High School Football: Week 4 Preview
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
Hillsboro (0-3) vs. Madison-Plains (3-0)
It is a clean slate for the Hillsboro Indians beginning in week four as the non-league slate is finished, and though the Indians didn't have the results they expected, they now begin to work on the South Central Ohio League slate of games.
The SCOL schedule includes seven games this season with the addition of East Clinton to the league, but this time the Indians open the league schedule with the 3-0 Madison-Plains Golden Eagles at Richards Memorial Field.
Last season, when HHS (0-3) was looking for their first win of the season, it was MP who they defeated on the road, 29-28. This year, though, the teams are entering their matchup with different momentum as MP has wins against Southeastern Local (21-9), Gamble Montessori (42-12) and Cedarville (35-7) as MP has outscored their opponents 98-28.
MP is led by Ryne Davis (quarterback) and fullback Stephen Lemieux, along with tailback Grant Johnson and wide receiver Brooks Carter as Davis, Lemieux and Carter all scored TDs in Week 3.
"They are similar to last year," HHS head coach Brian Spicer said. "They run their option attack well with a good quarterback and fullback."
Spicer spoke about it being the first week of the league season and what his team needs to improve on this week.
"It is like starting over. Three weeks of wins or losses means nothing if you don't learn from each," he said. "The caliber of teams that the SCOL teams play for non-league games varies from team to team. A win over one opponent versus a loss over another really doesn't say that much about where you fall in the league.
"We all know that winning feels better and plays a big role in the psyche of the players. Week one of the league ... no one has any wins or losses. When you look around the league and try to place 'value' on wins and losses with the varying degree of opponents we all play ... it really just doesn't matter. From this week on, we will be working to see where we are. For us to improve, we need to eliminate big plays on defense and find more scoring opportunities."
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[[In-content Ad]]McClain (2-1) vs. Clinton-Massie (3-0)
This will by far be the toughest test for the McClain Tigers all season as they are set to host the Clinton-Massie Falcons to open league play at McClain Field.
The '12 CM team could be better than the team from '11 which reached the Division IV State Final Four, but that remains to be seen … but thus far, CM is 3-0 against Blanchester, Waynesville and Jonathan Alder by a combined score of 151-21, including a win last week against JA (2-1) by a score of 49-7.
To gain a win against CM, the Tigers (2-1) must stop the running game of CM, which is a big majority of their offense, while keeping the CM defense out of the backfield as they totaled nine sacks last week against JA.
"Clinton-Massie is really good at every position," MHS head coach Randy Closson said. "They have great team speed, and they are going to be a huge challenge for us as we start SCOL play."
Standouts on the offensive and defensive side of the ball for CM are Wyatt Running, Bayle Wolfe and Tyler Uetrecht, along with teammates Trent Smart (an Ohio University '13 verbal commit), Duane Sowers and Jake Weaver, to name a few.
"We have to come next week with a better mindset for football," Closson said following the game against Zane Trace.
In the loss last week, penalties plagued the Tigers as they had three personal foul penalties in the first half, but they did total over 200 yards of offense while holding their opponent to 197 yards.
It is a clean slate for the Hillsboro Indians beginning in week four as the non-league slate is finished, and though the Indians didn't have the results they expected, they now begin to work on the South Central Ohio League slate of games.
The SCOL schedule includes seven games this season with the addition of East Clinton to the league, but this time the Indians open the league schedule with the 3-0 Madison-Plains Golden Eagles at Richards Memorial Field.
Last season, when HHS (0-3) was looking for their first win of the season, it was MP who they defeated on the road, 29-28. This year, though, the teams are entering their matchup with different momentum as MP has wins against Southeastern Local (21-9), Gamble Montessori (42-12) and Cedarville (35-7) as MP has outscored their opponents 98-28.
MP is led by Ryne Davis (quarterback) and fullback Stephen Lemieux, along with tailback Grant Johnson and wide receiver Brooks Carter as Davis, Lemieux and Carter all scored TDs in Week 3.
"They are similar to last year," HHS head coach Brian Spicer said. "They run their option attack well with a good quarterback and fullback."
Spicer spoke about it being the first week of the league season and what his team needs to improve on this week.
"It is like starting over. Three weeks of wins or losses means nothing if you don't learn from each," he said. "The caliber of teams that the SCOL teams play for non-league games varies from team to team. A win over one opponent versus a loss over another really doesn't say that much about where you fall in the league.
"We all know that winning feels better and plays a big role in the psyche of the players. Week one of the league ... no one has any wins or losses. When you look around the league and try to place 'value' on wins and losses with the varying degree of opponents we all play ... it really just doesn't matter. From this week on, we will be working to see where we are. For us to improve, we need to eliminate big plays on defense and find more scoring opportunities."
- - - -
[[In-content Ad]]McClain (2-1) vs. Clinton-Massie (3-0)
This will by far be the toughest test for the McClain Tigers all season as they are set to host the Clinton-Massie Falcons to open league play at McClain Field.
The '12 CM team could be better than the team from '11 which reached the Division IV State Final Four, but that remains to be seen … but thus far, CM is 3-0 against Blanchester, Waynesville and Jonathan Alder by a combined score of 151-21, including a win last week against JA (2-1) by a score of 49-7.
To gain a win against CM, the Tigers (2-1) must stop the running game of CM, which is a big majority of their offense, while keeping the CM defense out of the backfield as they totaled nine sacks last week against JA.
"Clinton-Massie is really good at every position," MHS head coach Randy Closson said. "They have great team speed, and they are going to be a huge challenge for us as we start SCOL play."
Standouts on the offensive and defensive side of the ball for CM are Wyatt Running, Bayle Wolfe and Tyler Uetrecht, along with teammates Trent Smart (an Ohio University '13 verbal commit), Duane Sowers and Jake Weaver, to name a few.
"We have to come next week with a better mindset for football," Closson said following the game against Zane Trace.
In the loss last week, penalties plagued the Tigers as they had three personal foul penalties in the first half, but they did total over 200 yards of offense while holding their opponent to 197 yards.