Circleville, WCH led SCOL in 1970
By
Bob Patton-
The 1970 SCOL football season was about to get under way for its 43rd season for the league, counting the four years that the league was disbanded (1931-35).
Dale Ambos was back for his third year at the helm of the
Indians. In 1968, his team had won only one league game, a 26-22 win over McClain. In 1969, the Indians had not won a league game.
McClain hadn’t fared any better. In 1968, they hadn’t won a game all season, either league or non-league. In 1969, they had won only one game, a 28-20 win over Hillsboro, at the Hillsboro High School Homecoming.
Ambos expected his HHS squad to be more competitive in the league, this season. Bob Kelch, Dennis Lafferty, Don Jewett, Mike McConnaughey, Tim Shelton, Bimbo Rollins, Mark and Scott Coffman, Donald Captain and Lonnie Burns were all back, trying to put Hillsboro in contention for the SCOL championship. This was not a particularly big team, but had some real speed, and some pretty fair athletes. Tim Shelton was, arguably, the best kicker in the SCOL and a very good running back. McClain, on the other hand, was an unknown quantity. Some thought Coach Paul Orr’s Tigers would be in the middle of the fight for the league crown. Others were less optimistic. That is why they play the games, as they say.
Both Moe Pfeifer at Washington C.H. and Denny Williams at Circleville had many excellent athletes returning, and both should be among the top contenders for the league title. Jim Knowles, at Wilmington had one of his smallest teams. But, the Hurricane nearly always gave a good account of themselves in league competition.
The only new coach in the SCOL in 1970 was Roy Lucas, at Miami Trace. He would be trying to build a contender from his crop of young athletes. Lucas was the brother of well-known basketball star Jerry Lucas, of Middletown, Ohio State and NBA fame.
For the fifth consecutive year, the Indians opened their season
with Lebanon, this year on the Hillsboro gridiron. And, for the fifth consecutive year the Warriors wiped out the locals, this time by a 43-8 margin. If you are going to play a really strong team, don’t schedule them in your opening game of the season. It tends to get your season started on the wrong note.
The same night, McClain opened their season at London, where they were hammered, 28-8.
A week later, on Sept. 18, Hillsboro journeyed to Blanchester, where they showed some real promise, by walloping the Wildcats, 40-0. McClain played Jackson on the McClain field, and was pummeled, 50-14.
The third week of the season saw the Hillsboro Indians travel to Unioto. After a grueling battle, the Indians emerged with a 6-0 win.
After three games, they were now 2-1 going into league play. McClain played Chillicothe at Greenfield, and was shut out, 34-0.
After about seven weeks of preparation, the SCOL season
finally got under way Oct. 2. Washington C.H. came to Hillsboro to meet the upstart Indians. It was a bruising battle, but penalties and costly mistakes early in the game cost the Indians dearly. The Blue Lions ended up on top, 22-14.
Meanwhile, Miami Trace blasted McClain, 34-0, and, Circleville edged Wilmington, 16-12. The following week saw Wilmington pound McClain, 20-0, as the Tigers continued to have trouble generating any offense. Washington took arch-rival Miami Trace, 26-18, and Circleville shut out the Hillsboro Indians, 22-0. This game was played mostly on Hillsboro’s end of the field. The Indians’ deepest penetration was to the Circleville 30-yard line. After two rounds of league play, Circleville and Washington were 2-0, Wilmington and Miami Trace were 1-1; while Hillsboro and McClain were 0-2.
October 16 featured the annual Homecoming game at McClain High School. The Tigers tangled with Circleville in the Homecoming game. Circleville, at the time, was ranked fifth in Ohio. Prior to the opening kickoff, attractive senior Karen Dickess was crowned Homecoming Queen. Her attendants were: Sharon Royse (senior), Laura Mitchell (junior), Susie Jones (sophomore) and Susan Herman (freshman). The crowning of the queen was the pleasant part of the evening. The game was won by Circleville, 38-8. The same night, Miami Trace scored on an intercepted pass in the closing minutes of the game and the Panthers edged Hillsboro, 20-14. At Washington C.H., the Blue Lions blew the Wilmington Hurricane away, 40-0.
On Oct. 23, 1970, the Hurricane blew into Hillsboro. The Indians fought valiantly and led at halftime, 12-0. Just before halftime, the Hurricane moved the ball to Hillsboro’s one yard line. On the next play from scrimmage, the ball squirted loose. Alert Indian Don Captain fell on the loose pigskin, thus averting an almost certain Wilmington score. Wilmington did score a touchdown in the second half, but when the dust settled, the Indians had captured a 12-6 win.
