McClain Tigers: Can the Tigers achieve their 2nd straight winning season?
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
Last season for the McClain Tigers was a season that started the path of heading in the right direction. After multiple losing seasons, the Tigers finished with a 6-4 overall record, a 3-1 mark in non-league games, a 3-3 record in league games, and they brought the Rotary Bowl back to Greenfield for the first time since ’06.
Though '10 is over with, the Tigers look to use that season as a building block for the '11 season when they look to have a second consecutive winning season in their pursuit of being competitive in the South Central Ohio League.
"I think our kids had a productive preseason, and our kids have been working exceptionally hard. They are a good group of kids, and I would call us a blue-collar kind of team this year," MHS head coach Randy Closson said. "We're not real flashy, we're not real fast, but we have guys that work extremely hard. The coaches and myself have commented this may be the hardest-working bunch we've had since we've been here."
MHS enter the '11 season by losing 13 seniors from last season, and this year they will have eight.
"We lost a big group of kids from last year, so we are going to need a lot of the younger guys to step up and fill those spots and become the leaders and playmakers that we need this year," Closson said.
Closson said "winning breathes confidence," and last year the Tigers won enough games to say they had a winning season, defeating the Miami Trace Panthers (28-21) for the first time in two decades and winning the Rotary Bowl against rival Hillsboro (28-15).
Overall last year, MHS scored 228 points and allowed 326 points, with 195 points coming of those allowed against London, Clinton-Massie and Jonathan Alder.
The question is, can the Tigers take that momentum from the big wins into this season?
"When kids are confident in what we are doing offensively and defensively that creates a comfort zone. They know they can make the plays and are being put in the right positions to make those plays," Closson said. "They know they can do the right things, and it becomes a situation of where sticking with those things that made us successful."
Returning at quarterback is senior Camron Cooper, who will be a three-year varsity quarterback this season. Last year, he missed the first four games due to a broken leg suffered in a preseason scrimmage but made his return in Week 5 against the Madison-Plains Golden Eagles.
"With the offense we're running (triple option offense with play action) and the things we are doing … having Camron back this year, he's split time as a sophomore and junior. He brings a great deal of experience and leadership and positive attitude to our offense (and defense)," Closson said. "He's worked hard this offseason, spending a lot of time in the weight room.
"He's gained a lot of strength, and he's ready to play and wants to take the offense on his shoulders and go with it."
McClain has the rare luxury of having another QB on the team who has not only game experience, but has won games and can play multiple positions in junior Jordan Goble. Last season, Goble went 3-1 as McClain's starting quarterback to open the '10 season.
"We told Jordan going into the offseason he was going to be on the field. He's too good of an athlete to be sitting on the sideline waiting for an opportunity when he could be on the field in a different spot," Closson said. "Having him as a QB, he knows what's going on offensively, and we know he's capable of making plays for us. That's big for us.
"Running the option, knowing your quarterback could take some shots, it's good to have somebody else who can come in for some plays. If something were to happen, the team's going to have faith in Jordan because he's been there and led them to victory before."
The Tigers' backfield will have a different look this season without the likes of Zach Matracia and Jared Loftis, who were seniors last year.
"We have shoes to fill with those two (Matracia and Loftis) gone," Closson said.
In the backfield this season will be Clayton Burgess, Gary Ryan, Dillon East, Goble and Thomas Schrader.
"We have multiple players we can place in the backfield who can create a variety of opportunities for us," Closson said. "It's a big help to have that because they've all had playing time at some point last season. I can't say who is going to be carrying the load back there, but we have some options and have kids who are working hard for us."
There is also some new faces at wide receiver for MHS. Gone are Jacob Dillon, Brandon Darlington and Zach Uhl from last season; in are senior Cain Crouse, junior Coleston Walters, senior Adam Beatty and junior Isaac Savage, along with some of the aforementioned players who will also be playing running back.
"We got those four guys who are working really hard and doing good things for us," Closson said.
At the offensive line, returning are two guards in senior Preston Wagner and junior Brandon Davis. Battling for positions on the o-line are junior Devin Trefz, sophomore Dylan Trefz, senior Derek Karnes, junior Phillip Thompson and senior Kyle Brown.
This offensive line has the potential to be a solid core of players for MHS.
"We have some guys competing for spots. We are asking the guys to learn two spots so we can see how things shake out and so we have some flexibility with them," Closson said.
Defensively for MHS, they lost their entire defensive line (both ends and tackles), a couple linebackers and both cornerbacks.
Even with the losses, there are still players with experience from a year ago. Closson said there are opportunities for players to compete for spots.
"It's part of high school football … you get guys in your system, you get them accustomed to your system and then they graduate," Closson said. "After that, you get other guys. The guys we have stepping in have time either at the varsity level or at the JV level. They got some reps last year … they have a little bit on game experience, and they have been getting a lot of experience this offseason.
"I feel confident as those guys grow and mature, get more experience under their belt, they will do a great job for us."
With the mix of youth and experience with the '11 Tigers, there are still expectations to win football games and be competitive each game.
"I want to see them to continue to work at the level they are at. The first day of practice, I challenged to accept the coaching, to push each other, to demand from each other … to shape this team into the best team they can possibly be," Closson said. "I really believe if they do all of that, then I expect great things from this group."
