Rotary Bowl '09: Indians, Tigers gear up for rivalry
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
The 2009 edition of the Rotary Bowl has many storylines headed into the final week of the high school football regular season, including the Hillsboro Indians looking to make their final push toward the playoffs, with cross-county rival McClain standing in their way.
The Indians, who have won the past two Rotary Bowls, want to gain their eighth win of the season, having won all four road games so far this year, with this week’s game at McClain Field being their fifth and final road contest of the regular season.
The Tigers have hit a bump in the second half of the season, losing their last three games by a combined score of 93-7.
In a rivalry that dates back to 1904, when the Indians were the Cowboys and Tigers were Yellow Jackets, both teams have played with a lot on the line at times, even going into overtime two years ago, the last time the game was played at McClain Field.
“It is going to be a big week for the seniors,” McClain head coach Randy Closson said. “It will be their final time suiting up as a McClain Tiger in football and I know the kids are looking forward to the game.”
Hillsboro on the other hand knows they must win this game if they want any shot at playing in week 11, but HHS head coach Brian Spicer said, this has been a successful season no matter what happens Friday and beyond.
“We have played our best football the past three or four weeks and we have to take care of business this Friday, then what happens, happens,” Spicer said. “When we were 5-2 we were like well we have a chance if we keep winning, but now we are 7-2, so we just need to keep doing what we need to do.”
The Indians last made the playoffs in ’05, finishing the season (including playoffs) at 8-3 overall.
“The bottom line is we don’t have a shot at the playoffs if we don’t win, and we haven’t changed anything that we do,” Spicer said. “Right now we have an outside chance to make it, but I guarantee not many people thought we would be in this position at the beginning of the season.”
For the Tigers they are battling many injuries, with a multiple number of starters missing games the past couple weeks due to injury and illness, but Closson said his team is prepared to take on Hillsboro, and are ready for the rivalry game.
“It is a big rivalry. The kids are fired up, and we are facing a good Hillsboro team,” Closson said. “We have to play mistake free football, and play good defense.”
The defense of the Tigers has been one of the bright spots for the 4-5 team, with them holding the Miami Trace Panthers to just 10 points two games ago.
“McClain plays solid defense, no doubt about that,” Spicer said. “They bounce in-and-out of a 40 or 50 defense, so the look similar to us. They will use a lot of looks, and are a smart defense.”
The challenge for the Tigers is the Hillsboro offense, in which, they scored 29 points against the Panthers last week, and two games ago against the London Red Raiders, had three players rush for over 100-plus yards each.
“Their offense gives us some challenges with the spread and the no-huddle,” Closson said. “We not only have to stay focused during the play, but in between plays, so they don’t sneak one in on us. The no huddle, spread is something we haven’t seen much of this season. It will be a challenge defensively.”
Closson spoke highly of the athletes for the Indians.
“Airic (Steagall), Aric (Carroll) and a few others are doing a nice job with their offense,” Closson said. “Their line is playing solid and with their spread offense, we have to be able to defend side-to-side and play in space. They have the athletes for that system and have a lot of players capable of hurting teams with big plays.”
Defensively for the Indians, Spicer said he and his coaching staff have seen vast improvement from the start of the season, up to now.
“I kept saying it was a learning process, we get better each week,” Spicer said. “The last couple of games offensively and defensively we have been on the same page. This is the time of the season you want to see your team peak, now we just have to go and do what we set out to do. We still have one game left.
“We can’t relax. This team (HHS) is coming off low win seasons in the past couple years and now going into week 10, and there is a new perspective with the playoff factor. There is a lot the kids have to take into account.”
But again, this game is between two teams, two schools, who are separated by less than 30 miles, and there is more than a “regular” football win on the line.
“There are county bragging rights on the line with us being the only two football teams in the county,” Closson said. “The kids know each other, some play summer baseball on the same team, and parents all work with each other. Also winning the Rotary Bowl trophy is special. The score is put on trophy, so the kids on both teams want to play hard, and represent their school. It is an intense rivalry.”
This is Coach Spicer’s first time coaching in the Rotary Bowl.
“Our focus during the week is our game plan, and by Thursday, everything with the rivalry aspect kicks in,” Spicer said. “The kids know this is a rivalry game and the excitement starts.
“Being that it is possibly our last game of the year doesn’t really set in until Friday night, but we want to finish strong and not throw away a good season. Our kids will be fired up.”
