'14 Football Preview: McClain Tigers
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
There will be a lot of new faces and starters on the field for the 2014 McClain Tigers, as they graduated a big class of seniors and in the process return five players who started in games last season.
Of those five returning starters, that includes two linemen, two running backs/safeties and a linebacker.
Back are Ryan Faulconer (running back/safety), Joe Ralph (offensive/defensive line), Randall Mischal (offensive/defensive line), Caleb Rayburn (linebacker) and Alex Hollar (running back/defensive back).
"We are looking for a lot of guys to step up into leadership roles," McClain head coach Randy Closson said. "I think we've had a lot of hard battles for starting positions, and we'll continue to see how it goes the rest of the summer."
Last season, the Tigers went 4-6 overall and 1-5 in the South Central Ohio League, defeating Hillsboro (53-14) in the final game of the regular season for their second straight Rotary Bowl win.
The Tigers will be going for their third consecutive Rotary Bowl win, something they have never accomplished since the trophy has been awarded starting in 1985.
The other three wins by the Tigers were all against the Scioto Valley Conference in Weeks 1-3 against Adena (47-21), Unioto (31-19) and Zane Trace (28-20). Those are the same three games they start the season with this year at Adena and in two home games against UHS and ZT.
In looking back at last season, the Tigers were shut out four times in the final seven games last year, finishing with a total of 192 points, while allowing 326.
Closson is entering his 10th season as the head coach of the Tigers, and one of the challenges he has before the regular season begins on Friday, Aug. 29 at Adena is selecting a starting quarterback.
The summer QB battle is between senior Jason Flowers and sophomore Owen O'Connor. They are replacing three-year starter Thomas Schrader.
"It has been challenging because it has been a good battle between the two this summer," Closson said. "It will come down to what we see in the scrimmages to see who starts for us.
"In a way, we've kept our arms fresh because we have a few guys throwing, but we are also going to have to narrow it down to get someone ready for Friday night. It's been a good competition so far."
The offensive line is in the same boat as the QB spot with only two returning starters back and needing to fill in three more spaces.
"It is the same thing as with our quarterback battle … we have guys competing for spots, which is always good," Closson said. "It seems like we always had those go-to guys, but it will come down to the scrimmages as to who we choose to start for us."
As for the other spots on the offense, catching passes will be Jacob Perie and Michael Aeh, who will both be seniors this year and got some time at WR last season. At tight end will be Josh Todd and Rayburn, both seniors.
"We have experience at wide receiver who have had playing time as juniors, and our tight ends have also been looking good this summer," Closson said.
[[In-content Ad]]Then there is the defense of the Tigers, as they are like the offense with spots to fill.
One player back is Rayburn at linebacker.
"Caleb brings a solid player at linebacker," Closson said. "He's been pretty much a three-year starter for us, as well as Ryan (Faulconer) at strong safety."
Also on the Tigers' defense is Mischal, who rotated on the defensive line last year, and Todd played at linebacker in '13.
"We are going to be young and have a lot of first-year starters," Closson said. "We just need to do what it takes to be ready for Friday nights.
"Our expectation is just a matter of competing each week and developing as a team. We have to get better each week. We are looking for our seniors to lead us and help in that process. We are just looking forward to competing and ready to get the season started."
Of those five returning starters, that includes two linemen, two running backs/safeties and a linebacker.
Back are Ryan Faulconer (running back/safety), Joe Ralph (offensive/defensive line), Randall Mischal (offensive/defensive line), Caleb Rayburn (linebacker) and Alex Hollar (running back/defensive back).
"We are looking for a lot of guys to step up into leadership roles," McClain head coach Randy Closson said. "I think we've had a lot of hard battles for starting positions, and we'll continue to see how it goes the rest of the summer."
Last season, the Tigers went 4-6 overall and 1-5 in the South Central Ohio League, defeating Hillsboro (53-14) in the final game of the regular season for their second straight Rotary Bowl win.
The Tigers will be going for their third consecutive Rotary Bowl win, something they have never accomplished since the trophy has been awarded starting in 1985.
The other three wins by the Tigers were all against the Scioto Valley Conference in Weeks 1-3 against Adena (47-21), Unioto (31-19) and Zane Trace (28-20). Those are the same three games they start the season with this year at Adena and in two home games against UHS and ZT.
In looking back at last season, the Tigers were shut out four times in the final seven games last year, finishing with a total of 192 points, while allowing 326.
Closson is entering his 10th season as the head coach of the Tigers, and one of the challenges he has before the regular season begins on Friday, Aug. 29 at Adena is selecting a starting quarterback.
The summer QB battle is between senior Jason Flowers and sophomore Owen O'Connor. They are replacing three-year starter Thomas Schrader.
"It has been challenging because it has been a good battle between the two this summer," Closson said. "It will come down to what we see in the scrimmages to see who starts for us.
"In a way, we've kept our arms fresh because we have a few guys throwing, but we are also going to have to narrow it down to get someone ready for Friday night. It's been a good competition so far."
The offensive line is in the same boat as the QB spot with only two returning starters back and needing to fill in three more spaces.
"It is the same thing as with our quarterback battle … we have guys competing for spots, which is always good," Closson said. "It seems like we always had those go-to guys, but it will come down to the scrimmages as to who we choose to start for us."
As for the other spots on the offense, catching passes will be Jacob Perie and Michael Aeh, who will both be seniors this year and got some time at WR last season. At tight end will be Josh Todd and Rayburn, both seniors.
"We have experience at wide receiver who have had playing time as juniors, and our tight ends have also been looking good this summer," Closson said.
[[In-content Ad]]Then there is the defense of the Tigers, as they are like the offense with spots to fill.
One player back is Rayburn at linebacker.
"Caleb brings a solid player at linebacker," Closson said. "He's been pretty much a three-year starter for us, as well as Ryan (Faulconer) at strong safety."
Also on the Tigers' defense is Mischal, who rotated on the defensive line last year, and Todd played at linebacker in '13.
"We are going to be young and have a lot of first-year starters," Closson said. "We just need to do what it takes to be ready for Friday nights.
"Our expectation is just a matter of competing each week and developing as a team. We have to get better each week. We are looking for our seniors to lead us and help in that process. We are just looking forward to competing and ready to get the season started."