ThisWeek Olentangy Valley News
October 23, 2014
Page B1
Sponsored by:
FOOTBALL COVERAGE
Get the best high school football coverage from ThisWeek, 10TV and The Columbus Dispatch from Sifted. Download the free app today.
CALL 740-888-6054
WEB www.ThisWeekSPORTS.com
FAX 740-888-6006
Football
Football
By SCOTT HENNEN THISWEEKSPORTS.COM
By DAVE PURPURA THISWEEKSPORTS.COM
Undefeated Braves not letting up
Patriots looking to derail Coffman Scott Goodwill is ready for a change. The senior linebacker for the Olentangy Liberty High School football team knows the Patriots have never beaten Dublin Coffman in six meetings. But Goodwill believes that might change Friday, Oct. 24, when the teams meet at Liberty in an OCC-Central Division showdown. Coffman is 8-0 overall and Liberty is 7-1, and both teams are 5-0 in the OCC-Central. The winner controls its destiny for the outright league championship. “We know we’re playing a team that we’ve never beaten, but we are a whole new Liberty football team,” Goodwill said. “We are ready to win.” The Patriots lost four nonleague meetings against Coffman – 10-7 in 2008, 52-0 in 2009, 24-10 in 2010 and 3127 in 2011. Liberty joined the OCC-Central in 2012, losing to the Shamrocks 36-28 that season and 24-12 last season. “We’ve never beaten them and we’re (at home),” Liberty coach Steve Hale said. “They’re really good and (Shamrocks coach) Mark (Crabtree) does an amazing job of coaching his team. We are going to have to be at our best.” It could be an offensive display, or a defensive slugfest. Coffman averages 44.1 points and surrenders 9.1 per contest with two shutouts. Liberty scores 29.8 points per game and gives up 11.1 with three shutouts.
Olentangy running back Anthony Golden tries to avoid Worthington Kilbourne defender Nick Hill during a 54-21 rout of the visiting Wolves on Oct. 17. The Braves will look to remain unbeaten when they play at Mount Vernon on Friday, Oct. 24. JENNA WATSON/THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
As the Olentangy High School football team closes in on an undefeated regular season, every day will be tougher than the day before, according to coach Mark Solis. “I am not a fun guy to be around in practice,” Solis said. “I say that with all good intentions, but we get on them. We as a (coaching) staff won’t let these kids go through the motions. We have to tighten some things up and clean things up this week.” Olentangy takes records of 8-0 overall and 5-0 in the OCC-Capital Division into a Friday, Oct. 24, game at Mount Vernon. The Braves remained undefeated with a 54-21 rout of Worthington Kilbourne on Oct. 17. That same night, the Yellow Jackets fell to 5-3 overall and 3-2 in the OCCCapital with a 36-28 home loss to Delaware. Olentangy, which was
BRAVES >> B7
Week 9
OLENTANGY at MOUNT VERNON •When: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24 •Last meeting: 2013, Olentangy 38-27 •Olentangy (8-0 overall, 5-0 in OCC-Capital) to date: Defeated Westerville South 38-6; def. Olentangy Liberty 35-34 (OT); def. Lexington 52-13; def. Big Walnut 497; def. Olentangy Orange 36-0; def. Franklin Heights 45-7; def. New Albany 48-14; def.Worthington Kilbourne 54-21 •Top Braves: Obi Anunike (WR), Drew Batt (WR), Chris Crumb (RB/DL), Jake Didion (LB), Jimmy Elmurr (LB), Anthony Golden (RB) and Deeb Haber (QB) •Mount Vernon (5-3 overall, 3-2 in OCC-Capital) to date: Lost to Central Crossing 58-27; def.Marengo Highland 60-13; def.Mansfield Madison 27-21; def. Franklin Heights 4122; def.Kilbourne 34-27; def.Orange 41-28; lost to Big Walnut 46-40; lost to Delaware 36-28 •Top Yellow Jackets: Jeep Cochran (OL/DL), Alec Curts (OL/DL), Greg Dennis (WR/DB), Ryan Fitzgerald (QB/DB) and J.D. Orr (RB)
Football
Pioneers aiming for winning record
By SCOTT HENNEN THISWEEKSPORTS.COM
Two down, two to go for the Olentangy Orange High School football team. The Pioneers improved to 4-4 overall and 2-3 in the OCC-Capital Division after scoring 22 points in the fourth quarter to defeat host Franklin Heights PATRIOTS >> B6 42-41 on Oct. 17. It was their second
consecutive victory as they aim to win their final four games and finish with a winning record. Up next for Orange is a league game Friday, Oct. 24, at Big Walnut. The Golden Eagles also have won two in a row, including 30-14 over New Albany on Oct. 17, and are 5-3 overall and 3-2 in the league. “(The Golden Eagles) are playing inspired football right now,” coach
Zebb Schroeder said. “They are physical up front and have some nice skill players that are making plays for them. Their running back (Christian Johnson) is a stud and a heck of a competitor. If we don’t rally to the ball, he will make us pay.” Johnson had 167 yards and three touchdowns on 21 carries against New Albany, and Brayden Shepherd added 80 yards and one touchdown on 24 car-
ries. Quarterback Jordan Wall was 8for-12 passing for 72 yards and one interception. Orange beat Franklin Heights when Blake Skuratowicz ran in a two-point conversion with 58 seconds left in the fourth quarter. The Pioneers trailed 41-20 with 10:51 to play, but Will Phillis threw touch-
PIONEERS >> B7