Week 3 Football Preview: McClain to face Paint Valley in ‘Battle of 41;’ Hillsboro travels to PWHS

McClain Tigers (2-0) at Paint Valley Bearcats (1-1), 7 p.m.

This is a game that’s been 13 years in the making for both the McClain Tigers and Paint Valley Bearcats, as this game has been circled on the calendar all offseason for both teams.

A lot has changed since the last time these two teams have faced each other in 2010, but a lot is the same for these two rivals in the “Battle of 41,” as now there is a trophy on the line in the renewal of this rivalry between Highland County and Ross County.

McClain is coming off a win at Northwest where they won the non-conference game by a 14-13 score, and they are 2-0 overall as they also won in Week 1 by a 41-23 score over the Adena Warriors.

In Week 2, Paint Valley lost a non-conference game to the West Jefferson Roughriders, 49-13, and in the season opener on Aug. 18 the Bearcats defeated Blanchester, 35-14.

Looking at McClain last week against Northwest, the Tigers saw senior Andrew Potts total 23 rushes for 118 yards and one touchdown, while he also had four receptions for 25 yards.

Defensively, McClain saw Kaden Penwell collect seven tackles, and Cade Sponcil finish with 6.5 tackles. Collecting four tackles each were Conner Frazier, Cam Medley and Andrew Roeder, plus Jayden Allison had three tackles.

When looking at special teams for McClain last Friday, Seth Weller made four punts for an average of 38.2 yards, with his best punt measuring at 44 yards, which is a big deal in terms of the opposing team’s field position.

Against a strong West Jefferson team last Friday night in Week 2, Paint Valley allowed 389 yards passing and 77 yards rushing in their loss to the Roughriders. Touchdowns for PV last week were by Carson Free on an 11-yard catch and Preston Fauber off a 4-yard run.

In Week 1, the Bearcats allowed just 28 yards passing and 119 yards rushing in their win over Blanchester. TDs in Week 1 for the Bearcats included Braylon Robertson touchdown runs of 2 yards, 19 yards, 25 yards and 4 yards, and he had a 2-point conversion catch.

The other PVHS touchdown in Week 1 was a Fauber touchdown pass to Free for 21 yards.

Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at PVHS.

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Hillsboro Indians (1-1) at Portsmouth West Senators (1-1)

The Hillsboro Indians are on the road for the first time this season and will be facing the Portsmouth West Senators, as both teams enter the Week 3 game with 1-1 records.

HHS earned a win last Friday night over the Goshen Warriors by a 56-19 score and lost in Week 1 to Western Brown, 38-27. PWHS lost to the Fairland Dragons in Week 1, 32-29, and in Week 2 the Senators defeated Portsmouth, 31-14.

PWHS in Week 2 saw Mason Parker rush for 139 yards and three touchdowns on 15 carries. He also tied in total tackles with 18 (12 solo), plus he had a sack and fumble recovery. In Week 1, Parker threw a 26-yard touchdown pass and had 15 carries for 121 yards with one touchdown. Parker also led PWHS with two receptions for 36 yards.

For the Indians, Austin Barrett has paced the offense the first two games of the season, with a Week 2 performance totaling 21 carries for 156 yards rushing and two touchdowns, averaging 7.4 yards per carry.

HHS running back Jeven Hochstuhl finished the Week 2 victory with 14 carries for 114 yards and two rushing touchdowns, as the sophomore averaged 8.1 yards per carry.

Hillsboro quarterback Mason Dumpert joined the fun in Week 2, finishing with 126 yards rushing on 13 carries with one touchdown run, averaging 9.7 yards per carry.

In the total team win in Week 2, the Indians played well on both sides of the ball, as that aspect improved from Week 1, though the Indians had some success in the season opener as well. In the first game, HHS saw Barrett rush for 192 yards and one touchdown on 29 carries against WBHS.

That first game also saw a standout performance from Hochstuhl, who finished the game with 105 yards rushing on 14 carries with one rushing touchdown, plus three receptions for 40 yards and two receiving touchdowns.

This has the makings of a competitive game and a good road test for the Indians early in the season, as both teams are coming off Week 2 wins and want to continue the momentum gained last Friday night.

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at PWHS.