This is the first in what will hopefully be a weekly review of local high school football. Since we won't be broadcasting as much this year, I hope to make up the difference in time by writing more blog entries. Most of the first week of the high school football season is in the books, with the exception of a couple of games tonight in the FAVC. Here are a couple of thoughts from the first week of the high school football season.
Blanchester Improved
We spent week 1 on Lebanon Road watching the 47th installment of the Cider Keg Game between Blanchester and Clinton-Massie. I wasn't sure what to expect, but many of my sources had told me that the gap between the two teams had closed since last year's Keg Game. Those sources weren't wrong.
It was obvious after game 1 that if Blanchester is able to stay relatively healthy during the 2011 season, not only can they have a winning season, but a division title isn't out of the realm of possibility. It was their defensive effort that gave me this hope. The first half of Friday's game was an outstanding effort from the Wildcat defense. If not for a short field opportunity for the CM offense, the game would have likely been scoreless at the intermission. Instead, it was a 7-0 Clinton-Massie lead going into the break.
The problem for Blanchester last night started with the offense. Not only could the offense not sustain many drives against a strong Clinton-Massie defense, but several untimely turnovers gave the Falcons short fields on several occasions. This contributed to the final problem for Blanchester. The Falcon offense gradually wore down the Blanchester defense, which allowed the game to look more like a blowout with a 34-0 final. In reality, if Blanchester cleans up the turnovers, it likely doesn't finish much worse than 14 or 21-0 in favor of the Falcons.
However, while the last paragraph might make it seem like it was a grim night for the Wildcats, it was actually the opposite. Blanchester was able to get some first downs on offense, especially early in the game before Blanchester started to throw the ball (with limited success). The ground game was fairly successful early. The Wildcat defense, before wearing down, was shutting down the Falcon offense.
These are all things that lead me to believe that this can be a successful season for the Wildcat football team. Next up is Reading, who was bombed by North College Hill in their opener. I like Blanchester to even their record next Friday night in the friendly confines of Barbour Memorial Field.
As for what the game said for Clinton-Massie, I think they're going to find the going tough in the SCOL. I thought this might be the year that someone knocks them off (and if they don't this year it may be a while before it happens). However, I thought that team might be Washington, but they were blown out by Logan Elm last night. Might it be Miami Trace, a 24-13 winner over Circleville? Wouldn't it be ironic if the year the Falcons might be vulnerable, everyone in the league takes a step backward?
SBC Struggles
It wasn't a banner night for the Southern Buckeye Conference. Its 10 teams played in 10 non-league games last night. The combined record: 1-9. The only winner was Western Brown over Hillsboro, 49-18. The combined scores of the other 9 games: 283-51 (average: 31.4 to 5.7). Five of the league's 10 teams were shutout (Blanchester and Goshen 34-0 each, Amelia and Batavia 35-0 each and Bethel-Tate 21-0).
However, this first week wasn't much worse than last year. In the opening week of 2010, the SBC went 2-8 with 3 teams shut out. Only New Richmond and Clermont Northeastern managed opening week wins a year ago.
What does it all mean? Truthfully, not much. While the SBC might not be the world's strongest football conference, it is far from the worst. I'm sure the league, however, would like to see a little better than a 1-9 week against non-league competition. We'll see how week 2 goes: There are 9 games, and 8 of them have league teams playing non-league teams. Hopefully it will be better for the league next week. I'm predicting they go at least 4-4 in those 8 games in week 2.
It was a good first week in the final year of existence of the FAVC: 11 of the 15 teams that have played so far this week have won, with Wilmington and Winton Woods left to play on Saturday.
That wraps up my thoughts for week 1. I'm hoping to have more blog posts throughout the season talking about high school football and other sports-related items.
Blanchester Improved
We spent week 1 on Lebanon Road watching the 47th installment of the Cider Keg Game between Blanchester and Clinton-Massie. I wasn't sure what to expect, but many of my sources had told me that the gap between the two teams had closed since last year's Keg Game. Those sources weren't wrong.
It was obvious after game 1 that if Blanchester is able to stay relatively healthy during the 2011 season, not only can they have a winning season, but a division title isn't out of the realm of possibility. It was their defensive effort that gave me this hope. The first half of Friday's game was an outstanding effort from the Wildcat defense. If not for a short field opportunity for the CM offense, the game would have likely been scoreless at the intermission. Instead, it was a 7-0 Clinton-Massie lead going into the break.
The problem for Blanchester last night started with the offense. Not only could the offense not sustain many drives against a strong Clinton-Massie defense, but several untimely turnovers gave the Falcons short fields on several occasions. This contributed to the final problem for Blanchester. The Falcon offense gradually wore down the Blanchester defense, which allowed the game to look more like a blowout with a 34-0 final. In reality, if Blanchester cleans up the turnovers, it likely doesn't finish much worse than 14 or 21-0 in favor of the Falcons.
However, while the last paragraph might make it seem like it was a grim night for the Wildcats, it was actually the opposite. Blanchester was able to get some first downs on offense, especially early in the game before Blanchester started to throw the ball (with limited success). The ground game was fairly successful early. The Wildcat defense, before wearing down, was shutting down the Falcon offense.
These are all things that lead me to believe that this can be a successful season for the Wildcat football team. Next up is Reading, who was bombed by North College Hill in their opener. I like Blanchester to even their record next Friday night in the friendly confines of Barbour Memorial Field.
As for what the game said for Clinton-Massie, I think they're going to find the going tough in the SCOL. I thought this might be the year that someone knocks them off (and if they don't this year it may be a while before it happens). However, I thought that team might be Washington, but they were blown out by Logan Elm last night. Might it be Miami Trace, a 24-13 winner over Circleville? Wouldn't it be ironic if the year the Falcons might be vulnerable, everyone in the league takes a step backward?
SBC Struggles
It wasn't a banner night for the Southern Buckeye Conference. Its 10 teams played in 10 non-league games last night. The combined record: 1-9. The only winner was Western Brown over Hillsboro, 49-18. The combined scores of the other 9 games: 283-51 (average: 31.4 to 5.7). Five of the league's 10 teams were shutout (Blanchester and Goshen 34-0 each, Amelia and Batavia 35-0 each and Bethel-Tate 21-0).
However, this first week wasn't much worse than last year. In the opening week of 2010, the SBC went 2-8 with 3 teams shut out. Only New Richmond and Clermont Northeastern managed opening week wins a year ago.
What does it all mean? Truthfully, not much. While the SBC might not be the world's strongest football conference, it is far from the worst. I'm sure the league, however, would like to see a little better than a 1-9 week against non-league competition. We'll see how week 2 goes: There are 9 games, and 8 of them have league teams playing non-league teams. Hopefully it will be better for the league next week. I'm predicting they go at least 4-4 in those 8 games in week 2.
It was a good first week in the final year of existence of the FAVC: 11 of the 15 teams that have played so far this week have won, with Wilmington and Winton Woods left to play on Saturday.
That wraps up my thoughts for week 1. I'm hoping to have more blog posts throughout the season talking about high school football and other sports-related items.
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