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1974: Duane Earley and Bud Marsh gridiron stars

By
Bob Patton-
As the 1974 SCOL football season got under way, the Hillsboro Indians figured to be a stronger force in the league race. They would have highly touted junior quarterback Bud Marsh back for his second year  
and new transfer Tyler Wood as a capable backup.             Considered one of the most improved teams in the SCOL the Indians would entertain New Richmond, then would play at Greenhills and Zane Trace to get their season under way.
    Madison Plains, who became a member of the SCOL in the 1973-74 season, was now out of the league after only one year. The Madison Plains school board did not feel that the Golden Eagles could compete against the likes of Trace, Circleville and WCH, but had second thoughts after their team registered a couple of upsets. They then voted not to withdraw from the league; but it was too late. Most of the SCOL schools had completed their football schedules with no games against Madison Plains. So, MP would not compete in the SCOL in football, in 1974. They would return to full membership in 1975-76.
    Unioto High School, of near Chillicothe, was now the league’s newest member school. Their head coach, Mike Shoemaker, had produced three consecutive Scioto Valley Conference championships.
    They had five returning lettermen weighing in at more than 200 pounds and their linebackers averaged 196 pounds. They would be the only Class A team in the SCOL, but the Shermans should definitely not be taken lightly.
    Coach Ron Wilt at Wilmington had posted a 6-4 record last season. The Hurricane had a lot of people back, including sensational halfback Jackie Watson. As a breakaway threat, Watson was unmatched in the SCOL.
    The Hurricane ran out of a wishbone. They could opt to go with their passing game, or to stick with Watson, who gained a ton of yards last season. Wilmington would almost certainly have a strong influence on the league race this season.
    Washington C.H. was decimated by graduation, but league coaches conceded that crafty Moe Pfeifer wouldn’t be putting a weak squad on the field. Pfeifer would be beginning his 10th year as head coach at WCH.
    The Blue Lions were much smaller than last year, but were extremely quick.  Because of their dominance in 1973, the offensive and defensive second teams got a lot of playing time last year. Many of them would be moving up to starting positions this season.
    McClain head coach Fred Brisker had whipped his squad into a definite threat in the SCOL; 14 lettermen were returning for the Tigers, including All-SCOL Gary Barr, who was chosen to the defensive unit in 1973, but would be the Tigers’ chief offensive threat this season. McClain looked to be one of the most improved teams in the league.
    Miami Trace and Circleville were the favorites to wrestle the league championship away from Washington this season. Miami Trace had 13 returning lettermen, and nine returnees from the All-SCOL first and honorable mention squads. Coach Fred Zechman, beginning his second year at MT, would field a team that was capable of doing the job on any opponent they would face this season. Their defensive unit should be awesome.
    Coach Larry Cook at Circleville had the biggest team in the league. Along with their great size, the red and black featured extremely good speed. Their backfield would be loaded with experienced veterans with   a highly touted offensive line. The Circleville Tigers would have a say in determining the 1974 SCOL football champion.
    The SCOL opened its season in royal fashion Dec. 6 1974 when all seven members won their non-league games.
    Hillsboro, led by quarterback Bud Marsh, pulled out a 24-21 win over New Richmond. Jackie Watson ran a 73-yard touchdown jaunt and Duane Earley hit paydirt from one yard out as Wilmington downed Xenia, 12-0. The McClain Tigers completely surprised Cincinnati Country Day, blanking them, 26-0, behind the stellar play of Gary Barr, who picked up 243 yards on 45 carries to lead the Tiger attack.          Circleville traveled to nearby Grove City and won, 21-8. All 262 Circleville yards came on  
the ground, as they threw only one pass, and it wobbled.
    Unioto was penalized 135 yards for various infractions, but held on to take a 14-8 victory over Portsmouth West. Washington squeezed out an 8-6 win over Bishop Ready to keep a 15-game winning streak alive. Last, but not least, Miami Trace romped over Springfield Northeastern, 26-4, displaying a potent defense and demonstrating that the Panthers would be one of the SCOL’s top contenders this season. This was one of the few times in the long history of the SCOL that all of its teams won their opening games.
    On the second night of the season, Dec. 13, 1974, SCOL teams continued to do well, although not all won. Washington edged Chillicothe, 8-6, while Miami Trace bombed Bexley, 28-0, Wilmington rolled over Clinton Massie, 41-0, and McClain nudged Springfield Shawnee, 6-0, when Gary Barr crossed the goal line from two yards out with 1:37 left in the game. Circleville lost to Teays Valley, 16-6, Unioto was shellacked by Portsmouth Notre Dame, 61-34, and Cincinnati Greenhills ran all over Hillsboro, 47-6.
    The next Friday evening McClain traveled to Washington, Wilmington visited Circleville and Hillsboro took on the Miami Trace Panthers at MT.
    The Blue Lions managed to contain Gary Barr, holding him to 92 yards on 19 carries. This helped them to shut out the Tigers, 18-0.
    At Miami Trace, the Panthers totally wiped out Hillsboro, 50-6. MT rolled up a total of 482 yards for the evening, and their defense stymied everything the Indians tried to do.  
    (Continued next week.)    
    Bob Patton is a Highland County sports historian and a contributing writer to The Highland County Press.[[In-content Ad]]

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