SCOL Football Notebook: Week 5
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
Can you really believe it is Week 5 of the high school football season? Really, it is.
Teams are already celebrating homecoming games, the overall and league standings are starting to sort themselves out on the field and the weather is getting a cool chill in the air once the sun goes down.
[[In-content Ad]]There weren't many surprises last week in the South Central Ohio League on the football field last week. Clinton-Massie showed they were the most dominant team in the league (and why they are the six-time league champions). I'll talk more about them later in the notebook, but they were and will be the best overall and complete football team I and many others will see all season long.
As for myself … I'm having a blast traveling to various football games with my dad as my football sidekick on a weekly basis. This is my absolute favorite time of the year. I love fall, and I love football. To me, it doesn't matter what the overall record of a team that I cover is … as long as the players give a full effort each time they take the field, that's all anyone can really ask for.
Anyway, let's get the show started with previews of each game along with my weekly predictions.
• Hillsboro Indians (0-1, 0-4) at Miami Trace (1-0, 1-3)
The Hillsboro Indians were unable to contain the Madison-Plains rushing attack last week in Stephen Lemieux and others who defeated the Indians by 30 points last week (42-12), and another tough test awaits the Indians this week in the MT Panthers.
MT is one of the better one-win teams in the area ... just look at the overall record of teams they've lost to this year (8-4) as the Panthers are still in their "Rebuilding Tradition" stage of their football program.
As I wrote in my Week 5 game preview, the Hillsboro team has played in many tough games this year as they are still looking for the winning formula as we hit the halfway point of the season. The opponents of HHS are a combined 15-1 overall this season with three undefeated teams headed into the week (Western Brown, Goshen and Madison-Plains) and the one-loss Wilmington Hurricane.
What stands out for me about the Panthers is their junior quarterback Jimmy Stroker, as he's an all-around athlete, but HHS has an all-around athlete in junior Kordell Ford.
This game has a chance to be interesting, as long as the Indians can keep it close in the first half, then keep some momentum going in the final two quarters as they have been held scoreless in the second half three of the first four weeks.
Things will get better for the Indians eventually, but as my Publisher Rory Ryan wrote this week in a column about the Indians, "Hillsboro is a gutsy team."
Prediction: Miami Trace wins
• McClain Tigers (0-1, 2-2) at East Clinton (0-1, 1-3)
This games really piques my interest as McClain got off to a hot start in the first two games but have cooled down as of late, and the Astros have just one win but can run the football.
Injuries are starting to mount for the Tigers this season, and as long as those players are on the sidelines and not in the games, each week will be tougher on the field.
Besides last week, I still feel the Tigers have a good defense if they can get pressure on their opponents' backfield (but that is true with every defense, right?), but I can't let one week against a state-ranked opponent let me forget what I watched the first two weeks, either.
Then there is the East Clinton running game, especially senior Max Morrow, who is running all over the football field this season with 12 touchdowns and 700-plus yards. I had the opportunity to interview Morrow (who is returning from a broken leg from last season) and three of his teammates this summer for the First-and-Ten High School Football Preview, and it was easy to tell even then, on one of those 95-plus degree days during a two-a-day, this team was very focused.
I have a feeling this game will be full of rushing yards from both sides, and possibly many points as well as East Clinton has scored 119 points but have allowed 128. On the other side, the Tigers have scored 67 and allowed 113, but take away the 66 points by Clinton-Massie and the Tiger defense has allowed just 47 points in their other three games.
Prediction: East Clinton wins
• Madison-Plains (1-0, 4-0) at Clinton-Massie (1-0, 4-0)
This is one of those games where the overall records can fool a person. No disrespect to Madison-Plains, but their 4-0 mark is completely different than that of Clinton-Massie.
I really like the running games of both teams, but after finally seeing Clinton-Massie live last Friday at McClain Field, they are the best team I've seen in a very long time … by far the best team. I've never seen a high school team like CM with so much speed all over the football field, at all positions, and they play tough no matter the score, which is something I respect.
