Week 6 Football Preview: Tigers host London; Indians at CM
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
McClain (1-1, 3-2) vs. London (0-2, 0-5)
The McClain Tigers got back to the way they began the season last week with a win over the East Clinton Astros by using a tough running game, mixed with a defensive effort that held the Astros to just 14 points in 48 minutes.
This week, however, the Tigers, who are ranked No. 9 in Region 12 in the OHSAA Football Computer Rankings, are back at McClain Field as they host the winless London Red Raiders, who are coming off a loss to the Washington Blue Lions by a 28-7 score.
"We try to just focus week to week," McClain head coach Randy Closson said. "We played great team defense last week, but London is a big play team. They have some athletes, and we must stop the big plays if we want a chance to win this week."
In that matchup, the Red Raiders totaled 171 yards of offense (32 rushes for 135 yards) with just five first downs. Of those total offensive yards, quarterback Dustin Fisher had five rushes for 101 yards and one TD, and he passed for 36 yards.
As for the Red Raider defense, they allowed 327 yards of offense with the Blue Lions gaining 275 yards on the ground. In their first five games, LHS has allowed a grand total of 2,112 yards of offense with 1,385 yards coming from their opponent's rushing game.
"London's defense likes to play a five-man front, and we will have to be able to block their big five guys up front," Closson said. "We must pick up their linebackers so that we can run the ball."
That could help the Tigers as they like to run the football with help from senior Roscoe East, junior quarterback Thomas Schrader and junior Chris Sellman. East leads the Tigers in rushing this season as he has 313 yards rushing on 90 carries (3.47 yards per carry) through five games.
The McClain defense is led in tackles by Sellman with 47 tackles, followed by Schrader with 38, along with Jordan Goble and Shawn Haddox with 33 each as Haddox has six tackles for loss. Sellman and Haddox each have two sacks, while Phillip Thompson and East each have one sack.
Also for MHS in double-digit tackles are Clayton Burgess (15), Thompson (24), East (11), Brandon Davis (28), Dylan Trefz (21), Ryan Faulconer (19), Logan Rhonemus (11) and Caleb Rayburn (12).
Schrader has the lone interception for the MHS defense.
This season, LHS has scored 62 points while allowing 224, and the Tigers have scored 87 points and given up 127 (66 to Clinton-Massie).
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[[In-content Ad]]Hillsboro (0-2, 0-5) at Clinton-Massie (2-0, 5-0)
The struggles for the Hillsboro Indians continued last week at Miami Trace, where they were held to six points in their fifth straight loss of the season.
This week won't be any easier as the Indians will face the Clinton-Massie Falcons, a team ranked No. 3 by the Associated Press in Division IV and No. 1 in the Region 16 Rankings by the OHSAA.
As for CM, they will be hosting homecoming while honoring the life and memory of former quarterback Jake Richardson, 19, who passed away this past Sunday.
This season, the Falcons have been on a tear no matter their opponent as they've outscored the opposition 259-21 as they've won 27 straight games in the SCOL.
"Clinton-Massie has no weakness," Hillsboro head coach Brian Spicer said. "This is not just a 'good' Massie team ... this is a great Massie team."
HHS has scored 45 points this year, being held scoreless in eight of the 10 second-half quarters this season. The Indians have allowed 226 points in five games.
"We have to keep working," Spicer said. "We practice to get better ... it isn't any different this week. We try to keep the focus on what we need to do, not what they are capable of doing."
One plus last week was late in the second quarter where the Indians compiled a 91-yard drive for six points with junior Kordell Ford reaching the end zone.
"We do several things well … just not consistently well, but that is what's hurting us so much right now," Spicer said. "We had a 91-yard drive last week, and I think that is pretty impressive. We had some nice plays on defense but gave up far too many big plays. We are obviously hoping to get better in the last five weeks.
"Losing is tough ... no one likes to lose, but winning is tougher. It requires a whole lot more work. I keep emphasizing that the only way to turn things around is to work more, get better, get smarter and keep plugging at it. Acceptance will not lead to improvement … we need to work to win."
