SCOL Player Profile: No sport more important than football for Scanlon, Calhoun
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
In the community of Clarksville, there is no sport more important than football. The game of football rallies a community together to support their Clinton-Massie Falcons, and two of the current Falcons have given the community something great to cheer for.
Seniors Gunner Calhoun (entering his fourth varsity season) and Jordan Scanlon have bruised and battled their way through not only the South Central Ohio League, but have continued to keep the CM playoff streak alive since the time they stepped into a varsity game.
That is the goal for the duo and their teammates this season: to reach the playoffs once again and to win for their community.
"All through high school, it is about getting to state," both players said.
"Everyone here loves football," Scanlon said.
"Clinton-Massie eats and breathes football. We have a good group of coaches, and our coaches work well together," Calhoun said.
Scanlon, who entering his third varsity year, came to CM in the eighth grade from Waynesville but began playing football earlier than that.
"I started playing soccer, but I got penalized too much, so my dad found me a football league to play in Kettering,” Scanlon said. "I wasn't any good at soccer, and football was more fun because I was allowed to hit people."
As for Calhoun, he started in the fifth grade. He said he wasn't very good at first, but eventually worked at it and went from there.
"I didn't know what to do when I first started, but my friends and brother played, and my dad was a good football player too, so I picked it up and it's turned into a good thing," Calhoun said. "All I liked to do was hit people."
One of the keys to the Falcons' success goes beyond the football field, and Calhoun and Scanlon said everyone on the team are brothers.
"Here at CM, the entire community supports us, and we like being out here," Scanlon said. "Our team is like a family."
"Everyone here watches us, and that is a fun part of being out here, especially being out here with this group of guys," Calhoun said. "I've played here for 37 games now, and I have many memories with the people I've played football with."
But both players come back to the game of football being everything at Clinton-Massie.
"Growing up in Massie, you look forward to playing football. My coaches in the sixth grade were so tough, but that is when I started loving the sport so much," Calhoun said. "When you are a little kid, you want to be out on the football field.
"We can't let one thing bring us down. We need that extra play, the extra yardage, and we have to bust it everyday."
Scanlon, who rushed for 2,020 yards last season, said he loves being a part of the Clinton-Massie program.
"It feels nice because a lot of people look up to what we do," Scanlon said. "We can't let the community or the school down. Knowing the team and coaches have enough trust in me is a lot of pressure, but it is fun to have. I'd rather have all the pressures than doing nothing at all."
CM head coach Dan McSurley had high praise for his players.
"Jordie will be one of the most prolific running backs in SW Ohio," McSurley said. "He has been under the radar, and all he has done is put up numbers. He goes to camp, is one of our strongest players, and he lifts over 360 pounds and squats over 600 pounds.
"Gunner puts in a lot of work too, is a four-year starter, and is the leader of our defense the previous three years. Both are a coach’s dream, and they are football players."
Calhoun spoke about not only how proud the community is of the football team, but his overall role in the proud Massie program.
"I want them (the community) to be proud of the school," Calhoun said. "Friday nights in the fall is always the best time of the year. Having a big role on defense and calling the plays. I am out there to help everyone.
"I like being there to help with the fact I am the one teammates come to for help."
With all the pressures and winning streak headed into the season, the Falcons have more in mind than just making the playoffs.
"We are happy to go to the playoffs, but with all the hard work we put in, we expect to go far into the playoffs," Scanlon said.
Both players said that wanted to thank family members and their coaches for getting them to the successes they've experienced in football.[[In-content Ad]]
Seniors Gunner Calhoun (entering his fourth varsity season) and Jordan Scanlon have bruised and battled their way through not only the South Central Ohio League, but have continued to keep the CM playoff streak alive since the time they stepped into a varsity game.
That is the goal for the duo and their teammates this season: to reach the playoffs once again and to win for their community.
"All through high school, it is about getting to state," both players said.
"Everyone here loves football," Scanlon said.
"Clinton-Massie eats and breathes football. We have a good group of coaches, and our coaches work well together," Calhoun said.
Scanlon, who entering his third varsity year, came to CM in the eighth grade from Waynesville but began playing football earlier than that.
"I started playing soccer, but I got penalized too much, so my dad found me a football league to play in Kettering,” Scanlon said. "I wasn't any good at soccer, and football was more fun because I was allowed to hit people."
As for Calhoun, he started in the fifth grade. He said he wasn't very good at first, but eventually worked at it and went from there.
"I didn't know what to do when I first started, but my friends and brother played, and my dad was a good football player too, so I picked it up and it's turned into a good thing," Calhoun said. "All I liked to do was hit people."
One of the keys to the Falcons' success goes beyond the football field, and Calhoun and Scanlon said everyone on the team are brothers.
"Here at CM, the entire community supports us, and we like being out here," Scanlon said. "Our team is like a family."
"Everyone here watches us, and that is a fun part of being out here, especially being out here with this group of guys," Calhoun said. "I've played here for 37 games now, and I have many memories with the people I've played football with."
But both players come back to the game of football being everything at Clinton-Massie.
"Growing up in Massie, you look forward to playing football. My coaches in the sixth grade were so tough, but that is when I started loving the sport so much," Calhoun said. "When you are a little kid, you want to be out on the football field.
"We can't let one thing bring us down. We need that extra play, the extra yardage, and we have to bust it everyday."
Scanlon, who rushed for 2,020 yards last season, said he loves being a part of the Clinton-Massie program.
"It feels nice because a lot of people look up to what we do," Scanlon said. "We can't let the community or the school down. Knowing the team and coaches have enough trust in me is a lot of pressure, but it is fun to have. I'd rather have all the pressures than doing nothing at all."
CM head coach Dan McSurley had high praise for his players.
"Jordie will be one of the most prolific running backs in SW Ohio," McSurley said. "He has been under the radar, and all he has done is put up numbers. He goes to camp, is one of our strongest players, and he lifts over 360 pounds and squats over 600 pounds.
"Gunner puts in a lot of work too, is a four-year starter, and is the leader of our defense the previous three years. Both are a coach’s dream, and they are football players."
Calhoun spoke about not only how proud the community is of the football team, but his overall role in the proud Massie program.
"I want them (the community) to be proud of the school," Calhoun said. "Friday nights in the fall is always the best time of the year. Having a big role on defense and calling the plays. I am out there to help everyone.
"I like being there to help with the fact I am the one teammates come to for help."
With all the pressures and winning streak headed into the season, the Falcons have more in mind than just making the playoffs.
"We are happy to go to the playoffs, but with all the hard work we put in, we expect to go far into the playoffs," Scanlon said.
Both players said that wanted to thank family members and their coaches for getting them to the successes they've experienced in football.[[In-content Ad]]