Trace, Tigers, Tribe battle for SCOL title
By
Bob Patton-
(Continued from last week.)
So, after only two SCOL games in the 1982 gridiron campaign, Hillsboro, Miami Trace and Circleville were 2-0 in the league. Washington and Wilmington were 1-1 and McClain, Madison-Plains and Teays Valley were 0-2. In fact, McClain, Madison-Plains and Teays Valley had yet to score a point in SCOL competition.
October 8 saw Coach Jim Taylor’s young Hillsboro squad make the long trip to Circleville to challenge the Tigers, who were ranked 10th in the state among AA teams. The big challenge for the Indians would be containing Tony Cooper, one of the premier running backs in the state. Cooper was recruited by Coach Earle Bruce at Ohio State. He did sign with the Buckeyes but wasn’t around long.
Hillsboro’s blitzing defense held Cooper to 28 yards in the scoreless first half and a total of only 56 yards for the game. With less than a minute remaining in the game, Hillsboro quarterback Steve Woods tossed a short pass to tight end Tom Kiefer, who appeared to catch the ball in the end zone, surrounded by Circleville players. One official signaled a touchdown. Then, in the melee, a Circleville player ran out of the end zone carrying the football. Amid much confusion, the play was eventually ruled an incomplete pass, much to the dismay of the Hillsboro coaches. Circleville won the game by a score of 9-2, but the Indians had put up a battle. Circleville had the best offense in the SCOL, averaging about 334 total yards per game. Hillsboro had held the Tigers to half of their average production and Cooper to well under half of his average.
At Washington C.H., Miami Trace won the annual Fayette County duel, 21-14. Wilmington beat Teays Valley, 20-7, and Madison-Plains visited McClain and downed the purple and gold, 14-6, in a hard-fought battle.
The next Friday night, Oct. 15, Circleville played at Madison-Plains. The red and black ran all over the Golden Eagles and clobbered them 60-0. McClain lost at Wilmington, 48-13. Miami Trace trounced Teays Valley, 27-0. Washington made the trip to Hillsboro, where Coach Paul Ondrus, of WCH, determined that the Indians’ defensive secondary had not been tested yet in any of their games. He had the most potent passing attack in the SCOL, so why not?
The fired-up Indians picked off four Lion passes, running one back for a touchdown, as they drilled the visitors, 30-14. Jeff Jackson ran around and through the WCH defense for 177 yards and three touchdowns as the young Indians put themselves in the middle of the SCOL race.
Circleville and Miami Trace sat alone at the top of the SCOL with records of 4-0 (7-0 overall). They were followed by Hillsboro and Wilmington, who were both 3-1. Madison-Plains and Washington were both 1-3, while McClain and Teays Valley were 0-4.
With only three league games remaining, Madison-Plains traveled to Miami Trace on Oct. 22, where they were drubbed, 48-10. McClain entertained Circleville, who shut out the purple and gold, 34-0. Washington had their hands full at Teays Valley but were able to get out of Ashville with a narrow 10-7 win; and Wilmington took their three-game SCOL winning streak to Hillsboro. The Indians, playing without two of their key defensive players (who were injured), played one of their best games of the season and downed the Hurricane, 30-25, recovering three Wilmington fumbles and intercepting two of Greg Nared’s errant passes.
With only two SCOL games remaining on the schedule, Circleville and Miami Trace both sported 5-0 league records and 8-0 overall marks. They would meet Nov. 5 at Circleville on the last playing date of the season. Hillsboro was now in third place, with a league record of 4-1. Wilmington was fourth with a 3-2 mark. In the next-to-last round of SCOL games Oct. 29, 1982, Hillsboro played at Miami Trace, McClain made the short trip up Route 41 to challenge Washington, Wilmington took on the powerful Circleville Tigers in Roundtown, and Madison-Plains was on the road at Teays Valley.
Several interesting possibilities surrounded these games. If both Circleville and Miami Trace won, they would play the next Friday for the SCOL title. But Hillsboro was lurking in the background, with only one league loss. Should they knock off Trace, there would be a possibility of a three-way tie for the championship. Everything was up in the air in the final two rounds of league play.
