Indians, Tigers playing for pride
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
Friday night will be about pride for both the Hillsboro Indians and the McClain Tigers in the 26th anniversary of the Rotary Bowl, with this season's game taking place at Richards Memorial Field in Hillsboro.
Neither team has an opportunity to make a run for a playoff spot this season, but there is still plenty on the line and goals to be achieved with a win over a cross-county rival.
If McClain wins, they will earn their first winning season in at least 8 years. If the Tigers win against the Indians, the 2010 version of the Tigers will have six wins. Plus, a victory for MHS would snap a three-season drought against the Indians.
Since the Rotary Bowl began in 1985, Hillsboro leads the series: 17-8. The earliest meeting with the rivalry dates back to 1903, with HHS defeating McClain, 68-0 in Hillsboro.
Hillsboro enters the game with two wins this year but has a three-year hold on the Rotary Bowl trophy, outscoring the Tigers 59-21 in that span, including a 33-8 win last season at McClain Field.
That game marked the first time Hillsboro head coach Brian Spicer was involved with this rivalry.
"The game atmosphere is always more intense in a rival game," Spicer said. "You could 'feel' it last year once we were on the field."
This will be the sixth time McClain's Randy Closson has coached in the Rotary Bowl, winning it in 2006, 12-7.
"This game is big for the community, for the coaches and for the players," Closson said. "It's an outstanding rivalry. If you watch film, it's hard to prepare for the level of intensity. You can forget about everything, the records, your bumps and bruises once the game begins. It's neat to be a part of, and it takes everything up another level."
Closson explained exactly what this game means to the Tigers.
"From the start of the season, our seniors wanted a winning record, and we are one win from that. To get the trophy back would mean a lot to the kids. This is also big for our community. We have people who work in the Hillsboro area, and it would be nice for our community to have the bragging rights for the next year."
Entering this game, both teams are coming off big losses. The Tigers lost to the Jonathan Alder Pioneers, 77-7 and Hillsboro fell in a South Central Ohio League game to the Miami Trace Panthers, 47-14.
"We need nothing else to get excited for this game," Closson said about it being rivalry week in the SCOL. "The kids have been thinking about it since last season. We aren't talking about last week, it's all about Hillsboro and getting ready for them."
The Indians (1-4, 2-7) have battled through a lot of adversity this season. Spicer and his team know that and are prepared to take the field one last time this season.
"Our guys know it has been a tough year. They have battled through it and learned a lot about handling some adversity," Spicer said. "But you know ... no matter what your record is at the end of Game 10, your senior year, you go through the same up and down emotions. Our focus right now is more on preparing for the game itself, a rival opponent, and having a chance to end a rough year on a high note."
Closson said this would be a big win for the McClain program.
"It would be big," Closson said, answering the question what a win would mean for his team. "To end the season, to get to the last game and send yourself into the offseason with a win against a rival, along with a winning record, that would be big. Plus, our seniors want to make their mark on the Rotary Bowl."
To get the win, McClain (2-3, 5-4) must stop the Hillsboro offense, which can offer some tough challenges.
"They are a tough opponent and will be a challenge to our defense," Closson said. "They use a lot of misdirection and motion. We have to react on defense, and when we are on offense, we have to watch out for their pressure and pick up their stunts."
One of the players MHS will have to watch out for is HHS freshman Kordell Ford, who scored the Indians' touchdowns last week at Miami Trace.
"Kordell is gifted with plenty of athletic talent, but what makes him special is his ability to use his skills so well at a young age," Spicer said. "He is mentally tough and very mature for a freshman. He still has plenty to learn, and he knows it. That's why he gets better and better and will continue to get better over the next few years."
The Indians know they can't let the game get out of hand, especially against a McClain team that does have the fire power to score on a big play but can build touchdown scoring drives if they have the protection and time to develop plays.
"We have to play solid defensively. But our offense has to help by moving the ball and getting some points," Spicer said. "It is as simple as that. We also have to keep our heads and focus if something doesn't go our way. I know our players will be fine. Our focus is on us and what we have to do."
The health for Hillsboro has been a problem all season. Not once all season has HHS sent the exact same set of starters on the field for consecutive weeks. Last week, Christian Wildey missed the Miami Trace game due to injury. The week before, Aric Carroll missed the game against London. Bodhi Hawkins hasn't been 100-percent.
"I can't say enough about their desire to be out there," Spicer said of his team playing while hurt. "All year we have had kids playing hurt and below 100-percent. I think just about all of our starters have missed one or more practices, and many have missed parts of games or complete games. It's very hard to prepare a team when 'the team' isn't complete, but we try."
But with this being the final game of the season, Spicer described it best.
"There will be over 300 high school football games played this weekend in Ohio itself, most of them being week 10 rivalries. Most of them don't have playoff implications or perfect records on the line. Most of them will be like ours, a game about kids representing their school and community. A game about seniors playing for the last time, most of them, the last time ever. That is what this week is about: pride in pads ... courage in cleats ... hope in a helmet.
"You can take all the wins and possibilities out of this week, but you can't take away the 'finality' of what it is, Week 10. Good luck to ALL seniors Friday night."