As for the Golden Eagles, I'm happy to see this program with the success they are having this year after years of building the program to get to this current point. MP has a very good running game, and they currently sit at No. 4 in the Region 20 computer rankings, but in Region 16, the Falcons are No. 1.
As for last week against HHS, what stood out for me in their game, from what I read in the HCP article, is they scored 21 points in five plays in the second half … no matter what the situation is, that type of scoring that quickly is impressive.
Prediction: Clinton-Massie wins
• Washington Blue Lions (1-0, 2-2) at London Red Raiders (0-1, 0-4)
The Washington Blue Lions travel to the home of the Red Raiders this Friday, as they (WCH) are coming off a 46-point effort last week against East Clinton in their SCOL opener, which was their second win of the season.
As for LHS … the Red Raiders have had a tough slate thus far as they are looking for their first win of the year. The Red Raiders have scored 55 points (second lowest in the SCOL) while allowing 196 points (the most allowed in the league).
The Blue Lions possess a rushing attack that can break open a game or keep them in games, which has been the story of the season in their wins against Adena and EC the past two Fridays.
Prediction: Washington wins
• Last Week's Scores
Week 4 (Friday, Sept. 14)
- Madison-Plains 42, Hillsboro 12
- Washington 46, East Clinton 43
- Clinton-Massie 66, McClain 0
- Miami Trace 34, London 20
• Last Week's Predictions
Last week, in the four SCOL games predicted, I finished 3-1 overall. That makes me 20-8 on the year after four complete weeks.
• 5 Things I'd like to see in Week 5
1. I'd like to see the McClain Tigers regroup after two tough weeks and be the team I saw in the first two games of the season.
2. I'd like to see the Hillsboro Indians gain a victory.
3. I'd like to see the SCOL standings get even tighter following the fifth week of the season.
4. I'd like to see a game decided on the final play of the game. How fun would that be?
5. I'd like to see another field goal. I've only seen one team convert field goals this season on a consistent basis (Zane Trace).
Stephen Forsha is the sports editor of The Highland County Press. He can be reached at sforsha@gmail.com. Follow Stephen on Twitter @hcpsportseditor.
Teams are already celebrating homecoming games, the overall and league standings are starting to sort themselves out on the field and the weather is getting a cool chill in the air once the sun goes down.
[[In-content Ad]]There weren't many surprises last week in the South Central Ohio League on the football field last week. Clinton-Massie showed they were the most dominant team in the league (and why they are the six-time league champions). I'll talk more about them later in the notebook, but they were and will be the best overall and complete football team I and many others will see all season long.
As for myself … I'm having a blast traveling to various football games with my dad as my football sidekick on a weekly basis. This is my absolute favorite time of the year. I love fall, and I love football. To me, it doesn't matter what the overall record of a team that I cover is … as long as the players give a full effort each time they take the field, that's all anyone can really ask for.
Anyway, let's get the show started with previews of each game along with my weekly predictions.
• Hillsboro Indians (0-1, 0-4) at Miami Trace (1-0, 1-3)
The Hillsboro Indians were unable to contain the Madison-Plains rushing attack last week in Stephen Lemieux and others who defeated the Indians by 30 points last week (42-12), and another tough test awaits the Indians this week in the MT Panthers.
MT is one of the better one-win teams in the area ... just look at the overall record of teams they've lost to this year (8-4) as the Panthers are still in their "Rebuilding Tradition" stage of their football program.
As I wrote in my Week 5 game preview, the Hillsboro team has played in many tough games this year as they are still looking for the winning formula as we hit the halfway point of the season. The opponents of HHS are a combined 15-1 overall this season with three undefeated teams headed into the week (Western Brown, Goshen and Madison-Plains) and the one-loss Wilmington Hurricane.
What stands out for me about the Panthers is their junior quarterback Jimmy Stroker, as he's an all-around athlete, but HHS has an all-around athlete in junior Kordell Ford.
This game has a chance to be interesting, as long as the Indians can keep it close in the first half, then keep some momentum going in the final two quarters as they have been held scoreless in the second half three of the first four weeks.
