Week 8 preview: West Muskingum, Morgan aiming for control in Small School Division race
The divisional and playoff races are heating up as area football teams enter Week 8.
The biggest game on the slate features a de facto Muskingum Valley League Small School Division title game, as West Muskingum (6-1, 2-0) visits Morgan (4-3, 2-0). The winner takes sole possession of first place with two games remaining.
The Tornadoes are fighting for a home playoff game, sitting sixth in Division V, Region 19, while the Raiders are battling for a playoff spot in 17th in Division IV, Region 15. The top 16 teams qualify, and the top eight host first-round games.
Elsewhere in the MVL, Tri-Valley (5-2, 2-0) welcomes Philo (5-2, 1-1), John Glenn (6-1, 1-1) entertains River View (0-7, 0-3) and Maysville (2-5, 0-2) heads to Sheridan (7-0, 3-0) in Big School Division play, while Coshocton (1-6, 1-2) travels to Crooksville (3-4, 0-2) and Meadowbrook (4-3, 1-1) hosts New Lexington (3-4, 0-2) in Small School action.
Ridgewood (6-1, 2-0) visits Indian Valley (4-3, 1-1) in a key Inter-Valley Conference South Division tilt; Rosecrans (3-4) welcomes Grandview Heights (4-3) and Zanesville (1-6) heads to Granville (7-0) in Licking County League Buckeye Division play.
Entering this week, several teams are in playoff position. The Muskies are ninth and Scotties 11th in Division III, Region 11; Sheridan is first and Philo 10th in Region 15; Ridgewood is seventh in Division V, Region 17; and the Bishops are 10th in Division VII, Region 27.
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West Muskingum at Morgan
A first-place battle will ensue in McConnelsville, as the Raiders and Tornadoes are aiming to take control of the Small School Division.
Last season, West M fell to eventual division champion New Lexington in Week 4 and never got the help needed to forge a tie. Coach Nate Brownrigg has emphasized the importance of controlling their destiny, as the Tornadoes have not won a MVL title since 2005.
"Our No. 1 goal entering this season was to win the league. We talked about how last season, we had to rely on others, but we control what happens this season," Brownrigg said. "We've taken it a week at a time, and the playoffs are a bonus since we're focused on the division right now. Fortunately, we have a lot of players back who gained experience in meaningful games, and they understand the stakes."
From last week: Morgan football's ground-and-pound approach netted Nice results against New Lexington
Morgan coach Chase Bowman has his squad in the same situation. The Raiders last won the MVL in 2000, sharing the title with Sheridan.
"Our guys are aware of what's in front of us, and they've had good practices this week," Bowman said. "Winning the MVL was one of our goals, and we have three games left where we control our destiny. We need to continue to have a good week then be ready to go on game day."
Morgan's challenge will be limiting West M senior running back Rashid Sesay, who has scored an area-best 24 TDs. His quickness makes him elusive so being sound in alignment and tackling are crucial, remarked Bowman.
"He's a really good athlete so we can't misfit gaps or misalign. We've had trouble with those this season so it's important that we line up where we're supposed to be," Bowman said. "We also have to rally to the ball. He feels one guy isn't going to bring him down so we need to follow our Blue Swarm mentality. We need that team tackling.
"If he does hit a big play, we can't overreact. We have to be able to move on to the next play."
But, the Tornadoes offense has become more than Sesay's big plays. The offensive line has been critical to the team's success, and Brownrigg has been impressed with the improvement of quarterback Jake Anton.
"Our line is the engine that drives us. It starts with them," Brownrigg said. "Jake is preparing himself each day. He's focused on footwork and mechanics, and those are showing up on Friday nights. He continues to get better, and he's working to build on what he's already done."
The West M defense has taken the pressure off the offense. They allowed only 13 points to New Lex in Week 4 and have followed with three straight shutouts of Philo, Maysville and Crooksville.
A different challenge awaits in Morgan quarterback Logan Niceswanger, who had 268 yards and four TDs on the ground in last week's 35-28 win over New Lex.
The Tornadoes understand what they need to do against a powerful runner like Niceswanger.
"We have to play assignment football. We need to fill the gaps and rally to the ball," Brownrigg noted. "Our defense has played well, and it starts with the preparation of Coach (Pat) Reilly. We've had good, crisp practices, and good game plans. We've made the needed tweaks week to week, and our guys are executing the plan."
The Raiders have been carried by the hard-nosed running of Niceswanger. Bowman noted bringing back the Power I has aided his running, but he and his fellow seniors also know this is their final chance to obtain one of their goals.
"We moved the ball against Sheridan (in Week 4), but we struggled in the red zone. We knew we had to come up with other ways to run the ball," Bowman said. "We had success with the Power I with Wade Pauley and Carson Copeland last year. Logan, who played tight end as a sophomore, brings similar elements to it and ran well last week.
"There's also determination from him and his classmates since we're getting to the nitty gritty," he added. "No one cares about who is getting the stats whether it's Logan with 268 yards or Kole Searl with 15 catches. It's a team effort because they just want to win."
That mentality also shows how far Morgan has come in Bowman's tenure. He credited a good staff around him and the players' willingness to buy in to putting the Raiders in this position.
"The kids want to be good and have been willing to learn. It's been a process to get here, including making the most of the offseason in the weight room," Bowman said. "To be a successful coach, you need a good staff. My OC has head coaching experience, and my position coaches work well with their groups. We've showed our guys how to practice right and put them in good situations. They want that MVL title, and they'll get a chance to fight for it."
Sheridan recognizing Hall of Famers
Luke Brown, Anna Foster and the 1993 state runner-up volleyball squad will be inducted into the Sheridan Hall of Fame on Friday.
Brown is a two-time All-Ohio and District champion in cross country and holds the school record time of 15:24 in the sport. He was also a six-time MVL champion, five-time District champion and two-time All-Ohioan in track, including being state runner-up in the 3,200 in 2018. He also holds school records in the 1,600 (4:21) and 3,200 (9:15). He went on to be a four-time letterman for Eastern Michigan, where he part of three CC MAC title teams and two track MAC title squads.
Foster was the 2018 state champion in the 3,200 and still holds the Division II state meet record time of 10:34. She was the state runner-up in the 3,200 in 2017 and was a seven-time MVL champion and a two-time District and Regional champion in track. She was also a two-time MVL champion and All-Ohioan in cross country. Foster was a letter winner in CC and track and earned All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference honors at Clarion University.
The 1993 squad went 25-2 and claimed MVL, sectional, district and regional titles on the way to state. The Generals defeated Columbus Hartley 15-2, 15-11 in the regional final and beat Tallmadge 15-10, 15-12 in the state semifinal before falling to St. Ursula 15-5, 15-8 in the state final. Molly Ridenour White, Angie Knisley Sheridan, Dawn Axline Conrad, Shannon Green Coconis, Mel Wilson Walker, Beth Shively Mowrey, Erin Gruezke Powers, Cindy Harr Bogue, Ryan Green, Jodi Miller Beckstedt, Mandi Hupp Packer and Shevon Green Owens were members of the squad, which was coached by Sue Harrison.
This article originally appeared on Zanesville Times Recorder: Morgan football, West M clash for control of Small School Division
