Not off the Press
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
Let's start this week with a big congratulations to the Hillsboro Indians football team. No team in any sport needs to go winless during a season, and I'm happy for all the players and coaches who worked their butts off Friday night, and all season, to earn that first win of 2011.
Click here for the game story.
Friday night's game at Madison-Plains was one of those games that makes a person love high school athletics, for the simple fact you never know what is going to happen. This game was one that could make a person happy because a team got that first win, and it was a game that would make a fan or even casual observer want to rip their hair out or at least throw a hat on the ground.
This game had everything … drama for a team that wanted their first win, a game that was like a roller coaster as each team continued to gain, and lose, then gain the lead back again, and it saw teams that really wanted this win.
Before I go any further, the Madison-Plains team I saw on Friday night was the best MP team I've covered since I've been covering high school sports. I really like what they are working on there, and some of those players, all who return next season, are a play here or a play there from having more wins this year. If not for the way the Miami Trace Panthers have played in recent weeks, I'd say the Golden Eagles are the most improved team so far this season.
Back to the Indians … I really liked what head coach Brian Spicer said to his team about being tired of the moral victories. Sure, moral victories are good, but I don't blame him or his team for being tired of them, and I honestly don't think I've been happier for any team after a win than I have for HHS on Friday night. There are a couple instances that I've been happy to see a team break a losing streak, and the 29-28 win Friday night at MPHS ranks right up there with a few other wins I've seen.
One other thing about the HHS vs. MP game on Friday … I loved the risk-taking at the end of the game where they not only scored a touchdown, but went for two points and the win, not the tie. That is what a team that is 0-6 at the time should do.
• A potential championship week for Highland County
So far this fall, Highland County has team championships in SCOL boys soccer (McClain), SCOL girls golf (McClain) and SCOL boys golf (Hillsboro). This week, more teams could potentially be a part of that list.
On Monday, the Fairfield Lady Lions with a win could become a champion in Southern Hills League volleyball; Wednesday, the Lynchburg-Clay girls soccer team with a win will clinch the SHL girls soccer title; and on Thursday with a win, the Hillsboro girls soccer team will clinch no less than a share of the SCOL girls soccer championship. They are tied with the Clinton-Massie Lady Falcons for first place in the league.
Let's hope all those above teams get a lot of fans to their respective games or matches this week, as winning a league title is a big deal for these teams and respective schools.
The McClain boys soccer clinched their league championship with a 6-1 win over the Washington Blue Lions last Tuesday at McClain Field. Since then, MHS has defeated the CM Falcons to stay undefeated in the league at 10-0-1. MHS has one league game remaining at Miami Trace, and that will make them not only undefeated in the SCOL this season, but for two years in a row. In the past three seasons, MHS has just two league losses, both coming in '09, their first championship season.
Good luck to all the teams from Highland County with the chance to win a league championship this week.
• Soccer and Volleyball Tournament Draws
On Sunday the volleyball, along with the boys and girls soccer, sectional tournament pairings were released. In volleyball, two SCOL teams will play each other in Hillsboro and Miami Trace. McClain will be at Fairfield-Union, LC is at (Lucasville) Valley and Fairfield will face Whiteoak for the third time this season. That should be very interesting since FHS has already defeated WHS twice this season.
In girls soccer, McClain travels to Warren, Hillsboro will host a winner of a quarterfinal match between Circleville/Athens, Fairfield will take on West Union and the No. 1 seeded LC Lady Mustangs (Division III) will host the winner of Alexander/North Adams.
The boys soccer sectionals has Hillsboro at Fairfield-Union on Tuesday, with the winner traveling to McClain Field on Saturday, Oct. 22 to take on the McClain Tigers … now how exciting would a MHS-HHS third match of the season be, especially in the postseason?
Also in the postseason, LC boys soccer will take on the winner of Valley/Adena and Fairfield will host Northwest.
A majority of these matches should be very interesting. Click here for the times of the postseason games.
• 10 thoughts/opinions on high school sports
1. How not one boys or girls soccer team in Highland County isn't even mentioned in the state rankings (not even in the Top 15) puzzles me. Even in girls soccer teams in the SCOL with HHS and CM, I just don't get it.
2. I hope when all-league teams are selected this season, ALL the players who deserve to be on the team are selected. Here's to hoping we don't have a repeat of what happened last season in girls soccer.
3. I can't believe this is the last week of the regular season for most fall sports teams.
4. I read on this site a story about how a former high school principal/athletic director in Ohio stole $60,000 from the school. Click here for the complete story. My thoughts are ... this guy is a jerk and I hope he is forced to pay every penny, plus double back. Some jail time wouldn't hurt, either.
5. I liked the fact the Hillsboro Indians football team had a good crowd on hand that traveled to watch them Friday at Madison-Plains High School. I think the drive is around 47 miles.
