Four questions before camp
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
With the start of the 2010 high school football season just a mere 48 days away from kicking off, there are many questions that a person might have before things start to pick up, before the start of full contact summer camps, conditioning, scrimmage, two-a-days and, yes, the regular season.
Like everyone else, I have questions before this season starts and so with that, here are four questions that intrigue me the most before the start of the season.
1. Can anyone knock the Clinton-Massie Falcons off the top spot of the SCOL?
The SCOL team that had the best chance of beating Massie last season didn't come close against them and that was the Hillsboro Indians. HHS finished with an 8-2 record for a second place finish in the league but lost to the four-peat champions 44-7 at Richards Memorial Field. Last season, C-M allowed just 35 points against SCOL teams in six games. London scored the most with 14, and the Falcons shut out two teams in the league.
Is C-M unbeatable?
No, I don't think any team is unbeatable, but history tells us that whoever beats Massie will have their hands full. Massie hasn't lost an SCOL game since 2007 when Washington scored two quick touchdowns with under 2:00 left in the fourth quarter for a 35-34 win at Gardner Park in WCH. That year, Massie, Miami Trace and Washington all shared the SCOL title when Miami Trace defeated Washington in week 10.
With Massie returning a strong core of players and possibly something to prove with all of its offseason controversy, it is unlikely the Falcons won't end the season without at least a share of their fifth straight SCOL title.
2. Can the McClain Tigers have their best overall finish since 2006 when they had a .500 season?
Yes, and here is why.
McClain is slated to return both quarterbacks (Jared Loftis and Cameron Cooper) and runner/receiver Zach Matracia on offense. That right there is a big help because the Tigers will have varsity experience at the quarterback position, which is very important and something they didn't have heading into last season.
Not only having Matracia in various positions in offense, but having him as an impact player on the defensive side of the football is a need for the Tigers to have a shot at reaching the six-win or more mark.
McClain's leading rusher last season was Loftis with 407 yards with nine touchdowns.
And the Tigers need a little luck, because honestly it seems as if they broke a mirror or opened an umbrella inside, because from my view from the sideline if it wasn't for bad luck, they've had no luck at all.
Last season, MHS lost two games by a combined four points. One loss was a 7-6 defeat to Madison-Plains and the other was a three-point loss to the Miami Trace Panthers.
In past years, MHS has suffered more injuries to starters than most teams, it seems. If impact players would have stayed healthy last season, MHS could have probably capitalized on their three-straight wins last year. I really do believe that. But injuries and some tough luck left the Tigers at 4-6.
3. What can the Hillsboro Indians do for an encore?
The 2009 Hillsboro Indians brought back a winning tradition to Richards Memorial Field. They played tough, hard and seemed to have no quit in them last season. Anyone could see the difference in the way the team acted when they were down and when they were up.
They never quit.
This season, Hillsboro will have to prove once again they belong in the talks of the SCOL's top teams.
Gone is all-world running back and linebacker Airic Steagall. Players who should be returning are Aric Carroll, Chase Gilliland and Mason Hunick and a host of others, including a majority of the offensive and defensive lines.
Do I think they can keep the momentum of an 8-2 mark fro 2009, including a six-game win streak?
Yes, because in Coach (Brian) Spicer I trust.
But Hillsboro's toughest task may not be who they play, but where they play games, as they start the season with five of their first six games on the road, away from Richards Memorial Field. HHS has just four home games due to a last-minute switch to the schedule and will have a long road trip against the Zanesville Blue Devils, who were undefeated at home last season and went 9-1 overall in Division II play, but if any team can overcome that obstacle and win on the road, it is the team wearing the red and white helmets.
Last season, Hillsboro was 5-0 in road games, and though this is tough to say, they have to be even better on the road this year if they want to take the next turn and reach the OHSAA playoffs for the first time since 2006.
4. Can the Paint Valley Bearcats rebound from last season and get back to their traditional winning ways?
Two seasons ago, the Bearcats were 8-2 with a strong senior-led team. Last season was a season of change, but things could be different this season for the proud program with the Bearcats, gaining experience at the varsity level after replacing players from a team that were percentage points from reaching the playoffs.
In looking back at last season’s previews and game stories involving the Bearcats the thing that seemed to hurt them were their early season missed tackles and giving up the big play.
Though I don't get to watch the Bearcats as much as I would like, I know PV will be back with a vengeance, and from random summer emails with longtime coach Pete Hollon, there is no way the Bearcats won't be ready to play with anything but the utmost effort in 2010.
So am I saying the Bearcats will be better than 4-6?
I think so, but I do know they will be ready to play with nothing but 100 percent effort, because that is the Paint Valley way.
