Ford, Armstrong, Barrera paced HHS
By
Bob Patton-
(Continued from last week.)
November 5, 1977 saw Washington upset Circleville, 14-7, and Teays Valley upset Hillsboro, 14-10. In the Hillsboro vs. T-V game, the Indians took a narrow 3-0 lead to the locker room at halftime.
In the final quarter, with 3:47 to go, the Indians still held a 10-7 lead.
Teays Valley managed to advance the ball to the 32-yard line.
Then the unexpected happened. Running back John Woodruff broke over left
tackle, avoided three tacklers and outraced a Hillsboro defender 54 yards for the game-winning touchdown. Bruce Ford’s 104 yards for HHS went for naught.
Also, Miami Trace outclassed McClain 64-6 and Wilmington gave Madison Plains their 18th straight loss by a score of 50-6.
November 12 marked the final round of SCOL games for the 1977 season and provided the big Fayette County matchup between Washington C.H. and Miami Trace. But this year, the Panthers were way too tough and clobbered the Blue Lions, 46-12. Thus, the Panthers, who dubbed
themselves “Fayette County’s best team ever” finished a 10-0 season and won their third straight gold football.
The final SCOL standings for the 1977 season were:
Miami Trace – 7-0, 10-0
Wilmington – 5-2, 5-4-1
Circleville – 4-2-1, 4-5-1
Hillsboro – 3- 3-1, 5-4-1
Teays Valley – 3-4, 4-6
McClain – 3-4, 3-6-1
Washington – 2-5, 4-6
M. Plains – 0-7, 0-10
Hillsboro’s Bruce Ford was the leading rusher in the SCOL, with a 270-yard margin over Dennis Combs of Miami Trace, who was second.
In fact, Ford, who was a junior, led the Hillsboro team to their first winning record in 14 years. For the season, he averaged 118.5 yards per game.
But Miami Trace far outshined the rest of the league in team statistics.
When the All-SCOL football team was named, following the season, an offensive team and a defensive team were selected, as had become the tradition.
The All-SCOL selections included: Bill Hanners, MT; Duane Six, WCH; Ben Stroup, MP; Shawn Riley, MT; Brett Robinson, McC; Glen Cobb, MT; John Burr, MT; Don Barrera, HHS; Dave Henessey, MT; Larry Armstrong, HHS; Dennis Combs, MT; Dan Schooley, TV; Dave Marshall, CHS; Art Schlichter, MT; Brian Brudsinsky, CHS; Bruce Ford, HHS; Scott Martin, MT; David Creamer, MT; Gary Williams, Wilm; Larry Brickles, WCH.
A week and a half later, the AP Southeast District All-Star selections were made public.
Miami Trace quarterback Art Schlichter was the AAA “Back of the Year” and his favorite target, Bill Hanners, was the top AAA lineman.
Miami Trace head coach Fred Zechman and Logan’s Bob Boynton were co-coaches of the year.
In class AA, Hillsboro center Larry Armstrong, guard Don Barrera and running back Bruce Ford were all named to the first team offense, along with Jim Everhart of McClain.
Terry Wilson of WCH, Alan Storer of McClain and Armin Niederberger of Hillsboro (a foreign exchange student) were named to the second team.
Named to the first team
defense was Brett Robinson of McClain. Larry Brickles of WCH was named to the defensive second team.
When the All-Ohio list came out, Art Schlichter was the AAA “Back of the Year.”
Panther teammate Hanners was named to the first team offense, as an end.
Schlichter was a high school All-American, that year, and was the No. 1 recruit on all the major college lists.
The rest is history.
Bob Patton is a Highland County sports historian and a contributing writer to The Highland County Press.[[In-content Ad]]
November 5, 1977 saw Washington upset Circleville, 14-7, and Teays Valley upset Hillsboro, 14-10. In the Hillsboro vs. T-V game, the Indians took a narrow 3-0 lead to the locker room at halftime.
In the final quarter, with 3:47 to go, the Indians still held a 10-7 lead.
Teays Valley managed to advance the ball to the 32-yard line.
Then the unexpected happened. Running back John Woodruff broke over left
tackle, avoided three tacklers and outraced a Hillsboro defender 54 yards for the game-winning touchdown. Bruce Ford’s 104 yards for HHS went for naught.
Also, Miami Trace outclassed McClain 64-6 and Wilmington gave Madison Plains their 18th straight loss by a score of 50-6.
November 12 marked the final round of SCOL games for the 1977 season and provided the big Fayette County matchup between Washington C.H. and Miami Trace. But this year, the Panthers were way too tough and clobbered the Blue Lions, 46-12. Thus, the Panthers, who dubbed
themselves “Fayette County’s best team ever” finished a 10-0 season and won their third straight gold football.
The final SCOL standings for the 1977 season were:
Miami Trace – 7-0, 10-0
Wilmington – 5-2, 5-4-1
Circleville – 4-2-1, 4-5-1
Hillsboro – 3- 3-1, 5-4-1
Teays Valley – 3-4, 4-6
McClain – 3-4, 3-6-1
Washington – 2-5, 4-6
M. Plains – 0-7, 0-10
Hillsboro’s Bruce Ford was the leading rusher in the SCOL, with a 270-yard margin over Dennis Combs of Miami Trace, who was second.
In fact, Ford, who was a junior, led the Hillsboro team to their first winning record in 14 years. For the season, he averaged 118.5 yards per game.
But Miami Trace far outshined the rest of the league in team statistics.
When the All-SCOL football team was named, following the season, an offensive team and a defensive team were selected, as had become the tradition.
The All-SCOL selections included: Bill Hanners, MT; Duane Six, WCH; Ben Stroup, MP; Shawn Riley, MT; Brett Robinson, McC; Glen Cobb, MT; John Burr, MT; Don Barrera, HHS; Dave Henessey, MT; Larry Armstrong, HHS; Dennis Combs, MT; Dan Schooley, TV; Dave Marshall, CHS; Art Schlichter, MT; Brian Brudsinsky, CHS; Bruce Ford, HHS; Scott Martin, MT; David Creamer, MT; Gary Williams, Wilm; Larry Brickles, WCH.
A week and a half later, the AP Southeast District All-Star selections were made public.
Miami Trace quarterback Art Schlichter was the AAA “Back of the Year” and his favorite target, Bill Hanners, was the top AAA lineman.
Miami Trace head coach Fred Zechman and Logan’s Bob Boynton were co-coaches of the year.
In class AA, Hillsboro center Larry Armstrong, guard Don Barrera and running back Bruce Ford were all named to the first team offense, along with Jim Everhart of McClain.
Terry Wilson of WCH, Alan Storer of McClain and Armin Niederberger of Hillsboro (a foreign exchange student) were named to the second team.
Named to the first team
defense was Brett Robinson of McClain. Larry Brickles of WCH was named to the defensive second team.
When the All-Ohio list came out, Art Schlichter was the AAA “Back of the Year.”
Panther teammate Hanners was named to the first team offense, as an end.
Schlichter was a high school All-American, that year, and was the No. 1 recruit on all the major college lists.
The rest is history.
Bob Patton is a Highland County sports historian and a contributing writer to The Highland County Press.[[In-content Ad]]