The result was the same for the Big Blue for the fifth straight week. But Hamilton football coach Bob Jacoby threw his support behind the effort his team gave Friday night.

A solid defensive effort in the second half kept Hamilton close, but two interceptions deep in Oak Hills territory and a missed field goal doomed the Big Blue in a 17-0 loss in the team’s final home game.

“Tonight we at least competed. It felt more like a football game than the last few weeks,” Jacoby said. “We’ve only got two more games. We’ve got a lot to play for. Some of these guys will never strap a uniform on again.”

Oak Hills’ rushing game grounded out 212 yards on 46 carries, including a game-high 107 by Demarco Ruffin. He had 69 at halftime but was mostly contained in the second half of the Greater Miami Conference game.

Hamilton’s offense, meanwhile, struggled just to get on the field in the first half. The Big Blue (2-6, 0-5 GMC) held the ball for 4 minutes, 45 seconds and managed 30 yards on 12 plays through the first two quarters. Hamilton finished with 200 yards overall, aided by a passing attack that netted 122. Receiver Tyler Denton accounted for 104 of those yards on six catches. But those two turnovers hurt.

Trailing 7-0 in the second quarter and with the ball on the Highlanders’ 34-yard line, Oak Hills’ Cody Herbig picked off a pass and returned it 55 yards. Down 10-0 to start the third quarter also on the Oak Hills’ 34, Darien McDowell picked off a second pass for the Highlanders (5-3, 3-2).

“We don’t have much of a running game so we kind of hang on the edge with our passing game,” Jacoby said. “If it’s working we can move the ball, but it’s not consistent enough.

“I thought we played relatively well considering two starting guards were out tonight. We’re doing what we can with what we have. Our guys played hard and competed.”

The Highlanders set the tone with an 11-play, 81-yard drive to open the game. Ruffin scored the first of his two touchdowns with a 4-yard run. He made it 17-0 with 6:22 left in the game on a 1-yard score. Danny Kurtz added a 28-yard field goal to end the first half.