The eighth week of high school football brings the annual “Backyard Brawl” along with other teams seeking to bounce back after losses last Friday.
Indian Lake and Benjamin Logan will renew acquaintances, with the Raiders hosting the contest.
Indian Lake is 2-0 in the Central Buckeye Conference Mad River division, with wins over North Union (17-14) and Shawnee (45-0). Prior to that, they topped Bellefontaine 45-14, and lost to London 44-14 in crossover action. In this week’s OHSAA computer rankings, Indian Lake is seventh in Region 20 of Division V. The top 12 teams qualify for the postseason.
Special teams could play a role, as both teams have excellent kickers. Ben Logan’s Brandon Heater, a junior, has made 5 of 10 field goal attempts, with a long of 50, and is 21 of 22 on extra points. He has an average of 35.8 yards on punts. Raiders coach Paul Jenne said that special teams can always play a role in close games, as it can affect field position and is a source of potential points.
Coach Jonn Rapp of Indian Lake said “it is neat having schools that have those weapons. It adds a neat element.” For Indian Lake, senior Avery Pequignot has connected on four out of five field goals. His long on the year was 36 yards. His punting average is 36.1 yards.
The Lakers offense is led by quarterback Brady Golliday, who has 102 completions on 154 attempts for 1,324 yards, with 15 touchdowns and just two interceptions.
Noah Shirk has 99 rushes for 700 yards with 11 touchdowns, and Golliday has kept it 80 times, gaining 406 yards and scoring three times.
Brodey Reisinger tops the air attack with 46 catches for 685 yards and 11 touchdowns. Colin Bendler has 25 receptions for 280 (3 TD) and Gavin Henry has made 19 catches for 210 (1 TD).
The big men on defense have been Aaron Rapp (75 tackles), Wyatt Whitsett (56), Shirk (53) and Reisinger (41). The Lakers have four takeaways, two fumbles and two interceptions. Rapp said that it is always an exciting week and the Lakers will look to manage the emotions. “(Ben Logan) is very much improved. They are going to force us to bring out best.”
Most of Ben Logan’s games have been close affairs. In divisional play, they have fallen to Graham (26-21) and North Union (14-13). They defeated Urbana (41-24), lost to Bellefontaine (28-10) and downed Tecumseh (37-12) in crossover play. They are 3-4 on the season, and are 14th in the Region 14 rankings of Division IV.
Wyatt Predmore has completed 54 of 92 passes for 669 yards, with four touchdowns and five interceptions. Cayden Brown tops the receivers with 23 catches for 400 yards, and has gotten to the end zone twice. Alex Hassell has 11 catches for 104 yards, Heater nine for 106, and Andrew Frederick eight for 116.
The ground attack is divided between Predmore (83 for 463, 5 TD); Diesel Baughman (80 for 509, 7 TD); Jordan Pender (68 for 327, 1 TD) and Hassell (28 for 113, 6 TD). The leading tacklers are Everett Clapsaddle with 64 and Cooper Buck with 62. Ashton Whitt (53), Hayden Hites (52) and Daniel Koehler (50) are factors as well. The defense has recovered three fumbles and made five interceptions.
Coach Jenne said that the Raiders are focused on themselves, and continue to try and get better in every aspect.
The rest of Friday’s action is as follows:
Bellefontaine (1-1 CBC, 3-4 overall) at Tecumseh (0-2 CBC, 2-5 overall)
Bellefontaine goes back on the road this week after three weeks on their home turf.
They will face Tecumseh in a CBC Kenton Trail division game.
In this week’s computer rankings from the OHSAA, the Chieftains are 13th in Region 12 of Division III. The top 12 teams will qualify for the postseason.
Quarterback Reign St. Clair has completed 108 of 176 passes for 1,181 yards with four touchdowns and four interceptions.
Spencer Stolly leads in receptions with 40, for 388 yards and one score. Sutton Daring has 22 catches for 230 yards and two TDs, Patrick Stolly has 16 for 172 and Kaiden Foulk 14 for 195.
Sophomore Bryant Carter has 36 carries for 175 yards. Kaiden Foulk also ran a couple times last week.
“It’s an important week for us,” said Chieftains coach Jason Brown. “We want to continue to improve individually and collectively. It’s a great opportunity for us.”
