ThisWeek Community Newspapers Hilliard
Page B4
April 13, 2011
Football
Plenty of questions surround OCC-Central From staff reports Below are capsule looks at OCC-Central Division football teams. To read full offseason stories, including comments from all coaches, for each team as well as all teams throughout central Ohio over the coming weeks, visit the Spring Football Edition of Friday Night Live at ThisWeekSPORTS.com.
Central Crossing •Coach: Chris Harr, second season •2010 record: 2-8 overall, 16 (seventh) in OCC-Central Division •Final 2010 computer ranking: 27th in Division I, Region 3 •Outlook: As the Comets go through their first complete offseason under coach Chris Harr, enthusiasm likely never has been higher. Before Harr was hired last April 22, the Comets didn’t have a structured weight-room program. After last season’s struggles, it wasn’t necessarily the losing record that Harr wanted to change — it was his team’s physical stature. Since the Comets didn’t play in 2009 because of a school-district levy failure, many of the team’s regular players last season were in middle school the last time they played organized football. The Comets’ starting quarterback was sophomore Tory Clark. Former Ohio State and Dallas Cowboys running back Jamar Martin is in charge of the Comets’ offseason strength and conditioning program. As he handles that, Harr is working to bring two more coaches on staff. The Comets are in need of a freshman team coach and they also are looking to add another offensive coach.
Dublin Coffman •Coach: Mark Crabtree, 11th season •2010 record: 8-3 overall, 61 (second) in OCC-Central Division •Final 2010 computer ranking: Fifth in Division I, Region 3 •Outlook: Followers of central Ohio high school football likely will be watching with curiosity to see what the area’s finest quarterback factory will produce next. Since Mark Crabtree took over as Coffman’s coach in 2001, the list of signal callers the program has generated includes former Notre Dame standout and current Denver Broncos backup Brady Quinn as well as college recruits such as Jack Rafferty (Otterbein) and Zack Stoudt (Mississippi). Senior Cole Stoudt, who started most of the past three seasons, was the latest to sign to play collegiately when he committed to Clemson in February. While Cole Stoudt might have been the most obvious loss for a Coffman team that went 8-3 overall last fall, it isn’t a mystery to Crabtree who will be team’s next quarterback. Coffman will be losing 33 players to graduation. With the quarterback vacancy already appearing to be filled by sopho-
ThisWeekSPORTS.com
It almost has become a rite of passage in recent years for either the Dublin Coffman or Hilliard Davidson high school football teams to still be playing during the third week of November. For the other six teams competing in the current alignment of the OCC-Central Division, the annual talent and success that those two programs have boasted have made for some rough Friday nights. In this installment, we're examining what Davidson and Coffman are doing to stay on top, and what the OCC-Central's other squads are doing to move up in the standings. What can the Wildcats do for an encore after winning state titles in 2006 and ’09 and being a state semifinalist last fall? Their task includes replacing six players from the 2010 graduating class who have committed to Division I colleges. Coffman will have a new quarterback next fall, but for several years the Shamrocks have shown a propensity to churn out players at that position. Can Hilliard Darby keep it going after having a bounce-back year last fall, or will a team that battled the injury bug last year like Upper Arlington or Worthington Kilbourne be able to get back on track? For Central Crossing, Thomas Worthington and Westland, building programs that have struggled in recent years is a task that each is continuing to take on. Next week, we take a look at the teams in the OCC-Cardinal.
more James Walsh, finding replacements for some of the other key positions is the Shamrocks’ biggest offseason project.