McClain’s offensive struggles continued, when they were shut out by Washington 38-0. Circleville beat Miami Trace 26-9. On Oct. 30, the big Hillsboro vs. McClain match-up took place on McClain Field. The Tigers had modified their straight T offense into the Wishbone T, which was quite popular at that time. They still ran the belly series and the option. Hillsboro fought to a halftime lead of 12-8. But the Indians totally dominated the second half by a 34-0 margin, and took the game by a final score of 46-8. Indian Scott Coffman rambled for 201 yards and racked up four touchdowns against the hapless Tigers.
This concluded the 1970 league season, although all the SCOL teams had two non-league encounters to wind up the season. On Nov. 6 McClain was pulverized by Hamilton Taft 61-8. Hillsboro rolled over Goshen 28-0, Circleville beat Franklin Heights 12-0, Washington had a barnburner with Teays Valley, but came out on top 18-14, Hamilton Township won over Miami Trace 14-8 and Dayton
Patterson drubbed Wilmington 36-6. In the final game of the season, Clermont Northeastern tripped
Hillsboro 12-6. In other games, McClain capped off an 0-10 season
with a 41-8 loss to Bishop Hartley, of Columbus, Circleville ended
an undefeated season by walloping Logan 38-0, and Washington
pummeled Hamilton Township 39-22.
The final standings of the SCOL teams for the 1970 season were:
Circleville — 5-0, 10-0
Washington — 4-1, 6-3-1
Hillsboro — 2-3, 5-5
Miami Trace — 2-3, 2-7
Wilmington — 2-3, 2-7-1
McClain — 0-5, 0-10
The 1970 SCOL football banquet was held at Washington High School Nov. 16. Coach Denny Williams’ Circleville Tigers were awarded the gold football for going undefeated in the league.
The All-SCOL football team included: Mike Webb, Circ.; Bill Fowler, Circ., David DeWeese, WCH; Don Jewett, HHS; John Green, WCH; Allen Willoughby, WCH; Mark Davey, Circ.; Bill Francis, Circ; Gary Robbins, Circ; Donald Johns, WCH; Guy Naylor, WCH; Doyle Thomas, HHS; Mick Ford, HHS; Jim Heath, WCH; Craig Allison, Cir.; Jim Morgan, Circ; Jeff Pollock, WCH; Bob Self, WCH; Jim Cain, Wilm; Doyle Kiser, Cir; Scott Coffman, HHS; Mike Benner, McC; Jeff George, McC; Lonnie Burns, HHS; Bob Kelch, HHS; Bill Junk, WCH; Jeff Blake, WCH; Tim Shelton, HHS; Tom Bowers, Circ.
Bob Patton is a Highland County sports historian and a contributing writer to The Highland County Press.[[In-content Ad]]
Dale Ambos was back for his third year at the helm of the
Indians. In 1968, his team had won only one league game, a 26-22 win over McClain. In 1969, the Indians had not won a league game.
McClain hadn’t fared any better. In 1968, they hadn’t won a game all season, either league or non-league. In 1969, they had won only one game, a 28-20 win over Hillsboro, at the Hillsboro High School Homecoming.
Ambos expected his HHS squad to be more competitive in the league, this season. Bob Kelch, Dennis Lafferty, Don Jewett, Mike McConnaughey, Tim Shelton, Bimbo Rollins, Mark and Scott Coffman, Donald Captain and Lonnie Burns were all back, trying to put Hillsboro in contention for the SCOL championship. This was not a particularly big team, but had some real speed, and some pretty fair athletes. Tim Shelton was, arguably, the best kicker in the SCOL and a very good running back. McClain, on the other hand, was an unknown quantity. Some thought Coach Paul Orr’s Tigers would be in the middle of the fight for the league crown. Others were less optimistic. That is why they play the games, as they say.
Both Moe Pfeifer at Washington C.H. and Denny Williams at Circleville had many excellent athletes returning, and both should be among the top contenders for the league title. Jim Knowles, at Wilmington had one of his smallest teams. But, the Hurricane nearly always gave a good account of themselves in league competition.
The only new coach in the SCOL in 1970 was Roy Lucas, at Miami Trace. He would be trying to build a contender from his crop of young athletes. Lucas was the brother of well-known basketball star Jerry Lucas, of Middletown, Ohio State and NBA fame.
For the fifth consecutive year, the Indians opened their season
with Lebanon, this year on the Hillsboro gridiron. And, for the fifth consecutive year the Warriors wiped out the locals, this time by a 43-8 margin. If you are going to play a really strong team, don’t schedule them in your opening game of the season. It tends to get your season started on the wrong note.
The same night, McClain opened their season at London, where they were hammered, 28-8.
A week later, on Sept. 18, Hillsboro journeyed to Blanchester, where they showed some real promise, by walloping the Wildcats, 40-0. McClain played Jackson on the McClain field, and was pummeled, 50-14.
The third week of the season saw the Hillsboro Indians travel to Unioto. After a grueling battle, the Indians emerged with a 6-0 win.