The McClain Tigers got back to the way they began the season last week with a win over the East Clinton Astros by using a tough running game, mixed with a defensive effort that held the Astros to just 14 points in 48 minutes.
This week, however, the Tigers, who are ranked No. 9 in Region 12 in the OHSAA Football Computer Rankings, are back at McClain Field as they host the winless London Red Raiders, who are coming off a loss to the Washington Blue Lions by a 28-7 score.
"We try to just focus week to week," McClain head coach Randy Closson said. "We played great team defense last week, but London is a big play team. They have some athletes, and we must stop the big plays if we want a chance to win this week."
In that matchup, the Red Raiders totaled 171 yards of offense (32 rushes for 135 yards) with just five first downs. Of those total offensive yards, quarterback Dustin Fisher had five rushes for 101 yards and one TD, and he passed for 36 yards.
As for the Red Raider defense, they allowed 327 yards of offense with the Blue Lions gaining 275 yards on the ground. In their first five games, LHS has allowed a grand total of 2,112 yards of offense with 1,385 yards coming from their opponent's rushing game.
"London's defense likes to play a five-man front, and we will have to be able to block their big five guys up front," Closson said. "We must pick up their linebackers so that we can run the ball."
That could help the Tigers as they like to run the football with help from senior Roscoe East, junior quarterback Thomas Schrader and junior Chris Sellman. East leads the Tigers in rushing this season as he has 313 yards rushing on 90 carries (3.47 yards per carry) through five games.
The McClain defense is led in tackles by Sellman with 47 tackles, followed by Schrader with 38, along with Jordan Goble and Shawn Haddox with 33 each as Haddox has six tackles for loss. Sellman and Haddox each have two sacks, while Phillip Thompson and East each have one sack.
Also for MHS in double-digit tackles are Clayton Burgess (15), Thompson (24), East (11), Brandon Davis (28), Dylan Trefz (21), Ryan Faulconer (19), Logan Rhonemus (11) and Caleb Rayburn (12).
Schrader has the lone interception for the MHS defense.
This season, LHS has scored 62 points while allowing 224, and the Tigers have scored 87 points and given up 127 (66 to Clinton-Massie).
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[[In-content Ad]]Hillsboro (0-2, 0-5) at Clinton-Massie (2-0, 5-0)
The struggles for the Hillsboro Indians continued last week at Miami Trace, where they were held to six points in their fifth straight loss of the season.
This week won't be any easier as the Indians will face the Clinton-Massie Falcons, a team ranked No. 3 by the Associated Press in Division IV and No. 1 in the Region 16 Rankings by the OHSAA.
As for CM, they will be hosting homecoming while honoring the life and memory of former quarterback Jake Richardson, 19, who passed away this past Sunday.
This season, the Falcons have been on a tear no matter their opponent as they've outscored the opposition 259-21 as they've won 27 straight games in the SCOL.
"Clinton-Massie has no weakness," Hillsboro head coach Brian Spicer said. "This is not just a 'good' Massie team ... this is a great Massie team."
HHS has scored 45 points this year, being held scoreless in eight of the 10 second-half quarters this season. The Indians have allowed 226 points in five games.
"We have to keep working," Spicer said. "We practice to get better ... it isn't any different this week. We try to keep the focus on what we need to do, not what they are capable of doing."
One plus last week was late in the second quarter where the Indians compiled a 91-yard drive for six points with junior Kordell Ford reaching the end zone.
"We do several things well … just not consistently well, but that is what's hurting us so much right now," Spicer said. "We had a 91-yard drive last week, and I think that is pretty impressive. We had some nice plays on defense but gave up far too many big plays. We are obviously hoping to get better in the last five weeks.
"Losing is tough ... no one likes to lose, but winning is tougher. It requires a whole lot more work. I keep emphasizing that the only way to turn things around is to work more, get better, get smarter and keep plugging at it. Acceptance will not lead to improvement … we need to work to win."