Eastmoor Academy
Visit ThisWeekNews.com for Live Friday Night Football Coverage
Warriors seek
return trip to
postseason
By SCOTT GERFEN
ThisWeek Contributor
If the Eastmoor Academy football
team makes a return trip to the play-
offs, it just might be doing it on the
back of last year’s Division IV dis-
trict Player of the Year.
Senior running back Isaiah Pead
(5-foot-11, 190 pounds) rushed for
more than 1,800 yards (10.1 yards
per carry) and had 23 touchdowns
and, according to coach Jim Miranda,
appears to be stronger and faster.
Along with that, Pead — who has
numerous Division I college schol-
arship offers — will be running behind
a veteran offensive line.
“The offensive line got a lot of
experience last year and we really
worked hard in the weight room
in the winter and spring,” Miranda
said.
“I think we’re a lot stronger than
we were last year. With the experi-
ence and the greater strength, I
think that’s only going to be a plus
for us.”
The Warriors finished 7-4 overall
after falling to New Lexington 42-14
in a regional quarterfinal and took
second in the City League-South Divi-
sion at 5-2 behind Marion-Franklin
(7-0) and ahead of South (4-3), Inde-
pendence (4-3), West (3-4), Walnut
Ridge (3-4), Africentric (2-5) and
Briggs (0-7).
Eastmoor will move up to Divi-
sion III this year.
“I don’t know that it will give us
an edge if we were to make the play-
Briggs
Stronger Bruins must believe they can achieve
By SCOTT GERFEN
ThisWeek Contributor
When Joe Coplan was hired last
year to take over the football program
at Briggs High School, he knew
change wouldn’t happen overnight.
Last season’s 0-10 record didn’t
help matters, but in the offseason
Coplan put in a new weight room and
watched more than 40 players show
up for winter workouts.
“When I came here, we had two
guys who could bench 200 pounds,”
Coplan said. “Now we have 26 guys
who can do it. I’m a little more old-
school when it comes to commitment.
Either you’re in or you’re out. There’s
nothing in between, and these guys
have bought into it.”
The Bruins finished 0-7 in the City
League-South Division behind Mar-
ion-Franklin (7-0), Eastmoor (5-2),
South (4-3), Independence (4-3), West
(3-4), Walnut Ridge (3-4) and Afri-
centric (2-5), but they have been suc-
At a glance
EASTMOOR ACADEMY WARRIORS
Colors: Red, white and blue
Coach: Jim Miranda, fifth season
Key players: Alex Coleman, Michael Darby,
Marcus Ervin, Malon Johnson, Isaiah Pead,
Victor Rodriguez, Devon Ross, Ryan
Wilborn, Vince Williams and Darryl Wood
On the Web: columbus.k12.oh.us/east-
moor/index.html
2007 SCHEDULE
Aug. 24 ........East......................Home
Aug. 31 ........Whitehall ................Away
Sept. 7.........Grandview...............Away
Sept. 14.......Briggs ...................Home
Sept. 21.......South .....................Away
Sept. 28.......Walnut Ridge .........Home By Paul Vernon/ThisWeek
Oct. 5...........Marion-Franklin .......Away
Oct. 12.........Independence .......Home The Warriors’ Carl Washington stretches for extra yardage Aug. 11 during a scrimmage against Mifflin.
Oct. 19.........West ......................Away
Oct. 26.........Africentric..............Home good nucleus of kids returning and “Terrence developed into a nice Juniors Devon Ross, Michael
2006 RESULTS we’re just going to have to build quarterback last year, but now it’s Darby and Rodriguez also will play
(7-4 overall, 5-2 City-South) around those kids.” Malon’s turn to take the reins so to linebacker, while Coleman and Pead
East .....................................W, 40-14
Westland ...............................L, 35-28
Fifteen letterwinners return with speak,” Miranda said. “He’s getting will see time at defensive back.
Grandview...............................W, 18-0 experience at the skill positions. the job done. He’s focused and he’s “A lot of those guys got a lot of
South .....................................W, 26-0 But the Warriors, because of eli- become more disciplined in terms of playing time last year and they have
Walnut Ridge.........................W, 32-14 gibility requirements, will be with- running the offense and getting the a lot of experience so they should
Marion-Franklin ......................L, 31-18
Independence........................L, 33-28 out last year’s quarterback, Terrence ball downfield.” make an impact,” Miranda said. “I
West ....................................W, 54-22 Drakeford, who threw for more than Junior Alex Coleman returns as like the kids’ progress so far.”