Miami Trace was ranked 6th in the AP poll for AAA schools, and they would not go down easily. The Panthers were much bigger than the Indians, and the vaunted Hillsboro defense had a rough time stopping their offense, especially in the first quarter. Miami Trace held a 17-0 halftime lead. In the second half, the Indians played the Panthers toe to toe. But the die was cast. The final score was Miami Trace 24, Hillsboro 7.
This defeat eliminated any chance the Indians might have had to share the league championship, and, since Circleville downed Wilmington, 28-8, the same night, the Trace vs. Circleville game Nov. 5 would determine the outcome of the league race. In the big showdown at Circleville, Miami Trace was just too big and too strong for the Tigers. Circleville put up a gallant battle, but the Panthers came out on top, 13-0. They captured the league championship and another gold football. The Panthers had won their eighth SCOL football title in the past nine years. This would be their sixth gold football. Overall, it was their ninth championship in the 22 years they had been in the SCOL. They were only six titles behind Washington C.H., who had been in the league since 1922. This was a remarkable achievement.
The demoralized Hillsboro Indians, playing at Madison-Plains, outgained the Golden Eagles in the air and on the ground, but they fumbled three times and MP recovered all three fumbles. The Eagles took the game, 22-15, dropping the Indians into a third-place tie with Washington, who shut out Wilmington, 28-0. Also, Teays Valley finally won a game, edging hapless McClain, 19-18.
The final SCOL standings were:
Miami Trace — 7-0, 10-0
Circleville — 6-1, 9-1
Hillsboro — 4-3, 6-4
Washington — 4-3, 6-4
Wilmington — 3-4, 6-4
Mad. Plains — 3-4, 4-6
Teays Valley — 1-6, 1-9
McClain — 0-7, 2-8
Miami Trace made the Div. II state playoffs. They were scheduled to meet Columbus Beechcroft (9-1) at Upper Arlington Nov. 12.
On Nov. 10, the annual South Central League Fall Sports Banquet was held at Washington Senior High School. Undefeated league champion Miami Trace was awarded a gold football, the first to be awarded in four years.
Also, the All-SCOL Football Team was announced. Those who made the first team included:
Lincoln Wilson, MT; Vic Bowman, CHS; Kevin Hennessy, MT; Bill McCown, WCH; Chris Plescia, CHS; Scott Ranson, MT; Travis Anderson, MT; Dave Tillett, WCH; Darryl Arrington, WHS; Tim Redman, WCH; Chip Wilt, MT; Tony Cooper*, CHS; Jeff Jackson, HHS; Brad Massie, WCH; Covey Crawford, MP; John Colborn, TV; Tim Dettwiller, MHS; Tom Kiefer*, HHS; Mark Browning, MP; Bruce Ames, HHS; Daryl Hennessy, MT; George Seldon, MHS.
* Honorary Captains were Tony Cooper and Jeff Jackson.
Miami Trace won their Div. II state playoff game over Columbus Beechcroft, 21-18, in overtime, when senior receiver/kicker Rob Smith calmly booted a 19-yard field goal into a wicked cross-wind with 11 seconds remaining in the game to tie the score 18-18 and send it into overtime. He then booted a 29-yard field goal in overtime, to win the game for the Panthers. They advanced to meet Toledo St. Francis (8-3) on Nov. 19, at Springfield.
The Panthers were totally outplayed by Toledo St. Francis’ effective option game and their outstanding passing attack. St. Francis walloped Trace, 31-0 at Evans Stadium, in Springfield.
Dick Hill, of Miami Trace, was named co-Coach of the Year in the Southeast District, and MT quarterback Chip Wilt was named Back of the Year. Trace tackle Scott Ranson was named Lineman of the Year. Tim Redman and Bill McCown, both of WCH, were named to the All-District first team offense and middle guard Tim Dettwiller of McClain, along with linebacker Tom Kiefer and back Jeff Jackson, both of Hillsboro, and Lincoln Wilson of WCH, were named to the All-Southeast District first team defense. Senior Miami Trace lineman Scott Ranson was second team All-State at offensive tackle. Chip Wilt made third team All-State.
At the end of the season, it was announced that former Miami Trace head football coach Fred Zechman, who had been an assistant coach at Ohio State University the past several years, had been named head football coach at New Mexico State University. His coaching duties would begin in April.
Another great SCOL football season had come to a close.