The Indians enter Greenfield with a 7-2 overall record, 3-2 in the South Central Ohio League. MHS stands at 4-5 overall, 1-4 in league play.
The game is scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff.[[In-content Ad]]
The Indians, who have won the past two Rotary Bowls, want to gain their eighth win of the season, having won all four road games so far this year, with this week’s game at McClain Field being their fifth and final road contest of the regular season.
The Tigers have hit a bump in the second half of the season, losing their last three games by a combined score of 93-7.
In a rivalry that dates back to 1904, when the Indians were the Cowboys and Tigers were Yellow Jackets, both teams have played with a lot on the line at times, even going into overtime two years ago, the last time the game was played at McClain Field.
“It is going to be a big week for the seniors,” McClain head coach Randy Closson said. “It will be their final time suiting up as a McClain Tiger in football and I know the kids are looking forward to the game.”
Hillsboro on the other hand knows they must win this game if they want any shot at playing in week 11, but HHS head coach Brian Spicer said, this has been a successful season no matter what happens Friday and beyond.
“We have played our best football the past three or four weeks and we have to take care of business this Friday, then what happens, happens,” Spicer said. “When we were 5-2 we were like well we have a chance if we keep winning, but now we are 7-2, so we just need to keep doing what we need to do.”
The Indians last made the playoffs in ’05, finishing the season (including playoffs) at 8-3 overall.
“The bottom line is we don’t have a shot at the playoffs if we don’t win, and we haven’t changed anything that we do,” Spicer said. “Right now we have an outside chance to make it, but I guarantee not many people thought we would be in this position at the beginning of the season.”
For the Tigers they are battling many injuries, with a multiple number of starters missing games the past couple weeks due to injury and illness, but Closson said his team is prepared to take on Hillsboro, and are ready for the rivalry game.
“It is a big rivalry. The kids are fired up, and we are facing a good Hillsboro team,” Closson said. “We have to play mistake free football, and play good defense.”
The defense of the Tigers has been one of the bright spots for the 4-5 team, with them holding the Miami Trace Panthers to just 10 points two games ago.
“McClain plays solid defense, no doubt about that,” Spicer said. “They bounce in-and-out of a 40 or 50 defense, so the look similar to us. They will use a lot of looks, and are a smart defense.”
The challenge for the Tigers is the Hillsboro offense, in which, they scored 29 points against the Panthers last week, and two games ago against the London Red Raiders, had three players rush for over 100-plus yards each.
“Their offense gives us some challenges with the spread and the no-huddle,” Closson said. “We not only have to stay focused during the play, but in between plays, so they don’t sneak one in on us. The no huddle, spread is something we haven’t seen much of this season. It will be a challenge defensively.”
Closson spoke highly of the athletes for the Indians.
“Airic (Steagall), Aric (Carroll) and a few others are doing a nice job with their offense,” Closson said. “Their line is playing solid and with their spread offense, we have to be able to defend side-to-side and play in space. They have the athletes for that system and have a lot of players capable of hurting teams with big plays.”
Defensively for the Indians, Spicer said he and his coaching staff have seen vast improvement from the start of the season, up to now.
“I kept saying it was a learning process, we get better each week,” Spicer said. “The last couple of games offensively and defensively we have been on the same page. This is the time of the season you want to see your team peak, now we just have to go and do what we set out to do. We still have one game left.
“We can’t relax. This team (HHS) is coming off low win seasons in the past couple years and now going into week 10, and there is a new perspective with the playoff factor. There is a lot the kids have to take into account.”
But again, this game is between two teams, two schools, who are separated by less than 30 miles, and there is more than a “regular” football win on the line.
“There are county bragging rights on the line with us being the only two football teams in the county,” Closson said. “The kids know each other, some play summer baseball on the same team, and parents all work with each other. Also winning the Rotary Bowl trophy is special. The score is put on trophy, so the kids on both teams want to play hard, and represent their school. It is an intense rivalry.”
This is Coach Spicer’s first time coaching in the Rotary Bowl.
“Our focus during the week is our game plan, and by Thursday, everything with the rivalry aspect kicks in,” Spicer said. “The kids know this is a rivalry game and the excitement starts.
“Being that it is possibly our last game of the year doesn’t really set in until Friday night, but we want to finish strong and not throw away a good season. Our kids will be fired up.”
The Indians enter Greenfield with a 7-2 overall record, 3-2 in the South Central Ohio League. MHS stands at 4-5 overall, 1-4 in league play.
The game is scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff.[[In-content Ad]]