Week 8 Football Preview: Indians host London; Tigers at Miami Trace
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
McClain (3-1, 5-2) at
Miami Trace (4-0, 4-3)
It has been one of the better seasons in recent memory for the McClain football program, and they look to continue that trend this week in a big way as they face a tough test, on the road at Miami Trace High School.
McClain has won three straight games, and the Panthers are currently on a four-game winning streak, as all seven of those wins combined in those streaks have come in South Central Ohio League games.
As for the Tigers … they are currently the No. 6 team in the OHSAA Computer Polls in Region 12 through seven games. If they can stay in that spot for three more weeks, then they will be in the postseason. That said, the Tigers will do like they have all season and not look forward to any game but the one in front of them.
"We are just taking one game at a time focusing on Miami Trace," MHS head coach Randy Closson. "This is a big game against a Miami Trace team which has improved each week. It's going to be a huge challenge. Trace has a talented offense. The QB and RBs are all capable of big plays, and we must contain them.
"We have stayed humble and continue to work."
Last week in their 21-15 win at Washington, the Tigers used their running game to gain 303 yards of rushing and 436 total offensive yards. Roscoe East totaled 186 yards, and quarterback Thomas Schrader passed for 133 yards, including a 46-yard TD pass to Coleston Walters. Schrader also had two rushing TDs, going for 4 and 31 yards.
The MHS defense has been on point this season, including forcing three turnovers last week, and in the past three weeks, they have totaled four interceptions, including Jordan Goble gaining an INT on the first play of the game last week at Gardner Park. McClain held WCH to 281 yards of offense.
Now, for the Panthers … they are coming off a 29-19 win over Madison-Plains last week as the MT offense has totaled 228 points, while their defense has allowed 168 points in seven games. In their past four games (all wins), the Panthers have defeated (along with MP) East Clinton, Hillsboro and London by a combined score of 151-58.
This season, the Tigers have scored 144 points while they have allowed 142 points.
Players to watch out for on the Panthers team will be quarterback Jimmy Stroker, along with Austin Dyer, Trevor Haines and Cedric Pettiford as all four players are capable of big yardage plays on the offensive side of the ball.
[[In-content Ad]]London (0-4, 0-7) at
Hillsboro (0-4, 0-7)
This week, either the Hillsboro Indians or the London Red Raiders will gain their first win of the '12 football season as the Red Raiders travel to Richards Memorial Field Friday night.
Along with it being one team's first win of the year, the winner will also get out of last place in the South Central Ohio League.
Starting with the Indians, they are coming off one of their best efforts of the season as they lost 31-26 to East Clinton.
"We did play well," HHS head coach Brian Spicer said. "We executed on both sides of the ball better than we had in previous games. We try to emphasize 'improvement' each week in a season.
"Working to get better is always a part of any sport's season ... whether you are winning or not. I believe if you keep this the main focus ... and not focus on wins or losses, then your team should be playing better at the end of the year all the time. If you look at the past few years here, our teams have shown that."
HHS led 12-7 after the first quarter last week but trailed 22-18 at the half. HHS took the lead again in the third frame with eight points, while holding EC scoreless in the third, but EC came back by holding HHS from scoring in the fourth quarter while scoring nine points.
Scoring touchdowns last week for the Indians were Michael Sultan, Logan Lesley, Kordell Ford and Drew Huffman.
As for the Red Raiders, they are coming off a 62-13 loss to SCOL leader Clinton-Massie.
In their game against CM, the Red Raiders totaled 181 yards of offense on 39 plays. Scoring TDs for LHS were Justin Schlosser and a TD reception by Dustin Coffey off a pass by Dustin Fisher, who was 10-of-18 for 114 yards passing.
LHS had eight first downs.
"They (LHS) run and pass from different looks on offense," Spicer said. "We will see everything from a spread to two tight ends. Defensively, they have lined up in a 3-4 and play a lot of man coverage.
"They play hard, and I know they want to win this week just as bad as we do. I am sure this week's game will be a battle, just like last week's. We need to do some things better, though, so that this week we come out on top."
The LHS defense allowed CM to gain a grand total of 538 yards on 33 plays, including 479 yards rushing with eight touchdowns.
This season, HHS has scored 77 points while allowing 334, while London has scored 75 points and allowed 322 points, and as previously mentioned, both teams are looking for their first win of the year.
"Records don't tell you everything. We watch the films and go through practice working on the things we feel we need to do in order to win. We do the same things every week regardless of the opponent or their record. I do think emotionally, the players take into account the records of the teams. I think that was part of our better effort last week," Spicer said.
"When you are not winning, anything that motivates you to do better is a good thing. If the other team's record is something that gets you up, then so be it. I try to get the players to understand that their effort in every game should be the same. They should play their best and give their best regardless of who they play or what their team’s win-loss record is."
