McClain Tigers tackle independent schedule

(Continued from last week.)

When the South Central Ohio League disbanded, McClain had replaced the SCOL teams with Vinton County, Western Brown, Oak Hill and Wellston in 1993.

One of the biggest challenges the coaching staff would face would be learning whatever they could about these new opponents.

The Tigers would open with Adena at home, a game that they could win with a good effort, but would travel to rugged Paint Valley for their second game. The Bearcats would be very tough this season.

The last game of the season would see perennial powerhouse Cincinnati Country Day visiting Greenfield. Hillsboro and Miami Trace would remain on the McClain schedule, and both would be formidable opponents.

But Dawson remained optimistic. “There is nobody on our schedule that we could not beat, if we play well,” he said.

Miami Trace would be tough again, as they usually were. Fourth-year coach Jeff Conroy would have to replace some outstanding young men who had graduated, but Trace always seemed to come up with great players.

Conroy had posted a 25-5 record at Miami Trace in his previous three seasons. Like McClain, the Panthers would be playing as an independent.

Hillsboro, coming off a perfect season, would be strong again. The offensive line was almost totally gone. But the quarterback, Chad Downing, an outstanding running back in Brad Beatty, and the team’s top three receivers, Brett Barton, Adam McGinnis and C.J. Captain, were all back for another season.

Ryan Miller (290 lbs.) and Rodney Swackhamer (250 lbs.) would be the tackles.

Three promising freshmen were in the program and would soon be making major contributions to the team. They were T.J. Turner, Brad Haithcock and Keith Ford. This year’s Indians would not be a pushover for anybody.

On the first playing date of the season, McClain had far too much speed for Frankfort Adena. The Tigers chalked up a 35-13 win over the Warriors as Scott Counter carried the pigskin 24 times for 158 yards and three touchdowns. The Tigers enjoyed a 21-0 halftime lead but relaxed a little on defense in the second half.

Paint Valley visited Hillsboro the same evening and thumped the Indians, 34-13. In this game, the Bearcats appeared to be faster and stronger than the Tribe.

The following Friday night, McClain traveled to Paint Valley, where the quick and hard-hitting Tiger defense seemed to befuddle the PV offense. Meanwhile, the one-two punch of Scott Counter and Jason Knisley was tough for the Bearcats to handle.

For the game, McClain totaled 265 rushing yards compared to PV’s 53. The Bearcats chalked up more passing yards than the visitors, but the Tigers took a 14-0 victory over the ’Cats.

Hillsboro played at Wilmington, where quarterback Chad Downing sparked a come-from-behind 12-7 win over the ’Cane. With less than a minute remaining, Downing’s primary receivers were covered in the end zone, so the senior QB lofted a soft pass to freshman running back Keith Ford, who took it in from the 10-yard stripe for his first-ever varsity touchdown.

In week three, McClain hosted Huntington. The tough Tiger defense was more than the Huntsmen could handle. They recorded only nine yards of rushing offense and hit on 8 of 23 passing attempts for 40 yards. Tiger reserves played most of the fourth quarter, and the purple-and-gold chalked up victory number three, a 34-0 shutout.

Meanwhile, Hillsboro played at Unioto without top running back Brad Beatty, who was not dressed for the game because of an injury.

To make matters worse, another running back, Rusty Swackhamer, left the game with a second-quarter injury. Coach Horne installed freshman running back Keith Ford into the game. The ninth-grader rushed 19 times for 159 yards and two touchdowns.

As if that wasn’t enough, he also caught five passes, including three two-point conversions.

In this weird game, 20 penalties were called, 13 against the Indians. There were seven turnovers and 695 yards of offense (412 yards for the Indians). Unioto held 14-point leads twice, but Hillsboro mounted a great comeback and won the game, 36-34.

The fourth playing date of the season found the 3-0 McClain Tigers traveling to McArthur to meet Vinton County.

(Continued next week.)

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