MHS will kickoff the season at home, hosting the Adena Warriors on Friday, Aug. 26 at McClain Field.[[In-content Ad]]
Though '10 is over with, the Tigers look to use that season as a building block for the '11 season when they look to have a second consecutive winning season in their pursuit of being competitive in the South Central Ohio League.
"I think our kids had a productive preseason, and our kids have been working exceptionally hard. They are a good group of kids, and I would call us a blue-collar kind of team this year," MHS head coach Randy Closson said. "We're not real flashy, we're not real fast, but we have guys that work extremely hard. The coaches and myself have commented this may be the hardest-working bunch we've had since we've been here."
MHS enter the '11 season by losing 13 seniors from last season, and this year they will have eight.
"We lost a big group of kids from last year, so we are going to need a lot of the younger guys to step up and fill those spots and become the leaders and playmakers that we need this year," Closson said.
Closson said "winning breathes confidence," and last year the Tigers won enough games to say they had a winning season, defeating the Miami Trace Panthers (28-21) for the first time in two decades and winning the Rotary Bowl against rival Hillsboro (28-15).
Overall last year, MHS scored 228 points and allowed 326 points, with 195 points coming of those allowed against London, Clinton-Massie and Jonathan Alder.
The question is, can the Tigers take that momentum from the big wins into this season?
"When kids are confident in what we are doing offensively and defensively that creates a comfort zone. They know they can make the plays and are being put in the right positions to make those plays," Closson said. "They know they can do the right things, and it becomes a situation of where sticking with those things that made us successful."
Returning at quarterback is senior Camron Cooper, who will be a three-year varsity quarterback this season. Last year, he missed the first four games due to a broken leg suffered in a preseason scrimmage but made his return in Week 5 against the Madison-Plains Golden Eagles.
"With the offense we're running (triple option offense with play action) and the things we are doing … having Camron back this year, he's split time as a sophomore and junior. He brings a great deal of experience and leadership and positive attitude to our offense (and defense)," Closson said. "He's worked hard this offseason, spending a lot of time in the weight room.
"He's gained a lot of strength, and he's ready to play and wants to take the offense on his shoulders and go with it."
McClain has the rare luxury of having another QB on the team who has not only game experience, but has won games and can play multiple positions in junior Jordan Goble. Last season, Goble went 3-1 as McClain's starting quarterback to open the '10 season.
"We told Jordan going into the offseason he was going to be on the field. He's too good of an athlete to be sitting on the sideline waiting for an opportunity when he could be on the field in a different spot," Closson said. "Having him as a QB, he knows what's going on offensively, and we know he's capable of making plays for us. That's big for us.
"Running the option, knowing your quarterback could take some shots, it's good to have somebody else who can come in for some plays. If something were to happen, the team's going to have faith in Jordan because he's been there and led them to victory before."
The Tigers' backfield will have a different look this season without the likes of Zach Matracia and Jared Loftis, who were seniors last year.
"We have shoes to fill with those two (Matracia and Loftis) gone," Closson said.
In the backfield this season will be Clayton Burgess, Gary Ryan, Dillon East, Goble and Thomas Schrader.
"We have multiple players we can place in the backfield who can create a variety of opportunities for us," Closson said. "It's a big help to have that because they've all had playing time at some point last season. I can't say who is going to be carrying the load back there, but we have some options and have kids who are working hard for us."
There is also some new faces at wide receiver for MHS. Gone are Jacob Dillon, Brandon Darlington and Zach Uhl from last season; in are senior Cain Crouse, junior Coleston Walters, senior Adam Beatty and junior Isaac Savage, along with some of the aforementioned players who will also be playing running back.
"We got those four guys who are working really hard and doing good things for us," Closson said.
At the offensive line, returning are two guards in senior Preston Wagner and junior Brandon Davis. Battling for positions on the o-line are junior Devin Trefz, sophomore Dylan Trefz, senior Derek Karnes, junior Phillip Thompson and senior Kyle Brown.
This offensive line has the potential to be a solid core of players for MHS.
"We have some guys competing for spots. We are asking the guys to learn two spots so we can see how things shake out and so we have some flexibility with them," Closson said.
Defensively for MHS, they lost their entire defensive line (both ends and tackles), a couple linebackers and both cornerbacks.
Even with the losses, there are still players with experience from a year ago. Closson said there are opportunities for players to compete for spots.
"It's part of high school football … you get guys in your system, you get them accustomed to your system and then they graduate," Closson said. "After that, you get other guys. The guys we have stepping in have time either at the varsity level or at the JV level. They got some reps last year … they have a little bit on game experience, and they have been getting a lot of experience this offseason.
"I feel confident as those guys grow and mature, get more experience under their belt, they will do a great job for us."
With the mix of youth and experience with the '11 Tigers, there are still expectations to win football games and be competitive each game.
"I want to see them to continue to work at the level they are at. The first day of practice, I challenged to accept the coaching, to push each other, to demand from each other … to shape this team into the best team they can possibly be," Closson said. "I really believe if they do all of that, then I expect great things from this group."
MHS will kickoff the season at home, hosting the Adena Warriors on Friday, Aug. 26 at McClain Field.[[In-content Ad]]