Week 2 football preview: Cambridge pays visit to neighboring John Glenn
NEW CONCORD — John Glenn turned the ball over three times in its season-opener against Circleville. While head coach Matt Edwards was none too thrilled, it failed to matter in the overall outcome.
The Little Muskies’ veteran defense was simply too much for the Tigers as JG came away with a dominant 28-0 road victory, outgaining Circleville 286-84.
Cambridge, meanwhile, tested the waters with a host of new starters after 2022’s memorable season. Facing a veteran Indian Creek team with a dynamic feature back and a massive offensive line, the Bobcats allowed 339 rushing yards in a 35-25 defeat.
Head coach Ray Leek is hoping to avoid a repeat this week.
John Glenn may not have Creek’s size up front, but the Muskies line is physical and experience and is blocking for its own playmaker in Lincoln Gilcher.
“He’s good, you have to respect him because they are going to want to run the ball,” Leek said of Gilcher. “Their passing game will feature a lot of screens, and they will use the spread to try and use the field, but when it comes down it, they want to establish the run.
Not that Muskies’ QB Noah Winland is a game manager. He was chosen to simply turn and hand off the ball. But given JG has a new starter behind center, the run game is paramount as the passing game, which also features a few new receivers, begins to jell.
Cambridge, too, is breaking in a new quarterback after three years of Caden Moore leading the offense. Sophomore Garrett Carpenter had a statistically impressive start to his varsity career, throwing for 277 yards and three TDs against two picks on 25-of-37 passing.
It wasn’t in a win, but the signs are encouraging for Leek and his staff.
“For a young kid in only his second year at QB and first varsity start, with the pressure we put on, he did much better as the game went on,” Leek said. “He completed 68 percent of his passes. There are some things to work but, but we’re excited for him. He’s a dual threat too as he can make some plays with his feet.”
This week will be no easier. Aside from a few key spots, the Muskies are a veteran team, especially on the defensive side of the ball as the first two levels returned in-tact from 2022.
John Glenn is also out to prove last season’s 3-7 record was an outlier, and not a new trend after making the postseason the previous five seasons.
“They have a lot back up front, four of the five (offensive) lineman, and the entire linebacking corps and defensive line return,” Leek said. “They have a lot of experience. This is a big team we’re playing, so first and foremost, we’re going to have to stop the run.”
Warriors face another dynamic QB
Buckeye Trail had trouble wrangling Caldwell’s Cale Bender on Friday at the Noble County Fairgrounds.
The CHS career leader in passing, bender fired for 311 yards and three touchdowns against the Warriors, leading to a 39-26 victory.
Now BT must face another team with an experienced line and dynamic quarterback as head coach Donnie Kerns and company return home to welcome Harrison Central.
Week 1 recap: Buckeye Trail drops high-scoring opener to Caldwell
The Huskies’ Hayden Cassidy is a three-year starter and threw for 253 yards and two TDs in an emotional win against Claymont as the community dealt with a loss of one of its students earlier in the week.
Harrison’s offense operates primarily out of the gun, but running back Mykel Quito gives Cassidy a talented backfield mate. Quito ran for 55 yards on only 13 carries and found the end zone twice. On the perimeter, Parker Hutton is the go-to, catching 10 passes for 156 and a TD to go with his kick return for six.
Trail counters with its own playmaker in Koen Eagon. Eagon ran for more than 100 yards vs. Caldwell and added a special teams TD of his won on a kick return.
Last season Trail fell 48-20 at Cadiz.
Solid start for Meadowbrook
One week into the regular season and Meadowbrook already equaled its win total from 2022. The Colts had to do so in come-from-behind fashion.
After leading early, host Maysville stormed back to take a 17-12 lead heading into the final quarter. But the visitors found the end zone and converted a successful two-point conversion to retake the lead, and the win, at 20-17.
The Colts hit the road again Friday, heading to Gnadenhutten to face an Indian Valley outfit coming off a 33-14 win against Division II Akron Ellet.
IV quarterback Sam Carter put up solid numbers vs. the Orangemen, throwing for 126 yards and three touchdowns on 11 of 16 passing.
Kolton Thomas caught seven of those balls for 48 yards and a touchdown and sophomore Grady Kinsey and Jaxon Burcher snagged the other two receiving touchdowns.
Kinsey enjoyed his sophomore debut has he also led the team on the ground with 66 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries.
This article originally appeared on The Daily Jeffersonian: John Glenn hosts Cambridge in Week 2 high school football action
