Not off the Press: Surprising Friday for SCOL Football WATCH THE VIDEO
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
If one word can describe the first week of the high school football season, it would be "surprising." Not in the sense of wins and losses, but for the fact some of the scores caught me off-guard, plus just how teams opened up the season, again, was just surprising all-around.
Congrats to the Clinton-Massie Falcons, Miami Trace Panthers and Madison-Plains Golden Eagles for winning their season openers for the South Central Ohio League.
One unique fact from Friday was Hillsboro scored three touchdowns, one coming from special teams, one from offense and one from defense. Talk about variety.
I'll admit the most surprising occurrence for me wasn't the fact the McClain Tigers didn't score any points, but the fact they totaled just 23 yards of rushing and an overall total of 50 offensive yards. Before the game, if I had been offered an over/under bet on that … I would have lost.
Besides football over the weekend there was some soccer (sorry I didn't cover that) and the 7th Annual Highland County Spike & Dig Volleyball Showcase where the McClain Lady Tigers won for the third straight year, as they outlasted Hillsboro, Whiteoak and Fairfield.
Before the second week of football happens in a five days, let's take a look back at the week that was, where again, I think it is safe to say it was OK to leave the first week surprised.
• Clinton-Massie gains 33rd consecutive regular-season win
Did you know with their 34-0 win over Clinton-County rival Blanchester, not only did the Falcons keep the Cider Keg, but held the Wildcats scoreless for the fourth consecutive year in the season opener?
What stands out is Bayle Wolf running for 92 yards on 29 carries and the quarterback play of Tyler Uetrecht, who had 61 yards on the ground and one passing TD.
Remember in the First & Ten preview of CM where Coach Dan McSurley said the Falcons had a running back rotation … well, I think they have one.
This team continues to get the job done each year, with the new core of players earning their stripes in a starting role this season.
• Tigers struggle offensively
If anyone watched the McClain Tigers Friday, it was no secret they struggled when they had the football.
The Tigers totaled 23 net rushing yards, but credit Adena and their rushing game for one reason: they put up 31 points.
McClain did have a bit of bad luck with emotions getting high and penalties, and a fumble on the first play of the game didn't help matters either.
One drive that also changed the outlook of the game was McClain's second drive where they began on their own 34-yard line, raced their way to the Adena 32 with a big run by Camron Cooper. Then they completed an 8-yard pass for a first down, then two plays later they fumbled the football on a second-and-11 play on the AHS 22-yard line and lost possession.
The good thing is there are still nine weeks left in the regular season, and they have a good chance to rebound from the opener.
• Blue Lions outlasted by the Braves
Before we start, I hope the player that was injured and sent to the hospital is doing OK. According to a coach on the radio after Friday's game, one of the Blue Lions had a bad injury, so I hope he's doing well.
As for the game, the Blue Lions led early, but never led an entire quarter, losing 41-13 to Logan Elm, scoring all their points in the first quarter.
From what I've seen from some of the game replay, along with from what I've been told by a few in attendance … the Blue Lions had a great start, then everything caught up to them all at once.
Washington didn't score after the first quarter, and they allowed at least seven points in each quarter, including 14 in the first and 13 in the second.
Out of 59 offensive snaps, the Blue Lions were committed to the run, throwing nine passes, completing four as they played two quarterbacks in the game. Some positives were Jerome Pettiford rushing for 106 yards on 26 carries and Reily Shaw rushing for 90 yards on 17 carries.
Just like what basically happened to McClain in their game, an early fumble by the Blue Lions led to points for their opponent at the start of the game.
Again, it was the first week, and Washington had over 300 total yards on offense, so there is something to work with headed into the second week of the regular season.
• London loses a heartbreaker
The Red Raiders haven't been able to catch a break in the season's first game for the past two years. Last year, a one-point loss (21-20), and this year a one-point loss on Friday in triple overtime (35-34) to Urbana. It seems when these two teams play, it is a must-see game.
LHS lost on a failed two-point conversion attempt after scoring a touchdown in the third overtime, leading to the one-point loss.
