MSL-OHIO
Granville
Emergence of offensive line key for Aces By BRAD EMERINE ThisWeek Community Newspapers
If the Granville High School football team expects to match last year’s success, it must overcome the loss of several offensive and defensive linemen. “We’re going to continue to do what we do offensively with our multi-spread (offense) because we have our top four rushers back, three of our top four receivers and our quarterback,” said third-year coach J.R. Wait, whose team finished 7-3 overall a year ago. “We don’t have a lot of experience on the offensive line, but we have talented kids and seniors who had to wait their turn. “The good thing with our style of offense is that we don’t need big linemen. We have some size, athleticism and speed. As long as we don’t get overpowered and they follow their fundamentals, we’ll be fine.” Junior David Fraley returns at quarterback after totaling more than 1,700 yards and 16 touchdowns rushing and passing last year. He was special mention all-district in Division III for Granville, which averaged 26.1 points on offense and gave up 20.2 points per game. Senior Zach Lilly and junior Josh Link are expected to be the top running backs for the Blue Aces, who went 5-2 in the MSLOhio Division last year to finish third behind Licking Valley (7-0) and Heath (6-1) and ahead of Newark Catholic (4-3), Columbus Academy (3-4), Whitehall (2-5), Bexley (1-6) and Lakewood (0-7). Link was honorable mention all-district a year ago. “We usually have a number of very talented skill-position players and we do throw more than most of our opponents, but our goal is to run the ball, not be a pass-first team,” Wait said. “We want to run the ball, but because we don’t normally have
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Schedule 2011 SCHEDULE Aug. 26.......Johnstown.......Home Sept. 2 .......Utica ................Away Sept. 9 .......Fairfield Union ...Away *Sept. 16 ...Bexley .............Home *Sept. 23 ...Licking Valley ...Home *Sept. 30 ...Whitehall ..........Away *Oct. 7 .......Heath..............Home *Oct. 14 .....Lakewood .........Away *Oct. 21 .....Newark Cath....Home *Oct. 28 .....Cols. Academy ..Away 2010 RESULTS (7-3 overall, 5-2 MSL-Ohio) Johnstown......................L, 41-14 Utica .............................W, 28-25 Fairfield Union..................W, 27-6 *Columbus Academy......W, 28-13 *Bexley .........................W, 35-22 *Licking Valley ..................L, 35-3 *Whitehall .....................W, 31-13 *Heath...........................L, 27-17 *Lakewood....................W, 57-14 *Newark Catholic.............W, 21-0 *MSL-Ohio game
big linemen, we have to do it in a creative way. We’re happy with all the primary ball-handlers we have back.” Among the expected targets for the Blue Aces, who often use four- and five-receiver sets, are seniors Dominic Sicilian and Joey Comisford, juniors Steven Carpenter and Tucker McKenzie and sophomores Ajay Alderman, Brock Hill and Hunter Orth. Alderman was honorable mention all-district last year. Hoping to jell as an offensive line are senior guards Charles Daley and Ian Harmon, senior center Devyn Steffeny, senior tackle Luke Roby and junior tackle David Fox. Also vying for playing time up front are juniors Blake Marlowe and Caleb Sims and sophomore Ian Huprich.
By Andrea Kjerrumgaard/ThisWeek
Junior running back Josh Link was honorable mention all-district in Division III last season.
Granville returns seven starters on defense to match the number on offense, and the defensive philosophy also will remain the same. “We run what we call a 7-diamond defense because we’re not big and we want to pressure in an unconventional way,” Wait said. “We do play mostly man coverage in the back, with some zone. But again, we’ve got some smaller players and we have trust in them on the edges. “It’s an impatient, aggressive defense that can dictate what offenses can do. It’s sound and disciplined if played properly, and we like it because it allows our kids to play faster than in the read-and-react defenses.”
Sims and junior Mark Schenken appear to be starters at tackle, although Marlowe and Daley also will see action. Senior Thomas Nichols and Harmon will start on the ends, with Huprich and Roby also getting playing time. Junior Clayton Plute and Steffeny will be at linebacker, with Stephan Klema working in as well. Link and Lilly will play cornerback and McKenzie will be the free safety. Vying for two positions at strong safety will be Carpenter, senior Tyler Camarata and juniors Alex Marcum and Gabe Parini. Plute will be the punter
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