Miami Trace (4-0, 4-3)
It has been one of the better seasons in recent memory for the McClain football program, and they look to continue that trend this week in a big way as they face a tough test, on the road at Miami Trace High School.
McClain has won three straight games, and the Panthers are currently on a four-game winning streak, as all seven of those wins combined in those streaks have come in South Central Ohio League games.
As for the Tigers … they are currently the No. 6 team in the OHSAA Computer Polls in Region 12 through seven games. If they can stay in that spot for three more weeks, then they will be in the postseason. That said, the Tigers will do like they have all season and not look forward to any game but the one in front of them.
"We are just taking one game at a time focusing on Miami Trace," MHS head coach Randy Closson. "This is a big game against a Miami Trace team which has improved each week. It's going to be a huge challenge. Trace has a talented offense. The QB and RBs are all capable of big plays, and we must contain them.
"We have stayed humble and continue to work."
Last week in their 21-15 win at Washington, the Tigers used their running game to gain 303 yards of rushing and 436 total offensive yards. Roscoe East totaled 186 yards, and quarterback Thomas Schrader passed for 133 yards, including a 46-yard TD pass to Coleston Walters. Schrader also had two rushing TDs, going for 4 and 31 yards.
The MHS defense has been on point this season, including forcing three turnovers last week, and in the past three weeks, they have totaled four interceptions, including Jordan Goble gaining an INT on the first play of the game last week at Gardner Park. McClain held WCH to 281 yards of offense.
Now, for the Panthers … they are coming off a 29-19 win over Madison-Plains last week as the MT offense has totaled 228 points, while their defense has allowed 168 points in seven games. In their past four games (all wins), the Panthers have defeated (along with MP) East Clinton, Hillsboro and London by a combined score of 151-58.
This season, the Tigers have scored 144 points while they have allowed 142 points.
Players to watch out for on the Panthers team will be quarterback Jimmy Stroker, along with Austin Dyer, Trevor Haines and Cedric Pettiford as all four players are capable of big yardage plays on the offensive side of the ball.
[[In-content Ad]]London (0-4, 0-7) at
Hillsboro (0-4, 0-7)
This week, either the Hillsboro Indians or the London Red Raiders will gain their first win of the '12 football season as the Red Raiders travel to Richards Memorial Field Friday night.
Along with it being one team's first win of the year, the winner will also get out of last place in the South Central Ohio League.
Starting with the Indians, they are coming off one of their best efforts of the season as they lost 31-26 to East Clinton.
"We did play well," HHS head coach Brian Spicer said. "We executed on both sides of the ball better than we had in previous games. We try to emphasize 'improvement' each week in a season.
"Working to get better is always a part of any sport's season ... whether you are winning or not. I believe if you keep this the main focus ... and not focus on wins or losses, then your team should be playing better at the end of the year all the time. If you look at the past few years here, our teams have shown that."
HHS led 12-7 after the first quarter last week but trailed 22-18 at the half. HHS took the lead again in the third frame with eight points, while holding EC scoreless in the third, but EC came back by holding HHS from scoring in the fourth quarter while scoring nine points.
Scoring touchdowns last week for the Indians were Michael Sultan, Logan Lesley, Kordell Ford and Drew Huffman.
As for the Red Raiders, they are coming off a 62-13 loss to SCOL leader Clinton-Massie.
In their game against CM, the Red Raiders totaled 181 yards of offense on 39 plays. Scoring TDs for LHS were Justin Schlosser and a TD reception by Dustin Coffey off a pass by Dustin Fisher, who was 10-of-18 for 114 yards passing.
LHS had eight first downs.
"They (LHS) run and pass from different looks on offense," Spicer said. "We will see everything from a spread to two tight ends. Defensively, they have lined up in a 3-4 and play a lot of man coverage.
"They play hard, and I know they want to win this week just as bad as we do. I am sure this week's game will be a battle, just like last week's. We need to do some things better, though, so that this week we come out on top."
The LHS defense allowed CM to gain a grand total of 538 yards on 33 plays, including 479 yards rushing with eight touchdowns.
This season, HHS has scored 77 points while allowing 334, while London has scored 75 points and allowed 322 points, and as previously mentioned, both teams are looking for their first win of the year.
"Records don't tell you everything. We watch the films and go through practice working on the things we feel we need to do in order to win. We do the same things every week regardless of the opponent or their record. I do think emotionally, the players take into account the records of the teams. I think that was part of our better effort last week," Spicer said.
"When you are not winning, anything that motivates you to do better is a good thing. If the other team's record is something that gets you up, then so be it. I try to get the players to understand that their effort in every game should be the same. They should play their best and give their best regardless of who they play or what their team’s win-loss record is."