Dylan Follrod, who was previewed in the First & Ten Preview, had 119 yards passing with two TD passes and one rushing TD for the Red Raiders.
I still feel the Red Raiders will be near the top in the SCOL once everything is said and done.
• Hillsboro suffers tough loss to Broncos
The plus was the Indians scored three touchdowns. The negative was they allowed 49 points.
I'll be the first to admit … I didn't know what to expect from HHS headed into Friday's game.
One good thing to hear is Christian Wildey was able to play after being listed as day-to-day during the week, even scoring a touchdown on a 20-plus yard run. Tyrand Cumberland had a interception return for a TD, and Chase Gilliland ran a kickoff back for the Indians' final score.
The good news was HHS scored a TD three different ways, but once again, they had bad news with freshman Logan Lesley suffering a leg injury.
If any team has had it tough with injuries this season, it is the Indians.
In Rory Ryan's HHS game story, he wrote: "Hillsboro's defense put up a solid goal-line stand to close out the first half, stopping the Broncos on four straight plays inside the 10-yard line."
Though HHS suffered a 31-point loss … with a team that young and all the inexperience, a goal-line stand (though it doesn't show up on the stat sheet) is a big accomplishment for any team, but especially a young team like HHS. They host Goshen (3-7 overall last season) this week, who lost 34-0 to Ross.
• Panthers returned home a winner
It was good to hear the new-look Panthers returned home from Circleville with a Week 1 victory.
They picked their quarterback in sophomore Jimmy Stroker (12-of-21, 112 yards passing) and had nearly two 100-yard rushers in Clayton Dyer (28 rushes for 100 yards) and Tyler Dement (14 rushes for 93 yards) in their 24-13 win.
Before the season, Coach Mike Bernard said they were going back to their running game, and with two backs combining for 193 yards, I'd say he was right on the money there. MT had 318 total offensive yards, so that's a good night on the gridiron if you ask me.
MT will have a test in Week 2 when they host Wilmington in what should be a SCOL battle, but instead is a non-league game. (But what do I know?)
• The Golden Eagles were winners
Madison-Plains finished their season opener in '11 like they did just once last season, and that was with a victory.
First off, shutting out Cedarville 27-0 is big for MP, though the Golden Eagles did commit more than a few turnovers, I'm happy to see this team gain a win in the opener because anyone who keeps tabs on SCOL football knows about this team's struggles in the past.
MP junior quarterback Ryne Davis threw for 246 yards, going 11-of-17. When I interviewed him this preseason, he, along with all the players I interviewed, was very respectful. The Golden Eagle faithful should be glad to have a player like Davis representing their school.
• SCOL goes 3-4 in Week 1
Three wins and four losses in the first week of the season probably wasn't what the league had in mind at the start of Friday night.
This week, the SCOL will face the following teams: Waynesville, Goshen, Circleville, Hamilton Twp., West Jefferson, Unioto and Wilmington.
• 10 opinions/comments on high school sports
1. It was good to see a nice turnout at the McClain-Adena football game. Had a good atmosphere for the most part.
2. Congrats to the McClain Lady Tigers on winning the 7th Annual Spike & Dig Volleyball Showcase Saturday afternoon at Hillsboro High School.
3. I've already been talking to people about the upcoming basketball season. Nothing against basketball season, but it can wait for a little bit. The main reason isn't because of my future schedule, but because I can't stand the weather (snow, cold) it brings along with it.
4. I've said this 100 times, but ALL jerseys that have numbers, no matter the sport, should have numbers on both the front and back of the jersey. It is a selfish reason for me but makes my life so much easier.
5. Highland County is producing some good and fun to watch soccer teams thus far this fall.
6. I can't believe we have already had over a week of fall sports.
7. If there is a soccer match that is a must-see this week, it has to be the McClain boys at Hillsboro, starting at 5 p.m. at Richards Memorial Field. I'm excited because both teams have the opportunity to enter the game undefeated in the league, and it's a county rivalry match. These are two of the better teams in the league as the schools combined have won the past six league championships.
