Rotary Bowl Preview 2022: Potential playoff berths on the line for Hillsboro and McClain
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
HILLSBORO — When the Ohio High School Athletic Association decided to expand the football playoffs to 16 teams per region, it allowed the opportunity for double the schools to earn a spot in the playoffs. With many having mixed reactions to the decision, 2022 is the second year where 16 teams from each region will qualify for the state playoffs, and this year the Rotary Bowl means the most it has ever meant when it comes to the Hillsboro Indians hosting the McClain Tigers.
This annual rivalry game that will end the ’22 regular season sees the Indians (0-4, 3-6) face the Tigers (0-4, 4-5) with a potential chance to earn a playoff spot, as both teams sit at No. 16 in their respective regions. The Indians and Tigers are both entering this game with four consecutive losses, as they both won their most recent game on Sept. 16.
Hillsboro’s most recent win was in Week 5 at Richards Memorial Field — the location of this year’s Rotary Bowl — when they defeated the Clermont Northeastern Rockets 31-12. McClain most recent win was against Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy by a 48-14 score in Week 5.
As for the computer points, the Indians — who are coached by Nathan Horne — in Division III, Region 12 are at No. 16 with a number of 6.3944, while Franklin (3-6) is at No. 17 with a 5.2111 number in the rankings. Also close to Hillsboro in the Region 12 rankings is Vandalia Butler (3-6) at 4.8232.
The Tigers — who are coached by Keith Penwell — are No. 16 in Division IV, Region 16 with a ranking number of 7.85, while just ahead of them are the No. 15 Clinton-Massie Falcons (4-5) with a 7.9495 number, and just behind the Tigers is No. 17 Eaton (5-4) at 7.5278.
Looking at the first nine weeks for McClain, in non-conference games this season (Weeks 1-5) they went 4-1 with victories over Adena (28-14), Northwest (36-35), East Clinton (42-7) and Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy (48-14), with the loss coming to the still-undefeated Zane Trace Pioneers. In those five games, the Tigers outscored their opponents 154-110.
Since then (Weeks 6-9), the Tigers have losses in the Frontier Athletic Conference against Chillicothe, Washington, Jackson and Miami Trace. In those games, McClain’s opponents have outscored MHS, 177-25.
Hillsboro was 3-2 in their first five games of the season (their non-conference schedule) where they had losses against Western Brown — who are currently No. 2 in Region 12 — and Goshen. Their wins have been against East Clinton (41-27), Williamsburg (48-41, OT) and CNE (31-12).
In the non-conference schedule (Weeks 1-5), the Indians were outscored 151-127. In their FAC schedule (Weeks 6-9) thus far, HHS has been outscored 177-48 in games against Washington, Jackson, Miami Trace and Chillicothe.
One thing the Indians and Tigers have in common this season is they each had a running back set a school record in rushing for a game, and both running backs are juniors. First was Hillsboro’s Austin Barrett, who at Richards Memorial Field totaled 22 carries and rushed for 370 yards and five touchdowns in the 48-41 overtime win against Williamsburg on Friday, Sept. 9.
The following week for McClain — at McClain Field in Greenfield — Andrew Potts rushed for 360 yards and four touchdowns on 22 carries (in three quarters) during the Tigers’ 48-14 win over CHCA on Friday, Sept. 16.
Another similarity for the two schools is both teams have seen their senior quarterbacks be injured this season, both with season-ending injuries. Hillsboro’s Cam Smart was hurt in Week 2, as he suffered a shoulder injury, while McClain’s Drake Stapleton was sidelined in Week 7 against Washington with a leg injury.
Since Week 2, the Indians have had freshman Preston Fauber as their starting quarterback, and for the Tigers, they have had freshman Cohen Six and junior Kaden Penwell (also a running back) play the position.
As for the history of this rivalry game between two Highland County counterparts, HHS leads the all-time series of the Rotary Bowl game (which the trophy was first awarded in 1985) 25-12, winning the past six Rotary Bowl games (2016-21) which is the longest winning streak in the series. Last season, HHS won in Greenfield over McClain by a 31-7 score.
