Marysville
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Gafford eager to get season started
By SCOTT HENNEN
ThisWeek Staff Writer
In 22 seasons coaching football, Jeff Gafford
is about to have a new experience.
In his first year as coach of the Marysville Key players: Aric Blythe, Tyler Flick, Jon Fridley,
High School football team, Gafford will have
the pick of the district to fill the roster of his Scranton and Jared Staats
team. He finds the prospect exciting and can’t
wait for the Monarchs to take the field Friday Aug. 24..............Marion Harding .................Home
at home against Marion Harding.
“Every school has things that are special
about it,” said Gafford, who took over last
February after Rich Weiskircher stepped down
after 19 seasons. “When I coached at Franklin
Heights they were part of a township, and at
(Worthington) Kilbourne there were two schools
in the district. Marysville is a one-school town
and the people love their football. That’s really
exciting and I think it will really be electric
here on Friday nights.”
Gafford went 142-93 with eight playoff
appearances at Franklin Heights and Kilbourne.
He retired after the 2005 season with a 98-67
record in 15 seasons with the Wolves.
The Monarchs were 6-4 overall last year and
4-1 in the OCC-Central Division, second to
Westerville Central (5-0) after falling to the
Warhawks 14-7 in the final game.
“We lost several kids to graduation, but kids
are supposed to graduate and we have to put
people in there and do a good job,” Gafford
said. “We have 19 kids in the senior class and
I’ve been impressed with their effort and they’ve
done everything we’ve asked of them. We’re
putting in a triple-option (offense) after they they are all working to learn.”
had been running a wing-T, so it’s something
Westerville Central
Warhawks seeking
another successful year
By FRANK DiRENNA
ThisWeek Contributor
Westerville Central High School football
coach Bob Fresch has reason to be optimistic
entering Friday’s opener at Dublin Jerome.
Despite losing several key players to grad-
uation, Central returns several key players from
a team that earned the program’s first OCC
title last season. The Warhawks finished 5-0
in the OCC-Central Division, one game ahead
of runner-up Marysville. They were 6-4 over-
all.
“It’s a new year, a new season, nothing is
proven,” Fresch said. “They have to go ahead
and work hard and earn their keep this year.”
Senior quarterback Keegan Varner (6-foot,
190 pounds), who earned his first varsity start
at quarterback in a 14-7 win over Marysville
last year, returns. His 57-yard touchdown pass
to graduate Reid Preisser with 1 minute, 17
seconds remaining lifted the Warhawks past
Marysville.
Senior Ryan Smith (5-10, 207) led the team
in rushing last season with 703 yards on 150
carries for a 4.7 average. He scored eight touch-
downs. Smith was first-team all-OCC.
Other contributors in the backfield should
be seniors Onesiaum Glass (TB, 5-10, 207)
and Jerome Ray (FB, 5-7, 218) and sopho-
more Taqwaun Council (TB, 5-11, 202).
Senior Ja’Quan Lawson (5-10, 155) is the
See WARHAWKS, page 38
At a glance
MARYSVILLE MONARCHS
Colors: Red and blue
Coach: Jeff Gafford, first season
Stephen Griffith, Levi Keeran, Pat Lynch, Aramis
On the Web: marysville.k12.oh.us
2007 SCHEDULE
Aug. 31..............Dublin Scioto......................Away
Sept. 7...............Bellefontaine ....................Home
Sept. 14 ............Groveport .........................Home
Sept. 21 ............Olentangy...........................Away
Sept. 28 ............Pickerington North ..............Away
Oct. 5 ................Central Crossing ...............Home
Oct. 12 ..............Thomas Worthington...........Away
Oct. 19 ..............Delaware............................Away
Oct. 26 ..............Westerville Central ............Home
2006 RESULTS
(6-4 overall, 4-1 OCC-Central)
Marion Harding .......................................L, 17-14
Dublin Scioto ..........................................L, 34-30 By Adam Cairns/ThisWeek
Bellefontaine..........................................W, 28-20
Groveport...............................................W, 21-20 Marysville’s Aramis Scranton intercepts a pass intended for Beechcroft’s Darrian Cordell
Olentangy .................................................L, 34-9 on Aug. 11. The Monarchs open the season by playing host Friday to Marion Harding.
Pickerington North ....................................W, 26-7
Central Crossing.......................................W, 35-7
Thomas Worthington.................................W, 35-7 offensive line with junior center Neal Seymour The backfield is still in question with junior
Delaware................................................W, 37-20 in the middle and a rotation of guards and tack- Paul Devine and sophomore Luke Fleming
Westerville Central ....................................L, 14-7 les. At guard will be juniors Kevin Bennett and vying for the quarterback spot and senior Wyatt
Seth Blankenship as well as sophomores Scott Rauch and junior Brent Couchman at fullback.
BE THE ONE to Arnold and Andre Philopot. Tackles will include The slotbacks will include senior Tyler Flick,
champion senior Tyler Knapp, juniors Mitch Hammond juniors Jon Fridley and Zach Tangeman and
life for patients in need. and Brian Mullaney and sophomore Nathan sophomore Brandon Brake.
1-800-GIVE-LIFE Weeks. Flick and senior Jared Staats will play at
BloodSavesLives.org “We have at least three guards and three tight end and sophomore Justin Brogran will
tackles and a couple of centers who we feel line up at wide receiver.
can play,” Gafford said. “That way we are able Defensive coordinators Brent Johnson and
to keep our linemen fresh and keep them from
Marysville expects to have depth on the wearing down, especially early in the season.” See MARYSVILLE, page 40
At a glance
WESTERVILLE CENTRAL WARHAWKS
Colors: Silver and black
GO COMETS!
Coach: Bob Fresch, fifth season
August 22, 2007 • Central Ohio High School Football Preview ’07
Key players: Ben Buchanan, Tyler Cochran, Bret Dixon,
Onesiaum Glass, Ja’Quan Lawson, Doug McNabb,
Jerome Ray, Jake Shepherd, Ryan Smith and Kee-
gan Varner
On the Web: westerville.k12.oh.us
2007 SCHEDULE
Aug. 24..............Dublin Jerome ....................Away
Aug. 31..............Westerville South ..............Home
Sept. 7...............Dublin Coffman ..................Away
Sept. 14 ............Olentangy Liberty ..............Home
Sept. 21 ............Big Walnut ........................Home
Sept. 28 ............Delaware............................Away
Oct. 5 ................Pickerington North.............Home
Oct. 12 ..............Central Crossing.................Away
Oct. 19 ..............Thomas Worthington .........Home
Oct. 26 ..............Marysville ..........................Away
2006 RESULTS
(6-4 overall, 5-0 OCC-Central)
Dublin Jerome ..........................................W, 10-0
New Albany .................................................L, 7-0
Jonathan Alder ........................................L, 35-15
From Your Fans at
Olentangy Liberty ....................................L, 33-27
Big Walnut ..................................................L, 7-6
Delaware..................................................W, 17-7
Real Living/HER
Pickerington North ......................................W, 7-0
Central Crossing.......................................W, 20-7
Thomas Worthington...............................W, 14-13
4183 Parkway Centre Dr.
Marysville ................................................W, 14-7
BE THE ONE to
Grove City
champion 614-875-7400
lc 082307 B86739-1
life for patients in need.
1-800-GIVE-LIFE
BloodSavesLives.org 37