Pickerington North

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Panthers using ’06 struggles as motivation
By JARROD ULREY
ThisWeek Staff Writer

On his team’s preseason media guide, one

of the things Pickerington High School North
football coach Tom Phillips lists as a strength
is “team unity.”
One thing that unifies the program’s 12
returning letterwinners, according to senior
quarterback Byron Johann, is their desire to
move ahead. In other words, the memories of
a dreadful season a year ago haven’t neces-
sarily been forgotten, but they’ve been put in
different perspective.
“We don’t really like to think about it,” said
Johann, whose team finished a program-worst
3-7 last season. “It’s in the back of our minds
and it motivates all of us, but it’s mostly the
players that it affects more than the coaches.
I think we’re really coming together as a team
and are really looking forward to this year.”
In particular, the offensive players should North’s Syr Jones
have reasons to be excited. After the Panthers breaks away from
went 7-3 in 2004 to miss the Division I play- the Dublin Coffman
defense during a
offs by two spots, they slipped to 4-6 in 2005
scrimmage Aug. 11.
before going through a seven-game losing The Panthers and
streak that began with a 24-12 loss to Watter- first-year coach Tom
son in the second game last season. Phillips open the
Tim Bahen, who led the program to a 20- season Friday as
20 mark in four seasons, resigned a month By Jon Malis/ThisWeek host to Groveport.
after the season and is now an assistant at being the only two-way regulars.
DeSales. Senior Chris Olney ended up the second-
The job of the new coaching staff, whose leading rusher with 54 carries for 295 yards
17 TV’s TO CATCH ALL THE SPORTS ACTION!
team will face Groveport for the first time Fri- and one touchdown, but he’s expected to see
day at home, will be to rework an offense that
averaged just 10.6 points last season.
most of his time at linebacker. Tyler Camp- TUESDAY IS
bell graduated after finishing with 111 rushes N’S
Phillips, who led Bexley to a 21-9 mark in PICKERINGTO WING NIGHT! PATIO
for a team-best 455 yards and 15 catches for H A PPY H O UR!
three seasons, including 8-2 last year, is joined BEST
on the coaching staff by Greg Frey and seven
184 yards.
3pm-7pm • M on -Fri NOW
Also expected to see action in the backfield he r WEDNESDAY IS OPEN!
others who were involved with the Lions’ pro- are senior fullback Syr Jones, sophomore full- Draft and Pitc
gram. Frey is a former Ohio State quarterback Specials! FAMILY PIZZA
back Gianni Lynch and junior tailback Chris
who served as Bexley’s offensive coordina- Garbedian, who transferred in from Teays Val- NIGHT!
tor, and the Lions passed for nearly 1,500 yards ley.
during each of the past three seasons. The Panthers graduated their top two
Johann (6-foot-2, 180 pounds) and junior 10501 Blacklick 256
receivers in Nick Aprile (18 catches for 220
Alex Bayer (6-4, 220) again will be key fac- yards) and Brett McEvoy (18 catches for 163 Eastern Rd
I-70
tors in how the team adjusts to a new spread yards, 1 touchdown). Pickerington,
and multiple I-formation offense after split- Mitchell also will play at wide receiver along Your New Favorite OH 43147 Blacklick Eastern Rd
cs 082207 B88245-3

ting time at quarterback last season. with junior Chris Johann (5-11, 165), with ★
Place To Wing It!
Johann started the first eight games and fin-
ished 57 of 132 passing for 737 yards with
(614) 367-2880 WingsNThings

See NORTH, page 40 Hours: Mon-Thurs 11am - 11pm • Fri & Sat 11am - Midnight • Sunday 11am - 10pm
two touchdowns and nine interceptions. Bayer
replaced Johann midway through North’s 14-

August 22, 2007 • Central Ohio High School Football Preview ’07
7 loss to Delaware and then led North to vic-
tories over Central Crossing (14-10) and
Thomas Worthington (14-0).
Bayer finished 16-for-36 passing for 160
yards with one touchdown and two intercep-
Good Luck
cs 082207 B77879-4

tions and proved to be mobile in the pocket,

finishing with nine rushes for 44 yards with
one score.
Pickerington North
But Phillips believes Bayer’s all-around
ability will be utilized better in a variety of
aspects as he should see time in the backfield GO PANTHERS! Good Luck K HOME MAINT.
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and at wide receiver and tight end in addition Panthers Appliance Repairs & More.
to being the No. 2 quarterback. No Job Too Small.
“We want the 11 best athletes on the field
offensively,” Phillips said. “With (Johann), I
Dave 614-732-9297
know he got bumped late last season but that
was their system. Right now Byron’s the guy
Go Panthers
we want there. Does that mean that Alex won’t Have a Great
play some at quarterback? No. We ran last
year (at Bexley) 60-40 over passing. We try Justin Schone Carla Peters our
Happy H sday
Season!
Realtor - ur
Th
to do in every game what the defense gives Realtor
Monday m
cs 082207 B74822-1

us.” 614-314-2025 614-313-7351 3-6 p

Seniors Pat Effinger (9 catches for 153 yards,
1 touchdown) and Xander Mitchell (8 catches 1282 Hill Road North
cns 082207 B86735-3

cs 082207 B74831-2

for 92 yards) were key receivers last year. But Pickerington

both players could see increased action as tail-
backs this season, and both appear to be excep- 614-751-6467 39
tions for another reason: They could end up