Briggs.....................................W, 57-7 900 yards and seven touchdowns, Eastmoor’s leading receiver after The Warriors secured a playoff
Africentric .............................W, 49-22
and a few others who weren’t able catching 25 passes for 339 yards and berth last season with victories in
PLAYOFFS
New Lexington .......................L, 42-14 to play. three touchdowns. their last three games against West
“I think there are a lot of people in Senior Vince Williams will line up (54-22), Briggs (57-7) and Africen-
BE THE ONE to the city of Columbus who want to at fullback, and the offensive line tric (49-22).
champion see what we can do now, especially includes juniors Darryl Wood (first- League losses came consecutively
life for patients in need. with some of our guys ruled ineligi- team all-district), Ryan Wilborn and to Marion-Franklin (31-18) and Inde-
1-800-GIVE-LIFE ble,” Pead said. “We lost a couple of Victor Rodriguez. pendence (33-28).
BloodSavesLives.org
receivers and lineman, but this team The defense also should be strong Eastmoor also made a Division III
is mature.” up front with senior lineman and out- playoff appearance in 2004, when it
offs,” said Miranda, whose team will Junior Malon Johnson takes over side linebacker Marcus Ervin (hon- earned a share of the league cham-
open Friday at home against East. at quarterback for the offense, which orable mention all-state, first-team pionship with Marion-Franklin at
“There are some competitive teams led the City League by averaging 35 all-district) along with Wood and 6-1 but lost 52-14 to Bellevue in a
in Division III, also. But we have a points per game. Wilborn. regional quarterfinal.
August 22, 2007 • Central Ohio High School Football Preview ’07
“The biggest challenge we face is they fail one, they’re ineligible.”
At a glance getting these kids to believe they can
win,” he said. “They don’t know how
Coplan has revamped the offense
from a wing-T to a pro-style scheme
BRIGGS BRUINS Oct. 5...........Walnut Ridge............Home to win. They have to believe they can that features the I formation and mis-
Colors: Purple and gold Oct. 12.........Marion-Franklin.........Home achieve.” direction with the return of sopho-
Coach: Joe Coplan, second season Oct. 19.........Africentric..................Away With such a young team last sea- more fullback Shawn Beasey, who
Key players: Shawn Beasey, Raymond Oct. 26.........West........................Home
Bridgeman, Eric Broersma, Cameron son, the Bruins return nearly every- rushed for nearly 700 yards last year.
2006 RESULTS
Dingess, John Flowers, Desmond Page, (0-10 overall, 0-7 City-South)
one on both offense and defense, Other key players include senior
Matt Rupe and Derick Showell St. Charles .................................L, 45-0 although they remain youthful with lineman Derick Showell (6-foot-6,
On the Web: columbus.k12.oh.us/brig- Whetstone..................................L, 14-3 underclassmen filling eight of the 200-pounds), Raymond Bridgeman
ghs/index.html East ...........................................L, 30-0 starting positions on defense. and Cameron Dingess, and senior
2007 SCHEDULE Independence.............................L, 48-0 Briggs lost a number of players wide receiver John Flowers.
Aug. 24 ........Whetstone.................Away South.......................................L, 40-12
Aug. 31 ........Franklin Heights .........Away Walnut Ridge ..............................L, 37-0
because of district academic require- The defense features sophomore
Sept. 7.........Hilliard Darby .............Away Marion-Franklin ...........................L, 44-6 ments. nose guard Eric Broersma (6-2, 230)
Sept. 14.......Eastmoor ..................Away Africentric...................................L, 35-8 With the exception of Eastmoor and junior linebacker Matt Rupe.
Sept. 21.......Independence ..........Home Eastmoor ...................................L, 57-7 and Africentric, which are academies, Showell and Bridgeman will play at
Sept. 28.......South........................Away West ..........................................L, 14-0 Columbus Public Schools have gone the other linebacker positions and
to an eight-period day and students Page, Beasey and Flowers will start
Be a champion for life — donate blood! must earn five credits in order to par- in the secondary.
1-800-GIVE-LIFE S www.BloodSavesLives.org ticipate in extracurricular activities. Briggs will have a number of two-
“I’ve got at least seven kids who way players, which concerns Coplan.
have a 2.6 GPA or better, but they’re “It’s tough because if you want to
cessful in the past with league cham- shut out five times. ineligible,” said Coplan, who spent talk to them about strategy you can’t
pionships in 1991, 1993 and 1995. A victory Friday over Whetstone nine seasons at West as defensive because they’re out there on the field.
Briggs lost its games by an aver- in the opener would do wonders for coordinator. “They only have an You can’t afford to give them a break;
age 26 points last season and was the program, Coplan said. opportunity to take six classes, so if we don’t have the personnel.”
59