Columbus-area high school football: 5 things we learned in Week 5
Halfway through the high school football regular season, central Ohio has five undefeated teams in Division I.
Gahanna Lincoln, Hilliard Bradley, Olentangy, Pickerington North and Westerville North are 5-0 after wins over Pickerington Central (49-14), Dublin Jerome (40-35), Central Crossing (35-0), Reynoldsburg (42-21) and Delaware Hayes (14-7), respectively.
Where will the unbeatens stand in the early playoff picture? The OHSAA releases the season's first computer ratings this week.
Central Ohio's other undefeated teams are Canal Winchester in Division II; Granville, Hamilton Township, London and Watterson in Division III; Columbus East and Logan Elm in Division IV; Columbus Academy in Division V; and West Jefferson in Division VI.
Here are five things we learned in Week 5:
1. Ready responds to biggest adversity of season
Coming off a 48-14 loss at Lima Central Catholic in Week 4, the Silver Knights’ first four possessions Friday at DeSales featured three turnovers — two interceptions and a fumble on the first play from scrimmage — and 11 total yards. But an equally important “three” reared its head later, as in the number of times Ready came from behind.
The Knights erased a 21-0 deficit with three touchdowns in 85 seconds late in the first half, a 35-27 deficit in the fourth quarter and a 42-35 DeSales lead in overtime when Kentrell Rinehart scored from a yard and then ran in the two-point conversion for a 43-42 win.
“This was a character moment,” coach T.J. Burbridge said. “We said to keep swinging and they kept swinging. It was a disappointing loss last week and they handled adversity. We told them, ‘That wasn’t us.’ …
“Guys asked for the ball and they made plays.”
Rinehart ran for 144 yards and three scores on 24 carries and passed for a 38-yard touchdown to start the comeback.
Ready (4-1) snapped a 10-game losing streak against teams from the CCL, its former league, dating to 2009.
2. Olentangy Berlin again aces Hilliard Davidson test
For the second consecutive season, Berlin handed Davidson a loss. The Bears won 20-14 after taking the programs’ first meeting 23-14.
Both teams are 4-1. Berlin hosts Olentangy on Friday to open OCC-Cardinal play, and Davidson hosts Olentangy Orange in its OCC-Central opener.
“The secret (against Davidson) is a good game plan by our coordinators on offense and defense, and execution,” Berlin coach Mark Nori said. “We practiced a little differently (last) week. We had more physical practices on a week where we were supposed to be physical in a game because we didn’t want our kids showing up and not being prepared to be hit. (Davidson) has a big, strong line and a big, tough (running) back (in Keevin Gibbon) and they do some things really well.”
Harrison Brewster rushed for 99 yards and a touchdown and passed for 89 yards and a score to lead the Bears.
“Berlin is unique, but not so unique that you can’t figure it out,” Davidson coach Jeremey Scally said. “They just don’t beat themselves. For whatever the reason the last two years, more of our attention has been put on them and less of our attention is focused on ourselves.”
Johnny DiBlasio passed for 154 yards and a touchdown and Gibbon ran for 70 yards and a score to lead Davidson.
3. Two traditional powers, Olentangy Liberty and Newark Catholic, earn first wins
Liberty and Newark Catholic lined up difficult early schedules, and both finally broke into the win column Friday. Liberty won 17-3 at New Albany, and NC got by far its best defensive performance of the season, forcing three turnovers in a 20-0 victory over visiting Licking Heights.
Grayson Davis ran for a touchdown, Wilson Roberts caught a touchdown pass from Andrew Leonard and Liberty made the most of its 160 yards of offense while limiting the Eagles to just 109.
“We’ve had weeks where the defense has been solid, we’ve had weeks where the offense has been solid and other weeks, special teams have been good,” Patriots coach John Sansbury said. “This was a week where all three phases were clicking. We still have a lot of guys playing their (current) role for the first time, but they’ve gained experience and are figuring out what varsity football is like.”
The Patriots’ reward for their win? A grueling OCC-Central schedule, with their first four games coming against teams that are currently 5-0 or 4-1. First up, a visit to Dublin Coffman on Friday.
Like Liberty, NC has a first-year coach in Josh Hendershot. The Green Wave next face Utica (4-1), and a win over the Division V Redskins surely would help NC rise in Division VI, Region 23.
4. Logan Elm continues powerful start
Off to their first 5-0 start since 2014, the Braves again asserted themselves as a contender in Division IV, Region 15 with a 48-21 win at Fairfield Union in MSL-Buckeye play.
Powered by 100-yard performances from running backs Landon Thompson (139 yards, 2 TDs) and Michael Bock (129 yards, 1 TD) and 242 yards passing from Aaron Walters, Logan Elm led 20-0 in the first quarter. The Braves scored at least 40 points for the fourth consecutive game and appear headed for a league showdown in Week 7 against Bloom-Carroll (4-1, 2-0), which has regained its stride after a 38-16 opening loss at Harvest Prep.
5. Westerville North’s Robinson to play in Under Armour All-America game
Prior to North’s home win against Delaware, senior Brian Robinson (TE/DE) was presented a commemorative jersey for being selected to participate in the Under Armour Next All-America game Jan. 3 in Orlando, Florida.
More than 100 of the nation’s best players are selected to play in the event.
“It was an amazing feeling,” said Robinson, a 6-foot-5, 250-pound transfer from Austintown Fitch. “I want to thank ESPN and Under Armour Next for seeing something in me and presenting me with that jersey. ... I love being inside these lines. There’s always room for improvement (with the team). We’re going to keep trying for greatness.”
North visits Westerville South on Friday. Both teams are 2-0 in the OCC-Capital.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Central Ohio high school football: 5 things we learned in Week 5
