Week 1 High School Football Preview: Bearcats, Indians and Tigers open '14 season on the road
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
Hillsboro Indians (0-0) at Western Brown Broncos (0-0)
This season for the Hillsboro Indians, they will open on the road in Mt. Orab as the Western Brown Broncos welcome the visiting Indians for the Week 1 opener.
Last season, the Broncos went 10-1, undefeated in the regular season, while the Indians were 1-9 overall, including a 49-6 loss at Richards Memorial Field to the Broncos.
The Broncos, the reigning champions of the Southern Buckeye Athletic & Academic Conference, uses a spread offense and odd fronts on the defensive side of the ball.
In the matchup last season, Western Brown had a three-play, 59-yard drive and a three-play, 96-yard drive that ended with a 43-yard touchdown pass.
There was also a 98-yard touchdown drive and a 35-yard touchdown pass.
Plays like that can't happen this season for the Indians to leave week one with a victory.
Hillsboro head coach Matt Hodge (second season with the Indians) knows the visiting Indians have a tough matchup to open the '14 season against a program like Western Brown.
"Western Brown is a very solid team that runs the spread very well," Hodge said. "Their quarterback has a great arm and can hurt you with his feet. They are athletic at the skilled spots and solid up front. Their defense is aggressive and gets to the ball well.
"They will throw more than they run and are a very good passing team."
As for the Indians, they did see improvements during the scrimmages.
"We felt like we were able to improve our offensive line play as well as our overall defensive play," Hodge said. "Our kids are excited to get started. We had good competition in camp and are hoping that carries over to the season."
For the Indians to have success in Week 1, Hillsboro must play fundamentally sound football, especially against a team like the Broncos.
"We have to get to the football on defense," Hodge said of what his team needs to do to have success in the opener. "Their quarterback is good, and if we give him time to throw or running lanes to run in, we will be in for a long night.
"We have to be relentless in getting to the football. On offense, we have to eliminate turnovers, keep ourselves on schedule (no second or third and longs) and finish drives."
The Indians and Broncos kickoff at 7 p.m. instead of the usual 7:30 p.m. start.
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The McClain Tigers
McClain Tigers (0-0) at Adena Warriors (0-0)
This annual matchup of the Tigers and Warriors will be played at Adena High School, where the Tigers are looking to gain their third consecutive season-opening win.
MHS has won the past two meetings by scores of 47-21 last season and 24-18 in double overtime in '12.
Though this is a whole different season for the Tigers (who were 4-6 in '13) and Warriors, MHS head coach Randy Closson knows this will be a hard-fought matchup for his rebuilding Tigers team.
"Adena is a strong program and a great rivalry for us," he said. "It's always a hard-fought game."
For the Tigers' preparation of Adena (4-6 in '13), they noticed even though they are still a run-first offense, the Warriors have added a new wrinkle into their offensive arsenal and are also strong defensively.
"Offensively, Adena is more diverse, adding some spread pistol to their traditional I-formation backfield with an athletic quarterback and running back," Closson said. "Defensively, they are solid up front with linebackers who get to the ball."
In their rebuilding for '14, the Tigers have officially named their starting quarterback to replace three-year starter Thomas Schrader who was a senior last season.
The new starting quarterback for the Tigers is Jason Flowers, as the scrimmages were not only important for Flowers, but all the new first-year starters of McClain.
"Jason has nailed down the starting quarterback spot and had a strong showing in our final scrimmage," Closson said. "Our scrimmages were so important for our team. With so many first-year starters, it was important to get as much experience as we could early."
With game week, comes more focus for the young Tigers, and that is a good thing for the team.
"Game week is good. It brings a heightened sense of urgency and focus to our day," Closson said.
The Tigers and Warriors kickoff at 7:30 p.m. at AHS.
