Sense of urgency kicking in for Licking Heights seniors
PATASKALA — As the Licking Heights football players watched senior leader D’Angelo Goodrich walk to the locker room for likely the last time, it was a cold slap of reality.
The Hornets played the final quarter and a half last Friday with a sense of urgency, realizing time is running short. The Hornets fell short, losing 30-20 to rival Watkins Memorial in the Battle for Broad Street, but they hope to now make the most of the final two weeks of the regular season.
“That was a rallying cry at halftime,” Heights coach Austin Drewyor said. “D.A. has been the ideal kid for us. The maturity, the leadership, I told him before he went to the hospital I loved him, and I really meant it. He is such a good kid. I have worked with him in school and seen his growth. It’s really heartbreaking when a kid of that caliber has an injury.”
Heights’ task gets no easier as Harvest Prep (6-1) visits for the Hornets’ home finale. The Warriors are considered a state title contender in Division V.
The Hornets (2-6) will be playing for Goodrich and fellow senior Chris Harvey, who were injured against Watkins. Goodrich, a standout safety, whose season highlight was an interception return for a touchdown, particularly appeared to be done for the season.
“D’Angelo Goodrich, he would have never thought that was his last play,” senior Reggie Crawford said. “I was just telling (my teammates) to play with your heart out. If you don’t play for anything else, play for the seniors. Play for D.A. Play for Chris Harvey. You never know when it might be your last play.”
Goodrich’s loss meant the Heights coaching staff had to scramble to fill his spot in the secondary. Senior Jonah Johnson, who started his career as a soccer player moonlighting as a kicker, has developed into a defensive contributor while continuing to be a reliable scorer on special teams.
Heights’ other adjustment was moving Crawford. He earlier this season moved off the line from defensive end to linebacker, and he was running sideline to sideline from the secondary to make tackles against Watkins.
“You have to give it everything you have for four to five seconds,” Crawford said. "It’s finally sinking in this was my last time playing Watkins or might be my last time playing football for the last two games.“
An inexperienced offensive line got even younger when Harvey was lost against Watkins. The sophomore trio of Dalton Pond, Matthew Schmitz and Fred Saunders joined senior Ethan Whitt and junior Alijah Ferguson.
Heights has traditionally thrived running behind a big line. The young Hornets have the prototypical size, but they have experienced growing pains when battling aggressive fronts, including Granville and Watkins of late.
“It’s hurt the chemistry maybe a smidge, but those guys are getting better by leaps and bounds,” Drewyor said. “If you could clone them and line them up against their Week 1 selves, it would be a big disparity. You’re young, and your head’s spinning a bit the first time playing varsity. Things are starting to slow down. They are getting better with their communication, more on the same page and less stressed about each play.”
Heights twice put the ball into junior Jake Lopinto’s hands in space against Watkins, and he delivered with a pair of scores on 17-yard and 80-yard passes. Whitt later had a tackle for loss to stall a Watkins drive before senior Michael Landry’s 19-yard TD pass to junior Josiah Ayers pulled the Hornets closer in the final minutes.
The remaining schedule appears daunting with Harvest Prep visiting Friday and a trip to Licking Valley awaiting on Oct. 20. It, however, offers the Hornets another opportunity as a victory would vault them into Division II playoff contention.
“I feed off playing good teams, teams we aren’t supposed to beat,” Crawford said. “I want to pass that on to my teammates. Cherish it. If you win a game, you aren’t supposed to win, it’s going to feel a lot better than beating a team, you are supposed to beat.”
740-973-4541
This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Sense of urgency kicking in for Licking Heights football seniors
