Week 5 High School Football Preview: Tigers hosting homecoming; Indians to face Astros

The McClain Tigers gained their first win of the 2024 season with a shutout victory over the East Clinton Astros last Friday night, winning by a 42-0 score.

This Friday, the Hillsboro Indians will be facing the Astros at Richards Memorial Field, as this will be the Indians’ third consecutive home game this season.

Both the Indians and Tigers enter the fifth week of the football season at 1-3 overall, as McClain’s Week 5 game is against the Williamsburg Wildcats, the same team that defeated the Indians in Week 4 by a 48-41 score.

As the football season is about to reach the halfway point of the ’24 campaign once this week’s games are complete, here is what the Frontier Athletic Conference looks like in the standings.

FAC Standings after four games:
Jackson (3-1)
Miami Trace (3-1)
Hillsboro (1-3)
McClain (1-3)
Chillicothe (0-4)
Washington (0-4).

Here is the Week 5 schedule for the FAC:

- Hillsboro Indians (1-3) vs. East Clinton Astros (0-4)
- McClain Tigers (1-3) vs. Williamsburg Wildcats (3-1)
- Miami Trace Panthers (3-1) vs. Western Brown Broncos (3-1)
- Washington Blue Lions at Monroe Hornets (3-1)
- Chillicothe Cavaliers (0-4) at Wilmington Hurricane (1-3)
- Jackson Ironmen (3-1) at Hamilton Ross Rams (2-2).

The following are the Points For and Points Allowed for the teams in Week 5:

- Hillsboro (133PF/124PA) vs. East Clinton (38PF/132PA)

- McClain (70 PF/73PA) vs. Williamsburg (122PF/103PA)

- Miami Trace (119PF/74PA) vs. Western Brown (150PF/130PA)

- Washington (49PF/219PA) at Monroe (124PF/77PA)

- Chillicothe (37PF/136PA) at Wilmington (72PF/61PA)

- Jackson (133PF/96PA) at Hamilton Ross (104PF/100PA).

Here is a look at the two games for Highland County teams:

- Hillsboro Indians (1-3) vs. East Clinton Astros (0-4)

The Hillsboro Indians enter this game having lost their two previous games against the Portsmouth West Trojans and the Williamsburg Wildcats. The Indians have allowed 124 points in four games this season, an average of 31 points per game, while scoring 133 points this year, averaging 33 ppg.

As for their opponent, the Astros have scored 38 points in four games this season (10 ppg) and have allowed 132 points (33 ppg).

The Astros are led in passing by Aiden Conger, who is 9-of-24 for 177 yards, two touchdowns and one interception this season. He also has rushed 49 times for 226 yards (4.6 yards per carry) and one touchdown.

EC’s leading rusher is Dameon Williams, who has rushed the ball 50 times for 264 yards (5.3 yards per carry) with one touchdown.

Clayton Kimmey this season has rushed the football 28 times for 128 yards (5.1 yards per carry) with one touchdown. Kimmey also leads the Astros in receiving with six receptions for 112 yards (18.7 yards per reception) with two touchdowns.

Owen Roberts leads ECHS with three sacks and seven tackles for loss, while Williams has 22 total tackles this season, including a team-best 13 solo tackles. The Astros’ defense has no interceptions in four games played this season.

As for the Indians, they are led in rushing by Dom Smart as he has 42 carries for 316 yards with four touchdowns.

Quarterback Mason Dumpert this season is 16-of-26 passing for 322 yards and two touchdowns, plus he has 32 rushes for 187 yards and four touchdowns.

Jeven Hochstuhl in the first four games has collected 26 carries for 246 yards and five touchdowns, and his receiving numbers see him with eight receptions for 250 yards with two touchdowns.

Tre Captain in ’24 has 19 carries for 69 yards and a touchdown, plus four receptions for 35 yards, and on defense he’s recorded two interceptions.

Ryan Burns for the Indians has 14 carries this season for 112 yards and two touchdowns.

Also on defense for HHS, Shawn Hottinger has two interceptions entering Week 5.

The Indians and Astros are scheduled to kick off at 7 p.m. at Richards Memorial Field.

- McClain Tigers (1-3) vs. Williamsburg Wildcats (3-1)

The Tigers earned a win last Friday by scoring 42 points, with four of their touchdowns coming from Owen Sykes, who missed Week 3 due to injury.

The Tigers have a tough task ahead this Friday night as Williamsburg has three wins this season and scored 48 points in their win over Hillsboro. This season, Williamsburg has scored 122 points and has allowed 103, with 41 of those points coming last Friday.

WHS quarterback Michael Corcoran this season is 64-of-108 with 936 yards passing, eight touchdowns and six interceptions.

Landon Hittle leads WHS with 31 carries for 214 yards and two rushing scores, while teammate Tony Harris also has 31 carries with 207 yards and three touchdowns. Teammate Gray Robinson (formerly of Hillsboro) has 49 carries for 197 yards and two rushing touchdowns.

Three WHS players had over 200 yards receiving through the first four games, with Hittle having 19 receptions for 245 yards and one touchdown. Harris has 17 receptions for 238 yards and three touchdowns, and Kian Stamper leads the team with 16 receptions for 332 yards and three touchdowns.

The Tigers this season have scored 70 points and have allowed 73 points.

The homecoming game is scheduled to kick off at 7 p.m. in Greenfield at McClain Field.

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