Stephen Forsha is the sports editor for The Highland County Press.[[In-content Ad]]
Like everyone else, I have questions before this season starts and so with that, here are four questions that intrigue me the most before the start of the season.
1. Can anyone knock the Clinton-Massie Falcons off the top spot of the SCOL?
The SCOL team that had the best chance of beating Massie last season didn't come close against them and that was the Hillsboro Indians. HHS finished with an 8-2 record for a second place finish in the league but lost to the four-peat champions 44-7 at Richards Memorial Field. Last season, C-M allowed just 35 points against SCOL teams in six games. London scored the most with 14, and the Falcons shut out two teams in the league.
Is C-M unbeatable?
No, I don't think any team is unbeatable, but history tells us that whoever beats Massie will have their hands full. Massie hasn't lost an SCOL game since 2007 when Washington scored two quick touchdowns with under 2:00 left in the fourth quarter for a 35-34 win at Gardner Park in WCH. That year, Massie, Miami Trace and Washington all shared the SCOL title when Miami Trace defeated Washington in week 10.
With Massie returning a strong core of players and possibly something to prove with all of its offseason controversy, it is unlikely the Falcons won't end the season without at least a share of their fifth straight SCOL title.
2. Can the McClain Tigers have their best overall finish since 2006 when they had a .500 season?
Yes, and here is why.
McClain is slated to return both quarterbacks (Jared Loftis and Cameron Cooper) and runner/receiver Zach Matracia on offense. That right there is a big help because the Tigers will have varsity experience at the quarterback position, which is very important and something they didn't have heading into last season.
Not only having Matracia in various positions in offense, but having him as an impact player on the defensive side of the football is a need for the Tigers to have a shot at reaching the six-win or more mark.
McClain's leading rusher last season was Loftis with 407 yards with nine touchdowns.
And the Tigers need a little luck, because honestly it seems as if they broke a mirror or opened an umbrella inside, because from my view from the sideline if it wasn't for bad luck, they've had no luck at all.
Last season, MHS lost two games by a combined four points. One loss was a 7-6 defeat to Madison-Plains and the other was a three-point loss to the Miami Trace Panthers.
In past years, MHS has suffered more injuries to starters than most teams, it seems. If impact players would have stayed healthy last season, MHS could have probably capitalized on their three-straight wins last year. I really do believe that. But injuries and some tough luck left the Tigers at 4-6.
3. What can the Hillsboro Indians do for an encore?
The 2009 Hillsboro Indians brought back a winning tradition to Richards Memorial Field. They played tough, hard and seemed to have no quit in them last season. Anyone could see the difference in the way the team acted when they were down and when they were up.
They never quit.
This season, Hillsboro will have to prove once again they belong in the talks of the SCOL's top teams.
Gone is all-world running back and linebacker Airic Steagall. Players who should be returning are Aric Carroll, Chase Gilliland and Mason Hunick and a host of others, including a majority of the offensive and defensive lines.
Do I think they can keep the momentum of an 8-2 mark fro 2009, including a six-game win streak?
Yes, because in Coach (Brian) Spicer I trust.
But Hillsboro's toughest task may not be who they play, but where they play games, as they start the season with five of their first six games on the road, away from Richards Memorial Field. HHS has just four home games due to a last-minute switch to the schedule and will have a long road trip against the Zanesville Blue Devils, who were undefeated at home last season and went 9-1 overall in Division II play, but if any team can overcome that obstacle and win on the road, it is the team wearing the red and white helmets.
Last season, Hillsboro was 5-0 in road games, and though this is tough to say, they have to be even better on the road this year if they want to take the next turn and reach the OHSAA playoffs for the first time since 2006.
4. Can the Paint Valley Bearcats rebound from last season and get back to their traditional winning ways?
Two seasons ago, the Bearcats were 8-2 with a strong senior-led team. Last season was a season of change, but things could be different this season for the proud program with the Bearcats, gaining experience at the varsity level after replacing players from a team that were percentage points from reaching the playoffs.
In looking back at last season’s previews and game stories involving the Bearcats the thing that seemed to hurt them were their early season missed tackles and giving up the big play.
Though I don't get to watch the Bearcats as much as I would like, I know PV will be back with a vengeance, and from random summer emails with longtime coach Pete Hollon, there is no way the Bearcats won't be ready to play with anything but the utmost effort in 2010.
So am I saying the Bearcats will be better than 4-6?
I think so, but I do know they will be ready to play with nothing but 100 percent effort, because that is the Paint Valley way.
Stephen Forsha is the sports editor for The Highland County Press.[[In-content Ad]]