It might be easy to look at Clinton-Massie’s long-reign as the South Central Ohio League power and then to winless in the league Hillsboro and think Friday’s game will be just another blowout.
CM head coach Dan McSurley isn’t looking at it that way.
“This is the best Hillsboro team I’ve seen on film over the past several years,” said McSurley. “They are a heavy power-run team that appears to be coming off the ball nicely.”
The Indians battled Chillicothe “tooth and nail for four quarters last Friday,” McSurley said, before falling 14-6.
“We’re expecting their best effort this Friday,” the CM coach added.
Clinton-Massie, Chillicothe and Wilmington are 3-0 in the league. Hillsboro is 0-3.
The Falcons have won 48 straight SCOL games and holds a 28-1 SCOL record on the road.
In last week’s 50-6 win over Washington, Clinton-Massie got off to a fast start thanks to the play of its special teams. The Falcons took advantage of a punt snap that sailed over the punter’s head and then blocked another punt.
“I think our special teams were a little more than Court House could handle,” said McSurley. “I believe they accounted for or set-up five of the seven touchdowns we scored.”
To that end, Clinton-Massie scored 50 points despite having just 276 yards of total offense. Granted, one touchdown was a Bryce Boyd 89-yard kickoff return, but in general the Falcons had good field position thanks to special teams.
“We have several players with the ability to score on any of our return units,” said McSurley. “Tommy Williams, Bryce Boyd, Luke Richardson and Davey Tunon all have explosive ability.”
In addition, the leg of Chris Demler gives the Falcons an edge on kickoffs and puts Massie’s defense on the field in good position.
“Chris Demler is kicking to the goal line on kick-offs and when you throw in his hang time it makes it tough on return units,” he said.
Max Keeley led the Clinton-Massie defense last week with eight solo tackles. He was in on three tackles behind the line of scrimmage against the Blue Lions. Weston Trampler had six solo tackles.
