SCOL Notebook: A new-look Hillsboro squad for '11
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
Looking at many of the faces during a recent Hillsboro practice on the second leg of the seventh day of my high school football tour, I realized one thing quickly … I was going to need a roster come the annual fish fry so I could memorize all the new players with their numbers.
Hillsboro has just four players with varsity experience from a year ago in seniors Chase Gilliland and Christian Wildey and junior running backs Craig Jackson and Kyler White.
Hillsboro has technically lost 29 players from last season's 2-8 team, 17 to graduation and 12 players to ineligibility or moving out of the school district. So, that is tough for any team to overcome.
What the Indians do have are players who have decided to do what was necessary to play the game of football, so this season or at least the start of the upcoming '11 year can be described as a learning year for most of the squad.
From watching their practice on Monday evening, the numbers are down from previous seasons and the Indian players are willing to learn but will have to learn at a fast pace with a scrimmage scheduled for Saturday morning (at home starting at 10 a.m.) and another one next Friday (vs. Paint Valley, 7 p.m.) one week before the start of the regular season. HHS will start the '11 season with a home date against the Western Brown Broncos on Aug. 26 at Richards Memorial Field.
Here are some thoughts/facts on the Hillsboro Indians:
- The Tribe won one non-league game a year ago, and one South Central Ohio League game. HHS defeated Western Brown, 35-34 and Madison-Plains, 42-34.
- Last year, HHS finished in sixth place in the SCOL, scoring 176 points and allowing 396.
- Hillsboro has over 30 players on the '11 roster, but as for experience, that is a different story. No offensive lineman has any or has very little varsity experience. Seeing that position progress throughout the preseason and the first few games of the regular season before the start of SCOL play will be very interesting. That position interests me the most headed into the season.
- Hillsboro does have players who are willing to work hard as they've begun their second week of two-a-days. Those players who have decided to play this year, knowing it is a rebuilding year, should be very proud of themselves. I liked how the Indians broke every team huddle with "Indian Pride." The community should have pride in these players as well. I really hope the community comes out in full force to support these players in 2011.
- Like I have seen a lot this offseason, Hillsboro will have many position battles for starting jobs for the next couple weeks. The competition for these positions at nearly every spot on the roster should bring out the best in this team.
- I had a good conversation with four-year varsity players Christian Wildey and Chase Gilliland about their upcoming season. They know it will be a tough road, but these two guys have seen the best of times and the worst of times at Hillsboro football. They were put into the lineup their freshman year, and each player told me it was special for them to know they are four-year varsity players.
- Coach Spicer told his team following their first practice on Monday to "Have Fun." I couldn't agree with him more. Sure, football is a tough game to play, but for any player to get through the summer practices, they must have fun with it.
• Quote from the coach
"Last week was very rewarding. Last week, understanding our scenario, the kids kicked it into gear and did a really good job. The three toughest days are the start of this week … the enthusiasm of the first week is gone, and now it is work." — Brian Spicer, HHS head coach on the start of the preseason.
• (Another) Quote from the coach
"It was very refreshing … the kids grasped the idea of this is the team we have and we have to find 11 kids to play offense and 11 kids to play defense. They have accepted that, and we really had a great first week of practice. The next big marker is the scrimmage." — Brian Spicer, HHS head coach talking more about the preseason.
Like I've said before … all I hope for the Indians and the Hillsboro community is they get the proper support this year. The players and coaches are working hard to improve each day at becoming better football players.
Isn't that all you can ask for from such a young team?
I really hope the players listen to Coach Spicer and have fun with this season.
Thank you to the Indians for letting me watch their practice on Monday evening. Remember to pick up a copy of the 2011 Highland County Press football preview, which will be released before the start of the regular season.[[In-content Ad]]
Hillsboro has just four players with varsity experience from a year ago in seniors Chase Gilliland and Christian Wildey and junior running backs Craig Jackson and Kyler White.
Hillsboro has technically lost 29 players from last season's 2-8 team, 17 to graduation and 12 players to ineligibility or moving out of the school district. So, that is tough for any team to overcome.
What the Indians do have are players who have decided to do what was necessary to play the game of football, so this season or at least the start of the upcoming '11 year can be described as a learning year for most of the squad.
From watching their practice on Monday evening, the numbers are down from previous seasons and the Indian players are willing to learn but will have to learn at a fast pace with a scrimmage scheduled for Saturday morning (at home starting at 10 a.m.) and another one next Friday (vs. Paint Valley, 7 p.m.) one week before the start of the regular season. HHS will start the '11 season with a home date against the Western Brown Broncos on Aug. 26 at Richards Memorial Field.
Here are some thoughts/facts on the Hillsboro Indians:
- The Tribe won one non-league game a year ago, and one South Central Ohio League game. HHS defeated Western Brown, 35-34 and Madison-Plains, 42-34.
- Last year, HHS finished in sixth place in the SCOL, scoring 176 points and allowing 396.
- Hillsboro has over 30 players on the '11 roster, but as for experience, that is a different story. No offensive lineman has any or has very little varsity experience. Seeing that position progress throughout the preseason and the first few games of the regular season before the start of SCOL play will be very interesting. That position interests me the most headed into the season.
- Hillsboro does have players who are willing to work hard as they've begun their second week of two-a-days. Those players who have decided to play this year, knowing it is a rebuilding year, should be very proud of themselves. I liked how the Indians broke every team huddle with "Indian Pride." The community should have pride in these players as well. I really hope the community comes out in full force to support these players in 2011.
- Like I have seen a lot this offseason, Hillsboro will have many position battles for starting jobs for the next couple weeks. The competition for these positions at nearly every spot on the roster should bring out the best in this team.
- I had a good conversation with four-year varsity players Christian Wildey and Chase Gilliland about their upcoming season. They know it will be a tough road, but these two guys have seen the best of times and the worst of times at Hillsboro football. They were put into the lineup their freshman year, and each player told me it was special for them to know they are four-year varsity players.
- Coach Spicer told his team following their first practice on Monday to "Have Fun." I couldn't agree with him more. Sure, football is a tough game to play, but for any player to get through the summer practices, they must have fun with it.
• Quote from the coach
"Last week was very rewarding. Last week, understanding our scenario, the kids kicked it into gear and did a really good job. The three toughest days are the start of this week … the enthusiasm of the first week is gone, and now it is work." — Brian Spicer, HHS head coach on the start of the preseason.
• (Another) Quote from the coach
"It was very refreshing … the kids grasped the idea of this is the team we have and we have to find 11 kids to play offense and 11 kids to play defense. They have accepted that, and we really had a great first week of practice. The next big marker is the scrimmage." — Brian Spicer, HHS head coach talking more about the preseason.
Like I've said before … all I hope for the Indians and the Hillsboro community is they get the proper support this year. The players and coaches are working hard to improve each day at becoming better football players.
Isn't that all you can ask for from such a young team?
I really hope the players listen to Coach Spicer and have fun with this season.
Thank you to the Indians for letting me watch their practice on Monday evening. Remember to pick up a copy of the 2011 Highland County Press football preview, which will be released before the start of the regular season.[[In-content Ad]]