SCOL Football Notebook: Week 7
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
Teams from the South Central Ohio League are entering the seventh week of high school football play, and with that, we are starting to get a look and understanding of who are the teams to watch out for in the league, and who are the teams that are gaining experience for next season, but still trying to add wins to their overall total along the way.
The SCOL standings look like this headed into Week 7.
L O PF PA WS
Clinton-Massie 3-0 4-2 257 77 3W
Washington 3-0 4-2 169 104 3W
London 1-1 1-5 138 187 2L
Miami Trace 1-1 2-4 91 182 1W
Madison-Plains 1-2 2-4 73 177 1L
McClain 0-3 1-5 34 153 4L
Hillsboro 0-2 0-6 81 290 6L
The above standings shows you who are the teams to beat in the league.
This week Clinton-Massie will host the McClain Tigers, the Hillsboro Indians travel to Madison-Plains, Washington will host the Jonathan Alder Pioneers in non-league action and the Miami Trace Panthers will host the London Red Raiders in what I think will be the best and most interesting game on the SCOL schedule this week. (More on that later.)
Scores from last week also show who are the dominant teams in the league:
- Chillicothe over Hillsboro 54-11 … a non-league game, but HHS is 0-6 overall.
- Washington over McClain 26-0 … Washington is 3-0 in the SCOL and the Tigers are 0-3. The teams are headed in opposite directions as the season continues.
- Clinton-Massie over London 49-7 … Massie is the best team in the league by far. Haven't lost an SCOL game since George W. Bush was in office. The Red Raiders play a tough schedule, and their toughest SCOL game is out of the way.
- Miami Trace over Madison-Plains 48-6 … Again, I want to see what MT can do against a team like LHS this week. I think LHS is one of the better 1-5 teams in the state, but their schedule (just like MT's) has been very tough.
Let's take a look at the games this week:
• London (1-1, 1-5) at Miami Trace (1-1, 2-4)
I wish I was able to watch this game this week because I think this will be the most exciting and most competitive SCOL game of the week. These two teams have played the toughest schedules of any team in the league this season, and now that they have played against the best competition, I'm very interested and intrigued to see what they will do against one another.
One thing in league play they have in common so far is they each have one league win in two tries, and their loss in the SCOL was against CM, who allowed each team to score one touchdown. MT allowed 72 points to the Falcons, and the Red Raiders allowed 49.
Both teams have good athletes under center and at the skill positions, both have lost games in the final quarter and both are very hungry for that second league win of the season.
As for their loss against CM in Week 6, the Red Raiders totaled 113 yards of rushing and 185 total offensive yards, their lowest total of the season. Antonio Wilson led LHS in rushing with 108 yards on 11 attempts over 50 percent of the Red Raiders' offense.
The MP Golden Eagles had to play without some of their regular starters and trailed 40-0 at halftime last week against the Miami Trace Panthers.
They had some big plays, but what led to their loss (besides top play by MT) was turnovers.
• Hillsboro (0-3, 0-6) at Madison-Plains (1-2, 2-4)
Both teams are coming off big, tough losses from Week 6 where MP lost 48-6 and HHS lost 54-11 … so this could be anyone's game this week.
Hillsboro's scoring last week included a field goal by Jarrod Hart, a fumble recovery for a touchdown and a two-point conversion run by Chase Gilliland.
This season, the Indians' defense has allowed 290 points combined (48.3 ppg), and the offense has scored 81 points (13.5 ppg).
MP's defense has allowed 177 points (29.5 ppg) and they have scored 73 points (12.2 ppg).
Both teams are more equal to one another than the opponents each had last week, so this has the capability of being a competitive game. This is the one I'll be covering, so I hope the game is competitive because I'm selfish like that.
• McClain (0-3, 1-5) at Clinton-Massie (3-0, 4-2)
No other way to say this but the SCOL football landscape belongs to the Clinton-Massie Falcons, and from the way they've dominated the league this season (and in the past five seasons), I don't see that changing anytime soon, including this week.
The Tigers have been shut out three times this year and have scored just 34 points all season. CM has scored 193 points in their past three games since suffering two consecutive losses.
CM totaled seven rushing touchdowns last week in the 49-7 win over the London Red Raiders. Earlier this season, MHS lost to LHS, 49-0. For their game last week, CM totaled 384 yards of rushing on 55 carries.
