Week 4 Football Preview: Undefeated Tigers travel to Massie; Indians to host Landmark Christian
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
McClain (3-0) at Clinton-Massie (3-0)
This is a matchup of two undefeated teams to start the first week of the South Central Ohio League season, as six of the next seven games will eventually decide who'll be the next champion of the SCOL.
For the McClain Tigers, their biggest and toughest challenge of the '13 season awaits this Friday night as they travel to not only face the reigning SCOL champions Clinton-Massie, but CM is also the reigning Division IV State champions with a good core of players from that team returning this season.
McClain head coach Randy Closson knows his team has a very tough challenge awaiting them in Clarksville.
"Clinton-Massie looks as strong as ever and really grinds you down with the run game," the MHS head coach said. "We have to play mistake-free football and put together some drives offensively and defensively. We also must control our gaps and play very physical."
For the Tigers, they are coming off a 28-20 win at Zane Trace, their second consecutive road game of the season. MHS will be playing on the road for the third consecutive week, then return home next Friday when they host East Clinton.
The Tigers this season have amassed 1,114 total yards offensively (733 yards rushing). The defense has allowed 619 yards in three games, for an average of 206 yards per game.
[[In-content Ad]]The Tigers are led in rushing by senior Dillon Hunick with 290 yards.
The Falcons of CM, on the other hand, defeated Jonathan Alder last week by a 35-7 score, and earlier this season, they defeated Waynesville, 21-19 and Blanchester, 63-7.
Last season, a year where MHS went 7-3, the Falcons defeated the Tigers, 66-0 at McClain Field.
With the Tigers starting the season at 3-0, Closson spoke about his team's good start.
"The team has been able to stay focused, and we continue to improve (each week)," Closson said. "Last week, we were a more consistent football team and threw the ball very well.
"We must stay healthy and improve week to week."
As for the SCOL this season, through three weeks of games, the league is 15-6 overall with four teams at 3-0 in MHS, CM, Miami Trace and Chillicothe.
"The SCOL does look to be exceptionally strong this year," Closson said. "With the addition of Chillicothe and a lot of non-league wins, it could be a very interesting season."
In two games this season for the Falcons, Bayle Wolf (he didn't play Week 1) rushed for 143 yards against Waynesville and 146 yards vs. Jonathan Alder for a total of 289 yards. His brother Chayse Wolf has played in all three games with rushing totals of 189, 136 and 88 for a total of 413 yards.
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Landmark Christian (1-2) at Hillsboro (0-3)
This week, the Hillsboro Indians will look to gain their first win of the season, and in the process snap a 13-game losing streak, as they host the Landmark Christian Eagles Friday night at Richards Memorial Field.
The Eagles, who are coached by John Steinkoenig, average 88 yards per game (16-for-61) passing and 87.3 ypg rushing (54 attempts) as they enter the game 1-2 overall. They have scored eight total touchdowns this season, while defensively they have 10 sacks (eight against Horizon) and one interception. For the season, LC has 264 yards passing, including back-to-back 100-plus-yard games.
Landmark's lone win this season was their season opener against Horizon Christian (43-0) and have since lost games to the Columbus Crusaders (51-0) and Troy Christian (40-7).
LC's quarterback is junior Will Patrick, and their leading rushers are sophomore Jamal Holston and junior Zihao Barton with 80 and 79 yards each this season.
"Landmark is a spread team that has good team speed," HHS head coach Matt Hodge said. "They will run and throw and have athletes at the skilled spots. On defense, they are an attacking 3-man front that will bring a lot of different blitzes."
The Indians are coming off a 49-0 loss at Wilmington last week, and this week Hodge continued to talk about consistency.
"We need to play four consistent quarters in order to win this week," he said. "We need to continue to work on being more consistent. We play well in spurts but not consistent enough for four quarters.
"We are gaining valuable experience every week. Being so young, the more we play, the better we will get."
As the season continues, Hodge spoke about a senior player who has become a big leader for the Indians.
"Todd Adkins (a senior) is a player who has done whatever we've asked him to do," Hodge said. "He works hard and has become our leader on the offensive line."
