SCOL NOTEBOOK: Week 1
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
The first week of high school football games has finally arrived. After a hot summer of weight lifting, conditioning, practices and scrimmages, it is now time to play real games … games that count in the record books and overall standings.
The defending champions of the South Central Ohio League, the Clinton-Massie Falcons, kick off their 2011 season in what they call a Cider Keg game against Clinton County rival Blanchester. The Hillsboro Indians open at home against the Western Brown Broncos. McClain hosts the Adena Warriors, and the Miami Trace Panthers will travel to the Circleville Tigers. Plus, the Washington Blue Lions will host the Logan Elm Braves, and the Madison-Plains Golden Eagles will take on Cedarville on the road.
WIth all the games being non-league contests, it will be an opportunity for the league to improve its non-league record from last season, as it was 13-15, two games under .500.
Let's take a quick look at each game.
• Clinton-Massie vs. Blanchester
What can you say about Clinton-Massie that hasn't already been said? They rule the SCOL, and until someone beats them, it will stay that way. They have a 33-game regular-season winning streak.
As for the Wildcats of Blanchester, last season against the Falcons they lost 55-0. In fact, the last three seasons ('08-'10) CM has shutout their Clinton County rival by a combined score of 162-0 (55-0, 58-0, 49-0), and in '07 Blanchester scored seven points vs. CM.
While interviewing CM head coach Dan McSurley for the Highland County Press football preview, he said his teams don't think about the winning streaks, but just the game at hand: "We're not even thinking about that (winning streaks)," CM head coach Dan McSurley said. "I don't talk about it, the kids don't talk about it … we play week by week. We just want to focus on us and getting better. We certainly want to prepare each week for our opponent, but as far as any streak goes, we don't talk about it."
This game should be interesting just for this question: what will the revamped rushing game of the Falcons look like? Their two main backs from last season have graduated, so like I've said before, I'm looking forward to the Massie rushing attack this season.
• Hillsboro vs. Western Brown
The Indians gained some new players during the first week of school by "opening up the halls" so to speak and now are at 47 members this season.
That is a good and bad thing.
The good is they have depth. The bad is the depth is a month behind on conditioning, practices, scrimmages and pretty much everything. I'm happy they have more players on the team, at least.
As for Friday's game … Hillsboro did defeat Western Brown last season, but that was a year ago. Again, the Indians want to force the pass-heavy Broncos team into running the football.
"They have some good players back, and they have a total commitment to throw the football," Spicer said. "To force them to run the football, we have to make sure our coverages are good because what we are going to see Friday is a change from the SCOL style we're used to seeing."
• Miami Trace at Circleville
This game is one of those old-fashioned rivalry matchups between teams that may not be in the same county, but have a long history of playing each other. The Tigers of Circleville used to be a member of the SCOL, winning 11 league titles.
In the preview of the Panthers I wrote:
To get back to their winning ways, the Panthers will have an old-style look to their offense, with, as Bernard put it, "a more traditional two-back offense."
So that means this game between the Panthers and Tigers will be one of those classic (former) SCOL battles.
"We will rely heavily on our offensive line because we have some experience on the offensive line," Bernard said. "Those kids on the offensive line have gotten bigger and stronger over the winter, so we feel pretty confident in what they are doing up front."
Circleville won last season, and MT won the year before, and the two years before that, each team split the series. If that pattern stays intact, then it is the Panthers' turn to win again.
My feeling on this game is if you like classic football, then a trip to Circleville should be on your agenda Friday night.
• Washington vs. Logan Elm
This Blue Lions team has had position battles all throughout the preseason and scrimmages, and it will be time to see how they have turned out against Logan Elm in their season opener.
There have been positives and negatives in the scrimmage season for Washington, but again, that can be said for every team.
What will be the difference for the Blue Lions on Friday is whether their new defense (most of it is new) can adjust to their new roles and if their new skill position players on the offensive side can produce at a consistent level.
• Madison-Plains at Cedarville
The Golden Eagles talked this offseason about wanting to improve and finishing this upcoming season with a better record than last season. Friday night is their opportunity to do just that as they travel to face Cedarville.
MP had one win last season, and they can match this with a Week 1 win, something they last did in '09.
In talking with MP during their preseason, I got the feeling they really have been putting the effort to make a change to their program, and if they have continued to improve in their scrimmages, they have a good opportunity to gain another Week 1 victory.
