SCOL football ends in three-way tie in '88
By
Bob Patton-
(Continued from last week.)
In other October 1988 SCOL games, McClain would travel to Circleville, where they would meet another set of Tigers. Also, Wilmington would take on the Blue Lions at Gardner Park in Washington C.H.
At Miami Trace, Hillsboro jumped out to an early lead and was out in front 18-7 at halftime. But the Indians were called for offside on the kickoff to begin the second half, and it was all downhill from there. The heavier Trace forward wall controlled the line of scrimmage, and the Panthers repeatedly ran off tackle for sizable gains.
Additionally, there were several Indian miscues. The ball was snapped over the punter’s head, a kickoff was not covered by the Tribe, and MT recovered it deep in Hillsboro territory, an unsuccessful fourth down pass, all going together to result in the Panthers outscoring the Indians 29-0 in the second half. As Grandpa used to say, “Sometimes it just ain’t your day.”
Miami Trace ended up on top in this one, 36-18. They appeared to have an excellent shot at another SCOL title and another gold football.
Circleville and McClain slugged it out at Circleville before the purple-and-gold edged the (Circleville) Tigers, 11-8. At Washington C.H., the Blue Lions walloped Wilmington 30-0.
The final SCOL playing date of the 1988 season was Oct. 21. Local rivalries in Fayette and Highland counties would assure spirited competition as the Miami Trace Panthers took on the WCH Blue Lions at Gardner Park, and the Hillsboro Indians traveled across the county to face the McClain Tigers. In another game, Circleville would host the Wilmington Hurricane.
The Hillsboro Indians, who had been gunning for a possible gold football, were now hoping for a win at Greenfield, which could give the Indians a share of the league championship, provided that Washington, who was only 1-3 in the SCOL, could spring the upset of the year and take the 4-0 Miami Trace Panthers down.
At Circleville, Wilmington took a fairly easy win over the red-and-black, 22-3.
On McClain Field, Hillsboro’s Cliff Phillips took the opening kickoff on the Indians’ 22-yard line. About eight seconds later, he crossed the McClain goal line with a 78-yard return for a touchdown. Two possessions later, Phillips again brought the Hillsboro fans to their feet, when he took a handoff on third-and-three at the Hillsboro 45-yard line, knifed through the
left side of the line and raced 55 yards, virtually untouched, for a very quick 13-0 Indians’ lead.
In the third quarter, Tate Wagner of McClain took the ball in from a yard out, then kicked the extra point, cutting the score to 13-7.
But in the final stanza, Erik Callahan and Rhett Snyder hooked up twice on passing plays for Indian touchdowns, and the visitors captured a 28-7 win over McClain.
It was raining cats and dogs in Washington C.H., and everybody knew that Miami Trace was primarily a power running team. It did not look promising for the Blue Lions. But in an unbelievable shocker, Washington won the big inter-county game by a score of 7-6, primarily due to great punting by WCH’s Kevin Gibbs, along with a number of costly MT turnovers. The Panthers lost a gold football and an outright league championship by one point.
The league ended in a three-way tie, with Hillsboro, Washington and Miami Trace all ending the league season with 4-1 marks.
In the last game of the season, Hillsboro downed Clermont Northeastern, 37-12, Wheelersburg clipped Washington, 14-6, Waverly thumped Circleville, 30-7, Ironton hammered Trace, 33-7, Mt. Healthy plastered McClain, 31-7 and Little Miami shut Wilmington out, 27-0.
The final standings were:
Hillsboro 4-1, 8-2
Miami Trace 4-1, 5-4
Washington 4-1, 5-4
Wilmington 2-3, 3-6
McClain 1-4, 3-6
Circleville 0-5, 0-9
When the fall sports banquet was held at Washington C.H., the following players were named to the All-SCOL football team:
• First-team offense: Mike Tissot, Hillsboro; Scott Gregory, Hillsboro; Bryan Sheets, Miami Trace; Pat Spray, Hillsboro; Jay Haines, Miami Trace; Greg Shaw, Miami Trace, Scott Cole, McClain; Jeff Creamer, Miami Trace; Clifford Phillips, Hillsboro; Delmar McCrary, Washington; Jim Smith, Miami Trace; Erik Callahan, Hillsboro*; Kevin Gibbs, Washington.
• First team defense: Brad Burns, Hillsboro; Jay Haines, Miami Trace; Kyle Kelley, Miami Trace; Wes Smith, Washington; Bruce Sorrell, Circleville; Mike Farthing, Circleville; Greg Shaw, Miami Trace; Brett Horton, Hillsboro; Bryan Sheets, Miami Trace*; Kevin Gibbs, Washington; Erik Callahan, Hillsboro; Jeff Creamer, Miami Trace; Delmar McCrary, Washington; Scott
Cole, McClain; James Sexton, Wilmington; Jim Smith, Miami Trace. (*Honorary captain.)
When the All-Southeast District football team was announced, linebackers Bryan Sheets (Miami Trace), Steve Harper (WCH) and Kevin Gibbs (WCH) were all named first-team defense, along with defensive backs Delmar McCrary (WCH) and Rhett Snyder (Hillsboro).
Quarterback Erik Callahan, split end Scott Cole (McClain) and lineman Tate Wagner (McClain) were all named first-team offense. Clifford Phillips (Hillsboro) received special mention.
Another SCOL football season was in the books.
