Week 4 Football Preview: MHS Tigers travel to Red Raider Country
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
GREENFIELD — The McClain Tigers are headed to Madison County for the first of two consecutive trips, this week facing the London Red Raiders in each team’s South Central Ohio League opener.
The first three weeks of non-league games haven't been great to the entire SCOL, but the Red Raiders finished with an 0-3 mark, losing a triple-overtime game to start the season against Urbana, along with losses to Hamilton Township and West Jefferson. LHS has scored 75 points in three games but have allowed 97 points, second-most in the league after three weeks.
"London is a very athletic team. They are the most athletic team on our schedule up to this point," McClain head coach Randy Closson said. "They have a talented quarterback and they do a good job of getting him out of the pocket. He's a dual threat."
McClain, on the other hand, has been on a rollercoaster ride of sorts this season. They started with a 31-0 loss to Adena, came back with a 21-7 win at Unioto, but last Friday fell to the East Clinton Astros 26-6, allowing EC to score 26 unanswered points, 20 in the final two quarters.
This season, the Tigers have scored 27 points and have allowed 64.
The Tigers have been held to six or fewer points in two of the previous three weeks to start the year and have been held out of the end zone nine of 12 quarters played, including zero points in any first quarter played this season.
Last week against East Clinton, the Tigers allowed 395 yards of rushing and on their offensive drives tallied just 37. For the season, MHS has 353 yards of total offense, with 224 coming in Week 2 against UHS.
"We have to do a better job on first down. We need to play ahead of the chains, instead of getting behind with penalties or other mental miscues we've made," Closson said. "It comes down to execution and not making mental mistakes."
London has collected 11 offensive touchdowns, with five coming from passes from senior quarterback Dylan Follrod, who for the season is 34-of-67 for 503 yards through the air.
As a team, their total offensive output is 1,035 yards with games of 435 yards, 383 yards and 218 yards.
"London is a very solid team and are much better than their 0-3 record. They have a few turnovers and have played some very talented teams this year," Closson said. "If they get a few breaks and have a few less turnovers, they could possibly be a 2-1 or even 3-0 team."
The LHS defense has allowed 910 yards on 149 plays of defense, including 495 yards of rushing.
Since this is the first game of the SCOL season, it is a new start for both teams, as all the league teams enter the week with an 0-0 mark in league play.
"This is the second part of the season," Closson said. "Everyone wants to start league play with a win, and it is going to be important for us to play well and do what we need to do to be successful.
"We are back to a normal schedule after the fair week … we are back to school and have a normal routine. The idea of league play has given our team renewed focus."
Since the SCOL re-formed in '03, the Red Raiders have led the series against the Tigers at 7-1, including a 55-0 rout last season at McClain Field where LHS scored on the first play of the game.[[In-content Ad]]
The first three weeks of non-league games haven't been great to the entire SCOL, but the Red Raiders finished with an 0-3 mark, losing a triple-overtime game to start the season against Urbana, along with losses to Hamilton Township and West Jefferson. LHS has scored 75 points in three games but have allowed 97 points, second-most in the league after three weeks.
"London is a very athletic team. They are the most athletic team on our schedule up to this point," McClain head coach Randy Closson said. "They have a talented quarterback and they do a good job of getting him out of the pocket. He's a dual threat."
McClain, on the other hand, has been on a rollercoaster ride of sorts this season. They started with a 31-0 loss to Adena, came back with a 21-7 win at Unioto, but last Friday fell to the East Clinton Astros 26-6, allowing EC to score 26 unanswered points, 20 in the final two quarters.
This season, the Tigers have scored 27 points and have allowed 64.
The Tigers have been held to six or fewer points in two of the previous three weeks to start the year and have been held out of the end zone nine of 12 quarters played, including zero points in any first quarter played this season.
Last week against East Clinton, the Tigers allowed 395 yards of rushing and on their offensive drives tallied just 37. For the season, MHS has 353 yards of total offense, with 224 coming in Week 2 against UHS.
"We have to do a better job on first down. We need to play ahead of the chains, instead of getting behind with penalties or other mental miscues we've made," Closson said. "It comes down to execution and not making mental mistakes."
London has collected 11 offensive touchdowns, with five coming from passes from senior quarterback Dylan Follrod, who for the season is 34-of-67 for 503 yards through the air.
As a team, their total offensive output is 1,035 yards with games of 435 yards, 383 yards and 218 yards.
"London is a very solid team and are much better than their 0-3 record. They have a few turnovers and have played some very talented teams this year," Closson said. "If they get a few breaks and have a few less turnovers, they could possibly be a 2-1 or even 3-0 team."
The LHS defense has allowed 910 yards on 149 plays of defense, including 495 yards of rushing.
Since this is the first game of the SCOL season, it is a new start for both teams, as all the league teams enter the week with an 0-0 mark in league play.
"This is the second part of the season," Closson said. "Everyone wants to start league play with a win, and it is going to be important for us to play well and do what we need to do to be successful.
"We are back to a normal schedule after the fair week … we are back to school and have a normal routine. The idea of league play has given our team renewed focus."
Since the SCOL re-formed in '03, the Red Raiders have led the series against the Tigers at 7-1, including a 55-0 rout last season at McClain Field where LHS scored on the first play of the game.[[In-content Ad]]