SCOL Football Notebook: Week 10
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
I really can't believe this is it for the '12 high school football regular season.
Wasn't I just in cafés and restaurants in area counties writing the First-and-Ten Football Preview? Wasn't I just talking with all the coaches and players about what they wanted to accomplish this season?
Where does the time go?
Anyway, this has been a football season of highs and lows for the South Central Ohio League and its eight schools.
[[In-content Ad]]The league has the Clinton-Massie Falcons representing it at its highest level with their play on the field this season, and there is a possibility of other teams in the league making a push to the playoffs depending on outcomes of games Friday.
The play of Miami Trace has greatly improved this season on the field, as has the play of the McClain Tigers. MHS has the opportunity to go from a 1-9 team to a 7-3 team, which is a great turnaround for a program.
Madison-Plains won four games in a row to start the season, but the injury bug has really hurt them, and some other schools have had some struggles on the gridiron that will take time to fix.
Overall, this season has been for me a fun one to cover, starting the preseason road trip to all the SCOL schools and even some schools that will join the league eventually.
I love this league and what it can possibly be. The students who play in the games deserve all the credit in the world for going to the field each Friday, win-or-loss.
Through all of this, a winning season or a losing season, what I really hope the players get from this season is that they got to play the game of football.
Trust me, when you are 10 years out of high school and write about the sport for a living, you wish you could have that feeling of being around all your teammates one last time. It never really goes away.
Sure, winning is more fun, but all the players in the SCOL and wherever else, remember you put in all the sacrifice and dedication … all the work, the sweat, the blood and even maybe a few tears … but I hope the players remember in Week 10 why they play the game.
People who play this game have to love it to a certain degree, and once the season comes to an end, I hope they get the satisfaction of just knowing they gave everything that had to the game and their team … because that's what matters most in the long run.
Thank you, players and coaches of the SCOL, for another great season.
• Previews and Predictions
- McClain Tigers (4-2, 6-3) at Hillsboro Indians (0-6, 0-9)
Like all games in the SCOL this week, this is a big rivalry game, so that means records don't mean a whole lot …. BUT I still think they mean something. There is no way an overall record, a season's worth of work, can not mean something, no matter if a team is playing their rival or not.
This game is no different as McClain looks to gain possession of the Rotary Bowl trophy again after losing it last season in a 28-27 loss to the Indians … but last season seems ages ago for both teams.
McClain has made at least a five-game improvement in the win column this season, and the Indians have not … as they won two games last season, and this season they've yet to gain a win with this being their final opportunity.
I have mixed thoughts on this game as I don't want to see a team I cover go winless, but the Tigers are in a battle for a potential playoff spot if things go their way Friday night as they are currently No. 6 in the OHSAA Region 12 computer polls.
Click here for my game preview.
This game is usually a fun game to watch … the players love it, the coaches seems to enjoy this game, and I really hope the fans show up and pack the stadium this Friday.
Prediction: McClain wins
- Miami Trace Panthers (5-1, 5-4) at Washington Blue Lions (4-2, 5-4)
This has the potential to be a very good game, but on paper, I feel the Miami Trace Panthers have the edge.
I've seen both teams play twice this season on their home fields, and though Washington does have some quality players, I feel the Panthers have more of a big-play potential as I've seen them do that on occasion this season.
Just my opinion, but the MT offense will be a tough one to handle this week.
Prediction: Miami Trace wins
- East Clinton Astros (2-4, 3-6) at Clinton-Massie Falcons (6-0, 9-0)
Clinton-Massie is the most complete team I've seen in a very long time … no ifs, ands or buts about it.
They've completely steamrolled though the SCOL and have done so for a number of years now. They have speed everywhere and are primed to play in the postseason.
East Clinton has had their share of struggles this season as they are coming off a loss to the now two-win London Red Raiders.
Prediction: Clinton-Massie wins
- London Red Raiders (2-4, 2-7) at Madison-Plains Golden Eagles (1-5, 4-5)
I'm calling this the "Goodbye Bowl" as this will be the final time London and Madison-Plains will be playing in a football game as members of the SCOL.
I really like the folks who run these teams in LHS head coach Jerry Wasserman and MPHS head coach Mike Siders and wish them the best next season in the Mid-State League.
As for this game involving Madison County rivals, depending on the health of players for both teams (they both have played games without their better players), this game could go a number of ways.
It's going to be different without these teams in the SCOL because without them joining for the '03 season, the SCOL may still have not returned.
LHS has won two straight, and the Golden Eagles have lost five in a row.
Prediction: Madison-Plains wins
• Last Week's Scores
- Hillsboro 0, Washington 39
- Madison-Plains 22, McClain 56
- London 22, East Clinton 13
- Clinton-Massie 56, Miami Trace 6
• Last Week's Predictions
Last week, in the four SCOL games predicted, I finished 3-1 overall. That makes me 35-13 on the year after nine complete weeks.
• 5 Things I'd like to see in Week 10
1. I'd like to see great interest by fans this week … it's rivalry week … enough said.
2. I'd like to see the McClain Tigers earn a playoff spot for the first time in school history.
3. I'd like to see understanding for the way some of the seasons have gone this year.
4. I'd like to see good crowds show up. C'mon, it's the final game of the season.
5. I'd like to see the seniors gain something they will always remember about their final football game.
Stephen Forsha is the sports editor of The Highland County Press. He can be reached at sforsha@gmail.com. Follow Stephen on Twitter @hcpsportseditor.
