Trace pulls out 1991 SCOL title

(Continued from last week.)

In a critical week of SCOL football on Oct. 18, 1991, Miami Trace attacked Wilmington before all the Hurricane players got off the bus.

The first half was very even. The Panthers grabbed an early lead, but the ’Cane fought back and closed the score to 16-9.

When they got the ball back, the Orange-and-Black moved the ball to the 26-yard line, with a great opportunity to tie the score just before halftime. But Trace sacked the quarterback twice, stopping the threat with just under half a minute remaining in the half.

The Panthers broke that game open in the third stanza, and poured it on the rest of the way. Miami Trace had 19 first downs in the game, compared to Wilmington’s 7. The Panthers racked up 310 yards of offense (only four yards passing) to Wilmington’s 192.

Miami Trace won in every category. It wasn’t a pretty picture for Wilmington fans. The final score was Miami Trace 45, Wilmington 9.

In Washington Court House, the Blue Lions claimed their 200th SCOL football win with a solid defensive effort and some heads-up offensive play against Hillsboro. The game was very close in the first half.

Each team scored one touchdown, but Rodney Helsel’s extra point kick sailed wide right, and WCH went to the locker room with a 7-6 halftime lead. The second half, however, belonged, mostly, to the Lions, who kept the ball on the ground, grinding out yards like a well-oiled machine. The Blue-and-White rolled up 364 yards of total offense, holding the Indians to a total of 106 yards. The final score was, WCH 28, Hillsboro 6.

At Little Miami, McClain jumped out to an early 8-0 lead, thanks to an electrifying 65-yard touchdown run by Brad Willett on a quarterback sneak. Willett then hit Doug Moon with a short pass for a two-point conversion. But the Tigers never scored again, and Little Miami won the game, 12-8.

As a result of these games, Hillsboro, Miami Trace and Washington were all 2-1 in league play, while McClain was 1-2 and Wilmington was 1-3.

Would the final SCOL football season result in a three-way tie?

October 25 saw the McClain Tigers traveling to Hillsboro, Washington visiting Miami Trace and Wilmington entertaining Dayton Stebbins. This would be the final round of league games.

The last SCOL football title could easily depend on the outcome of the Washington at Miami Trace game or the McClain at Hillsboro Rotary Bowl game (or, both).

Since the annual Panther vs. Blue Lion contest originated, in 1961, Miami Trace held a 17-12 edge, with one tie. The Panthers had won or shared 8 of the past 11 league championships.

The October 25 game was no different. Washington fought hard, and the score was 7-7 after one quarter of play. But the Panthers eventually ground them down.

They both rolled up about 115 yards passing, but Trace outgained the Lions on the ground, 224-83. Trace led 17-7 at halftime, and won the game 30-13. The only thing left to do, now, was wait for the score of the McClain vs. Hillsboro game. When the score came in, the Panthers could celebrate another SCOL football title: McClain 28, Hillsboro 6.

McClain’s Doug Moon rushed for 127 yards on 24 carries. He scored two touchdowns in the first five minutes of the game. The Tigers had 19 first downs to Hillsboro’s six; 58 passing yards to Hillsboro’s 23; and 249 rushing yards to Hillsboro’s 122. Both teams had several key players injured, but most played in the game. A 51-yard touchdown run by Rodney Captain accounted for the sum of the Indians’ offense.

Friday, November 1 was the final playing date of the 1991 season with all the schools playing non-league opponents. Washington trounced Dayton Belmont, 43-8 at Gardner Park. Portsmouth thumped Miami Trace. New Richmond came to Greenfield, where they pummeled the Tigers, 47-29. Hillsboro took the measure of Western Brown, 27- 20 on the Hillsboro field and Wilmington traveled to the Cincinnati area where they ground out a narrow 17-14 win over Northwest High School.

The final standings for the 1991 football season were:

Miami Trace 8-2, 3-1

Hillsboro 6-4, 2-2

Washington 6-4, 2-2

McClain 5-5, 2-2

Wilmington 5-5, 1-3

The 1991 All-SCOL football team was named Feb. 14. The following players were selected:

Shawn Smith, WCH; Jack Anders, MT; Scott Gifford*, MT; Jason Self, WCH; B.J. Marine, WCH; Sean Longstreth, HHS; Chad Price, HHS; Howie Lunsford, WHS; Chris Shaw, WCH; Jason Flowers*, WCH; Jeremy Purdin, MHS; Scott Butts, MT; Jason King, MT; Bill Cooper, MT; Jack Anders, MT; Scott Gifford, MT; T.D. Howland, MHS; Rusty Captain, HHS; Rob Guthrie, MT; Randy Hughes, MT; Jon Sharp, WHS; Damon Bolden, HHS; Monte Smith, WCH; Terrell Baker, MT; Doug
Moon*, MHS; Tim Ford, WHS. (* Co-captains.)

When the All-Southeast District teams were announced, Jack Anders of Miami Trace was named Lineman of the Year in Div. II. Scott Gifford, Scott Butts and Terrell Baker, all of Miami Trace, were named to the All-SE District First Team. Chris Shaw, Shawn Smith, Mat Crutcher and Monte Smith, all of Washington C.H., were named to the First Team, and Mat Crutcher was Lineman of the Year in Div. III. Other SCOL players making the First Team were T.D. Howland, Doug Moon and Brad Brown, of McClain and Rodney Helsel, of Hillsboro. A large number of SCOL players received special mention.

So, for the present, at least, the South Central Ohio League, one of the oldest and most prestigious high school football leagues in the state had shut down.

When the All-State selections came out, both Jack Anders, of Miami Trace, and Mat Crutcher, of Washington C.H., were named first team All-Ohio.

(Continued next week.)

Bob Patton is a Highland County sports historian and a contributing writer to The Highland County Press.