Bob Patton is a Highland County sports historian and a contributing writer to The Highland County Press.[[In-content Ad]]
In other October 1988 SCOL games, McClain would travel to Circleville, where they would meet another set of Tigers. Also, Wilmington would take on the Blue Lions at Gardner Park in Washington C.H.
At Miami Trace, Hillsboro jumped out to an early lead and was out in front 18-7 at halftime. But the Indians were called for offside on the kickoff to begin the second half, and it was all downhill from there. The heavier Trace forward wall controlled the line of scrimmage, and the Panthers repeatedly ran off tackle for sizable gains.
Additionally, there were several Indian miscues. The ball was snapped over the punter’s head, a kickoff was not covered by the Tribe, and MT recovered it deep in Hillsboro territory, an unsuccessful fourth down pass, all going together to result in the Panthers outscoring the Indians 29-0 in the second half. As Grandpa used to say, “Sometimes it just ain’t your day.”
Miami Trace ended up on top in this one, 36-18. They appeared to have an excellent shot at another SCOL title and another gold football.
Circleville and McClain slugged it out at Circleville before the purple-and-gold edged the (Circleville) Tigers, 11-8. At Washington C.H., the Blue Lions walloped Wilmington 30-0.
The final SCOL playing date of the 1988 season was Oct. 21. Local rivalries in Fayette and Highland counties would assure spirited competition as the Miami Trace Panthers took on the WCH Blue Lions at Gardner Park, and the Hillsboro Indians traveled across the county to face the McClain Tigers. In another game, Circleville would host the Wilmington Hurricane.
The Hillsboro Indians, who had been gunning for a possible gold football, were now hoping for a win at Greenfield, which could give the Indians a share of the league championship, provided that Washington, who was only 1-3 in the SCOL, could spring the upset of the year and take the 4-0 Miami Trace Panthers down.
At Circleville, Wilmington took a fairly easy win over the red-and-black, 22-3.
On McClain Field, Hillsboro’s Cliff Phillips took the opening kickoff on the Indians’ 22-yard line. About eight seconds later, he crossed the McClain goal line with a 78-yard return for a touchdown. Two possessions later, Phillips again brought the Hillsboro fans to their feet, when he took a handoff on third-and-three at the Hillsboro 45-yard line, knifed through the
left side of the line and raced 55 yards, virtually untouched, for a very quick 13-0 Indians’ lead.
In the third quarter, Tate Wagner of McClain took the ball in from a yard out, then kicked the extra point, cutting the score to 13-7.
But in the final stanza, Erik Callahan and Rhett Snyder hooked up twice on passing plays for Indian touchdowns, and the visitors captured a 28-7 win over McClain.
It was raining cats and dogs in Washington C.H., and everybody knew that Miami Trace was primarily a power running team. It did not look promising for the Blue Lions. But in an unbelievable shocker, Washington won the big inter-county game by a score of 7-6, primarily due to great punting by WCH’s Kevin Gibbs, along with a number of costly MT turnovers. The Panthers lost a gold football and an outright league championship by one point.
The league ended in a three-way tie, with Hillsboro, Washington and Miami Trace all ending the league season with 4-1 marks.
In the last game of the season, Hillsboro downed Clermont Northeastern, 37-12, Wheelersburg clipped Washington, 14-6, Waverly thumped Circleville, 30-7, Ironton hammered Trace, 33-7, Mt. Healthy plastered McClain, 31-7 and Little Miami shut Wilmington out, 27-0.
The final standings were:
Hillsboro 4-1, 8-2
Miami Trace 4-1, 5-4
Washington 4-1, 5-4
Wilmington 2-3, 3-6
McClain 1-4, 3-6
Circleville 0-5, 0-9
When the fall sports banquet was held at Washington C.H., the following players were named to the All-SCOL football team:
• First-team offense: Mike Tissot, Hillsboro; Scott Gregory, Hillsboro; Bryan Sheets, Miami Trace; Pat Spray, Hillsboro; Jay Haines, Miami Trace; Greg Shaw, Miami Trace, Scott Cole, McClain; Jeff Creamer, Miami Trace; Clifford Phillips, Hillsboro; Delmar McCrary, Washington; Jim Smith, Miami Trace; Erik Callahan, Hillsboro*; Kevin Gibbs, Washington.
• First team defense: Brad Burns, Hillsboro; Jay Haines, Miami Trace; Kyle Kelley, Miami Trace; Wes Smith, Washington; Bruce Sorrell, Circleville; Mike Farthing, Circleville; Greg Shaw, Miami Trace; Brett Horton, Hillsboro; Bryan Sheets, Miami Trace*; Kevin Gibbs, Washington; Erik Callahan, Hillsboro; Jeff Creamer, Miami Trace; Delmar McCrary, Washington; Scott
Cole, McClain; James Sexton, Wilmington; Jim Smith, Miami Trace. (*Honorary captain.)
When the All-Southeast District football team was announced, linebackers Bryan Sheets (Miami Trace), Steve Harper (WCH) and Kevin Gibbs (WCH) were all named first-team defense, along with defensive backs Delmar McCrary (WCH) and Rhett Snyder (Hillsboro).
Quarterback Erik Callahan, split end Scott Cole (McClain) and lineman Tate Wagner (McClain) were all named first-team offense. Clifford Phillips (Hillsboro) received special mention.
Another SCOL football season was in the books.
Bob Patton is a Highland County sports historian and a contributing writer to The Highland County Press.[[In-content Ad]]