Bob Patton is a Highland County sports historian and a contributing writer to The Highland County Press.[[In-content Ad]]
So, after only two SCOL games in the 1982 gridiron campaign, Hillsboro, Miami Trace and Circleville were 2-0 in the league. Washington and Wilmington were 1-1 and McClain, Madison-Plains and Teays Valley were 0-2. In fact, McClain, Madison-Plains and Teays Valley had yet to score a point in SCOL competition.
October 8 saw Coach Jim Taylor’s young Hillsboro squad make the long trip to Circleville to challenge the Tigers, who were ranked 10th in the state among AA teams. The big challenge for the Indians would be containing Tony Cooper, one of the premier running backs in the state. Cooper was recruited by Coach Earle Bruce at Ohio State. He did sign with the Buckeyes but wasn’t around long.
Hillsboro’s blitzing defense held Cooper to 28 yards in the scoreless first half and a total of only 56 yards for the game. With less than a minute remaining in the game, Hillsboro quarterback Steve Woods tossed a short pass to tight end Tom Kiefer, who appeared to catch the ball in the end zone, surrounded by Circleville players. One official signaled a touchdown. Then, in the melee, a Circleville player ran out of the end zone carrying the football. Amid much confusion, the play was eventually ruled an incomplete pass, much to the dismay of the Hillsboro coaches. Circleville won the game by a score of 9-2, but the Indians had put up a battle. Circleville had the best offense in the SCOL, averaging about 334 total yards per game. Hillsboro had held the Tigers to half of their average production and Cooper to well under half of his average.
At Washington C.H., Miami Trace won the annual Fayette County duel, 21-14. Wilmington beat Teays Valley, 20-7, and Madison-Plains visited McClain and downed the purple and gold, 14-6, in a hard-fought battle.
The next Friday night, Oct. 15, Circleville played at Madison-Plains. The red and black ran all over the Golden Eagles and clobbered them 60-0. McClain lost at Wilmington, 48-13. Miami Trace trounced Teays Valley, 27-0. Washington made the trip to Hillsboro, where Coach Paul Ondrus, of WCH, determined that the Indians’ defensive secondary had not been tested yet in any of their games. He had the most potent passing attack in the SCOL, so why not?
The fired-up Indians picked off four Lion passes, running one back for a touchdown, as they drilled the visitors, 30-14. Jeff Jackson ran around and through the WCH defense for 177 yards and three touchdowns as the young Indians put themselves in the middle of the SCOL race.
Circleville and Miami Trace sat alone at the top of the SCOL with records of 4-0 (7-0 overall). They were followed by Hillsboro and Wilmington, who were both 3-1. Madison-Plains and Washington were both 1-3, while McClain and Teays Valley were 0-4.
With only three league games remaining, Madison-Plains traveled to Miami Trace on Oct. 22, where they were drubbed, 48-10. McClain entertained Circleville, who shut out the purple and gold, 34-0. Washington had their hands full at Teays Valley but were able to get out of Ashville with a narrow 10-7 win; and Wilmington took their three-game SCOL winning streak to Hillsboro. The Indians, playing without two of their key defensive players (who were injured), played one of their best games of the season and downed the Hurricane, 30-25, recovering three Wilmington fumbles and intercepting two of Greg Nared’s errant passes.
With only two SCOL games remaining on the schedule, Circleville and Miami Trace both sported 5-0 league records and 8-0 overall marks. They would meet Nov. 5 at Circleville on the last playing date of the season. Hillsboro was now in third place, with a league record of 4-1. Wilmington was fourth with a 3-2 mark. In the next-to-last round of SCOL games Oct. 29, 1982, Hillsboro played at Miami Trace, McClain made the short trip up Route 41 to challenge Washington, Wilmington took on the powerful Circleville Tigers in Roundtown, and Madison-Plains was on the road at Teays Valley.
Several interesting possibilities surrounded these games. If both Circleville and Miami Trace won, they would play the next Friday for the SCOL title. But Hillsboro was lurking in the background, with only one league loss. Should they knock off Trace, there would be a possibility of a three-way tie for the championship. Everything was up in the air in the final two rounds of league play.
