OCC-OHIO D IVISION
Groveport Madison
Cruisers look to grow from offseason By BRAD EMERINE THISWEEKSPORTS.COM The second year of the rebuilding phase has arrived for the Groveport Madison High School football team. Last season as a first-year head coach, Bryan Schoonover was busy installing the techniques and fundamentals of a triple-option offense and trying to build confidence and toughness within the program. The Cruisers, who finished 1-9 overall last year, spent a significant amount of time in the weight room during the offseason and Schooner is hoping that dedication will begin to pay dividends this season. “I didn’t get much of a chance to implement our lifting program before last season, so we officially closed the first full year together over the summer,” Schoonover said. “I think our kids have really improved their strength and they’ve bought into our system. “We lost 16 seniors last year and we have a real small senior class now, so the majority of the players on the roster are juniors or sophomores and most will be competing on varsity for the first time. We’re very happy with the seniors we have, but we’re thrilled about our youth. It’s our biggest asset because we’ll have two or three years working with them as individuals and as groups.” The Cruisers’ lone victory a year ago came against Newark in an OCC-Ohio Division game. They beat the Wildcats 52-35, as four players rushed for more than 100 yards and two touchdowns apiece, including senior fullback D’Lante Smith. Groveport totaled 564 yards rushing and did not complete a pass. The Cruisers went 1-6 in the OCC-Ohio to tie Newark for seventh, behind co-champions Pickerington Central and Pickerington North (both 6-1). “That’s the type of offense we want to be, the way we played that game (against Newark),” Schoonover said. “We aren’t looking to make big plays on every down. We just want to be physical and stay on schedule by getting 3,
4 or 5 yards a play. A big play here or there would be nice, but we’re not going to be a quick-score team.” That’s why a stronger commitment to lifting weights has been emphasized, according to defensive coordinator Josh Chilcote. “When the kids see themselves getting stronger, it builds their confidence, which helps become mentally tougher, too,” Chilcote said. “What I’ve seen from these kids is them getting mentally and physically stronger and more confident in the past year. It’s going to start showing up on the field soon. The kids are buying into the whole system and working The Cruisers’ Jordan Garrettson makes a tackle against Gahanna last season. The senior linebacker is the leader of the defense, hard to improve every day.” according to second-year coach Bryan Schoonover. TIM REVELL/THISWEEKSPORTS
OFFENSE
Junior running backs Thomas Matthews and Dana Cherry will start in the backfield along with Smith, while junior Dezjuan Allen also will have a prominent role in the rotation of running backs. “Smith had a good camp and a great offseason in the weight room,” Schoonover said. “He’s committed. I expect him to have a real good year. Thomas is shifty, a slash-and-dash style runner. Allen is also shifty, but he’s thick and is a one-cut runner. Dana also is a one-cut runner, but he’s great at running downhill.” Senior quarterbacks Wesley Fearing and Derrell Gibbs both saw action last year and, according to Schoonover, could do the same this season, depending on the opponent. Senior center Malcolm Solack will anchor the line as a third-year starter. “He’s the most consistent (player) of the front line and he worked real hard in the offseason to overcome a knee injury,” Schoonover said. Junior tight end Marshall Buck and senior wide receiver Markel Davis also are returning starters. “Davis is the real deal and can play at the next level, hands down,” Schoonover said. “He’s rangy, athletic and fast, and he can go get the ball. In fact, he goes to get the ball so well, he’s playing defense for the first
At a glance 2014 SCHEDULE Aug. 29 ........vs. Canal Winchester Sept. 5 ............at Columbus South Sept. 12 .........at Westerville North *Sept. 19 ....................at Gahanna *Sept. 26.................vs. Grove City *Oct. 3 ......................at Lancaster *Oct. 10 ......................vs. Newark *Oct. 17 ......vs. Pickerington North *Oct. 24.....at Pickerington Central *Oct. 31 .............vs. Reynoldsburg 2013 RESULTS (1-9 overall, 1-6 OCC-Ohio) Westerville South ............L, 48-20 Walnut Ridge ....................L, 28-6 Licking Heights....................L 7-0 *Gahanna ........................L 20-13 *Grove City .......................L, 55-0 *Lancaster ......................L, 20-14 *Newark ........................W, 52-35
*Pickerington North...........L, 35-7 *Pickerington Central.......L, 41-14 *Reynoldsburg ................L, 30-14 *League contest INSIDE THE CRUISERS •Coach: Bryan Schoonover, second season •Top players: Jacob Dalton (DL), Markel Davis (WR/CB), Wesley Fearing (QB), Jordan Garrettson (LB), Derrell Gibbs (QB), Thomas Matthews (RB), Daquan Mayle (LB), D’Lante Smith (FB) and Malcolm Solack (C) •Key losses: Dayrel Billingsley (RB/DB), Terric Bryant (TE/DE), Tyren Jackson (WR/DB), Austin Newman (QB), Cameron O’Shodi (OL/DL), De’Shawn Sowell (LB) and Mecca Swain (RB)
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time this year.” The lineup Quarterbacks: Fearing (sr., 6-3, 250), Gibbs (sr., 5-10, 170) Running backs: Allen (jr., 5-7, 170), *Cherry (jr., 5-10, 175), *Matthews (jr., 5-10, 155), *Smith (sr., 5-10, 190) Receivers: *Davis (sr., 6-3, 165) Tight end: *Buck (jr., 5-10, 200)
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Linemen: *Nate Brookman (jr., 5-11, 230), *Robert Coleburn (jr., 5-11, 230), Alexi Lizardo (sr., 5-11, 225), Nick Perdue (so., 6-1, 270), *Solack (sr., 5-11, 245), *Jaeshawn Williams (sr., 6-2, 290) (*denotes projected starter)
Cruisers have returned five linemen who started at least one game last season in seniors Phillip Austin and Jacob Dalton, juniors Corey Large and Elijah Smith and sophomore Dejuan McClure. “Last year our experience was in the secondary and this year it’s up front,” Chilcote said. “Large has been playing very well and he’s versatile because he can play nose guard, end or tackle.” Jordan Garrettson is expected to be the leader of the defense. “He’s 5-10, 220 (pounds) and is physical and strong,” Schoonover said. “He plays our Leo (linebacker) and can be a rush end when we need it. Basically, if he has a good night, the defense will have a good night.” Other returning starters are linebackers Daquan Mayle and Corey Newman. “We’ve got a number of players who can get to the ball, like Davis, Garrettson, Mayle and Smith,” Schoonover said. “We just need to make sure to stay fundamentally sound and take care of our assignments before we take off in pursuit and not get fooled by fake handoffs and things.”
The lineup Linemen: *Austin (sr., 6-3, DEFENSE 220), *Dalton (sr., 6-4, 260), The line should be the Large (jr., 6-0 225), Elijah strength of the defense, as the Smith (jr., 5-10, 245),
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*McClure (so., 5-10, 300) Linebackers: *Kyle Duty (so., 5-8, 180), *Garrettson (sr., 5-10, 220), *Mayle (jr., 5-9, 200), *Newman (so., 5-10, 180) Secondary: *Davis, *Jalen Foster (jr., 5-9, 145), *Tanner Grubb (jr., 5-10, 155), *C.J. Townes (jr., 5-11, 150)
SPECIAL TEAMS
The lineup Kickoffs: Kris Henry (sr., 5-11, 175) Place-kicker: Blake Snyder (sr., 5-10, 165) Punter: Henry Returners: To be determined Long snapper: Perdue bemerine@thisweeknews.com
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