• London at Urbana
What will impress about this LHS squad is their speed. They have lots of speed and a successful head coach who is back as the head man in Jerry Wasserman.
Last season, Urbana won 21-20 over LHS in the season opener and the year at 7-3 overall in the standings by winning five of their first six games.
The Red Raiders return their QB Dylan Follrod from last season, and he with a host of others will try to right the wrong of last year with a non-league season-opening win.
• McClain vs. Adena
This annual matchup has had a few good endings the past few years. Last season, MHS won 20-15 in a game that came down to the very end. In '08, the game went into double overtime with AHS winning.
The Tigers won 46-20 in '09, and the five-point win from last season has them entering this matchup on a two-game series winning streak.
MHS head coach Randy Closson said his team is excited to start the season, and who can blame them? After a long summer and the momentum of a winning season last fall, the Tigers are prepared to take the gridiron Friday.
"There is a lot of excitement, and we are ready to roll. It's good to start the season with a positive vibe."
Also, the head coach liked what he saw from his team in the scrimmages.
"I thought we moved the ball solid. We gave lots of guys carries, and defensively, we pressured the ball and made a lot of group tackles," Closson said. "It was good to see those type of things."
• Predictions
Since I can't sleep and I'm feeling a little risky … for fun here are my Week 1 predictions (last year I finished with a winning record):
- CM wins over Blanchester
- The Broncos top the Indians
- Circleville defeats MT
- The Blue Lions win against the Braves
- MP tops Cedarville
- LHS wins over Urbana
- McClain defeats Adena
• At this time next week … following all the quick looks at the upcoming games we will discuss stats of the season and individual stats from the previous week.
• 5 Things I'd like to see this Friday
1. I'd like to see the Hillsboro Indians just come out and score a touchdown on their first offensive drive of the season.
2. I'd like to see the defending SCOL champs add onto their regular-season winning streak.
3. I'd like to see the MHS Tigers and the Adena Warriors play a competitive game, since that is the game I'm covering.
4. I'd like to see the SCOL teams finish Friday with a winning record to start non-league games.
5. I'd like the new-look Blue Lion defense to not skip a beat from last season in their '11 season opener.
• Following the games on Friday, check out the HCP web site on Saturday morning for results and SCOL football standings. Check out the Monday morning Not off the Press for full Week 1 recap with all kinds of info.
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The defending champions of the South Central Ohio League, the Clinton-Massie Falcons, kick off their 2011 season in what they call a Cider Keg game against Clinton County rival Blanchester. The Hillsboro Indians open at home against the Western Brown Broncos. McClain hosts the Adena Warriors, and the Miami Trace Panthers will travel to the Circleville Tigers. Plus, the Washington Blue Lions will host the Logan Elm Braves, and the Madison-Plains Golden Eagles will take on Cedarville on the road.
WIth all the games being non-league contests, it will be an opportunity for the league to improve its non-league record from last season, as it was 13-15, two games under .500.
Let's take a quick look at each game.
• Clinton-Massie vs. Blanchester
What can you say about Clinton-Massie that hasn't already been said? They rule the SCOL, and until someone beats them, it will stay that way. They have a 33-game regular-season winning streak.
As for the Wildcats of Blanchester, last season against the Falcons they lost 55-0. In fact, the last three seasons ('08-'10) CM has shutout their Clinton County rival by a combined score of 162-0 (55-0, 58-0, 49-0), and in '07 Blanchester scored seven points vs. CM.
While interviewing CM head coach Dan McSurley for the Highland County Press football preview, he said his teams don't think about the winning streaks, but just the game at hand: "We're not even thinking about that (winning streaks)," CM head coach Dan McSurley said. "I don't talk about it, the kids don't talk about it … we play week by week. We just want to focus on us and getting better. We certainly want to prepare each week for our opponent, but as far as any streak goes, we don't talk about it."
This game should be interesting just for this question: what will the revamped rushing game of the Falcons look like? Their two main backs from last season have graduated, so like I've said before, I'm looking forward to the Massie rushing attack this season.
• Hillsboro vs. Western Brown
The Indians gained some new players during the first week of school by "opening up the halls" so to speak and now are at 47 members this season.
That is a good and bad thing.
The good is they have depth. The bad is the depth is a month behind on conditioning, practices, scrimmages and pretty much everything. I'm happy they have more players on the team, at least.
