Week 6 Football Preview: Indians host Cavs on homecoming
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
HILLSBORO — Somebody will leave Richards Memorial Field with their first win of the season Friday night when the Hillsboro Indians host the Chillicothe Cavaliers as the Indians will be celebrating their homecoming.
Through the first five weeks both teams have gone winless, but on the upside of things, the Indians played their most inspired and best half of football last week against the Washington Blue Lions, trailing by just three points after 24 minutes at 15-12. Then the second half crumbled with penalties, and the Tribe lost 43-12 to fall to 0-2 in the South Central Ohio League standings. Scoring touchdowns for the Indians were senior quarterback Christian Cundiff running for five yards and a 24-yard pass from Cundiff to Michael Stuckey for the second score of the first half.
The game was also a step in the right direction as Cundiff totaled 170 yards of total offense.
"I told the team when they came in on Saturday and watched film that a lot of people didn't think we were a competitive team until they saw us play that first half against Washington," Hillsboro coach Brian Spicer said. "I think we are a good team, and last week we put together a solid offensive and defensive effort."
There is hope for the Indians in this second half of the season. A quick look at the schedule will see the Indians the past three weeks have played an undefeated Wilmington team, a team in the Clinton-Massie Falcons that has made the playoff for the past decade and a Washington team that brings two power running backs, and for any team, especially a young Hillsboro team … that is a tough schedule to handle.
"My hope is when they watch film, they see what they are capable of doing each week. We can play like we did in that first half every week, but we have to do it for four quarters," Spicer said. "Last week, in the second half, we went back to looking like a young team. That first half shocked a lot of people, but I can honestly say we have had two great weeks of practice, and we are learning and getting better."
Spicer just wants his team to put an entire four quarters together as the next step.
"We have to show it on Friday nights, it's that simple," he said. "Last week we put together nice drives against a quality opponent. We took a step forward in last week's game."
As for the Cavaliers (who are former members of the SCOL, winning four football league championships from 1924-1929), they are also winless at 0-5 this season with losses to Hamilton Township (27-23), Big Walnut (38-22), Ironton (42-0), Athens (28-14) and Portsmouth (31-24).
This is also the Cavs' fourth consecutive road game of the season, and it will be the Indians' fifth home game in the first six weeks of the season.
"They (Chillicothe) are a lot like us in a way," Spicer said."Their numbers are down, they have a few injuries to starters, so they are having some of the same problems we are this season. They aren't playing as many freshmen as we are.
"Our kids are aware of their record, but I don't put a lot of stock in a team’s record. They (Chillicothe) are looking for a win, and they have a tough second-half schedule, and just like us, they don't want a chance at a win slip away."
The Cavs' offense isn't as complex as the Indians’, so in that regard, the Indians know what awaits them.
"Offensively, they are very basic. They don't use a lot of different formations, they do run a little option, but they just want to get the ball to to their playmakers," Spicer said. "They will quick pass and have two backs that they like to run, but neither is their feature back.
"Their quarterback isn't a runner, but they just like to keep it balanced and basic."
The defense of the Cavs, of the Southern Ohio Athletic League, has allowed 166 points this season.
"They usually run a 3-4 defense, but against us I wouldn't be surprised it they shift," Spicer said. "We'll see an odd and even look against them, and we'll be prepared to handle that. Somethimes this season when a team shifts we haven't handled it well, but we are working on it."
Spicer did say his team is playing motivated but remembers most of his players only have five games of varsity experience.
"We played three physical games in a row, took our lumps and we are ready to get back at it. The kids are motivated with it being homecoming, but I don't want them to just get caught up in the fact it is homecoming.
"We are so much better than what we were in the first game, and the first half from last week proves that. The team has made a tremendous jump, and they know what it takes to compete. The kids are doing things now they couldn't do five weeks ago. We don't see the deer in the headlights look anymore."[[In-content Ad]]
Through the first five weeks both teams have gone winless, but on the upside of things, the Indians played their most inspired and best half of football last week against the Washington Blue Lions, trailing by just three points after 24 minutes at 15-12. Then the second half crumbled with penalties, and the Tribe lost 43-12 to fall to 0-2 in the South Central Ohio League standings. Scoring touchdowns for the Indians were senior quarterback Christian Cundiff running for five yards and a 24-yard pass from Cundiff to Michael Stuckey for the second score of the first half.
The game was also a step in the right direction as Cundiff totaled 170 yards of total offense.
"I told the team when they came in on Saturday and watched film that a lot of people didn't think we were a competitive team until they saw us play that first half against Washington," Hillsboro coach Brian Spicer said. "I think we are a good team, and last week we put together a solid offensive and defensive effort."
There is hope for the Indians in this second half of the season. A quick look at the schedule will see the Indians the past three weeks have played an undefeated Wilmington team, a team in the Clinton-Massie Falcons that has made the playoff for the past decade and a Washington team that brings two power running backs, and for any team, especially a young Hillsboro team … that is a tough schedule to handle.
"My hope is when they watch film, they see what they are capable of doing each week. We can play like we did in that first half every week, but we have to do it for four quarters," Spicer said. "Last week, in the second half, we went back to looking like a young team. That first half shocked a lot of people, but I can honestly say we have had two great weeks of practice, and we are learning and getting better."
Spicer just wants his team to put an entire four quarters together as the next step.
"We have to show it on Friday nights, it's that simple," he said. "Last week we put together nice drives against a quality opponent. We took a step forward in last week's game."
As for the Cavaliers (who are former members of the SCOL, winning four football league championships from 1924-1929), they are also winless at 0-5 this season with losses to Hamilton Township (27-23), Big Walnut (38-22), Ironton (42-0), Athens (28-14) and Portsmouth (31-24).
This is also the Cavs' fourth consecutive road game of the season, and it will be the Indians' fifth home game in the first six weeks of the season.
"They (Chillicothe) are a lot like us in a way," Spicer said."Their numbers are down, they have a few injuries to starters, so they are having some of the same problems we are this season. They aren't playing as many freshmen as we are.
"Our kids are aware of their record, but I don't put a lot of stock in a team’s record. They (Chillicothe) are looking for a win, and they have a tough second-half schedule, and just like us, they don't want a chance at a win slip away."
The Cavs' offense isn't as complex as the Indians’, so in that regard, the Indians know what awaits them.
"Offensively, they are very basic. They don't use a lot of different formations, they do run a little option, but they just want to get the ball to to their playmakers," Spicer said. "They will quick pass and have two backs that they like to run, but neither is their feature back.
"Their quarterback isn't a runner, but they just like to keep it balanced and basic."
The defense of the Cavs, of the Southern Ohio Athletic League, has allowed 166 points this season.
"They usually run a 3-4 defense, but against us I wouldn't be surprised it they shift," Spicer said. "We'll see an odd and even look against them, and we'll be prepared to handle that. Somethimes this season when a team shifts we haven't handled it well, but we are working on it."
Spicer did say his team is playing motivated but remembers most of his players only have five games of varsity experience.
"We played three physical games in a row, took our lumps and we are ready to get back at it. The kids are motivated with it being homecoming, but I don't want them to just get caught up in the fact it is homecoming.
"We are so much better than what we were in the first game, and the first half from last week proves that. The team has made a tremendous jump, and they know what it takes to compete. The kids are doing things now they couldn't do five weeks ago. We don't see the deer in the headlights look anymore."[[In-content Ad]]