GROVE CITY

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Continued from page 21
Usner (6-foot-3, 250 pounds) and Beatty (6-2,
240) were first-team all-OCC as sophomores at
Central Crossing. Last season, the duo were co-
captains and Usner was first-team all-OCC and
Beatty was second-team all-OCC.
Grove City still is playing its 50 scheme but
with some wrinkles.
“We’re expanding it,” McIntire said. “It’s
going to be less vanilla.”
With the addition of Usner and Beatty, Brock
Snyder was able to move back to linebacker
joining senior John Kratz (6-2, 215). In the sec-
ondary, seniors T.J. Bock (5-10, 160), Alex Fra-
ley (6-0, 160), Ryan Kitchen (5-11, 155) and
Joel Laborce (5-8, 165) will see time at corner-
back, senior Justin Laborce (5-9, 160) is at free
safety and junior Keith Moore (6-1, 190) is at
strong safety.
“Our defense is a lot better this year,” quar-
terback Elijah Smurthwaite said. “We’re a lot
more excited this season and having a lot more
fun than last year.”
Smurthwaite (6-2, 180) returns for his third
season as a starter.
“Obviously, the extra year of experience helps
out a ton,” McIntire said. “He’s a little taller and
stronger. Last year, consistency was an issue
with Elijah and hopefully we’ll see that develop
as the season develops.”
Smurthwaite’s weapons on offense includ-
ing wingbacks Joel Laborce and Moore. Half-
back Ray Walker (5-9, 160) returns to the team
after suffering a season-ending knee injury last
season. At receiver, seniors Robbie Grooms (6-
2, 180), junior Kory Martin (5-10, 165) and Senior right tackle Gar Chappelear (6-3, 260)
sophomore Jordan Sturgell (6-2, 170) all pos- returns as the only lineman with starting expe-
sess big-play capabilities, according to McIn- rience. He played in two games last season.
tire. Beatty and Kratz will share time at tight Senior left tackle John Bayless (6-2, 230),
end. senior left guard Gaige Lane (5-10, 220), sopho-
Grove City graduated 27 players from last more center Patrick Jarvis (6-1, 220) and senior
year’s team and nowhere is that more evident right guard Derek Holt (5-11, 255) complete
than on the offensive line. the line. Joel Laborce is expected to see a major-
“We lost everyone and that’s our big project ity of the carries, and he is confident the offen-
right now,” McIntire said. “In our first scrim- sive line will jell.
mage (Aug. 11 against Thomas Worthington) “Everything depends on them,” Laborce said.
were were inconsistent. When we blocked well, “If we don’t get them going, our team doesn’t
we ran well, and when we were able to pass pro- get going. Last year, I had all those seniors, but
tect we completed long passes. When we had I’ve been playing with these guys my whole life.
breakdowns, we obviously struggled. I just have to get used to these guys again.”
“We did score five touchdowns so you can’t On special teams, senior Jeremy Latella earned
complain too much about that. But we have to punting duties and senior Aaron Vogel is kick-
improve our consistency.” ing field goals and extra points.

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