Week 6 Preview: John Glenn welcomes Meadowbrook in battle of 4-1 squads
NEW CONCORD — Meadowbrook avoided a potential trap game against River View.
The Colts unloaded on the Black Bears at home to the tune of 63-0, cementing a solid 4-1 mark at the midpoint of the season.
It also showed head coach Steve Norman’s team was capable of focusing to the then-task at hand, and not the one currently facing Meadowbrook — its biggest challenge of the season.
“We came out and played well on both sides of the ball,” Norman noted. “We distributed the ball well offensively; multiple people got some touches and got into the end zone. Defensively, our big emphasis was tackling and pursuing, and I felt like we did a good job of that.”
A shutout never hurts either, especially for a team that came in surrendering 30 points per game. Equaling that feat this week, however, will be a much more difficult challenge.
Norman and company hit the road to face a John Glenn team coming off its first loss—a tough 14-0 loss to unbeaten Sheridan at Thornville.
It was a game that head coach Matt Edwards’ Little Muskies had opportunities to score but the Generals’ defense stiffened near the end zone.
“Our defense played well and gave us a chance to win the game, but offensively, we couldn’t find a way to get on the board,” Edwards said. “We had some chances and got deep into their territory, but we couldn’t punch one in. It was a lack of execution and some play calls that, looking back, I’d have done differently.”
The defense has been John Glenn’s calling card all season and still looking solid against Sheridan. But, if there were any noticeable blemishes in that defensive performance, they were found in the Muskies’ pass defense.
Caden Sheridan threw for 171 yards on 13 of 15 passing, including starting 12 of 12 in the first half. Most of Sheridan’s big plays came via rollouts or passes made while avoiding pressure.
Meadowbrook too possesses a quarterback capable of throwing on the move. And while Justice Huey doesn’t quite have the build as the Generals’ Sheridan, he’s put up some solid numbers during his sophomore campaign.
Huey averages 178.6 yards per game with eight TDs against four interceptions. His top target, Nick Norman, has 25 catches for 379 yards and three scores, backed by Landon Khune’s 143 yards and three TDs on 15 receptions.
The Colts can run the ball, and like many spread-style teams, incorporate some run-pass option looks into their packages.
Norman’s offensive staff will look to maximize the play calling and attack what’s being presented. They also know against a team like John Glenn, what’s being presented is going to be little to nothing exploitable.
“Sheridan had some success, but John Glenn’s defense is always stout,” Norman said. “They are tough against the run, big and physical up front, and their two backers inside are aggressive and outside, they are well disciplined.
“Our RPO may present a challenge to anyone that’s aggressive, but they do such a good job, even the safeties, of moving downhill when they read run and closing quick.”
While the schemes are different, formation-wise, there are some similarities in these two offenses.
John Glenn, too, will utilize some RPO looks with junior tailback Lincoln Gilcher and quarterback Noah Winland. The passing game is still a viable option, too.
The big key according to Edwards will be pushing the pigskin across the goal line.
“That’s the key, we have to put points on the board,” Edwards said. “When you go an entire game without scoring, it’s hard to forget about it and the only way to fix it is to make sure we put some on the board.
“We have to focus from the get-go and come out and establish our game plan and figure it out as we go.”
The game will be a good test of each team’s progression from a disappointing 2022 season. Last season, both were coming of postseason appearances. Meadowbrook won just once, finishing 1-9 while John Glenn faired slightly better, coming in at 3-7.
One of those wins came at Byesville in a 28-14 triumph that saw the visitors break free from a 14-all stalemate at halftime.
Bobcats' Defense Looking for Redemption
Cambridge’s offense, in particular the passing game, put up plenty of stats during last Saturday’s 64-39 loss to Bellaire.
But until the Bobcats can shut down the opposition’s run game, it’s going to be difficult for head coach Ray Leek and company to get a “1” in the ole win column.
Bellaire set program records for rushing yards in a game at Nelson Field and the next team up to face Cambridge also features a dynamic runner in East Liverpool quarterback Gavin Wright.
Wright leads the team in rushing at 70.4 yards per game (12.6 per carry) while backfield mate Jaymin Haney logs 65.8 and 5.9, respectively.
The Potters’ (3-2) are capable of putting up big numbers through the air as well, with Wright throwing for 173.8 yards per game, with 10 touchdowns against five picks.
Cambridge counters with an air-attack that’s seen first-year quarterback Garrett Carpenter put up ridiculous numbers, despite the team’s record. Carpenter averages 305.8 yards per game to go with nine touchdowns.
Leading receiver Devin Ogle has 40 catches in five games for 533 yards—an average of 106.6 yards per game.
Winless Teams to Tussle
Friday night in Old Washington, someone is coming away with that cherished first victory—unless there’s a tie.
Might this be the game that Buckeye Trail gets off the schneid and ends a string of near misses that has head coach Donnie Kerns’ team sporting an 0-4 mark?
The latest loss came against Claymont in a 26-19 nail-biter. Senior do-all Koen Eagon is putting up solid numbers in the rushing game and still stretching his legs on the perimeter via the pass.
Quarterback Braden Williams is starting to emerge from what was a crowded QB room to start the season. Williams is averaging nearly 85 yards passing per game with four TDs.
On paper, Trail has the advantage. Tuscarawas Central Catholic (0-5) is also 0-5, but has scored only 27 points in five games, including only once reaching double digits.
The Saints are coming off a rough 42-3 defeat at the hands of Ridgewood. Quarterback Dylan Dumerworth is a threat to run or pass and averages nearly 90 per game through the air. His top two receivers are Kenton Renicker and Coda Schumacher, with Renicker leading the way with 179 yards. The pair evenly split Dumerworth’s four touchdowns.
This article originally appeared on The Daily Jeffersonian: John Glenn's singy defense, faces test with high powered Meadowbrook offense
