High School Football Preview Week 9: Hillsboro hosting senior night against MT; McClain facing Jackson on the road

The ninth week of the high school football season is here, as the McClain Tigers travel to face the Jackson Ironmen on their homecoming, while the Hillsboro Indians host senior night, facing the Miami Trace Panthers.

Both Highland County teams are coming off losses last Friday in Week 8, as both lost Frontier Athletic Conference games, with McClain falling to the Washington Blue Lions and the Indians losing to the Ironmen.

Here is a look at each game.

McClain Tigers (1-2, 5-3) at Jackson Ironmen (3-0, 7-1)

The Tigers enter Week 9 battling for a spot in the Division III playoffs, as they are ranked No. 17 in Region 12, with the Top 16 making the state tournament.

McClain lost to the Blue Lions 49-25 last Friday, while Jackson defeated Hillsboro 63-21 to stay in first place in the FAC at 3-0 in the conference. McClain is currently 1-2 in FAC action, tied for fourth place with the Blue Lions in conference play.

In FAC games, the Tigers have scored 65 points and have allowed 95 points, while the Ironmen have scored 154 points in conference games this seaso, and have allowed 55 points.

Overall in ’23, MHS has scored 184 points (eight games) and allowed 191 points, standing at 5-3 overall.

In their first eight games of the season, Jackson has scored 318 points and allowed 172, as they are 7-1 overall.

For the Tigers, the top player to watch is senior Andrew Potts, who has rushed for over 1,000 yards this season (220 yards in Week 8), while senior quarterback Drake Stapleton is also having a strong season.

McClain's offense last Friday totaled 273 yards, but the Tigers gave up 359 rushing yards in the game.

For Jackson, players to watch are Ryan Seimetz (who had a punt return last Friday), kicker Ethan Crabtree, Cade Wolford (a Kent State commit), Nolan Johnson, Bodhi Wolford and a host of others, as the Ironmen are a complete team.

Kickoff at JHS is scheduled for 7 p.m.

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Hillsboro Indians (2-1, 4-4) vs. Miami Trace (2-1, 5-3)

Facing the Miami Trace Panthers, the Indians and the Panthers will be battling for second place in the conference, as both are 2-1 in FAC play.

MTHS enters the game coming off a 47-7 win over Chillicothe, while the Indians lost to Jackson, 63-21 in Week 8.

Winning on homecoming last Friday, the Panthers saw Asher LeBeau gain his 1,000th yard rushing for the season, and he also had three touchdowns in the win, as he’s the top player for the Panthers in ‘23.

Last Friday, MTHS allowed just 112 yards of offense.

The Indians are led by senior running back Austin Barret,t who in eight games has rushed for just over 1,500 yards, and it is unknown if sophomore playmaker Jeven Hochstuhl will play in week 9 after being injured against Jackson.

Barrett last Friday rushed for 256 yards against a tough Jackson team.

The Indians’ offense has the ability to score points in ‘23, totaling 256 points scored, but they’ve allowed 261 in the first eight games.

In FAC action where the Indians are 2-1, HHS has allowed 86 points and scored 80 points in those three games.

Kickoff at Richards Memorial FIeld is scheduled for 7 p.m., as it will also be senior night for Hillsboro.