Wasn't I just in cafés and restaurants in area counties writing the First-and-Ten Football Preview? Wasn't I just talking with all the coaches and players about what they wanted to accomplish this season?
Where does the time go?
Anyway, this has been a football season of highs and lows for the South Central Ohio League and its eight schools.
[[In-content Ad]]The league has the Clinton-Massie Falcons representing it at its highest level with their play on the field this season, and there is a possibility of other teams in the league making a push to the playoffs depending on outcomes of games Friday.
The play of Miami Trace has greatly improved this season on the field, as has the play of the McClain Tigers. MHS has the opportunity to go from a 1-9 team to a 7-3 team, which is a great turnaround for a program.
Madison-Plains won four games in a row to start the season, but the injury bug has really hurt them, and some other schools have had some struggles on the gridiron that will take time to fix.
Overall, this season has been for me a fun one to cover, starting the preseason road trip to all the SCOL schools and even some schools that will join the league eventually.
I love this league and what it can possibly be. The students who play in the games deserve all the credit in the world for going to the field each Friday, win-or-loss.
Through all of this, a winning season or a losing season, what I really hope the players get from this season is that they got to play the game of football.
Trust me, when you are 10 years out of high school and write about the sport for a living, you wish you could have that feeling of being around all your teammates one last time. It never really goes away.
Sure, winning is more fun, but all the players in the SCOL and wherever else, remember you put in all the sacrifice and dedication … all the work, the sweat, the blood and even maybe a few tears … but I hope the players remember in Week 10 why they play the game.
People who play this game have to love it to a certain degree, and once the season comes to an end, I hope they get the satisfaction of just knowing they gave everything that had to the game and their team … because that's what matters most in the long run.
Thank you, players and coaches of the SCOL, for another great season.
• Previews and Predictions
- McClain Tigers (4-2, 6-3) at Hillsboro Indians (0-6, 0-9)
Like all games in the SCOL this week, this is a big rivalry game, so that means records don't mean a whole lot …. BUT I still think they mean something. There is no way an overall record, a season's worth of work, can not mean something, no matter if a team is playing their rival or not.
This game is no different as McClain looks to gain possession of the Rotary Bowl trophy again after losing it last season in a 28-27 loss to the Indians … but last season seems ages ago for both teams.
McClain has made at least a five-game improvement in the win column this season, and the Indians have not … as they won two games last season, and this season they've yet to gain a win with this being their final opportunity.
I have mixed thoughts on this game as I don't want to see a team I cover go winless, but the Tigers are in a battle for a potential playoff spot if things go their way Friday night as they are currently No. 6 in the OHSAA Region 12 computer polls.
Click here for my game preview.
This game is usually a fun game to watch … the players love it, the coaches seems to enjoy this game, and I really hope the fans show up and pack the stadium this Friday.
Prediction: McClain wins
- Miami Trace Panthers (5-1, 5-4) at Washington Blue Lions (4-2, 5-4)
This has the potential to be a very good game, but on paper, I feel the Miami Trace Panthers have the edge.
I've seen both teams play twice this season on their home fields, and though Washington does have some quality players, I feel the Panthers have more of a big-play potential as I've seen them do that on occasion this season.
Just my opinion, but the MT offense will be a tough one to handle this week.
Prediction: Miami Trace wins
- East Clinton Astros (2-4, 3-6) at Clinton-Massie Falcons (6-0, 9-0)
Clinton-Massie is the most complete team I've seen in a very long time … no ifs, ands or buts about it.
They've completely steamrolled though the SCOL and have done so for a number of years now. They have speed everywhere and are primed to play in the postseason.
East Clinton has had their share of struggles this season as they are coming off a loss to the now two-win London Red Raiders.
Prediction: Clinton-Massie wins
- London Red Raiders (2-4, 2-7) at Madison-Plains Golden Eagles (1-5, 4-5)
I'm calling this the "Goodbye Bowl" as this will be the final time London and Madison-Plains will be playing in a football game as members of the SCOL.
I really like the folks who run these teams in LHS head coach Jerry Wasserman and MPHS head coach Mike Siders and wish them the best next season in the Mid-State League.
As for this game involving Madison County rivals, depending on the health of players for both teams (they both have played games without their better players), this game could go a number of ways.
It's going to be different without these teams in the SCOL because without them joining for the '03 season, the SCOL may still have not returned.
LHS has won two straight, and the Golden Eagles have lost five in a row.
Prediction: Madison-Plains wins
• Last Week's Scores
- Hillsboro 0, Washington 39
- Madison-Plains 22, McClain 56
- London 22, East Clinton 13
- Clinton-Massie 56, Miami Trace 6
• Last Week's Predictions
Last week, in the four SCOL games predicted, I finished 3-1 overall. That makes me 35-13 on the year after nine complete weeks.
• 5 Things I'd like to see in Week 10
1. I'd like to see great interest by fans this week … it's rivalry week … enough said.
2. I'd like to see the McClain Tigers earn a playoff spot for the first time in school history.
3. I'd like to see understanding for the way some of the seasons have gone this year.
4. I'd like to see good crowds show up. C'mon, it's the final game of the season.
5. I'd like to see the seniors gain something they will always remember about their final football game.
Stephen Forsha is the sports editor of The Highland County Press. He can be reached at sforsha@gmail.com. Follow Stephen on Twitter @hcpsportseditor.