This season, the Indians have scored 18 points, while giving up 123 in the first three games in losses to Western Brown, Goshen and WHS.
This is a matchup of two undefeated teams to start the first week of the South Central Ohio League season, as six of the next seven games will eventually decide who'll be the next champion of the SCOL.
For the McClain Tigers, their biggest and toughest challenge of the '13 season awaits this Friday night as they travel to not only face the reigning SCOL champions Clinton-Massie, but CM is also the reigning Division IV State champions with a good core of players from that team returning this season.
McClain head coach Randy Closson knows his team has a very tough challenge awaiting them in Clarksville.
"Clinton-Massie looks as strong as ever and really grinds you down with the run game," the MHS head coach said. "We have to play mistake-free football and put together some drives offensively and defensively. We also must control our gaps and play very physical."
For the Tigers, they are coming off a 28-20 win at Zane Trace, their second consecutive road game of the season. MHS will be playing on the road for the third consecutive week, then return home next Friday when they host East Clinton.
The Tigers this season have amassed 1,114 total yards offensively (733 yards rushing). The defense has allowed 619 yards in three games, for an average of 206 yards per game.
[[In-content Ad]]The Tigers are led in rushing by senior Dillon Hunick with 290 yards.
The Falcons of CM, on the other hand, defeated Jonathan Alder last week by a 35-7 score, and earlier this season, they defeated Waynesville, 21-19 and Blanchester, 63-7.
Last season, a year where MHS went 7-3, the Falcons defeated the Tigers, 66-0 at McClain Field.
With the Tigers starting the season at 3-0, Closson spoke about his team's good start.
"The team has been able to stay focused, and we continue to improve (each week)," Closson said. "Last week, we were a more consistent football team and threw the ball very well.
"We must stay healthy and improve week to week."
As for the SCOL this season, through three weeks of games, the league is 15-6 overall with four teams at 3-0 in MHS, CM, Miami Trace and Chillicothe.
"The SCOL does look to be exceptionally strong this year," Closson said. "With the addition of Chillicothe and a lot of non-league wins, it could be a very interesting season."
In two games this season for the Falcons, Bayle Wolf (he didn't play Week 1) rushed for 143 yards against Waynesville and 146 yards vs. Jonathan Alder for a total of 289 yards. His brother Chayse Wolf has played in all three games with rushing totals of 189, 136 and 88 for a total of 413 yards.
- - - - -
Landmark Christian (1-2) at Hillsboro (0-3)
This week, the Hillsboro Indians will look to gain their first win of the season, and in the process snap a 13-game losing streak, as they host the Landmark Christian Eagles Friday night at Richards Memorial Field.
The Eagles, who are coached by John Steinkoenig, average 88 yards per game (16-for-61) passing and 87.3 ypg rushing (54 attempts) as they enter the game 1-2 overall. They have scored eight total touchdowns this season, while defensively they have 10 sacks (eight against Horizon) and one interception. For the season, LC has 264 yards passing, including back-to-back 100-plus-yard games.
Landmark's lone win this season was their season opener against Horizon Christian (43-0) and have since lost games to the Columbus Crusaders (51-0) and Troy Christian (40-7).
LC's quarterback is junior Will Patrick, and their leading rushers are sophomore Jamal Holston and junior Zihao Barton with 80 and 79 yards each this season.
"Landmark is a spread team that has good team speed," HHS head coach Matt Hodge said. "They will run and throw and have athletes at the skilled spots. On defense, they are an attacking 3-man front that will bring a lot of different blitzes."
The Indians are coming off a 49-0 loss at Wilmington last week, and this week Hodge continued to talk about consistency.
"We need to play four consistent quarters in order to win this week," he said. "We need to continue to work on being more consistent. We play well in spurts but not consistent enough for four quarters.
"We are gaining valuable experience every week. Being so young, the more we play, the better we will get."
As the season continues, Hodge spoke about a senior player who has become a big leader for the Indians.
"Todd Adkins (a senior) is a player who has done whatever we've asked him to do," Hodge said. "He works hard and has become our leader on the offensive line."
This season, the Indians have scored 18 points, while giving up 123 in the first three games in losses to Western Brown, Goshen and WHS.