Indians feature best O-Line in '95

(Continued from last week.)

As the 1995 high school football season began with drills and conditioning, Coach Jim Horne’s Hillsboro Indians prepared to defend their 1994 SBAC title.

Junior T.J. Turner would be coming back, along with seniors Jason Barton, C.J. Captain and Rusty Swackhamer.

The Indians would run the familiar “run and shoot” offense again this year, but with a few variations thrown in to keep the defenses honest. Quarterback Jason Barton would undoubtedly be doing a lot of throwing, since the Tribe was blessed with a talented group of receivers.

C.J. Captain was named first team All-SBAC last season, T.J. Turner was first team All-SBAC and SBAC Player of the Year.

Hillsboro’s ground attack would be led by halfbacks Keith Ford, Matt Murphy and Brian Swisshelm.

In the Williamsburg game the previous season, this trio accounted for over 400 yards of offense. They were capable of some sterling performances.

In the trenches, the Tribe had lost some outstanding talent. Brandon Leeth, Jason Harrison and Mike Captain had all graduated. Also, tackle Brad Haithcock had transferred to Washington C.H. Ryan Stuckey had transferred to Hillsboro from Blanchester, and would probably be the starting center.
Stuckey was All-SBAC his last season in a Blanchester uniform. Nathan Evans and Jake Spruell would be the guards, and both were solid players.

The Indians would open on Sept. 1, with Paint Valley on the Hillsboro field, traveling to Bloom-Carroll a week later. The annual McClain vs. Hillsboro battle would take place week three in Greenfield.

Speaking of McClain, Tim Gossett had taken over as head coach of the Tigers after serving as an assistant since 1980, the year he graduated from Bowling Green State University.

Gossett had graduated from McClain, and understood the impressive athletic tradition there.

The Tigers would probably be going with a sophomore quarterback, Brad Campbell, after the graduation of last year’s quarterback, Jim Bob Young.

Campbell had played very well for the freshman team the previous season and he appeared to be the leading candidate for the position.

Jon Soards would be back at halfback and the fullback would probably be Aaron Penn, while Tyler Chamblin would likely be at wingback. Joe Rhonemus, Bill Barnes, Ben Conley, Joe Parker and Shane Wellman would make up the offensive line with Blain Bergstrom at split end and Brandon Cannon at tight end.

McClain would have many defensive line positions to fill, but, those decisions would come later. The Tigers had lost a lot of very good players last year. Scott Counter, Keith Penwell, Jim Grandey, Troy Seely and Young had all graduated. It would be a real challenge to equal last year’s 6-4 record.

The Tigers would open with Adena on Sept. 1, take on Paint Valley on the road in week two, and entertain county rival Hillsboro Sept. 15 on the McClain field.

Paint Valley would be tough for both Hillsboro and McClain. The Bearcats, under Coach Gary Newsome, had walloped Hillsboro 39-0 in last season’s opener. They still had senior quarterback Christian Newsome, fullback Todd Walker, who gained over 1,000 yards last season, and running
back Ben Burke, who finished fifth in the state in the 100-meter dash, along with a big offensive line.

When the Bearcats visited Hillsboro, Sept. 1, the Indians were ready. With about six minutes remaining in the first quarter, defensive end Rusty Swackhamer sacked Christian Newsome for an 11-yard loss on PV’s 12-yard line. On the ensuing play, Newsome was forced to run out of the end zone for a safety (Hillsboro 2, PV 0).

Shortly after that, when Newsome punted, punt returner C.J. Captain returned the punt from the Hillsboro 35 to the Valley 31-yard line. On the very next play, running back Keith Ford exploded through a huge hole in the defensive line for a 31-yard touchdown run and an 8-0 Hillsboro lead.

The Indians gave up a harmless touchdown in the third quarter, but won the game, 21-6. Jason Barton, with plenty of time to set up and throw, hit on 8 of 11 passing attempts for 104 yards, with one interception.

Following the game, Hillsboro coach Jim Horne declared this “the best offensive line I’ve had here in 10 years, and, they’re going to get better!”

(Continued next week.)

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