High School Football Preview Week 3: Hillsboro to make ’24 home debut; Tigers hosting ‘Battle of 41’ vs. Paint Valley

It was an exciting Week 2 for the Hillsboro Indians football team as they gained their first win of the 2024 season, defeating the Goshen Warriors, 32-7, and moving to 1-1 overall.

The McClain Tigers lost in overtime to the Northwest Mohawks by a 19-13 score at McClain Field, moving to 0-2 on the season.

More on those two teams later.

The rest of the Frontier Athletic Conference saw Miami Trace defeat Wilmington 21-19, Chillicothe lost to London 42-0, Jackson was defeated by Ironton 51-14, and Washington lost to Western Brown 56-22.

The overall records for the FAC this season through two games are:

                                  PF    PA
Hillsboro            1-1    71    49
Jackson            1-1    56    58
Miami Trace         1-1     44    47
Chillicothe        0-2    00    80
McClain            0-2    21    43
Washington        0-2    28    107

Here is a preview for the two games involving Highland County.

MCCLAIN TIGERS (0-2) vs. PAINT VALLEY BEARCATS (2-0)

The McClain Tigers are coming off a tough loss in overtime against the Northwest Mohawks, but it is time to move forward for another tough match, this time facing the Paint Valley Bearcats, who have won both of their games thus far in 2024.

Paint Valley is coming off a Week 2 win where they defeated the West Jefferson Rough Riders 28-14, and in Week 1 PVHS defeated Blanchester, also by a 28-14 score.

In what is the “Battle of 41” game, the traveling trophy currently resides in Bainbridge after the Bearcats won last season by a 29-15 score at George Knisley Field in the first year of the trophy’s existence.

Having this rivalry game return after a decade or so of not being played was special, and the addition of the traveling trophy to the winner makes this game even more exciting.

As for this season, the Bearcats are off to a strong start, and the win over West Jefferson was big for their program.

Looking at McClain, in the first two games they have allowed their opponents to score points in the first quarter with Adena in Week 1 having 14 points and Northwest scoring seven last week. The young Tiger team has yet to score a point in the first quarter this season.

A plus for MHS this season has been Zane Adams with a combined 10 receptions for 93 yards receiving. Owen Sykes has three receptions this season for 52 yards, and he’s also rushed for 61 yards on 23 carries in the first two games.

Quarterback Cohen Six is a combined 17-for-24 for 172 yards passing in two games.

On defense this season through two weeks, Andrew Roeder has recorded 15 tackles (7.5 tackles per game). Also on defense, Noah Sponcil has collected 11 tackles, while Sykes had an interception for a touchdown last Friday, and inn Week 1 Cam Medley recorded an interception against Adena. Six also has a sack on defense from Week 2, and also in Week 2, Kamden Penwell and Connor McCune each had a half sack.

Both teams will be playing hard in this game for the opportunity to keep or gain possession of the Battle of 41 trophy, plus there are also bragging rights on the line as the communities are so close together.

HILLSBORO INDIANS (1-1) vs. PORTSMOUTH WEST SENATORS (0-2)

The Hillsboro Indians had another strong effort last Friday night and earned their first win of the 2024 season when they defeated the Goshen Warriors on the road, 32-7, as HHS scored 12 points in the second, six points in the third and 14 points in the fourth quarter.

The Indians’ defense allowed just seven points in Week 2, with those coming in the fourth quarter.

For the Indians, Jeven Hochstuhl in the first two games of the season has rushed 13 times for 156 yards and two touchdowns. He’s also caught two passes for 109 yards and one touchdown.

Dom Smart has two 100-yard games after two weeks, totaling 18 carries for 209 yards and two rushing scores. Last Friday, Smart had 10 carries for 105 yards and a touchdown.

Tre Captain this season has 10 rushes for 68 rushing yards and a touchdown, and Ryan Burns has eight carries for 84 rushing yards and one touchdown.

Looking at the scoring for HHS in the first two weeks, the second quarter has been strong as they have scored 12 points in each second quarter played, and their defense hasn’t allowed a point to be scored in the second quarter of either game played in ’24.

The Indians in the second half of games have scored in both third and both fourth quarters played, with 13 points combined in the third and 21 points combined in the two fourth quarters.

As for the Portsmouth West Senators, they enter this game 0-2 overall with a 34-0 Week 1 loss to Fairland in Week 1, followed by a 41-7 loss in Week 2 against Portsmouth.

Their top player is Mason Parker, who in Week 1 rushed for 54 yards on 19 carries, and in Week 2 he finished with 14 carries for 109 yards and one touchdown, with the TD being a 40-yard touchdown in the first quarter.

Anthony Bishop of West has stood out this season with a Week 1 game of 11 carries for 80 yards, and in Week 2 he had 11 carries for 38 yards.

The Senators in Week 2 allowed their Portsmouth opponent to total 399 yards of offense against them, while PWHS totaled 189 yards of offense, including 163 yards rushing as a team.

THE REST OF THE FAC for Week 3

- Miami Trace Panthers (1-1) at Logan Elm Braves (2-0)
The Panthers gained a two-point win in Week 2 where they won at Wilmington against the Hurricane for a 21-19 win. In two games this season, the Panthers have combined to score 44 points, and they’ve allowed 47 points. The LEHS Braves have quarterback Aaron Walters, who in two games is 32-of-41 for 453 yards with four touchdowns. Michael Brock leads the Braves with 49 carries for 330 yards and five rushing scores. Logan Elm this season has scored 75 points and allowed 41 points.

- Washington Blue Lions (0-2) vs. Franklin Wildcats (1-1)
In two games this season, Franklin has defeated Bishop Fenwick 22-13 and lost to Marion Local 49-0. FHS has scored 22 points this season and allowed 62 points. For the Blue Lions, they’ve allowed 50-plus points in each game played this season. WCH quarterback Gavin Coffman is 16-for-31 with 134 yards passing with two touchdowns. Coffman is coming off a game where against WBHS where he was 9-of-19 for 89 yards with one touchdown.

- Chillicothe Cavaliers (0-2) at Western Brown Broncos (2-0)
The Chillicothe Cavaliers enter Week 3 looking for their first win of the season, and they are looking for their first points of the year as well. CHS has yet to reach the scoreboard in ’24 after two weeks, while they’ve allowed 80 points. They are facing a Western Brown team that is 2-0 with wins over Hillsboro and Washington to start the season, outscoring their opponents 98-61 in ’24. The Broncos have quarterback Brady Sutton, who in two games is 26-of-43 for 338 yards with five touchdown passes, while he’s also rushed for 220 yards and two touchdowns on 36 carries. Lucas Powell lead WBHS in receiving yardage with 18 receptions for 189 yards. Western Brown’s Justin Morgan has 40 rushes for 216 yards and two rushing scores, while also catching three touchdown passes.

- Jackson Ironmen (1-1) at Wheelersburg Pirates (0-2)
JHS enters their Week 3 games after a tough 51-14 loss to a very good Ironton football team. The Ironmen look to rebound as they are facing Wheelersburg, who have started the season 0-2. In Week 1 this season, Jackson defeated Logan 42-7. In two games, the Ironmen have scored 56 points and have allowed 58 points.

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