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The Paint Valley Bearcats
Paint Valley Bearcats (0-0) at Summit Country Day (0-0)
The path back to the OHSAA postseason starts Friday night for the Paint Valley Bearcats on the road at Summit Country Day, where they look to have a repeat trip to the postseason, something they've not done since the 2002-03 seasons.
PV head coach Pete Hollon and his team have been waiting for this game for a long time.
"It's been like waiting for Christmas morning," Hollon said of the first week of the season. "All the lifting and the summer work, and finally, it's here. Summit Country Day is a very good opponent. They have qualified for the playoffs four years in a row and have a 35-11 record during that span."
Last year, the Silver Knights of SCD finished 9-3 overall last season. They are members of the Miami Valley Conference.
In the postseason in '13, SCD defeated Cincinnati Country Day by a 55-28 score in the opening week of the playoffs and were defeated by West Liberty-Salem by a 21-13 score.
The Silver Knights use a spread offense and a four-man front defensively.
"Offensively, they try to spread you out and throw the ball," Hollon said. "They are very fast, and we better tackle in space well or it will be a long night.
"They are very aggressive in their 4-3 defense and blitz nearly every play."
In talking about the Silver Knights, one word Hollon used to describe the Bearcats' Week 1 opponent was "speed."
"Their speed is a little scary," he said. "Overall, we will not face a team the rest of the season with this kind of speed."
Some players of the SCD to look out for are senior wide receiver/defensive back C.J. Suggs, who was first-team All-Ohio defensive back in '13. Also watch out for senior running back/wide receiver Tyler Hannah, and 6-2, 220-pound defensive lineman Davionne Laney.
New to SCD is freshman Xavier Johnson (6-2, 190 pounds) who Hollon said was "simply electric with the ball."
To gain the win, PV must run the ball well.
"We need to run the ball a little more consistently," Hollon said. "We have been very quick scoring in our scrimmages, so hopefully we will be a little more ball control. Defensively, we really need to tackle well.
"This is the beginning of five weeks of brutal football for us. This is by far the toughest non-league schedule Paint Valley has ever had. Hopefully the kids will elevate their game to the next level."
PV will begin their game at SCD at 7 p.m. Friday night.
This season for the Hillsboro Indians, they will open on the road in Mt. Orab as the Western Brown Broncos welcome the visiting Indians for the Week 1 opener.
Last season, the Broncos went 10-1, undefeated in the regular season, while the Indians were 1-9 overall, including a 49-6 loss at Richards Memorial Field to the Broncos.
The Broncos, the reigning champions of the Southern Buckeye Athletic & Academic Conference, uses a spread offense and odd fronts on the defensive side of the ball.
In the matchup last season, Western Brown had a three-play, 59-yard drive and a three-play, 96-yard drive that ended with a 43-yard touchdown pass.
There was also a 98-yard touchdown drive and a 35-yard touchdown pass.
Plays like that can't happen this season for the Indians to leave week one with a victory.
Hillsboro head coach Matt Hodge (second season with the Indians) knows the visiting Indians have a tough matchup to open the '14 season against a program like Western Brown.
"Western Brown is a very solid team that runs the spread very well," Hodge said. "Their quarterback has a great arm and can hurt you with his feet. They are athletic at the skilled spots and solid up front. Their defense is aggressive and gets to the ball well.
"They will throw more than they run and are a very good passing team."
As for the Indians, they did see improvements during the scrimmages.
"We felt like we were able to improve our offensive line play as well as our overall defensive play," Hodge said. "Our kids are excited to get started. We had good competition in camp and are hoping that carries over to the season."
For the Indians to have success in Week 1, Hillsboro must play fundamentally sound football, especially against a team like the Broncos.
"We have to get to the football on defense," Hodge said of what his team needs to do to have success in the opener. "Their quarterback is good, and if we give him time to throw or running lanes to run in, we will be in for a long night.
"We have to be relentless in getting to the football. On offense, we have to eliminate turnovers, keep ourselves on schedule (no second or third and longs) and finish drives."
