MSL-OHIO
Bexley
Lions seeking to eliminate mistakes By PAUL BATTERSON
Schedule
ThisWeek Community Newspapers
Fifth-year Bexley High School football coach John Smith is not as troubled by his team’s final 3-7 record of year ago as much as he is about the way the Lions lost many of those games. Plagued by turnovers, Bexley finished 1-6 in the MSL-Ohio Division, behind Licking Valley (7-0), Heath (6-1), Granville (5-2), Newark Catholic (4-3), Columbus Academy (3-4) and Whitehall (2-5) and ahead of Lakewood (0-7). “When I think about last year, I think about the missed opportunities,” Smith said. “I just felt like there were games where we left a lot on the field last year. “There were two games in particular (a 35-22 loss to Granville and a 27-7 loss to Newark Catholic) where I felt like we had a chance to win, and in those two games we turned the ball over 11 times (combined).” Smith —whose team opens against Africentric on Friday, Aug. 26, at home — put an added emphasis on taking care of the football and avoiding penalties in preseason practices. According to Smith, there were “consequences” for each turnover and penalty committed in practice. “Eliminating mistakes is going to be a huge piece of the puzzle,” Smith said. “It’s tough to win football games as it is, but you add in turnovers and penalties and it becomes even tougher.” Last season, Bexley lost seven of its final eight games after a 2-0 start. The Lions scored 184 points, but 113 of of that total came in their three wins — Africentric (22-16), Northridge (49-7) and Lakewood (42-21). Smith experimented with a twoquarterback system as Bexley struggled on offense, with 2011 graduate Alex Lemon and Jalen Robinette sharing time, but that won’t be the case this season.
76
2011 SCHEDULE Aug. 26 .....Africentric .........Home Sept. 2......Berne Union......Home Sept. 9......Hamilton Twsp. ..Away *Sept. 16..Granville.............Away *Sept. 23..Lakewood .........Home *Oct. 1......Newark Catholic..Away *Oct. 6......Cols. Academy ..Home *Oct. 14....Heath.................Away *Oct. 21....Licking Valley ....Home *Oct. 28....Whitehall............Away 2010 RESULTS (3-7 overall, 1-6 MSL-Ohio) Africentric ......................W, 22-16 Northridge .......................W, 49-7 Hartley .............................L, 54-7 *Whitehall......................L, 28-14 *Granville.......................L, 35-22 *Lakewood....................W, 42-21 *Newark Catholic..............L, 27-7 *Columbus Academy.........L, 50-7 *Heath.............................L, 28-0 *Licking Valley ................L, 62-14 *MSL-Ohio game
By Lorrie Cecil/ThisWeek
Jalen Robinette returns at quarterback after splitting time last season and completing 40 of 75 passes for 403 yards.
“Jalen is our quarterback,” Smith said. Robinette (6-foot-4, 194 pounds) had 23 catches for 341 yards and a touchdown, rushed for 359 yards and three touchdowns and completed 40 of 75 passes for 403 yards with four touchdowns last year. He was named second-team all-league and first-team all-district in Division III. Senior Cameron Stewart (6-0, 171) and sophomore Rasheed Morgan (5-9, 140) are vying for time at tailback and senior D.J. Jones (5-7, 140), junior Jimmy Kahan (5-8, 160), and sophomore Greg Miller (5-5, 129) are competing at fullback. Kahan and Miller also could see time at wide receiver, along with senior Derek Cain (5-9, 165) and junior Nyles Lester (5-7, 195). Seniors Alec Robins (5-9, 171) and Henry Warren (5-6, 158) will
split time at tight end. Last year, the offensive line struggled as the Lions constantly rotated in new players. That experience should help the Lions
this season, though. Seniors Brandon Stokes (6-2, 206) and Raphael Vayntraub (511, 211) and junior Howard Wang (6-3, 193) are competing for the
two tackle spots ,and seniors Nick Daum (5-11, 227) and Gabe Sudai Getz (6-1, 245) and Mike Her(5-10, 191) and sophomore Jaxon wald (5-11, 197) are competing Sher (6-0, 203) are vying for the guard positions. Juniors Andrew See LIONS, page 80
YOU can get ANYWHERE from here
GOOD LUCK LIONS!!! LIONS !!! 3785
Downtown Campus cscc.edu
FRIDAY NIGHT LIVE 2011 Football Preview | August 25, 2011
ThisWeekSPORTS.com