Last week, the Tigers lost 26-0 to the Washington Blue Lions, and so far this SCOL slate they have losses to London, Madison-Plains and Washington to go to 0-3 in league games.
This will be a tough ladder to climb this week for the Tigers … honestly, there is no other way to say it.
• Jonathan Alder (6-0) at Washington (3-0, 4-2)
Both the Jonathan Alder Pioneers and the Washington Blue Lions are coming off shutout wins with the Pioneers defeating Ironton, 17-0 and the Blue Lions defeating the Tigers, 26-0.
Alder has defeated some very good teams this season, including the SCOL-leading Falcons.
As for the Blue Lions, they posted their third SCOL win of the season last week, but in three of their non-league games this season they are 2-1. This is their final non-league game of the year, and following this game in Week 8, they face the CM Falcons.
Last week, the Blue Lions collected 380 yards, with a majority (361 yards) coming via the run, which the Blue Lions did 57 of its 63 plays. Washington senior quarterback Caleb Huffman totaled 72 total yards, with 63 rushing and 19 passing. He had one rushing touchdown.
But it was the running back duo of seniors Jerome Pettiford and Reily Shaw that produced the majority of the Blue Lions' yards, with Pettiford totaling 180 yards of rushing on 25 carries (two catches for 19 yards) and Shaw finishing with 113 yards on 19 carries, including three touchdowns.
• My Week 7 Predictions
- Miami Trace over London
- Hillsboro over Madison-Plains
- Clinton-Massie over McClain
- Jonathan Alder over Washington
• 5 Things I'd Like To See This Week
1. I'd like to see sportsmanship before, during and after the games from all teams this week. That doesn't mean teams can't play tough during the game, though. This usually isn't a problem, but after the incident following a game last week, a reminder can't hurt anyone.
2. I'd like to see the Hillsboro Indians gain their first win of the season. This will only be the second time this year they have been on the road.
3. I'd like to see the rain hold off this week for the simple fact it is easier to do my job without it. Also, hail storms can stay away, too.
4. I'd like to see how competitive the Miami Trace and London game really is going to be. I think this will be the best and most competitive game of the week in the SCOL.
5. I'd like to see Highland County residents take a road trip on Friday and support either the McClain Tigers or Hillsboro Indians at their respective road games.[[In-content Ad]]
The SCOL standings look like this headed into Week 7.
L O PF PA WS
Clinton-Massie 3-0 4-2 257 77 3W
Washington 3-0 4-2 169 104 3W
London 1-1 1-5 138 187 2L
Miami Trace 1-1 2-4 91 182 1W
Madison-Plains 1-2 2-4 73 177 1L
McClain 0-3 1-5 34 153 4L
Hillsboro 0-2 0-6 81 290 6L
The above standings shows you who are the teams to beat in the league.
This week Clinton-Massie will host the McClain Tigers, the Hillsboro Indians travel to Madison-Plains, Washington will host the Jonathan Alder Pioneers in non-league action and the Miami Trace Panthers will host the London Red Raiders in what I think will be the best and most interesting game on the SCOL schedule this week. (More on that later.)
Scores from last week also show who are the dominant teams in the league:
- Chillicothe over Hillsboro 54-11 … a non-league game, but HHS is 0-6 overall.
- Washington over McClain 26-0 … Washington is 3-0 in the SCOL and the Tigers are 0-3. The teams are headed in opposite directions as the season continues.
- Clinton-Massie over London 49-7 … Massie is the best team in the league by far. Haven't lost an SCOL game since George W. Bush was in office. The Red Raiders play a tough schedule, and their toughest SCOL game is out of the way.
- Miami Trace over Madison-Plains 48-6 … Again, I want to see what MT can do against a team like LHS this week. I think LHS is one of the better 1-5 teams in the state, but their schedule (just like MT's) has been very tough.
Let's take a look at the games this week:
• London (1-1, 1-5) at Miami Trace (1-1, 2-4)
I wish I was able to watch this game this week because I think this will be the most exciting and most competitive SCOL game of the week. These two teams have played the toughest schedules of any team in the league this season, and now that they have played against the best competition, I'm very interested and intrigued to see what they will do against one another.
One thing in league play they have in common so far is they each have one league win in two tries, and their loss in the SCOL was against CM, who allowed each team to score one touchdown. MT allowed 72 points to the Falcons, and the Red Raiders allowed 49.