6. How hard is it to stop and stand still for less than three minutes for the playing of "The Star-Spangled Banner" before a game starts? I see people walking around or talking during the national anthem all the time before a game starts. Not everyone, and it may only be five to 10 percent of the people that in the building or stadium that are doing this, but it doesn't hurt to show just a little respect while the song is being played. All people have to do is stand and not talk for under three minutes …
7. I find it sad that two area football teams will only be known nationally and regionally for a post-game handshake that went wrong, which should have never happened in the first place. My question in all of this is why is an ineligible player on the sideline to begin with?
8. One of my favorite moments from the fall season was watching Hillsboro's Brandon Carter score four goals in a game against Madison-Plains this past week.
9. I still don't know how cross-country runners do what they do after covering the Highland County Invitational last Tuesday … I still get out of breath just watching them run.
10. I enjoyed hearing the tomahawk chop song by the Hillsboro Indians Marching Band Friday. The band did a very nice job.
• Stat of the Week
I'm going with this one from the Hillsboro football game: Unofficially, HHS senior running back Christian Wildey finished with 132 yards rushing on 28 carries.
• (A second) Stat of the Week
The Clinton-Massie Falcons totaled 473 yards of offense (413 rushing) against the McClain Tigers Friday.
• (A third) Stat of the Week
Brandon Carter and his four goals against the Madison-Pains Golden Eagles last Tuesday at Richards Memorial Field.
• (A fourth and final) Stat of the Week
The McClain Tigers boys soccer team hasn't lost a game in the SCOL since 2009. They are 10-0-1 in the league this season.
• Quote of the Week
"We still made mistakes, but we played four quarters … that was the difference, and we came out with the win. This win validates the hard work. You hate all the work you do and not come up with the win. You can talk about the moral victories all you want, but it gets old after a while." — Hillsboro head football coach Brian Spicer following the Indians' 29-28 win Friday night.
• (A second) Quote of the Week
"For me, this shows how far Greenfield soccer has come. We didn't know what soccer was 10 years ago in Greenfield, and now we've won three SCOL championships. — Sam Henry, McClain senior soccer player following their win against Washington for their third straight SCOL title.
• (A third) Quote of the Week
"This title took a lot of hard work. We have great kids on this team, and that is because they have great parents. My assistant coach Jon Chamblin is a big help, and we couldn't have done this without him. This is such a great group of kids." — Shawn Jackson, McClain boys soccer coach following their third straight SCOL title-clinching win against Washington.
• (A fourth and final) Quote of the Week
"Just Win Baby." — Former Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis (1929-2011)
• One last item of business
This upcoming week has the potential to be a very good week for Highland County athletics. Numerous teams, as I already mentioned, have opportunities to win a league title. Best of luck to all the teams, and I hope their respective communities come out and support them this week.
Stephen Forsha is the sports editor of The Highland County Press. He can be reached at sforsha@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @hcpsportseditor.[[In-content Ad]]
Click here for the game story.
Friday night's game at Madison-Plains was one of those games that makes a person love high school athletics, for the simple fact you never know what is going to happen. This game was one that could make a person happy because a team got that first win, and it was a game that would make a fan or even casual observer want to rip their hair out or at least throw a hat on the ground.
This game had everything … drama for a team that wanted their first win, a game that was like a roller coaster as each team continued to gain, and lose, then gain the lead back again, and it saw teams that really wanted this win.
Before I go any further, the Madison-Plains team I saw on Friday night was the best MP team I've covered since I've been covering high school sports. I really like what they are working on there, and some of those players, all who return next season, are a play here or a play there from having more wins this year. If not for the way the Miami Trace Panthers have played in recent weeks, I'd say the Golden Eagles are the most improved team so far this season.
Back to the Indians … I really liked what head coach Brian Spicer said to his team about being tired of the moral victories. Sure, moral victories are good, but I don't blame him or his team for being tired of them, and I honestly don't think I've been happier for any team after a win than I have for HHS on Friday night. There are a couple instances that I've been happy to see a team break a losing streak, and the 29-28 win Friday night at MPHS ranks right up there with a few other wins I've seen.
One other thing about the HHS vs. MP game on Friday … I loved the risk-taking at the end of the game where they not only scored a touchdown, but went for two points and the win, not the tie. That is what a team that is 0-6 at the time should do.
• A potential championship week for Highland County
So far this fall, Highland County has team championships in SCOL boys soccer (McClain), SCOL girls golf (McClain) and SCOL boys golf (Hillsboro). This week, more teams could potentially be a part of that list.
On Monday, the Fairfield Lady Lions with a win could become a champion in Southern Hills League volleyball; Wednesday, the Lynchburg-Clay girls soccer team with a win will clinch the SHL girls soccer title; and on Thursday with a win, the Hillsboro girls soccer team will clinch no less than a share of the SCOL girls soccer championship. They are tied with the Clinton-Massie Lady Falcons for first place in the league.
Let's hope all those above teams get a lot of fans to their respective games or matches this week, as winning a league title is a big deal for these teams and respective schools.
The McClain boys soccer clinched their league championship with a 6-1 win over the Washington Blue Lions last Tuesday at McClain Field. Since then, MHS has defeated the CM Falcons to stay undefeated in the league at 10-0-1. MHS has one league game remaining at Miami Trace, and that will make them not only undefeated in the SCOL this season, but for two years in a row. In the past three seasons, MHS has just two league losses, both coming in '09, their first championship season.
