Week 9 High School Football Preview: Indians, Tigers both set to play in away games

It wasn’t the best of weeks for the two Highland County football teams in Week 8, where both the Hillsboro Indians and McClain Tigers lost their respective Frontier Athletic Conference games. This week, both teams are on the road for Week 9, as there are just two games left on the schedule for the regular season.

Hillsboro (1-2, 3-5) is coming off a 50-30 loss to the Washington Blue Lions, as that was Washington’s second win of the ’24 season, and the Tigers lost to the Chillicothe Cavaliers by a 40-7 score, with that being Chillicothe’s first win of the season.

Also in the FAC last Friday, the Jackson Ironmen defeated the Miami Trace Panthers 43-27 to keep their lead in the conference standings, as the Ironmen have won 18 consecutive FAC football games dating back to the ’21 season.

Here are the current FAC standings with the teams listed by their FAC record:
Jackson     3-0, 6-2
Miami Trace        2-1, 6-2
Washington         2-1, 2-6
Hillsboro         1-2, 3-5
Chillicothe         1-2, 1-7
McClain        0-3, 1-7.

The schedule for Week 9 in the FAC:
Hillsboro at Jackson
McClain at Washington
Miami Trace at Chillicothe.

Here are previews for the Week 9 schedule:

Hillsboro Indians (1-2, 3-5) at Jackson Ironmen (3-0, 6-2)

The Jackson Ironmen are the most dominant team in the conference, and they will stay the champions until someone can defeat them, which hasn’t been the case thus far this season or for the past 18 FAC games.  

JHS played what is probably their toughest opponent in the FAC and defeated them this past Friday, as they won against the Miami Trace Panthers by 16 points, and that’s after Jackson was trailing by five points at halftime. Jackson is the juggernaut of the FAC, and they are going to be a tough team to stop in conference play for the remainder of the ’24 season and most likely for the foreseeable future.

The Indians had the second half get away from them in Week 8 at Washington, losing by 20 points after trailing by just 10 points at halftime. Hillsboro even had two 100-yard rushers in the game (Jeven Hochstuhl and Tre Captain), but the Indians were outscored 34-24 in the second half, including 20-8 in the fourth quarter.

Through eight games, Hillsboro is led in rushing by Ryan Burns (57 carries, 482 yards, seven touchdowns), Jeven Hochstuhl (51 carries, 481 yards, eight touchdowns) and Mason Dumpert (69 carries, 337 yards, eight touchdowns). Also for HHS, Tre Captain has 41 carries for 301 yards and four touchdowns.

Dumpert, through eight games in the air in 2024, is 25-of-41 for 441 yards with three touchdown passes and three interceptions. Hillsboro’s leading receivers are Captain with five receptions for 49 yards and Hochstuhl with 10 receptions for 269 yards and two touchdowns.

The Ironmen this season have scored 294 points and allowed 151, and in three FAC games those numbers are 140 (points for) and 27 (points allowed). HHS this season has scored 276 points and have allowed 232 points. In FAC games, the Indians have scored 78 points and have allowed 108.

Kickoff for Jackson and Hillsboro is at 7 p.m. at Jackson High School.

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McClain Tigers (0-3, 1-7) at Washington Blue Lions (2-1, 2-6)

This rivalry game in FAC play is one that showcases the Washington Blue Lions coming off their second win of the season, as they’ve won two of their past three games played, with both of their wins coming in conference play by defeating the Chillicothe Cavaliers 28-26 and the Hillsboro Indians by the aforementioned 50-30 score.

In three FAC games, McClain has had their share of struggles with a team where many players are still completing their first season of varsity play, and they’ve been battling many injuries to starters as of late. MHS has scored 94 points this season and have allowed 252 points. In FAC games, the Tigers have scored 17 points and allowed 139 points.

Washington also struggled early in their season, going 0-5 until the start of FAC play, but since then have won two of three FAC games played. Washington has scored 135 points and allowed 341 points, and in their conference games they’ve scored 78 points and have allowed 98 points.

Washington this season has quarterback Gavin Coffman going 74-of-142 for 1,022 yards with seven touchdowns and eight interceptions. Last Friday, Washington running back Aden Osborne had his breakout game where he rushed for 191 yards on four carries and three rushing touchdowns, including one for 85 yards on the first play of the game against HHS.

Kickoff at Gardner Park for McClain at Washington is set for 7 p.m.

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Miami Trace Panthers (2-1, 6-2) at Chillicothe Cavaliers (1-2, 1-7)

The Miami Trace Panthers are coming off a game where they fell to Jackson, 43-27, but they held a 21-16 halftime lead. The Cavaliers defeated McClain 40-7 last Friday night in Week 8 for their first win of the season.

The Panthers are No. 7 in this week’s computer rankings for Division III, Region 12, so they have a big possibility to host a playoff game in Week 11.

MTHS has scored 290 points and have allowed 203 points this season, and in FAC play they’ve scored 115 points and allowed 80 points.

As for the Cavaliers this season, they’ve scored 123 points and have allowed 233 points, while in FAC games the Cavs have scored 80 points and have allowed 56 points.

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