Both teams have good athletes under center and at the skill positions, both have lost games in the final quarter and both are very hungry for that second league win of the season.
As for their loss against CM in Week 6, the Red Raiders totaled 113 yards of rushing and 185 total offensive yards, their lowest total of the season. Antonio Wilson led LHS in rushing with 108 yards on 11 attempts over 50 percent of the Red Raiders' offense.
The MP Golden Eagles had to play without some of their regular starters and trailed 40-0 at halftime last week against the Miami Trace Panthers.
They had some big plays, but what led to their loss (besides top play by MT) was turnovers.
• Hillsboro (0-3, 0-6) at Madison-Plains (1-2, 2-4)
Both teams are coming off big, tough losses from Week 6 where MP lost 48-6 and HHS lost 54-11 … so this could be anyone's game this week.
Hillsboro's scoring last week included a field goal by Jarrod Hart, a fumble recovery for a touchdown and a two-point conversion run by Chase Gilliland.
This season, the Indians' defense has allowed 290 points combined (48.3 ppg), and the offense has scored 81 points (13.5 ppg).
MP's defense has allowed 177 points (29.5 ppg) and they have scored 73 points (12.2 ppg).
Both teams are more equal to one another than the opponents each had last week, so this has the capability of being a competitive game. This is the one I'll be covering, so I hope the game is competitive because I'm selfish like that.
• McClain (0-3, 1-5) at Clinton-Massie (3-0, 4-2)
No other way to say this but the SCOL football landscape belongs to the Clinton-Massie Falcons, and from the way they've dominated the league this season (and in the past five seasons), I don't see that changing anytime soon, including this week.
The Tigers have been shut out three times this year and have scored just 34 points all season. CM has scored 193 points in their past three games since suffering two consecutive losses.
CM totaled seven rushing touchdowns last week in the 49-7 win over the London Red Raiders. Earlier this season, MHS lost to LHS, 49-0. For their game last week, CM totaled 384 yards of rushing on 55 carries.
Last week, the Tigers lost 26-0 to the Washington Blue Lions, and so far this SCOL slate they have losses to London, Madison-Plains and Washington to go to 0-3 in league games.
This will be a tough ladder to climb this week for the Tigers … honestly, there is no other way to say it.
• Jonathan Alder (6-0) at Washington (3-0, 4-2)
Both the Jonathan Alder Pioneers and the Washington Blue Lions are coming off shutout wins with the Pioneers defeating Ironton, 17-0 and the Blue Lions defeating the Tigers, 26-0.
Alder has defeated some very good teams this season, including the SCOL-leading Falcons.
As for the Blue Lions, they posted their third SCOL win of the season last week, but in three of their non-league games this season they are 2-1. This is their final non-league game of the year, and following this game in Week 8, they face the CM Falcons.
Last week, the Blue Lions collected 380 yards, with a majority (361 yards) coming via the run, which the Blue Lions did 57 of its 63 plays. Washington senior quarterback Caleb Huffman totaled 72 total yards, with 63 rushing and 19 passing. He had one rushing touchdown.
But it was the running back duo of seniors Jerome Pettiford and Reily Shaw that produced the majority of the Blue Lions' yards, with Pettiford totaling 180 yards of rushing on 25 carries (two catches for 19 yards) and Shaw finishing with 113 yards on 19 carries, including three touchdowns.
• My Week 7 Predictions
- Miami Trace over London
- Hillsboro over Madison-Plains
- Clinton-Massie over McClain
- Jonathan Alder over Washington
• 5 Things I'd Like To See This Week
1. I'd like to see sportsmanship before, during and after the games from all teams this week. That doesn't mean teams can't play tough during the game, though. This usually isn't a problem, but after the incident following a game last week, a reminder can't hurt anyone.
2. I'd like to see the Hillsboro Indians gain their first win of the season. This will only be the second time this year they have been on the road.
3. I'd like to see the rain hold off this week for the simple fact it is easier to do my job without it. Also, hail storms can stay away, too.
4. I'd like to see how competitive the Miami Trace and London game really is going to be. I think this will be the best and most competitive game of the week in the SCOL.
5. I'd like to see Highland County residents take a road trip on Friday and support either the McClain Tigers or Hillsboro Indians at their respective road games.[[In-content Ad]]