SCOL Football Notebook: Week 5
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
The Hillsboro Indians football team lost their South Central Ohio League opener on Friday night in their fourth game of the season, but watching the team three of four games this season, I felt even in a 35-33 loss, this was their best-played second half of the season.
Hillsboro’s first half didn’t go their way as they allowed the big-play Blue Lions do just that in the final seconds of the second quarter, and even at the start of the third quarter, the Indians were down 35-13 on the road. Most teams would have just folded camp and said better luck next week, but the ’16 version of the Indians didn’t do so, and it showed in the second half.
That third-quarter 22-point deficit in the past would have turned into something worse, but on that night in Fayette County, the Indians showed in the final 24 minutes they had the ability to compete at a high level themselves.
Hillsboro almost overcame giving the Blue Lions field position near the halfway point of the field each possession, and even outscored the Blue Lions, 20-7 in the second half, keeping the Blue Lions out of the end zone for the final quarter.
Even with the loss, the Indians showed they were able to have and keep possession of the football, and keep the offense of the opponent off the field. It was an excellent step in the right direction for the HHS football program.
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• More on last week
Besides the Hillsboro at Washington game last week, the SCOL also had a game where the Clinton-Massie defeated the Miami Trace Panthers, 24-14, handing the Panthers their first loss of the season. CM has won 53 straight league games dating back to the end of the ’07 season.
Also last week, the Wilmington Hurricane defeated McClain, 62-19 (though the game was close at the half), and the Chillicothe Cavaliers defeated the East Clinton Astros, 38-0.
The opening week of the SCOL went as many expected in the win-loss column, but a couple of these games were a lot closer than they have been in the past. Too bad some of those matchups won’t have a rematch next season.
• Week 5 Schedule
Here is a sneak peek at this week’s games:
-Clinton-Massie Falcons (1-0, 3-1) at McClain Tigers (0-1, 1-3)
This game has been dominated by the Falcons for the past number of seasons, with CM not losing to the Tigers since joining the league in the mid-2000s.
The Falcons have scored 114 points this season but have allowed just 71 points through four games this year. The Tigers have scored 101 points in ’16, but have allowed 167 points, including 62 last week to Wilmington.
MHS enters this game averaging 230.3 yards per game rushing and 83.3 passing yards per game. Quarterback Tristan Pitzer leads the team in rushing with 73 carries for 630 yards and seven touchdowns. In three of four games played thus far, he’s rushed for over 100 yards in a game.
Last year, the Falcons defeated MHS, 70-7.
- Wilmington Hurricane (1-0, 3-1) at Hillsboro Indians (0-1, 1-3)
Since rejoining the SCOL three seasons ago, the Hurricane have done quite well for themselves in the league, and after their first league game last week, they showed why they are a team to watch for the remainder of the year. Wilmington has a lot of athletic football players, and that will pay great dividends the remainder of the season.
The Hurricane are averaging 199.8 yards passing per game and 228.8 rushing yards per game. Freshman quarterback Brady Evans leads the ’Cane with 808 passing yards through four games, with six touchdown passes and four interceptions. He also has 154 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns.
HHS is coming off a game where they lost by two points, and in that same game, they totaled 470 yards of offense in what was a 35-33 loss to the Blue Lions. HHS has the ability to run the football, and it will be interesting to see how they continue that trend this week.
Last season, the ’Cane defeated the Indians, 49-7.
- Miami Trace Panthers (0-1, 3-1) at Chillicothe Cavaliers (1-0, 3-1)
This is the showcase game of the week for the SCOL, and it should be very exciting for those in attendance. Both teams enter the game having excellent seasons thus far. The Cavaliers have won their past three games, defeating Jackson (24-21), Teays Valley (12-10) and East Clinton (38-0). Each week, they seem to be improving, and that’s a positive to see. CHS has scored 86 points this season and have allowed just 60.
The Panthers enter this week following a toughly played game with Clinton-Massie. MT has scored 151 points through the first four games of the season and have allowed just 77, setting up an excellent matchup between two of the better teams in the league.
Last year, the Cavs won this game, 45-14, and in their three meetings since both have been in the SCOL together, the Cavaliers have won all three times.
- East Clinton Astros (0-1, 0-4) at Washington Blue Lions (1-0, 4-0)
Washington played a great first half last week against the Hillsboro Indians, but they were held to just seven points and allowed 20 in the final two quarters. With this week’s game being homecoming for the Blue Lions, and both teams having opposite records, the Blue Lions enter this contest with the advantage.
The Blue Lions have scored 160 points this season, while giving up 123.
Though the Astros are 0-4 on the year, they are still averaging 129.3 yards per game rushing and 101.5 yards passing per game. Anthony Osburn leads the team with 49 carries for 283 yards and two touchdowns. Wyatt Floyd is the leading receiver for the Astros with 15 receptions for 231 yards and two touchdowns.
• Final Thoughts
What will be the best thing to look forward to this week, at the halfway point of the ’16 season, is the fact the league seems to be playing well, and having two very good games last week proves that.
Let’s all hope this week has the same type of feel as last week in terms of having competitive games for at least part or all of the four quarters played. This week will go a long way in the standings of the SCOL for both the Panthers and Cavaliers, but that is what makes all of this so much fun.