Things will get better for the Indians eventually, but as my Publisher Rory Ryan wrote this week in a column about the Indians, "Hillsboro is a gutsy team."
Prediction: Miami Trace wins
• McClain Tigers (0-1, 2-2) at East Clinton (0-1, 1-3)
This games really piques my interest as McClain got off to a hot start in the first two games but have cooled down as of late, and the Astros have just one win but can run the football.
Injuries are starting to mount for the Tigers this season, and as long as those players are on the sidelines and not in the games, each week will be tougher on the field.
Besides last week, I still feel the Tigers have a good defense if they can get pressure on their opponents' backfield (but that is true with every defense, right?), but I can't let one week against a state-ranked opponent let me forget what I watched the first two weeks, either.
Then there is the East Clinton running game, especially senior Max Morrow, who is running all over the football field this season with 12 touchdowns and 700-plus yards. I had the opportunity to interview Morrow (who is returning from a broken leg from last season) and three of his teammates this summer for the First-and-Ten High School Football Preview, and it was easy to tell even then, on one of those 95-plus degree days during a two-a-day, this team was very focused.
I have a feeling this game will be full of rushing yards from both sides, and possibly many points as well as East Clinton has scored 119 points but have allowed 128. On the other side, the Tigers have scored 67 and allowed 113, but take away the 66 points by Clinton-Massie and the Tiger defense has allowed just 47 points in their other three games.
Prediction: East Clinton wins
• Madison-Plains (1-0, 4-0) at Clinton-Massie (1-0, 4-0)
This is one of those games where the overall records can fool a person. No disrespect to Madison-Plains, but their 4-0 mark is completely different than that of Clinton-Massie.
I really like the running games of both teams, but after finally seeing Clinton-Massie live last Friday at McClain Field, they are the best team I've seen in a very long time … by far the best team. I've never seen a high school team like CM with so much speed all over the football field, at all positions, and they play tough no matter the score, which is something I respect.
As for the Golden Eagles, I'm happy to see this program with the success they are having this year after years of building the program to get to this current point. MP has a very good running game, and they currently sit at No. 4 in the Region 20 computer rankings, but in Region 16, the Falcons are No. 1.
As for last week against HHS, what stood out for me in their game, from what I read in the HCP article, is they scored 21 points in five plays in the second half … no matter what the situation is, that type of scoring that quickly is impressive.
Prediction: Clinton-Massie wins
• Washington Blue Lions (1-0, 2-2) at London Red Raiders (0-1, 0-4)
The Washington Blue Lions travel to the home of the Red Raiders this Friday, as they (WCH) are coming off a 46-point effort last week against East Clinton in their SCOL opener, which was their second win of the season.
As for LHS … the Red Raiders have had a tough slate thus far as they are looking for their first win of the year. The Red Raiders have scored 55 points (second lowest in the SCOL) while allowing 196 points (the most allowed in the league).
The Blue Lions possess a rushing attack that can break open a game or keep them in games, which has been the story of the season in their wins against Adena and EC the past two Fridays.
Prediction: Washington wins
• Last Week's Scores
Week 4 (Friday, Sept. 14)
- Madison-Plains 42, Hillsboro 12
- Washington 46, East Clinton 43
- Clinton-Massie 66, McClain 0
- Miami Trace 34, London 20
• Last Week's Predictions
Last week, in the four SCOL games predicted, I finished 3-1 overall. That makes me 20-8 on the year after four complete weeks.
• 5 Things I'd like to see in Week 5
1. I'd like to see the McClain Tigers regroup after two tough weeks and be the team I saw in the first two games of the season.
2. I'd like to see the Hillsboro Indians gain a victory.
3. I'd like to see the SCOL standings get even tighter following the fifth week of the season.
4. I'd like to see a game decided on the final play of the game. How fun would that be?
5. I'd like to see another field goal. I've only seen one team convert field goals this season on a consistent basis (Zane Trace).
Stephen Forsha is the sports editor of The Highland County Press. He can be reached at sforsha@gmail.com. Follow Stephen on Twitter @hcpsportseditor.