Atsalis leaves HHS for Cincinnati Reading
By
Bob Patton-
The 1965 SCOL football season was just around the corner. Coach Bill Atsalis was back at Hillsboro High School for his seventh year. He had taken the Indians from a perennial doormat to a contending team. But this season might be different. While the boys had, according to Atsalis, “a fine mental attitude,” they were small and inexperienced.
Only six returning varsity lettermen were in the group, and they were all seniors. One could hardly avoid the conclusion that this could be a long season for Hillsboro.
Meanwhile, in Greenfield, Coach Bill Damron was back for his third year at the helm. His prospects didn’t look so bright, either. Damron had stated that “this would be one of the smallest teams ever fielded at McClain.”
Returning lettermen included co-captains Jake Grooms and Bobby Nooks, both halfbacks, seniors John Kerns, Jim Haines, Dave Elberfeld, Bill Damron and Paul Harris.
The Tigers played a tough non-league schedule and it was hard to predict many wins for this year’s squad. But you never know.
Hillsboro opened their season at Lebanon. The Indians put up a great battle, but lost out at the end, primarily because of three fumbles, 20-16. Doug Wagoner and Jim Dixon were the chief ground gainers for Hillsboro, especially Wagoner, who gained 113 yards in the contest.
The same night Miami Trace beat Springfield Northeastern, 46-0, Circleville rocked Grove City, 48-0, Xenia beat Washington, 32-0, London trounced McClain, 34-9, and Hamilton Taft walloped Wilmington, 30 – 6.
September 17 at Hamilton Township, Hillsboro took a 28-16 win. McClain went to Jackson the same night and took it on the chin by a score of 36-6.
On Sept. 24, Bishop Hartley took the measure of Hillsboro by a score of 28-8, McClain edged Chillicothe, 13-12, Circleville beat Pleasant View, 26-6, Columbus DeSales took Wilmington, 28-24 and Washington and Franklin Heights tied 8-8.
When McClain visited Hillsboro, in the second week of the league season, the Tribe was waiting for them. Hillsboro scored in the first and fourth quarters and defeated the Tigers, 14-0. In Circleville, the (Circleville) Tigers had all the luck as visiting Washington C.H. fumbled eight times, including the opening kickoff. Circleville didn’t waste these opportunities, and won the game, 26-0. Wilmington edged Miami Trace, 20-16.
At this very early stage of league play, Wilmington was 2-0, Hillsboro, Miami Trace, Circleville and Washington were all 1-1, and McClain was 0-2 in league play.
On Oct. 15, the Hillsboro Indians journeyed to Washington C.H., where they rolled over the Blue Lions, 22-8, behind the running of Doug Wagoner and Jim Dixon, and the passing of Bennie Rhoads. Wilmington beat Circleville, 14-6, at Wilmington, the same night, and Miami Trace crushed McClain, 28-6.
So, halfway through the league season, Wilmington was in the lead with a 3-0 mark, Miami Trace and Hillsboro were tied for second with 2-1 records, Circleville and Washington both sported 1-2 marks and McClain was 0-3.
On Oct. 26, 1965, attractive senior Barbara Whitaker was crowned Hillsboro’s homecoming queen. Lee Collins was senior attendant, Kathy Pavey was junior attendant, Susie Collins was sophomore attendant, Karen Kelch freshman attendant and Terrie Wagoner represented the eighth grade. The Indians battled the favored Circleville Tigers to a 6-6 tie. Meanwhile, in Wilmington, the Hurricane blew McClain away, 50-6 and Miami Trace sneaked past Washington, 8-6.
Now, Wilmington had the league title wrapped up; but Miami Trace had to beat Hillsboro to hold onto second place. The Indians hosted the Panthers on Oct. 29. When the smoke had cleared, the Indians had defeated Miami Trace, 16-12. So, the Indians, who were not expected to do much this season, had won second place in the SCOL, while Miami Trace had to settle for third.
The SCOL final standings were:
Wilmington — 5-0; 7-3
Hillsboro — 3-1-1; 4-5-1
Miami Trace — 3-2; 7-3
Circleville — 2-2-1; 6-3-1
Washington — 1-4; 1-7-2
McClain — 0-5; 2-8
The All-SCOL football team was announced at the league meeting Nov. 18 at Washington C.H. Team members were: Ron Reiber, M-T; Mike Ramey, Circ; John Cameron, HHS; Dale Martin, HHS; Bill Damron, MHS; Mark Lane, Wilm.; Joe Mulford, Wilm.; Gary Hughes, Circ; Jack Whiting, HHS; Steve Heath, WCH; Joe McFadden, WCH; Steve Schlichter, M-T; Jim Snider, Wilm.; Jake Grooms, MHS; Jack Walker, Wilm.; Doug Wagoner, HHS; Hodgie Dade, Circ.; Terry Enochs, WCH; Jim Dixon, HHS; Larry Gordley, Wilm.; Bob Gifford, M-T; Jim Conner, Wilm.; Bennie Rhoads, HHS; Steve Dade, Circ.
The SCOL announced the selection of Hillsboro’s Doug Wagoner, senior and student body president and football and basketball star, as the recipient of the honorary Scholar-Athlete Award in the South Central Ohio League. The award was sponsored by the Central Ohio Football Hall of Fame. Wagoner lettered in track and baseball as well as football and basketball, and maintained a high scholastic average.
In May, Coach Bill Atsalis, who had completed seven years as coach of the Indians football program (he had actually pretty much built the football program), announced that he had accepted the position of football coach at Reading High School, in Cincinnati, and would be leaving Hillsboro at the end of the school year.