Miami Trace was ranked 6th in the AP poll for AAA schools, and they would not go down easily. The Panthers were much bigger than the Indians, and the vaunted Hillsboro defense had a rough time stopping their offense, especially in the first quarter. Miami Trace held a 17-0 halftime lead. In the second half, the Indians played the Panthers toe to toe. But the die was cast. The final score was Miami Trace 24, Hillsboro 7.
This defeat eliminated any chance the Indians might have had to share the league championship, and, since Circleville downed Wilmington, 28-8, the same night, the Trace vs. Circleville game Nov. 5 would determine the outcome of the league race. In the big showdown at Circleville, Miami Trace was just too big and too strong for the Tigers. Circleville put up a gallant battle, but the Panthers came out on top, 13-0. They captured the league championship and another gold football. The Panthers had won their eighth SCOL football title in the past nine years. This would be their sixth gold football. Overall, it was their ninth championship in the 22 years they had been in the SCOL. They were only six titles behind Washington C.H., who had been in the league since 1922. This was a remarkable achievement.
The demoralized Hillsboro Indians, playing at Madison-Plains, outgained the Golden Eagles in the air and on the ground, but they fumbled three times and MP recovered all three fumbles. The Eagles took the game, 22-15, dropping the Indians into a third-place tie with Washington, who shut out Wilmington, 28-0. Also, Teays Valley finally won a game, edging hapless McClain, 19-18.
The final SCOL standings were:
Miami Trace — 7-0, 10-0
Circleville — 6-1, 9-1
Hillsboro — 4-3, 6-4
Washington — 4-3, 6-4
Wilmington — 3-4, 6-4
Mad. Plains — 3-4, 4-6
Teays Valley — 1-6, 1-9
McClain — 0-7, 2-8
Miami Trace made the Div. II state playoffs. They were scheduled to meet Columbus Beechcroft (9-1) at Upper Arlington Nov. 12.
On Nov. 10, the annual South Central League Fall Sports Banquet was held at Washington Senior High School. Undefeated league champion Miami Trace was awarded a gold football, the first to be awarded in four years.
Also, the All-SCOL Football Team was announced. Those who made the first team included:
Lincoln Wilson, MT; Vic Bowman, CHS; Kevin Hennessy, MT; Bill McCown, WCH; Chris Plescia, CHS; Scott Ranson, MT; Travis Anderson, MT; Dave Tillett, WCH; Darryl Arrington, WHS; Tim Redman, WCH; Chip Wilt, MT; Tony Cooper*, CHS; Jeff Jackson, HHS; Brad Massie, WCH; Covey Crawford, MP; John Colborn, TV; Tim Dettwiller, MHS; Tom Kiefer*, HHS; Mark Browning, MP; Bruce Ames, HHS; Daryl Hennessy, MT; George Seldon, MHS.
* Honorary Captains were Tony Cooper and Jeff Jackson.
Miami Trace won their Div. II state playoff game over Columbus Beechcroft, 21-18, in overtime, when senior receiver/kicker Rob Smith calmly booted a 19-yard field goal into a wicked cross-wind with 11 seconds remaining in the game to tie the score 18-18 and send it into overtime. He then booted a 29-yard field goal in overtime, to win the game for the Panthers. They advanced to meet Toledo St. Francis (8-3) on Nov. 19, at Springfield.
The Panthers were totally outplayed by Toledo St. Francis’ effective option game and their outstanding passing attack. St. Francis walloped Trace, 31-0 at Evans Stadium, in Springfield.
Dick Hill, of Miami Trace, was named co-Coach of the Year in the Southeast District, and MT quarterback Chip Wilt was named Back of the Year. Trace tackle Scott Ranson was named Lineman of the Year. Tim Redman and Bill McCown, both of WCH, were named to the All-District first team offense and middle guard Tim Dettwiller of McClain, along with linebacker Tom Kiefer and back Jeff Jackson, both of Hillsboro, and Lincoln Wilson of WCH, were named to the All-Southeast District first team defense. Senior Miami Trace lineman Scott Ranson was second team All-State at offensive tackle. Chip Wilt made third team All-State.
At the end of the season, it was announced that former Miami Trace head football coach Fred Zechman, who had been an assistant coach at Ohio State University the past several years, had been named head football coach at New Mexico State University. His coaching duties would begin in April.
Another great SCOL football season had come to a close.
Bob Patton is a Highland County sports historian and a contributing writer to The Highland County Press.[[In-content Ad]]