Kirk big target, blocker for Watkins Memorial offense
PATASKALA — The Watkins Memorial football team’s offense has operated in an efficient manner in part because of a quick-hitting passing game engineered by Drew Samsal.
It, however, did not take long for senior receiver Andrew Kirk to learn even if the ball did not come right away from Samsal, it still might come eventually. The talented sophomore quarterback was at it again in last Saturday’s 32-14 victory at Brooke (W.Va.) when he escaped the pocket and lofted a 2-yard TD pass to Kirk.
“Every day in practice, we are preached to find grass,” Kirk said. “If he is out of the pocket scrambling, our goal is to find the grass, the open space to make the play. It’s pretty simple and straight.”
Samsal scrambled toward the right sideline as he was being chased by Brooke defenders. Samsal threw the ball he left his feet, and the 6-foot-3 Kirk pulled it away from two smaller defenders before they went tumbling to the turf in the end zone.
Kirk raised the ball in triumph as fellow receivers John Apel and Jaeden Ricketts joined him to celebrate. It gave the Warriors a 16-7 lead late in the third quarter.
“Drew is excellent at making those decisions. He has done it week after week,” Kirk said.
Samsal earned a little bit of spot duty in lopsided games as a freshman, but he was thrown into the fire from the get-go in August after 2022 starter Patrick Carney transferred to Pickerington Central during the offseason.
Samsal is just shy of 1,000 yards for the season, and he has a sparkling 9-to-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio. Brooke limited Watkins’ opportunities down the field, but Samsal handled a strong pass rush and avoided the big mistake, completing 16 of 29 for 89 yards.
“We have some talented kids that play our skill positions, and Drew’s done a good job,” Watkins coach Darren Waters said. “He continues to improve as we go through the season, but he knows he has people out there he can count on.”
The Warriors rode a balanced attack to a share of the Licking County League-Buckeye Division last season, and they have that same ability to keep opponents guessing as they prepare to host Licking Valley on Friday for Homecoming and the Buckeye opener.
Junior Gerald Banks, a transfer from Pickerington North, is nearing 500 yards, and he recorded his ninth rushing score of the season to give the Warriors the lead for good last Saturday. He is running behind an offensive line anchored by juniors Jimmy Bogle and Chris Flowers, but big-bodied receivers Kirk and Cody York also open holes on the perimeter.
“It’s a lot of communication,” Kirk said. “Jimmy Bogle, him and I are like bread and butter. We have to work together, and knowing the assignment comes down to what we do in practice every single day.”
After the offense scored twice in the third quarter, the defense celebrated in the fourth as senior Victor Oliver recovered a fumble in the end zone and junior John Apel returned an interception for a score. Junior Cooper Hunt and senior Lincoln Welch also intercepted passes, and junior Connor French recovered a fumble, accounting for the Warriors' five forced turnovers after halftime.
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This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Andrew Kirk big target, blocker for Watkins Memorial Warriors offense
