

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Individual Leaders

RUSHING - Hillsboro: NA; Wheelersburg: Tom Kaskey 10-29, Nathan Timberlake 6-14, Cory Chamberlin 1-minus 3, Matt Ruggles 2-9, Brian Stephenson 4-21, Alex Peach 1-10, Brandon Jackson 4-18, Matt Watson 4-14, Andrew Krick 5-11, John Storey 2-9.

PASSING - Hillsboro: NA; Wheelersburg: Tom Kaskey 7-11-0

177.

RECEIVING - Hillsboro: NA; Wheelersburg: Chris Webb 2-28, Justin Parlin 2-54, Brandon Jackson 1-43, Matt Watson 1-24, Brad Chamberlin 1-28.