No passing fancy: NC, Granville put first 7-on-7 scrimmage to good use
GRANVILLE ― While Newark Catholic is getting used to a new coach, coaching staff and terminology this year, Granville will be breaking in a new starting quarterback.
Junior Beckett Long was on a school trip in Japan and unable to play in Tuesday's 7-on-7 at Walter J. Hodges Stadium, but a couple of things stood out in the first passing scrimmage for both teams.
The Blue Aces showed that they will still have plenty of weapons in 2023, and the Green Wave is proving to be quick learners as it bids for a fourth consecutive state semifinal berth, although this year it will be in Division VI.
"We have a new offense, and defense, and it's new verbage, but we're embracing it, and doing it as a team," NC senior wideout Owen Helms said. "The coaches are learning the players, and we're playing to our strengths."
New head coach Josh Hendershot, who played and has been an assistant for the Green Wave, has assembled on all-NC staff and said he has very smart players who have picked things up quickly over the past couple of weeks.
"We did a nice job of competing, and we communicated," he told his team after the scrimmage.
"I'm super proud of everyone," junior quarterback Miller Hutchison said. "We've got our nose in the playbook and are getting it down."
Hutchison threw a long touchdown pass to classmate Joey Couzins, who made big catches all over the field and could be an emerging star. Helms and junior Theo Talbott also had stellar moments, while Talbott, junior Mikey Hess and sophomore Henry Hitchens came up with interceptions.
"I thought our defense played especially well," Hutchison said.
Couzins was a junior varsity player last season.
"He has put the work in and stepped things up," Helms said. "We have a lot of holes to fill from last year, and we're going to need our younger guys to fill those holes."
Hutchison was thrown into the fire last year as a sophomore, and that experience will serve him well.
"He knows his receivers need to be open, and he has good timing with them," said Hendershot, whose team also has 7-on-7s with Licking Valley and West Jefferson.
Meanwhile, Granville is short on seniors but long on athleticism and youth.
On Tuesday, freshman Jackson McMillan filled in admirably for Long at quarterback, throwing touchdown strikes to junior Jack Yeager and sophomores Jakob Culver and Kyle Kirby. Sophomore Ryan Gossman had an interception, and senior Dante Varrasso is back as one of the Licking County League's best receivers, making a couple of leaping, highlight-reel catches.
"We were a little rusty, but that is to be expected," Varrasso said. "We've played with each other the whole time, and our young guys competed. I think we're going to surprise everyone."
Kirby and Culver played extensively as freshmen, with the sturdily-built Kirby looking and performing like an upperclassman. He will be an H-back and tailback on offense and should be a standout linebacker on defense.
"I've put on 15 or 20 pounds while keeping my speed," said the 6-foot-1, 205-pound Kirby. "I've been at camps and have worked on my footwork. Jackson (McMillan) was flinging it today. He did really well, for only having a few days work (with the starters). We just have some little things that we need to shore up."
Varrasso said he expects Long, who will return in time for Saturday's 7-on-7 against multiple teams at DeSales, to step right in and be a force calling signals.
"I've been throwing with him all summer," Varrasso said. "He's physical, and he has good power and accuracy."
Coach Wes Schroeder said his team is embracing an underdog role in 2023.
"Although we have more back this year than we did last year, I don't think anyone outside this locker room expects a whole lot from us," he said.
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This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: No passing fancy: NC, Granville put first 7-on-7 scrimmage to good use