Kickoff at Richards Memorial Field for the 37th annual Rotary Bowl will be on Friday, Oct. 21 at 7 p.m.
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This annual rivalry game that will end the ’22 regular season sees the Indians (0-4, 3-6) face the Tigers (0-4, 4-5) with a potential chance to earn a playoff spot, as both teams sit at No. 16 in their respective regions. The Indians and Tigers are both entering this game with four consecutive losses, as they both won their most recent game on Sept. 16.
Hillsboro’s most recent win was in Week 5 at Richards Memorial Field — the location of this year’s Rotary Bowl — when they defeated the Clermont Northeastern Rockets 31-12. McClain most recent win was against Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy by a 48-14 score in Week 5.
As for the computer points, the Indians — who are coached by Nathan Horne — in Division III, Region 12 are at No. 16 with a number of 6.3944, while Franklin (3-6) is at No. 17 with a 5.2111 number in the rankings. Also close to Hillsboro in the Region 12 rankings is Vandalia Butler (3-6) at 4.8232.
The Tigers — who are coached by Keith Penwell — are No. 16 in Division IV, Region 16 with a ranking number of 7.85, while just ahead of them are the No. 15 Clinton-Massie Falcons (4-5) with a 7.9495 number, and just behind the Tigers is No. 17 Eaton (5-4) at 7.5278.
Looking at the first nine weeks for McClain, in non-conference games this season (Weeks 1-5) they went 4-1 with victories over Adena (28-14), Northwest (36-35), East Clinton (42-7) and Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy (48-14), with the loss coming to the still-undefeated Zane Trace Pioneers. In those five games, the Tigers outscored their opponents 154-110.
Since then (Weeks 6-9), the Tigers have losses in the Frontier Athletic Conference against Chillicothe, Washington, Jackson and Miami Trace. In those games, McClain’s opponents have outscored MHS, 177-25.
Hillsboro was 3-2 in their first five games of the season (their non-conference schedule) where they had losses against Western Brown — who are currently No. 2 in Region 12 — and Goshen. Their wins have been against East Clinton (41-27), Williamsburg (48-41, OT) and CNE (31-12).
In the non-conference schedule (Weeks 1-5), the Indians were outscored 151-127. In their FAC schedule (Weeks 6-9) thus far, HHS has been outscored 177-48 in games against Washington, Jackson, Miami Trace and Chillicothe.
One thing the Indians and Tigers have in common this season is they each had a running back set a school record in rushing for a game, and both running backs are juniors. First was Hillsboro’s Austin Barrett, who at Richards Memorial Field totaled 22 carries and rushed for 370 yards and five touchdowns in the 48-41 overtime win against Williamsburg on Friday, Sept. 9.
The following week for McClain — at McClain Field in Greenfield — Andrew Potts rushed for 360 yards and four touchdowns on 22 carries (in three quarters) during the Tigers’ 48-14 win over CHCA on Friday, Sept. 16.
Another similarity for the two schools is both teams have seen their senior quarterbacks be injured this season, both with season-ending injuries. Hillsboro’s Cam Smart was hurt in Week 2, as he suffered a shoulder injury, while McClain’s Drake Stapleton was sidelined in Week 7 against Washington with a leg injury.
Since Week 2, the Indians have had freshman Preston Fauber as their starting quarterback, and for the Tigers, they have had freshman Cohen Six and junior Kaden Penwell (also a running back) play the position.
As for the history of this rivalry game between two Highland County counterparts, HHS leads the all-time series of the Rotary Bowl game (which the trophy was first awarded in 1985) 25-12, winning the past six Rotary Bowl games (2016-21) which is the longest winning streak in the series. Last season, HHS won in Greenfield over McClain by a 31-7 score.
Kickoff at Richards Memorial Field for the 37th annual Rotary Bowl will be on Friday, Oct. 21 at 7 p.m.
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