The 26th annual Rotary Bowl will kickoff at 7:30 p.m. at Richards Memorial Field in Hillsboro.[[In-content Ad]]
Neither team has an opportunity to make a run for a playoff spot this season, but there is still plenty on the line and goals to be achieved with a win over a cross-county rival.
If McClain wins, they will earn their first winning season in at least 8 years. If the Tigers win against the Indians, the 2010 version of the Tigers will have six wins. Plus, a victory for MHS would snap a three-season drought against the Indians.
Since the Rotary Bowl began in 1985, Hillsboro leads the series: 17-8. The earliest meeting with the rivalry dates back to 1903, with HHS defeating McClain, 68-0 in Hillsboro.
Hillsboro enters the game with two wins this year but has a three-year hold on the Rotary Bowl trophy, outscoring the Tigers 59-21 in that span, including a 33-8 win last season at McClain Field.
That game marked the first time Hillsboro head coach Brian Spicer was involved with this rivalry.
"The game atmosphere is always more intense in a rival game," Spicer said. "You could 'feel' it last year once we were on the field."
This will be the sixth time McClain's Randy Closson has coached in the Rotary Bowl, winning it in 2006, 12-7.
"This game is big for the community, for the coaches and for the players," Closson said. "It's an outstanding rivalry. If you watch film, it's hard to prepare for the level of intensity. You can forget about everything, the records, your bumps and bruises once the game begins. It's neat to be a part of, and it takes everything up another level."
Closson explained exactly what this game means to the Tigers.
"From the start of the season, our seniors wanted a winning record, and we are one win from that. To get the trophy back would mean a lot to the kids. This is also big for our community. We have people who work in the Hillsboro area, and it would be nice for our community to have the bragging rights for the next year."
Entering this game, both teams are coming off big losses. The Tigers lost to the Jonathan Alder Pioneers, 77-7 and Hillsboro fell in a South Central Ohio League game to the Miami Trace Panthers, 47-14.
"We need nothing else to get excited for this game," Closson said about it being rivalry week in the SCOL. "The kids have been thinking about it since last season. We aren't talking about last week, it's all about Hillsboro and getting ready for them."
The Indians (1-4, 2-7) have battled through a lot of adversity this season. Spicer and his team know that and are prepared to take the field one last time this season.
"Our guys know it has been a tough year. They have battled through it and learned a lot about handling some adversity," Spicer said. "But you know ... no matter what your record is at the end of Game 10, your senior year, you go through the same up and down emotions. Our focus right now is more on preparing for the game itself, a rival opponent, and having a chance to end a rough year on a high note."
Closson said this would be a big win for the McClain program.
"It would be big," Closson said, answering the question what a win would mean for his team. "To end the season, to get to the last game and send yourself into the offseason with a win against a rival, along with a winning record, that would be big. Plus, our seniors want to make their mark on the Rotary Bowl."
To get the win, McClain (2-3, 5-4) must stop the Hillsboro offense, which can offer some tough challenges.
"They are a tough opponent and will be a challenge to our defense," Closson said. "They use a lot of misdirection and motion. We have to react on defense, and when we are on offense, we have to watch out for their pressure and pick up their stunts."
One of the players MHS will have to watch out for is HHS freshman Kordell Ford, who scored the Indians' touchdowns last week at Miami Trace.
"Kordell is gifted with plenty of athletic talent, but what makes him special is his ability to use his skills so well at a young age," Spicer said. "He is mentally tough and very mature for a freshman. He still has plenty to learn, and he knows it. That's why he gets better and better and will continue to get better over the next few years."
The Indians know they can't let the game get out of hand, especially against a McClain team that does have the fire power to score on a big play but can build touchdown scoring drives if they have the protection and time to develop plays.
"We have to play solid defensively. But our offense has to help by moving the ball and getting some points," Spicer said. "It is as simple as that. We also have to keep our heads and focus if something doesn't go our way. I know our players will be fine. Our focus is on us and what we have to do."
The health for Hillsboro has been a problem all season. Not once all season has HHS sent the exact same set of starters on the field for consecutive weeks. Last week, Christian Wildey missed the Miami Trace game due to injury. The week before, Aric Carroll missed the game against London. Bodhi Hawkins hasn't been 100-percent.
"I can't say enough about their desire to be out there," Spicer said of his team playing while hurt. "All year we have had kids playing hurt and below 100-percent. I think just about all of our starters have missed one or more practices, and many have missed parts of games or complete games. It's very hard to prepare a team when 'the team' isn't complete, but we try."
But with this being the final game of the season, Spicer described it best.
"There will be over 300 high school football games played this weekend in Ohio itself, most of them being week 10 rivalries. Most of them don't have playoff implications or perfect records on the line. Most of them will be like ours, a game about kids representing their school and community. A game about seniors playing for the last time, most of them, the last time ever. That is what this week is about: pride in pads ... courage in cleats ... hope in a helmet.
"You can take all the wins and possibilities out of this week, but you can't take away the 'finality' of what it is, Week 10. Good luck to ALL seniors Friday night."
The 26th annual Rotary Bowl will kickoff at 7:30 p.m. at Richards Memorial Field in Hillsboro.[[In-content Ad]]