Once again, Hillsboro school officials were searching for a new football coach.
Bob Patton is a Highland County sports historian and a contributing writer to The Highland County Press.[[In-content Ad]]
Only six returning varsity lettermen were in the group, and they were all seniors. One could hardly avoid the conclusion that this could be a long season for Hillsboro.
Meanwhile, in Greenfield, Coach Bill Damron was back for his third year at the helm. His prospects didn’t look so bright, either. Damron had stated that “this would be one of the smallest teams ever fielded at McClain.”
Returning lettermen included co-captains Jake Grooms and Bobby Nooks, both halfbacks, seniors John Kerns, Jim Haines, Dave Elberfeld, Bill Damron and Paul Harris.
The Tigers played a tough non-league schedule and it was hard to predict many wins for this year’s squad. But you never know.
Hillsboro opened their season at Lebanon. The Indians put up a great battle, but lost out at the end, primarily because of three fumbles, 20-16. Doug Wagoner and Jim Dixon were the chief ground gainers for Hillsboro, especially Wagoner, who gained 113 yards in the contest.
The same night Miami Trace beat Springfield Northeastern, 46-0, Circleville rocked Grove City, 48-0, Xenia beat Washington, 32-0, London trounced McClain, 34-9, and Hamilton Taft walloped Wilmington, 30 – 6.
September 17 at Hamilton Township, Hillsboro took a 28-16 win. McClain went to Jackson the same night and took it on the chin by a score of 36-6.
On Sept. 24, Bishop Hartley took the measure of Hillsboro by a score of 28-8, McClain edged Chillicothe, 13-12, Circleville beat Pleasant View, 26-6, Columbus DeSales took Wilmington, 28-24 and Washington and Franklin Heights tied 8-8.
When McClain visited Hillsboro, in the second week of the league season, the Tribe was waiting for them. Hillsboro scored in the first and fourth quarters and defeated the Tigers, 14-0. In Circleville, the (Circleville) Tigers had all the luck as visiting Washington C.H. fumbled eight times, including the opening kickoff. Circleville didn’t waste these opportunities, and won the game, 26-0. Wilmington edged Miami Trace, 20-16.
At this very early stage of league play, Wilmington was 2-0, Hillsboro, Miami Trace, Circleville and Washington were all 1-1, and McClain was 0-2 in league play.
On Oct. 15, the Hillsboro Indians journeyed to Washington C.H., where they rolled over the Blue Lions, 22-8, behind the running of Doug Wagoner and Jim Dixon, and the passing of Bennie Rhoads. Wilmington beat Circleville, 14-6, at Wilmington, the same night, and Miami Trace crushed McClain, 28-6.
So, halfway through the league season, Wilmington was in the lead with a 3-0 mark, Miami Trace and Hillsboro were tied for second with 2-1 records, Circleville and Washington both sported 1-2 marks and McClain was 0-3.
On Oct. 26, 1965, attractive senior Barbara Whitaker was crowned Hillsboro’s homecoming queen. Lee Collins was senior attendant, Kathy Pavey was junior attendant, Susie Collins was sophomore attendant, Karen Kelch freshman attendant and Terrie Wagoner represented the eighth grade. The Indians battled the favored Circleville Tigers to a 6-6 tie. Meanwhile, in Wilmington, the Hurricane blew McClain away, 50-6 and Miami Trace sneaked past Washington, 8-6.
Now, Wilmington had the league title wrapped up; but Miami Trace had to beat Hillsboro to hold onto second place. The Indians hosted the Panthers on Oct. 29. When the smoke had cleared, the Indians had defeated Miami Trace, 16-12. So, the Indians, who were not expected to do much this season, had won second place in the SCOL, while Miami Trace had to settle for third.
The SCOL final standings were:
Wilmington — 5-0; 7-3
Hillsboro — 3-1-1; 4-5-1
Miami Trace — 3-2; 7-3
Circleville — 2-2-1; 6-3-1
Washington — 1-4; 1-7-2
McClain — 0-5; 2-8
The All-SCOL football team was announced at the league meeting Nov. 18 at Washington C.H. Team members were: Ron Reiber, M-T; Mike Ramey, Circ; John Cameron, HHS; Dale Martin, HHS; Bill Damron, MHS; Mark Lane, Wilm.; Joe Mulford, Wilm.; Gary Hughes, Circ; Jack Whiting, HHS; Steve Heath, WCH; Joe McFadden, WCH; Steve Schlichter, M-T; Jim Snider, Wilm.; Jake Grooms, MHS; Jack Walker, Wilm.; Doug Wagoner, HHS; Hodgie Dade, Circ.; Terry Enochs, WCH; Jim Dixon, HHS; Larry Gordley, Wilm.; Bob Gifford, M-T; Jim Conner, Wilm.; Bennie Rhoads, HHS; Steve Dade, Circ.
The SCOL announced the selection of Hillsboro’s Doug Wagoner, senior and student body president and football and basketball star, as the recipient of the honorary Scholar-Athlete Award in the South Central Ohio League. The award was sponsored by the Central Ohio Football Hall of Fame. Wagoner lettered in track and baseball as well as football and basketball, and maintained a high scholastic average.
In May, Coach Bill Atsalis, who had completed seven years as coach of the Indians football program (he had actually pretty much built the football program), announced that he had accepted the position of football coach at Reading High School, in Cincinnati, and would be leaving Hillsboro at the end of the school year.
Once again, Hillsboro school officials were searching for a new football coach.
Bob Patton is a Highland County sports historian and a contributing writer to The Highland County Press.[[In-content Ad]]