2014 Rotary Bowl Preview: Hillsboro vs. McClain
Neither the Hillsboro Indians or the McClain Tigers will finish the 2014 high school football season with the overall record they would have liked, but this Friday just might make the season for the winner.
The annual Highland County rivalry game between the Indians and the Tigers will begin at 7:30 p.m. Friday night at Richards Memorial Field.
The Tigers are not only looking to win the matchup for the third consecutive season, but they're also looking to gain their first and only win of the season, as they'll enter the game with a record of 0-9.
The Indians, on the other hand, have an overall record of 2-7 this season but haven't won since Week 3 against Clermont Northeastern by a 39-0 score. Their other win came in Week 2 against Goshen at 28-7.
Neither the Indians nor Tigers have a South Central Ohio League victory this season, with MHS last winning in the league in last season's Rotary Bowl. The Indians haven't won an SCOL game since the 2011 Rotary Bowl.
Something will give on Friday night, as it will be one of those games where "records don't matter," because there will be a lot of bragging rights and pride on the line for the two rival schools.
Since the Rotary Bowl was first awarded in 1985, the Tigers haven't won the annual matchup three consecutive times, but that can change Friday night as they've won the past two Rotary Bowls with a 54-6 win in 2012 and 53-14 victory in '13.
In the history of the Rotary Bowl game, the Indians lead the series, 18-11. HHS once won the Rotary Bowl five straight times from 1992-96 and four times in a row from 1987-90.
As for this season, the Tigers have battled numerous injuries, which have taken a toll on their season. McClain opened the '14 season nearly three months ago with a three-point loss to the Adena Warriors by a score of 25-22.
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In Week 7, MHS lost to the Washington Blue Lions by a 27-20 score, and the following week, they lost to East Clinton, 25-22 with those three games being their closest opportunities at winning this season this far.
MHS has been shut out three times, as they've scored 99 points this season, while allowing 367.
As for their opponent, the Indians have scored 95 points in '14 but have allowed fewer points with their nine opponents scoring a total of 273 points. HHS is entering the game with a six-game losing streak.
From Week 4 through Week 8, the Indians were held scoreless by five consecutive SCOL opponents.
Last week, the Indians broke that streak, scoring 22 points in a loss to the Washington Blue Lions. Breaking the scoreless streak for the Indians last week was Jordan Mosley on a one-yard touchdown run.
For the Tigers last week, in their 48-7 loss to the Wilmington Hurricane, it was Alex Hollar who scored their lone TD.
This will be the 30th edition of the Rotary Bowl.