Enjoy the games this week.
Stephen Forsha is the sports editor of The Highland County Press.
Hillsboro’s first half didn’t go their way as they allowed the big-play Blue Lions do just that in the final seconds of the second quarter, and even at the start of the third quarter, the Indians were down 35-13 on the road. Most teams would have just folded camp and said better luck next week, but the ’16 version of the Indians didn’t do so, and it showed in the second half.
That third-quarter 22-point deficit in the past would have turned into something worse, but on that night in Fayette County, the Indians showed in the final 24 minutes they had the ability to compete at a high level themselves.
Hillsboro almost overcame giving the Blue Lions field position near the halfway point of the field each possession, and even outscored the Blue Lions, 20-7 in the second half, keeping the Blue Lions out of the end zone for the final quarter.
Even with the loss, the Indians showed they were able to have and keep possession of the football, and keep the offense of the opponent off the field. It was an excellent step in the right direction for the HHS football program.
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• More on last week
Besides the Hillsboro at Washington game last week, the SCOL also had a game where the Clinton-Massie defeated the Miami Trace Panthers, 24-14, handing the Panthers their first loss of the season. CM has won 53 straight league games dating back to the end of the ’07 season.
Also last week, the Wilmington Hurricane defeated McClain, 62-19 (though the game was close at the half), and the Chillicothe Cavaliers defeated the East Clinton Astros, 38-0.
The opening week of the SCOL went as many expected in the win-loss column, but a couple of these games were a lot closer than they have been in the past. Too bad some of those matchups won’t have a rematch next season.
• Week 5 Schedule
Here is a sneak peek at this week’s games:
-Clinton-Massie Falcons (1-0, 3-1) at McClain Tigers (0-1, 1-3)
This game has been dominated by the Falcons for the past number of seasons, with CM not losing to the Tigers since joining the league in the mid-2000s.
The Falcons have scored 114 points this season but have allowed just 71 points through four games this year. The Tigers have scored 101 points in ’16, but have allowed 167 points, including 62 last week to Wilmington.
MHS enters this game averaging 230.3 yards per game rushing and 83.3 passing yards per game. Quarterback Tristan Pitzer leads the team in rushing with 73 carries for 630 yards and seven touchdowns. In three of four games played thus far, he’s rushed for over 100 yards in a game.
Last year, the Falcons defeated MHS, 70-7.
- Wilmington Hurricane (1-0, 3-1) at Hillsboro Indians (0-1, 1-3)
Since rejoining the SCOL three seasons ago, the Hurricane have done quite well for themselves in the league, and after their first league game last week, they showed why they are a team to watch for the remainder of the year. Wilmington has a lot of athletic football players, and that will pay great dividends the remainder of the season.
The Hurricane are averaging 199.8 yards passing per game and 228.8 rushing yards per game. Freshman quarterback Brady Evans leads the ’Cane with 808 passing yards through four games, with six touchdown passes and four interceptions. He also has 154 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns.
HHS is coming off a game where they lost by two points, and in that same game, they totaled 470 yards of offense in what was a 35-33 loss to the Blue Lions. HHS has the ability to run the football, and it will be interesting to see how they continue that trend this week.
Last season, the ’Cane defeated the Indians, 49-7.
- Miami Trace Panthers (0-1, 3-1) at Chillicothe Cavaliers (1-0, 3-1)
This is the showcase game of the week for the SCOL, and it should be very exciting for those in attendance. Both teams enter the game having excellent seasons thus far. The Cavaliers have won their past three games, defeating Jackson (24-21), Teays Valley (12-10) and East Clinton (38-0). Each week, they seem to be improving, and that’s a positive to see. CHS has scored 86 points this season and have allowed just 60.
The Panthers enter this week following a toughly played game with Clinton-Massie. MT has scored 151 points through the first four games of the season and have allowed just 77, setting up an excellent matchup between two of the better teams in the league.
Last year, the Cavs won this game, 45-14, and in their three meetings since both have been in the SCOL together, the Cavaliers have won all three times.
- East Clinton Astros (0-1, 0-4) at Washington Blue Lions (1-0, 4-0)
Washington played a great first half last week against the Hillsboro Indians, but they were held to just seven points and allowed 20 in the final two quarters. With this week’s game being homecoming for the Blue Lions, and both teams having opposite records, the Blue Lions enter this contest with the advantage.
The Blue Lions have scored 160 points this season, while giving up 123.
Though the Astros are 0-4 on the year, they are still averaging 129.3 yards per game rushing and 101.5 yards passing per game. Anthony Osburn leads the team with 49 carries for 283 yards and two touchdowns. Wyatt Floyd is the leading receiver for the Astros with 15 receptions for 231 yards and two touchdowns.
• Final Thoughts
What will be the best thing to look forward to this week, at the halfway point of the ’16 season, is the fact the league seems to be playing well, and having two very good games last week proves that.
Let’s all hope this week has the same type of feel as last week in terms of having competitive games for at least part or all of the four quarters played. This week will go a long way in the standings of the SCOL for both the Panthers and Cavaliers, but that is what makes all of this so much fun.
Enjoy the games this week.
Stephen Forsha is the sports editor of The Highland County Press.