Captain, Price pace Tribe's ground game

(Continued from last week.)

At Greenfield, McClain ran the ball for 297 yards and added 31 yards passing as they mauled Adena, 39-0, on Aug. 30, 1991. Senior tailback Doug Moon rung up 133 yards on 16 carries, scoring two touchdowns and kicking three extra points. A very impressive night’s work.

The Tiger defense held the Warriors to only one yard rushing on 22 carries, and 22 yards passing (2 of 9). The Tigers also intercepted two passes. Adena recorded only three first downs for the game.

Miami Trace visited Hamilton Township in the Columbus area. In a weird game, the Panthers came out on top, 27-21, in overtime to break a string of five straight losses in the opening game of the season.

Tobin Hoppes led the Trace offense to 276 total yards on 6-of-16 passing and one touchdown through the air. The ground game was led by Terrell Baker, who racked up 121 yards in 12 carries.

Washington entertained West Jefferson, a team that was known for ball-control offense and stingy defense. The Blue Lions were able to roll up only a total of 117 yards for the game.

Early in the second quarter, a West Jeff player knifed through the line and scampered 61 yards for a touchdown. The Lions were never able to overcome that, primarily because WCH quarterback Shawn Smith was sacked 12 times, and was running for his life in the backfield most of the night.

The Blue Lions scored on a 37-yard field goal by senior Monte Smith in the third stanza. It was their only real threat of the evening.

Wilmington did not play on Friday night. The ’Cane was scheduled to meet Kenton Ridge on the KR field at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 31. Kenton Ridge won that game by a score of 29-6.

The following Friday, Sept. 6, Hillsboro locked horns with a longtime Indians' opponent, New Richmond, on the NR field.

Junior Hillsboro halfbacks Rodney Captain and Chad Price totaled over 00 rushing yards each for the Indians, with Price running for two touchdowns and Captain one. Senior wideout Damon Bolden caught a 35-yard pass from sophomore quarterback Chad Downing for the final Indian TD.

But New Richmond was able to run out the final minutes of the game and preserve a 32-26 victory over the Tribe.

McClain traveled to Paint Valley, where Bearcats sophomore Deric Newland caught five passes for a total of 124 yards and a touchdown, and the PV defense completely puzzled the Tigers, who were shut out, 14-0.

Wilmington traveled to Kings, where they defeated the hosts, 20-0. Senior Wilmington quarterback Tim Ford racked up 92 rushing yards on 10 carries and also had 42 passing yards while scoring two of the ’Cane’s touchdown.

Miami Trace played at Teays Valley, where the Panthers totally dominated the hosts, taking a one-sided, 48-0 win. Miami Trace rushed for 277 yards while holding Valley to a grand total of four rushing yards. The story of the game was that Teays Valley was completely over-matched.

Washington played the Portsmouth Trojans at Portsmouth, where there were just too many big linemen to block. The Trojans downed the Lions, 26-16.

September 13 was the third playing date of the young season. Washington entertained Teays Valley, and downed the Vikings, 35-21. Hillsboro played on the road, at Unioto.

The Indians thoroughly outclassed the Shermans, and came home with a one-sided 40-0 win. Rodney Captain and Chad Price combined for 196 rushing yards for the victorious Tribe.

Little Miami came into Wilmington and took it to the ’Cane, with a 78-yard interception return for a touchdown. But the ’Cane didn’t quit, and eventually fought their way to a narrow 23-20 win.

Miami Trace jumped out to a 42-0 lead at the half and held on for a 56-20 win at Springfield Shawnee.

Also on Friday the 13th, it was Homecoming night at McClain. Lovely MHS senior Jini Emerick was crowned Homecoming Queen prior to the game with Huntington. Ms. Emerick was accompanied by senior attendant Sandy Elliott, junior attendant Amber Curtis, sophomore attendant Natalie Smith, and freshman attendant Kelley Washburn, along with Queen’s attendants Brandi Osterloh and Kassie Penn.

It was a great night, all around, when the rejuvenated Tigers notched a hard-fought 28-24 win over the Huntsmen.

Wheelersburg downed Hillsboro Sept. 20 on the Wheelersburg field. In other games, McClain walloped Lucasville Valley, 30-7, at Lucasville.

Washington thumped Logan, 28-22, at Logan. Goshen upended Wilmington, 20-9, at Wilmington and Miami Trace plastered Dayton Colonel White, 42-6.

South Central League competition got under way Sept. 27, when Washington took on the McClain Tigers at Greenfield and Hillsboro traveled to Wilmington to challenge the Hurricane. Due to the scheduling nightmare imposed by a five-team league, Miami Trace would have a home game with Dayton Stebbins.

Trace thoroughly outclassed Stebbins, winning the game, 45-6, and outgaining the Dayton team 486 total yards to 152. However, quarterback Tobin Hoppes fractured the fibula in his left leg, which would present major problems for the Panthers. Hoppes, a senior, was arguably the number-one player in the SCOL.

At Greenfield, Doug Moon racked up 180 yards on 26 carries, including a third-quarter, 64-yard touchdown run, as the determined Tigers easily outdistanced the Blue Lions, 20-3.

At Wilmington, Rodney Captain had an unbelievable fourth quarter, gaining 91 yards, which included a 76-yard touchdown run with eight minutes remaining, to give the Indians a 12-7 victory over the ’Cane.

(Continued next week.)

Bob Patton is a Highland County sports historian and a contributing writer to The Highland County Press.