Week 2 Football Preview: Indians look to rebound; Tigers have momentum

It was an eventful first week of high school football, but the games continue this week for the Hillsboro Indians and McClain Tigers, as the two Highland County teams continue their season in Week 2.

The Tigers will be on the road to face the Northwest Mohawks, while the Indians will be home for the second consecutive week, hosting the Goshen Warriors.

Last week, the Indians lost to the Western Brown Broncos 38-27, and the Tigers ended the season opener with a 41-23 victory over the Adena Warriors.

Here is a look at the Week 2 matchups for the Hillsboro Indians and McClain Tigers.

McClain Tigers (1-0) at Northwest Mohawks (1-0)

Last week, the Northwest Mohawks defeated the Southeastern Panthers 38-0 in the season opener for 2023. The road win for NWHS saw their sophomore quarterback Jake Brown (No. 3) go 7-for-15 for 129 yards with three touchdown passes and no interceptions.

Colton Campbell (No. 25) — a junior — led the Mohawks in rushing with nine carries for 66 yards and one TD run, averaging 7.5 yards per carry.

Connor Lintz (No. 1) — a senior — was the leading receiver for NWHS in Week 1 as he totaled six receptions for 129 yards with three touchdowns, averaging 21.5 yards per reception.

On defense in Week 1 for the Mohawks, junior Carter Runyon (No. 4) totaled 16 tackles, 12 solo and five tackles for loss, while also collecting two sacks. Campbell had 12 total tackles (seven solo) with three TFL. Lintz had an interception.

For McClain in their Week 1 win, the Tigers were led by senior Andrew Potts, who had 24 carries for 114 yards with four rushing touchdowns. He also had two receptions for 33 yards.

Senior Kaden Penwell totaled six carries for 118 yards for the Tigers with one touchdown run. He also had three receptions for 63 yards and a touchdown reception.

Senior quarterback Drake Stapleton was 8-of-17 for 144 yards with one touchdown and one interception.

Last season, the Tigers defeated Northwest, 36-35.

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Hillsboro Indians (0-1) vs. Goshen Warriors (0-1)

Goshen is coming off a Week 1 28-22 loss to the Piketon Redstreaks, where GHS scored 15 second-quarter points and seven points in the fourth quarter. Piketon scored 14 points in both the second and third quarters.

Goshen’s defense allowed 174 yards passing in the season opener last week and 169 yards rushing, as PHS averaged 4.7 yards per carry. Piketon also averaged 12.5 yards per reception.

Hillsboro enters Week 2 coming off a game where the Indians’ offense had just over 400 yards of offense in their 38-27 loss to Western Brown at Richards Memorial Field. In those numbers, senior Austin Barrett rushed 29 times for 192 yards with one touchdown, averaging 6.6 yards per carry.

Sophomore Jeven Hochstuhl finished the season opener with 14 carries fore 105 yards and one rushing score. He also had three receptions for 40 yards and two touchdown receptions.

Sophomore quarterback Mason Dumpert passed for two touchdowns and one interception in his first varsity start. He ended the game with five completions for 62 yards passing. Junior Nic Burns had two receptions for 39 yards receiving.

Last season, Hillsboro lost to Goshen 14-7, as Goshen has won seven of the past 10 meetings between the two schools.