After three games, they were now 2-1 going into league play. McClain played Chillicothe at Greenfield, and was shut out, 34-0.
After about seven weeks of preparation, the SCOL season
finally got under way Oct. 2. Washington C.H. came to Hillsboro to meet the upstart Indians. It was a bruising battle, but penalties and costly mistakes early in the game cost the Indians dearly. The Blue Lions ended up on top, 22-14.
Meanwhile, Miami Trace blasted McClain, 34-0, and, Circleville edged Wilmington, 16-12. The following week saw Wilmington pound McClain, 20-0, as the Tigers continued to have trouble generating any offense. Washington took arch-rival Miami Trace, 26-18, and Circleville shut out the Hillsboro Indians, 22-0. This game was played mostly on Hillsboro’s end of the field. The Indians’ deepest penetration was to the Circleville 30-yard line. After two rounds of league play, Circleville and Washington were 2-0, Wilmington and Miami Trace were 1-1; while Hillsboro and McClain were 0-2.
October 16 featured the annual Homecoming game at McClain High School. The Tigers tangled with Circleville in the Homecoming game. Circleville, at the time, was ranked fifth in Ohio. Prior to the opening kickoff, attractive senior Karen Dickess was crowned Homecoming Queen. Her attendants were: Sharon Royse (senior), Laura Mitchell (junior), Susie Jones (sophomore) and Susan Herman (freshman). The crowning of the queen was the pleasant part of the evening. The game was won by Circleville, 38-8. The same night, Miami Trace scored on an intercepted pass in the closing minutes of the game and the Panthers edged Hillsboro, 20-14. At Washington C.H., the Blue Lions blew the Wilmington Hurricane away, 40-0.
On Oct. 23, 1970, the Hurricane blew into Hillsboro. The Indians fought valiantly and led at halftime, 12-0. Just before halftime, the Hurricane moved the ball to Hillsboro’s one yard line. On the next play from scrimmage, the ball squirted loose. Alert Indian Don Captain fell on the loose pigskin, thus averting an almost certain Wilmington score. Wilmington did score a touchdown in the second half, but when the dust settled, the Indians had captured a 12-6 win.
McClain’s offensive struggles continued, when they were shut out by Washington 38-0. Circleville beat Miami Trace 26-9. On Oct. 30, the big Hillsboro vs. McClain match-up took place on McClain Field. The Tigers had modified their straight T offense into the Wishbone T, which was quite popular at that time. They still ran the belly series and the option. Hillsboro fought to a halftime lead of 12-8. But the Indians totally dominated the second half by a 34-0 margin, and took the game by a final score of 46-8. Indian Scott Coffman rambled for 201 yards and racked up four touchdowns against the hapless Tigers.
This concluded the 1970 league season, although all the SCOL teams had two non-league encounters to wind up the season. On Nov. 6 McClain was pulverized by Hamilton Taft 61-8. Hillsboro rolled over Goshen 28-0, Circleville beat Franklin Heights 12-0, Washington had a barnburner with Teays Valley, but came out on top 18-14, Hamilton Township won over Miami Trace 14-8 and Dayton
Patterson drubbed Wilmington 36-6. In the final game of the season, Clermont Northeastern tripped
Hillsboro 12-6. In other games, McClain capped off an 0-10 season
with a 41-8 loss to Bishop Hartley, of Columbus, Circleville ended
an undefeated season by walloping Logan 38-0, and Washington
pummeled Hamilton Township 39-22.
The final standings of the SCOL teams for the 1970 season were:
Circleville — 5-0, 10-0
Washington — 4-1, 6-3-1
Hillsboro — 2-3, 5-5
Miami Trace — 2-3, 2-7
Wilmington — 2-3, 2-7-1
McClain — 0-5, 0-10
The 1970 SCOL football banquet was held at Washington High School Nov. 16. Coach Denny Williams’ Circleville Tigers were awarded the gold football for going undefeated in the league.
The All-SCOL football team included: Mike Webb, Circ.; Bill Fowler, Circ., David DeWeese, WCH; Don Jewett, HHS; John Green, WCH; Allen Willoughby, WCH; Mark Davey, Circ.; Bill Francis, Circ; Gary Robbins, Circ; Donald Johns, WCH; Guy Naylor, WCH; Doyle Thomas, HHS; Mick Ford, HHS; Jim Heath, WCH; Craig Allison, Cir.; Jim Morgan, Circ; Jeff Pollock, WCH; Bob Self, WCH; Jim Cain, Wilm; Doyle Kiser, Cir; Scott Coffman, HHS; Mike Benner, McC; Jeff George, McC; Lonnie Burns, HHS; Bob Kelch, HHS; Bill Junk, WCH; Jeff Blake, WCH; Tim Shelton, HHS; Tom Bowers, Circ.
Bob Patton is a Highland County sports historian and a contributing writer to The Highland County Press.[[In-content Ad]]