He said that there have been changes to the lineup, as running back Carter Caudill is currently out with an injury. “The kids have had the chance to work together, and are excited to play with one another,” said Brown.
He stated that the contest with Tecumseh will be decided at the line of scrimmage, and the result whichever team is able to run well on offense and stop the run on defense. “The team that can establish itself is going to find some success,” Brown noted.
“We will continue to adjust and grow, and make Tecumseh defend the entire field,” he said.
The Arrows lost their opener to Fairborn (41-6), then won over Bishop Carroll (30-16) and Shawnee (14-12). Since then they have lost to Northwestern (42-20), Ben Logan (37-12), Jonathan Alder (31-7) and Kenton Ridge (49-20).
Senior Noah Carl (5-11, 210) and sophomore Reid Ollinger (6-0, 180) have combined for 113 yards passing, completing 13 of 41 attempts with four interceptions.
Sophomore running back Devin Berner (5-10, 165) has 1,052 yards on the season on the ground, with 170 carries and nine touchdowns. Carl has run it 82 times for 445 yards with four scores.
The leading receivers are senior Nolan Cornett (6-2, 180), with five grabs for 54 yards and junior Dalton Massie (5-10, 175) who has four receptions for 38 yards.
Berner is the team’s leading tackler with 62, followed by Massie (50). Junior linebacker Tony Jackson (5-8, 165) and sophomore DB Chase Wampler (6-0, 170) have 40 apiece.
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Triad (0-2 OHC, 0-7 overall) at West Liberty-Salem (1-1 OHC, 4-3 overall)
West Liberty-Salem will look to avoid an upset against winless Triad in Ohio Heritage Conference action.
The Tigers had a win streak snapped last week with a 27-24 defeat by Northeastern.
In Region 20 of Division V, they are currently ninth in the computer rankings.
Beckett Sullivan has thrown for 814 yards (63 of 114) with 11 touchdowns and four interceptions.
Reese Oder has 30 catches for 392 yards and Isaac Sertell has seven for 147. Oder has four TDs, and Sertell two.
On the ground, Corbin Wallace leads the way with 563 yards and four TD, on 128 rushes. Sullivan (31-66), Oder (14-94), Zade Bieleski (18-47) and Silas Krabill (17-61) are other options.
The Cardinals began with nonleague losses to Mount Gilead (31-6) and Bucyrus (42-21).
In the OHC, they have fallen to Springfield Catholic Central (37-7), Greenon (34-0), Cedarville (41-6), Mechanicsburg (62-0) and West Jefferson (55-7).
Wyatt Smith, the Cardinals’ quarterback, is 39 of 78 for the season with 404 yards, four touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
Brody Hess has 97 rushes for 236 yards and two TDs, and Smith has 61 carries for 126 yards.
The leading receivers are Colton Thomas (12-88) and De’Von Minor (9-88).
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Riverside (2-2 TRC, 3-4 overall) at Troy Christian (0-4 TRC, 0-7 overall)
Riverside will look to get back on the winning side after a 27-9 loss to Northridge last Friday.
They are ranked 14th in Region 28 for Division VII.
Brody Orsborne has completed 33 of 83 pass attempts for 472 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.
Gunner Carpenter leads the team in rushing with 539 yards on 113 carries, while Tony Robinson had 485 on 97 attempts and Dylan Trimble has 308 with 63 carries. Carpenter and Robinson have six touchdowns each.
Justin Mazariegos (8-119) and Robinson (7-147), along with Carpenter (8-82) are the top receivers.
The Eagles have yet to taste victory this season. They lost to Tri-Village (68-12), Springfield CC (35-14) and Meadowdale (48-0) in nonleague play.
That has been followed with defeats by Bethel (20-14), Lehman Catholic (64-6), Covington (49-14) and Milton-Union (46-13).
Braylon Martin has completed 80 of 145 throws for 706 yards, with four TDs and 12 passes picked off.
Their only rusher with over 100 yards is Jase Little, with 105 on 29 carries and two scores. Little also has 28 catches for 276 yards, while Gabe Wilkins has 17 for 193 yards and Jacob Grossnickle has made 11 for 78 yards.