The Indians and Broncos kickoff at 7 p.m. instead of the usual 7:30 p.m. start.
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The McClain Tigers
McClain Tigers (0-0) at Adena Warriors (0-0)
This annual matchup of the Tigers and Warriors will be played at Adena High School, where the Tigers are looking to gain their third consecutive season-opening win.
MHS has won the past two meetings by scores of 47-21 last season and 24-18 in double overtime in '12.
Though this is a whole different season for the Tigers (who were 4-6 in '13) and Warriors, MHS head coach Randy Closson knows this will be a hard-fought matchup for his rebuilding Tigers team.
"Adena is a strong program and a great rivalry for us," he said. "It's always a hard-fought game."
For the Tigers' preparation of Adena (4-6 in '13), they noticed even though they are still a run-first offense, the Warriors have added a new wrinkle into their offensive arsenal and are also strong defensively.
"Offensively, Adena is more diverse, adding some spread pistol to their traditional I-formation backfield with an athletic quarterback and running back," Closson said. "Defensively, they are solid up front with linebackers who get to the ball."
In their rebuilding for '14, the Tigers have officially named their starting quarterback to replace three-year starter Thomas Schrader who was a senior last season.
The new starting quarterback for the Tigers is Jason Flowers, as the scrimmages were not only important for Flowers, but all the new first-year starters of McClain.
"Jason has nailed down the starting quarterback spot and had a strong showing in our final scrimmage," Closson said. "Our scrimmages were so important for our team. With so many first-year starters, it was important to get as much experience as we could early."
With game week, comes more focus for the young Tigers, and that is a good thing for the team.
"Game week is good. It brings a heightened sense of urgency and focus to our day," Closson said.
The Tigers and Warriors kickoff at 7:30 p.m. at AHS.
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The Paint Valley Bearcats
Paint Valley Bearcats (0-0) at Summit Country Day (0-0)
The path back to the OHSAA postseason starts Friday night for the Paint Valley Bearcats on the road at Summit Country Day, where they look to have a repeat trip to the postseason, something they've not done since the 2002-03 seasons.
PV head coach Pete Hollon and his team have been waiting for this game for a long time.
"It's been like waiting for Christmas morning," Hollon said of the first week of the season. "All the lifting and the summer work, and finally, it's here. Summit Country Day is a very good opponent. They have qualified for the playoffs four years in a row and have a 35-11 record during that span."
Last year, the Silver Knights of SCD finished 9-3 overall last season. They are members of the Miami Valley Conference.
In the postseason in '13, SCD defeated Cincinnati Country Day by a 55-28 score in the opening week of the playoffs and were defeated by West Liberty-Salem by a 21-13 score.
The Silver Knights use a spread offense and a four-man front defensively.
"Offensively, they try to spread you out and throw the ball," Hollon said. "They are very fast, and we better tackle in space well or it will be a long night.
"They are very aggressive in their 4-3 defense and blitz nearly every play."
In talking about the Silver Knights, one word Hollon used to describe the Bearcats' Week 1 opponent was "speed."
"Their speed is a little scary," he said. "Overall, we will not face a team the rest of the season with this kind of speed."
Some players of the SCD to look out for are senior wide receiver/defensive back C.J. Suggs, who was first-team All-Ohio defensive back in '13. Also watch out for senior running back/wide receiver Tyler Hannah, and 6-2, 220-pound defensive lineman Davionne Laney.
New to SCD is freshman Xavier Johnson (6-2, 190 pounds) who Hollon said was "simply electric with the ball."
To gain the win, PV must run the ball well.
"We need to run the ball a little more consistently," Hollon said. "We have been very quick scoring in our scrimmages, so hopefully we will be a little more ball control. Defensively, we really need to tackle well.
"This is the beginning of five weeks of brutal football for us. This is by far the toughest non-league schedule Paint Valley has ever had. Hopefully the kids will elevate their game to the next level."
PV will begin their game at SCD at 7 p.m. Friday night.