Thomas Worthington •Coach: Scott Gordon, fifth season •2010 record: 3-7 overall, 25 (sixth) in OCC-Central Division •Final 2010 computer ranking: 20th in Division I, Region 3 •Outlook: Under coach Scott Gordon, the Cardinals have adopted one- or two-word slogans that summarize all of the goals for the coming season. In 2011, the team might use the phrase “team speed,” and not just because of the new synthetic turf that will be installed at Dow Nelson Field next month. Nana Kyeremeh, a junior safety who anchored the secondary last season, turned heads when he ran a 40-yard time of 4.3 seconds at the McAllister Scouting Report developmental combine in Powell last month. As a result, he has been attracting interest from Division I college coaches, namely Akron and Toledo. Kyeremeh is one of several players who will lead a newlook offense in 2011. Last season, junior running back Eric Monfort missed the first six games with a separated shoulder before returning with a 222-yard performance in a 34-27 win over Westland on Oct. 8. The Cardinals won two of their four games with Monfort in the lineup. The biggest question mark this offseason for the Cardinals
is at quarterback. Gordon said as many as nine players will compete to replace senior John Chadwell, including Scott Brown, Austin Kaiser and Jeremy Nicklos.
ing the offseason. White said his ing: 19th in Division I, Region icant experience back on the lines will be 6-foot-6 two-way program uses eight of those days 3 •Outlook: When coach Vince lineman Chris Skura, who will for summer camp. The other two are utilized to participate in area Trombetti scans his list of play- be a senior next fall. He was speers expected to return for the cial mention all-OCC last fall. 7-on-7 passing leagues. Trombetti, who has been Leading the returning group 2011 season, one of the first should be quarterback Korey things he notices is the overall coaching football for more than 30 years, said he has never had Browning and linemen Zach inexperience. Upper Arlington In particular, the Wolves will a team battle through more inHall, Kyle Maxwell, Junior •Coach: Mike Golden, sev- Reyes and Brady Willis. be spending significant time the juries than the Wolves did last enth season next few months filling four season. The one positive amid •2010 record: 6-4 overall, 4holes on both the offensive and that situation was that players Worthington 3 (fourth) in OCC-Central Disuch as junior Brian Miller and defensive lines. Kilbourne vision The Wolves are losing 25 sen- sophomore Matt Wylly gained •Final 2010 computer rank•Coach: Vince Trombetti, iors from a team that began bat- significant experience. ing: 14th in Division I, Region sixth season Miller enters summer drills tling injuries as early as last Au3 •2010 record: 4-6 overall, gust and finished 4-6 overall, as the No. 1 quarterback after •Outlook: The Golden Bears 3-4 (fifth) in OCC-Central the first losing season since completing 11 of 17 passes for have missed the Division I play- Division 146 yards with three touchdowns 2006. offs the past two seasons, and The only player with signif- and one interception. •Final 2010 computer rankthat doesn’t sit well with coach Mike Golden. In fact, days after the conclusion of last season, he vowed that the Golden Bears wouldn’t miss the playoffs for a third year PH. OUTDOORS INC. in a row, saying, “It’s not going 3723 CLEVELAND AVE., COLS., OHIO • PH. 471-7000 PH. 740-928-FISH (3474) TUE.-FRI. 10-8, • SAT. 10-6, CLOSED SUN. & MON. OPEN SUN. 10-5, CLOSED MON. • TUE.-FRI. 10-8, SAT. 9-6 to happen again.” Golden may have softened his SEE OUR CURRENT FLYER AT www.vanceoutdoors.com stance to a degree on making NEW SPRINGFIELD the playoffs in 2011, but that GUNS ARMORY doesn’t lessen the team’s desire ★ RUGER LCR 1 7/8 IN. BBL ★ XDM 3.8 BLACK to qualify for the postseason. 38 SPECIAL $ 99 9 MM OR 40 S&W $ 99 870 EXPRESS 12 GAUGE UA finished 6-4 overall last #5401 ..................... 