WEEK 7 FOOTBALL PREVIEWS
*Dublin Coffman at Central Crossing
Coffman is 5-0 all-time against Central Crossing, having outscored the Comets 249-10.
The undefeated Shamrocks are averaging 43.3 points per game and the
Comets are allowing an average of 42.2 points per game while averaging
only 18.2. Coffman is allowing an average of 10.2 points per game.
James Walsh has completed 80 of 123 passes for 1,191 yards, nine
touchdowns and three interceptions. He also has rushed for 390 yards and
eight touchdowns on 64 carries. Bilal Williamson leads the team in
rushing with 724 yards and 12 touchdowns on 96 carries. Austen Rankin is
the Shamrocks' leading receiver with 27 receptions for 358 yards and
four scores.
Luke Duncan has completed 70 of 138 passes for 952 yards for the Comets...COMPLETE STORY
*Dublin Scioto at Dublin Jerome
Each season, the Dublin Scioto High School football program designs a poster to help recognize its seniors.
The poster includes a theme selected by the seniors. This season, the theme is "The wait is over."
After failing to qualify for the postseason the past six seasons and
finishing 2-8 a year ago, representing the worst record in program
history, the Irish believe they have the potential to reach the Division
I playoffs.
"We came up with that ourselves," senior wide receiver and defensive
back Tim Shadoan said of the team's theme. "We thought this was our big
year to get back to the playoffs, so 'The wait is over' is what we came
up with at the beginning of the year."
Scioto improved to 5-1 overall and 3-0 in the OCC-Cardinal Division
with a 42-35 win over previously unbeaten Westerville South on Sept. 28
at home, marking its best start since 2004 when it won six of its first
seven games. That season, the Irish went 9-3, losing to Worthington
Kilbourne 17-13 in a Division I, Region 3 semifinal.
Scioto's last playoff appearance came in 2005 when it was in Division
II. Now in their 18th season, the Irish have qualified for the
postseason...COMPLETE STORY
*Hilliard Darby at Westerville South
Westerville South High School football coach Rocky Pentello said his
defense will need to account for all of Hilliard Darby's offensive
weapons when his team plays host to the Panthers in an OCC-Cardinal
Division game Friday, Oct. 5.
The biggest concern for the Wildcats' defense, however, is 6-foot,
188-pound senior slotback/wide receiver Caleb Day, a University of
Illinois recruit who has rushed for 292 yards and six touchdowns on 27
carries and has 21 receptions for 350 yards and five touchdowns.
Day rushed for 83 yards and a touchdown on six carries and had six
catches for 90 yards and a score to help the Panthers defeat visiting
Worthington Kilbourne 34-27 on Sept. 28, as Darby improved to 6-0
overall and 3-0 in the OCC-Cardinal.
"They run a veer option (offense), so we just have to make sure all
of our guys cover their assignments," said Pentello, whose team endured
its first loss of the season, a 42-35 setback against host Dublin Scioto
on Sept. 28 to drop to 5-1 overall and 2-1 in the OCC-Cardinal. "We
need to take away their quarterback (Chase Longwell) and the dive, and
it's really important to know where No. 7 (Day) is all the time because
he's fast and he has the ability to...COMPLETE STORY
*Hilliard Bradley at Worthington Kilbourne
Somebody's luck will be changing Friday, Oct. 5, when the Worthington
Kilbourne High School football team plays host to Hilliard Bradley in
an OCC-Cardinal Division contest.
The Wolves and Jaguars probably were happy to see the calendar change
to October, as they combined for a 1-7 record in September after going
3-1 in August.
"You may have heard this before, but I think it absolutely fits
Kilbourne: They are the best 1-5 team in the state," Bradley coach Mike
LoParo said. "You watch them on film and you wonder how it could be.
They've been in virtually every game. Most of their losses have been by a
touchdown or less. They've just had trouble finishing."
Kilbourne is 1-5 overall and has lost four games in a row. Bradley is
3-3 and has lost its last three. Both are 0-3 in the OCC-Cardinal as
they meet for the first time....COMPLETE STORY
*Hilliard Davidson at Upper Arlington
The Upper Arlington High School football team can use two losses to
Hilliard Davidson last season as motivation as it prepares to play host
to the Wildcats in an OCC-Central Division game on Friday, Oct. 5.
But Davidson coach Brian White is quick to point out that many names
and faces have changed since last season, when the Wildcats defeated the
Golden Bears 25-7 win in week six of the regular season and 15-6 in a
Division I, Region 3 semifinal.
"We both graduated good senior classes and both of us are playing a
lot of juniors," White said. "There's a perception Upper Arlington is
down this year, but then you also must say Hilliard Davidson is down
this year, too. That said, we have tremendous respect for them and it'll
be a tough game. It always is."
Davidson is 4-2 overall and 2-1 in the OCC-Central and UA is 3-3 and
2-1. The Wildcats and Bears are tied for third in the league, one game
behind Dublin Coffman and Olentangy Liberty, both of which are 3-0.
"This is a must-win for us...COMPLETE STORY
*Grove City at Pickerington Central
The winner will remain in contention for the OCC-Ohio title, as both
teams are tied with Reynoldsburg and Gahanna for second in the league
behind Pickerington North (3-0).
Grove City, which is led by Cameron Meece and Corey Williams, is looking
to extend its winning streak to three games while Central is looking
bounce back from its most lopsided defeat since a 35-9 loss to Dublin
Coffman in a Division I regional semifinal in 2007. In five games, Colby
Simkins has passed for 583 yards and four touchdowns...COMPLETE STORY
*Reynoldsburg at Pickerington North
The biggest moment in the Reynoldsburg High School football team's
21-7 victory over Gahanna on Sept. 28 might have come when defensive
lineman Emmanuel Beal returned an interception 85 yards for a touchdown
with 30 seconds left in the first half.
The Raiders are hoping they can avoid making that kind of mistake
when they travel Friday, Oct. 5, to face another unbeaten team in
Pickerington North.
North converted four turnovers into 21 points on the way to a 41-6
win over Reynoldsburg a year ago and had two interceptions during a 37-0
victory over Pickerington Central on Sept. 28.
North is 6-0 overall and 3-0 in the OCC-Ohio Division and the Raiders are 4-2 and 2-1.
"We felt a relief and excitement in beating Gahanna because it was a
big game, a playoff type of game," Raiders senior Mykel Traylor-Bennett
said. "Anybody can be beaten and if we come to play, come hungry and
play well for all four quarters, we can beat (North). I think we'll be...COMPLETE STORY
*Watterson at Ironton
Under former coach Bob Lutz, Ironton was known for its run-oriented
offense that featured two tight ends and a full-house backfield.
Although first-year coach Mark Vass hasn't abandoned those principles,
Tanner Dutey connected with Aaron Stephens for three touchdown passes in
a 44-31 loss to Johnson Central on Sept. 28.
Watterson is 5-1 all-time against Ironton...COMPLETE STORY