8. I'm keeping track (sadly … I need a life) of what I'm eating at concession stands again this year.
9. Congrats to the Paint Valley Bearcat football team on a big 39-0 win Friday against Belpre. Nice to see them start the season off with a win, in front of what I was told was one of their biggest crowds in a couple seasons.
10. To teams that I haven't seen play yet this season … I apologize. Remember game stats and information can be emailed to me at: sforsha@gmail.com.
• Interesting Fact
Though the SCOL went 3-4 overall in the first week, they outscored their opponents 150-139 with two shutouts.
• (Another) Interesting Fact
All seven SCOL football teams opened the '11 season with a different quarterback than who started the season under center in their '10 opener.
• Stat of the Week
If I counted right, there were 12 penalty flags thrown in the first half of the McClain-Adena game. Some games Friday didn't have 12 flags the entire game.
• (Another) Stat of the Week
Against MHS, Reid Hutchison rushed for 200 yards on 28 carries for 7.1 yards per carry. Jarrod Cyrus averaged 8.6 yards per carry (10-86) with three touchdowns in the second half.
• Quote of the Week
"It was a frustrating night. Our defense fought hard … but ask any old football coach and a good run game will grind on you, plus we didn't tackle very well." — Randy Closson, McClain head football coach following the Tigers' Week 1 loss to Adena.
• (Another) Quote of the Week
"They do have more experience than us, and that is a tough fix." — Brian Spicer, Hillsboro head football coach talking about experience earlier in the week before the season opener.
• One final item of business
Though it wasn't the week I expected from the SCOL as a group, I will say I was just happy to be covering high school football. I love writing about the game of football in detail, and I love just watching the game of football being played without having to worry about lockouts, contracts and scandals.
This is a great time of the year to be a sports fan, and after a tough week personally for myself, it was therapy to just cover and put all my thoughts into watching high school football for a few hours. That is the magic of sports.
Stephen Forsha is the sports editor of The Highland County Press. He can be reached at: sforsha@gmail.com. Follow Stephen on Twitter @hcpsportseditor.[[In-content Ad]]
Congrats to the Clinton-Massie Falcons, Miami Trace Panthers and Madison-Plains Golden Eagles for winning their season openers for the South Central Ohio League.
One unique fact from Friday was Hillsboro scored three touchdowns, one coming from special teams, one from offense and one from defense. Talk about variety.
I'll admit the most surprising occurrence for me wasn't the fact the McClain Tigers didn't score any points, but the fact they totaled just 23 yards of rushing and an overall total of 50 offensive yards. Before the game, if I had been offered an over/under bet on that … I would have lost.
Besides football over the weekend there was some soccer (sorry I didn't cover that) and the 7th Annual Highland County Spike & Dig Volleyball Showcase where the McClain Lady Tigers won for the third straight year, as they outlasted Hillsboro, Whiteoak and Fairfield.
Before the second week of football happens in a five days, let's take a look back at the week that was, where again, I think it is safe to say it was OK to leave the first week surprised.
• Clinton-Massie gains 33rd consecutive regular-season win
Did you know with their 34-0 win over Clinton-County rival Blanchester, not only did the Falcons keep the Cider Keg, but held the Wildcats scoreless for the fourth consecutive year in the season opener?
What stands out is Bayle Wolf running for 92 yards on 29 carries and the quarterback play of Tyler Uetrecht, who had 61 yards on the ground and one passing TD.
Remember in the First & Ten preview of CM where Coach Dan McSurley said the Falcons had a running back rotation … well, I think they have one.
This team continues to get the job done each year, with the new core of players earning their stripes in a starting role this season.
• Tigers struggle offensively
If anyone watched the McClain Tigers Friday, it was no secret they struggled when they had the football.
The Tigers totaled 23 net rushing yards, but credit Adena and their rushing game for one reason: they put up 31 points.
McClain did have a bit of bad luck with emotions getting high and penalties, and a fumble on the first play of the game didn't help matters either.