9384, 9389 CBHC...... HOME DEFENSE SHOTGUN ★ RUGER LCR 1.875 IN. BBL ★ XDM 4.5 BLACK season and placed 14th in Re357 MAGNUM ONLY $ $ 99 45 ACP $ 99 FIRELINED 99 gion 3. The top eight teams made 30#5549 #5450 ..................... 94545 BHC ............... 18 IN. BBL. the playoffs. ★ FNH FNP-45 ★ XDM 4.5 BITONE GUN SAFES UA is losing 24 seniors, in- 870 EXPRESS SUPER MAG 45 ACP $ 99 9 MM OR 40 S&W $ 99 BLACK SST .............. #9211, 9212 HCSP.... 12 GA. SHOTGUN cluding 16 who started or saw $ 99 ★ FNH FNX ★ HDM 4.5 BLACK UP significant playing time last fall. 30 ONLY $ 99 9 MM OR 40 S&W $ 9 MM OR 40 S&W $ 99 99 3 1/2 IN. WE OFFER A BIG SELECTION STAINLESS ................ #9201, 9202 HCSP.... Among the key players expect- #25102 ed to return are junior linebacker Sponsored in part by The Ohio American Legion Eddie Miller and juniors Frank 26th Annual Epitropoulos (WR/DB/P), Ryan McSheffery (RB), Tyler Pfister (LB), Garrett Powers (DB), Jack Trabue (LB) and Francis Wilamosky (LB/FB). Saturday, Developing linemen is one of April 16, 2011 UA’s chief priorities this offseason. The Bears are losing 7:00 pm four of five starters on the ofDublin Jerome High School fensive line and four of their top seven players who saw action The Brass Band of Columbus and The Salvation Army’s on the defensive line. world renowned New York Staff Band present a Though much of UA’s offcelebration of faith, patriotism, and good will. season centers around getting players into the weight room, For concert information visit the Bears will participate in 7salvationarmycolumbus.org on-7 and linemen camps in July and click on Special Events as part of the 10 offseason contact days allowed between the coaching staff and players.
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Westland •Coach: Steve White, first season •2010 record: 1-9 overall, 07 (eighth) in OCC-Central Division •Final 2010 computer ranking: 28th in Division I, Region 3 •Outlook: Steve White’s first objective as Cougars coach is to make the program more competitive. White, the team’s linebackers coach last season, was promoted in January to replace Brian Smith. Under Smith, the Cougars were 2-28 overall and 0-19 in the OCC-Central in three seasons. With no head coach in place late last year, assistants helped run the conditioning program once the 30-day rest period ended in December. When White was promoted in January, the offseason program intensified. The offseason conditioning program includes weightlifting, cardiovascular exercises and aerobic training. Coaches are allowed 10 days of contact with their players dur-
NOMINATE YOUR TEACHER
The Hilliard Area Garden Club invites you to
“A GARDEN AFFAIR” TUESDAY, APRIL 19TH, 2011 HILLIARD SENIOR CENTER 3800 VETERANS MEMORIAL DRIVE HILLIARD, OHIO 43026
FREE ADMISSION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
7:00-8:00pm “Desirable Trees for the Midwest” Speaker & Author Scott Zanon
BEFORE MAY 10TH
Tell us why your teacher is special & they may win the…
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6:30-7:00 pm / 8:00-8:30 pm America’s future is in the hands of our children and the teachers who teach them.
THE TEACHER OF EXCELLENCE AWARD If your teacher inspires you to learn, nominate them today for the Teacher of Excellence Award. The winning teacher will receive: • Computer set up for classroom • Donatos classroom pizza party • Class trip to COSI Columbus • PT Reptiles eduction program • Class receives passes to LazerKraze Deadline for nominations is May 10
Nominate your teacher at ThisWeekNEWS.com/contests or Just-Think-Inc.com.
Businesses: support your school district’s inventors at the Supporting Innovation Expo at COSI May 20 & 21. Call (614) 348-1763 or visit Just-Think-Inc.com.
Exhibits Include: Amity Abloom • Chadwick Arboretum Columbus Garden Railway Society Com-Til • Governor’s Heritage Garden Ohio Department of Natural Resources Central Ohio Cactus & Succulent Society Twin Sycamores • And others
Door Prizes and Refreshments Award-winning coverage, updated daily at ThisWeekSPORTS.com