As for Friday's game … Hillsboro did defeat Western Brown last season, but that was a year ago. Again, the Indians want to force the pass-heavy Broncos team into running the football.
"They have some good players back, and they have a total commitment to throw the football," Spicer said. "To force them to run the football, we have to make sure our coverages are good because what we are going to see Friday is a change from the SCOL style we're used to seeing."
• Miami Trace at Circleville
This game is one of those old-fashioned rivalry matchups between teams that may not be in the same county, but have a long history of playing each other. The Tigers of Circleville used to be a member of the SCOL, winning 11 league titles.
In the preview of the Panthers I wrote:
To get back to their winning ways, the Panthers will have an old-style look to their offense, with, as Bernard put it, "a more traditional two-back offense."
So that means this game between the Panthers and Tigers will be one of those classic (former) SCOL battles.
"We will rely heavily on our offensive line because we have some experience on the offensive line," Bernard said. "Those kids on the offensive line have gotten bigger and stronger over the winter, so we feel pretty confident in what they are doing up front."
Circleville won last season, and MT won the year before, and the two years before that, each team split the series. If that pattern stays intact, then it is the Panthers' turn to win again.
My feeling on this game is if you like classic football, then a trip to Circleville should be on your agenda Friday night.
• Washington vs. Logan Elm
This Blue Lions team has had position battles all throughout the preseason and scrimmages, and it will be time to see how they have turned out against Logan Elm in their season opener.
There have been positives and negatives in the scrimmage season for Washington, but again, that can be said for every team.
What will be the difference for the Blue Lions on Friday is whether their new defense (most of it is new) can adjust to their new roles and if their new skill position players on the offensive side can produce at a consistent level.
• Madison-Plains at Cedarville
The Golden Eagles talked this offseason about wanting to improve and finishing this upcoming season with a better record than last season. Friday night is their opportunity to do just that as they travel to face Cedarville.
MP had one win last season, and they can match this with a Week 1 win, something they last did in '09.
In talking with MP during their preseason, I got the feeling they really have been putting the effort to make a change to their program, and if they have continued to improve in their scrimmages, they have a good opportunity to gain another Week 1 victory.
• London at Urbana
What will impress about this LHS squad is their speed. They have lots of speed and a successful head coach who is back as the head man in Jerry Wasserman.
Last season, Urbana won 21-20 over LHS in the season opener and the year at 7-3 overall in the standings by winning five of their first six games.
The Red Raiders return their QB Dylan Follrod from last season, and he with a host of others will try to right the wrong of last year with a non-league season-opening win.
• McClain vs. Adena
This annual matchup has had a few good endings the past few years. Last season, MHS won 20-15 in a game that came down to the very end. In '08, the game went into double overtime with AHS winning.
The Tigers won 46-20 in '09, and the five-point win from last season has them entering this matchup on a two-game series winning streak.
MHS head coach Randy Closson said his team is excited to start the season, and who can blame them? After a long summer and the momentum of a winning season last fall, the Tigers are prepared to take the gridiron Friday.
"There is a lot of excitement, and we are ready to roll. It's good to start the season with a positive vibe."
Also, the head coach liked what he saw from his team in the scrimmages.
"I thought we moved the ball solid. We gave lots of guys carries, and defensively, we pressured the ball and made a lot of group tackles," Closson said. "It was good to see those type of things."
• Predictions
Since I can't sleep and I'm feeling a little risky … for fun here are my Week 1 predictions (last year I finished with a winning record):
- CM wins over Blanchester
- The Broncos top the Indians
- Circleville defeats MT
- The Blue Lions win against the Braves
- MP tops Cedarville
- LHS wins over Urbana
- McClain defeats Adena
• At this time next week … following all the quick looks at the upcoming games we will discuss stats of the season and individual stats from the previous week.
• 5 Things I'd like to see this Friday
1. I'd like to see the Hillsboro Indians just come out and score a touchdown on their first offensive drive of the season.
2. I'd like to see the defending SCOL champs add onto their regular-season winning streak.
3. I'd like to see the MHS Tigers and the Adena Warriors play a competitive game, since that is the game I'm covering.
4. I'd like to see the SCOL teams finish Friday with a winning record to start non-league games.
5. I'd like the new-look Blue Lion defense to not skip a beat from last season in their '11 season opener.
• Following the games on Friday, check out the HCP web site on Saturday morning for results and SCOL football standings. Check out the Monday morning Not off the Press for full Week 1 recap with all kinds of info.
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