Good luck to all the teams from Highland County with the chance to win a league championship this week.
• Soccer and Volleyball Tournament Draws
On Sunday the volleyball, along with the boys and girls soccer, sectional tournament pairings were released. In volleyball, two SCOL teams will play each other in Hillsboro and Miami Trace. McClain will be at Fairfield-Union, LC is at (Lucasville) Valley and Fairfield will face Whiteoak for the third time this season. That should be very interesting since FHS has already defeated WHS twice this season.
In girls soccer, McClain travels to Warren, Hillsboro will host a winner of a quarterfinal match between Circleville/Athens, Fairfield will take on West Union and the No. 1 seeded LC Lady Mustangs (Division III) will host the winner of Alexander/North Adams.
The boys soccer sectionals has Hillsboro at Fairfield-Union on Tuesday, with the winner traveling to McClain Field on Saturday, Oct. 22 to take on the McClain Tigers … now how exciting would a MHS-HHS third match of the season be, especially in the postseason?
Also in the postseason, LC boys soccer will take on the winner of Valley/Adena and Fairfield will host Northwest.
A majority of these matches should be very interesting. Click here for the times of the postseason games.
• 10 thoughts/opinions on high school sports
1. How not one boys or girls soccer team in Highland County isn't even mentioned in the state rankings (not even in the Top 15) puzzles me. Even in girls soccer teams in the SCOL with HHS and CM, I just don't get it.
2. I hope when all-league teams are selected this season, ALL the players who deserve to be on the team are selected. Here's to hoping we don't have a repeat of what happened last season in girls soccer.
3. I can't believe this is the last week of the regular season for most fall sports teams.
4. I read on this site a story about how a former high school principal/athletic director in Ohio stole $60,000 from the school. Click here for the complete story. My thoughts are ... this guy is a jerk and I hope he is forced to pay every penny, plus double back. Some jail time wouldn't hurt, either.
5. I liked the fact the Hillsboro Indians football team had a good crowd on hand that traveled to watch them Friday at Madison-Plains High School. I think the drive is around 47 miles.
6. How hard is it to stop and stand still for less than three minutes for the playing of "The Star-Spangled Banner" before a game starts? I see people walking around or talking during the national anthem all the time before a game starts. Not everyone, and it may only be five to 10 percent of the people that in the building or stadium that are doing this, but it doesn't hurt to show just a little respect while the song is being played. All people have to do is stand and not talk for under three minutes …
7. I find it sad that two area football teams will only be known nationally and regionally for a post-game handshake that went wrong, which should have never happened in the first place. My question in all of this is why is an ineligible player on the sideline to begin with?
8. One of my favorite moments from the fall season was watching Hillsboro's Brandon Carter score four goals in a game against Madison-Plains this past week.
9. I still don't know how cross-country runners do what they do after covering the Highland County Invitational last Tuesday … I still get out of breath just watching them run.
10. I enjoyed hearing the tomahawk chop song by the Hillsboro Indians Marching Band Friday. The band did a very nice job.
• Stat of the Week
I'm going with this one from the Hillsboro football game: Unofficially, HHS senior running back Christian Wildey finished with 132 yards rushing on 28 carries.
• (A second) Stat of the Week
The Clinton-Massie Falcons totaled 473 yards of offense (413 rushing) against the McClain Tigers Friday.
• (A third) Stat of the Week
Brandon Carter and his four goals against the Madison-Pains Golden Eagles last Tuesday at Richards Memorial Field.
• (A fourth and final) Stat of the Week
The McClain Tigers boys soccer team hasn't lost a game in the SCOL since 2009. They are 10-0-1 in the league this season.
• Quote of the Week
"We still made mistakes, but we played four quarters … that was the difference, and we came out with the win. This win validates the hard work. You hate all the work you do and not come up with the win. You can talk about the moral victories all you want, but it gets old after a while." — Hillsboro head football coach Brian Spicer following the Indians' 29-28 win Friday night.
• (A second) Quote of the Week
"For me, this shows how far Greenfield soccer has come. We didn't know what soccer was 10 years ago in Greenfield, and now we've won three SCOL championships. — Sam Henry, McClain senior soccer player following their win against Washington for their third straight SCOL title.
• (A third) Quote of the Week
"This title took a lot of hard work. We have great kids on this team, and that is because they have great parents. My assistant coach Jon Chamblin is a big help, and we couldn't have done this without him. This is such a great group of kids." — Shawn Jackson, McClain boys soccer coach following their third straight SCOL title-clinching win against Washington.
• (A fourth and final) Quote of the Week
"Just Win Baby." — Former Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis (1929-2011)
• One last item of business
This upcoming week has the potential to be a very good week for Highland County athletics. Numerous teams, as I already mentioned, have opportunities to win a league title. Best of luck to all the teams, and I hope their respective communities come out and support them this week.
Stephen Forsha is the sports editor of The Highland County Press. He can be reached at sforsha@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @hcpsportseditor.[[In-content Ad]]