One drive that also changed the outlook of the game was McClain's second drive where they began on their own 34-yard line, raced their way to the Adena 32 with a big run by Camron Cooper. Then they completed an 8-yard pass for a first down, then two plays later they fumbled the football on a second-and-11 play on the AHS 22-yard line and lost possession.
The good thing is there are still nine weeks left in the regular season, and they have a good chance to rebound from the opener.
• Blue Lions outlasted by the Braves
Before we start, I hope the player that was injured and sent to the hospital is doing OK. According to a coach on the radio after Friday's game, one of the Blue Lions had a bad injury, so I hope he's doing well.
As for the game, the Blue Lions led early, but never led an entire quarter, losing 41-13 to Logan Elm, scoring all their points in the first quarter.
From what I've seen from some of the game replay, along with from what I've been told by a few in attendance … the Blue Lions had a great start, then everything caught up to them all at once.
Washington didn't score after the first quarter, and they allowed at least seven points in each quarter, including 14 in the first and 13 in the second.
Out of 59 offensive snaps, the Blue Lions were committed to the run, throwing nine passes, completing four as they played two quarterbacks in the game. Some positives were Jerome Pettiford rushing for 106 yards on 26 carries and Reily Shaw rushing for 90 yards on 17 carries.
Just like what basically happened to McClain in their game, an early fumble by the Blue Lions led to points for their opponent at the start of the game.
Again, it was the first week, and Washington had over 300 total yards on offense, so there is something to work with headed into the second week of the regular season.
• London loses a heartbreaker
The Red Raiders haven't been able to catch a break in the season's first game for the past two years. Last year, a one-point loss (21-20), and this year a one-point loss on Friday in triple overtime (35-34) to Urbana. It seems when these two teams play, it is a must-see game.
LHS lost on a failed two-point conversion attempt after scoring a touchdown in the third overtime, leading to the one-point loss.
Dylan Follrod, who was previewed in the First & Ten Preview, had 119 yards passing with two TD passes and one rushing TD for the Red Raiders.
I still feel the Red Raiders will be near the top in the SCOL once everything is said and done.
• Hillsboro suffers tough loss to Broncos
The plus was the Indians scored three touchdowns. The negative was they allowed 49 points.
I'll be the first to admit … I didn't know what to expect from HHS headed into Friday's game.
One good thing to hear is Christian Wildey was able to play after being listed as day-to-day during the week, even scoring a touchdown on a 20-plus yard run. Tyrand Cumberland had a interception return for a TD, and Chase Gilliland ran a kickoff back for the Indians' final score.
The good news was HHS scored a TD three different ways, but once again, they had bad news with freshman Logan Lesley suffering a leg injury.
If any team has had it tough with injuries this season, it is the Indians.
In Rory Ryan's HHS game story, he wrote: "Hillsboro's defense put up a solid goal-line stand to close out the first half, stopping the Broncos on four straight plays inside the 10-yard line."
Though HHS suffered a 31-point loss … with a team that young and all the inexperience, a goal-line stand (though it doesn't show up on the stat sheet) is a big accomplishment for any team, but especially a young team like HHS. They host Goshen (3-7 overall last season) this week, who lost 34-0 to Ross.
• Panthers returned home a winner
It was good to hear the new-look Panthers returned home from Circleville with a Week 1 victory.
They picked their quarterback in sophomore Jimmy Stroker (12-of-21, 112 yards passing) and had nearly two 100-yard rushers in Clayton Dyer (28 rushes for 100 yards) and Tyler Dement (14 rushes for 93 yards) in their 24-13 win.
Before the season, Coach Mike Bernard said they were going back to their running game, and with two backs combining for 193 yards, I'd say he was right on the money there. MT had 318 total offensive yards, so that's a good night on the gridiron if you ask me.
MT will have a test in Week 2 when they host Wilmington in what should be a SCOL battle, but instead is a non-league game. (But what do I know?)
• The Golden Eagles were winners
Madison-Plains finished their season opener in '11 like they did just once last season, and that was with a victory.
First off, shutting out Cedarville 27-0 is big for MP, though the Golden Eagles did commit more than a few turnovers, I'm happy to see this team gain a win in the opener because anyone who keeps tabs on SCOL football knows about this team's struggles in the past.
MP junior quarterback Ryne Davis threw for 246 yards, going 11-of-17. When I interviewed him this preseason, he, along with all the players I interviewed, was very respectful. The Golden Eagle faithful should be glad to have a player like Davis representing their school.
• SCOL goes 3-4 in Week 1
Three wins and four losses in the first week of the season probably wasn't what the league had in mind at the start of Friday night.
This week, the SCOL will face the following teams: Waynesville, Goshen, Circleville, Hamilton Twp., West Jefferson, Unioto and Wilmington.
• 10 opinions/comments on high school sports
1. It was good to see a nice turnout at the McClain-Adena football game. Had a good atmosphere for the most part.
2. Congrats to the McClain Lady Tigers on winning the 7th Annual Spike & Dig Volleyball Showcase Saturday afternoon at Hillsboro High School.
3. I've already been talking to people about the upcoming basketball season. Nothing against basketball season, but it can wait for a little bit. The main reason isn't because of my future schedule, but because I can't stand the weather (snow, cold) it brings along with it.
4. I've said this 100 times, but ALL jerseys that have numbers, no matter the sport, should have numbers on both the front and back of the jersey. It is a selfish reason for me but makes my life so much easier.
5. Highland County is producing some good and fun to watch soccer teams thus far this fall.
6. I can't believe we have already had over a week of fall sports.
7. If there is a soccer match that is a must-see this week, it has to be the McClain boys at Hillsboro, starting at 5 p.m. at Richards Memorial Field. I'm excited because both teams have the opportunity to enter the game undefeated in the league, and it's a county rivalry match. These are two of the better teams in the league as the schools combined have won the past six league championships.
8. I'm keeping track (sadly … I need a life) of what I'm eating at concession stands again this year.
9. Congrats to the Paint Valley Bearcat football team on a big 39-0 win Friday against Belpre. Nice to see them start the season off with a win, in front of what I was told was one of their biggest crowds in a couple seasons.
10. To teams that I haven't seen play yet this season … I apologize. Remember game stats and information can be emailed to me at: sforsha@gmail.com.
• Interesting Fact
Though the SCOL went 3-4 overall in the first week, they outscored their opponents 150-139 with two shutouts.
• (Another) Interesting Fact
All seven SCOL football teams opened the '11 season with a different quarterback than who started the season under center in their '10 opener.
• Stat of the Week
If I counted right, there were 12 penalty flags thrown in the first half of the McClain-Adena game. Some games Friday didn't have 12 flags the entire game.
• (Another) Stat of the Week
Against MHS, Reid Hutchison rushed for 200 yards on 28 carries for 7.1 yards per carry. Jarrod Cyrus averaged 8.6 yards per carry (10-86) with three touchdowns in the second half.
• Quote of the Week
"It was a frustrating night. Our defense fought hard … but ask any old football coach and a good run game will grind on you, plus we didn't tackle very well." — Randy Closson, McClain head football coach following the Tigers' Week 1 loss to Adena.
• (Another) Quote of the Week
"They do have more experience than us, and that is a tough fix." — Brian Spicer, Hillsboro head football coach talking about experience earlier in the week before the season opener.
• One final item of business
Though it wasn't the week I expected from the SCOL as a group, I will say I was just happy to be covering high school football. I love writing about the game of football in detail, and I love just watching the game of football being played without having to worry about lockouts, contracts and scandals.
This is a great time of the year to be a sports fan, and after a tough week personally for myself, it was therapy to just cover and put all my thoughts into watching high school football for a few hours. That is the magic of sports.
Stephen Forsha is the sports editor of The Highland County Press. He can be reached at: sforsha@gmail.com. Follow Stephen on Twitter @hcpsportseditor.[[In-content Ad]]