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M I D- ST A T E L E A G U E- CA R D I N A L
Overview

Roughriders try to remain atop league

By BRITTON DOVE ning of the year and say we want to munity the success that they deserve.”
ThisWeek Contributor be 10-0 or we want to win the league The Rockets run a wing-T offen-
title or be state champions,” he said. sive set with three members of the
Inside the division
The defending champion appears “We focus on the here and now.” backfield returning — senior half- 2006 STANDINGS
Team League Overall
to be this year’s favorite in the race back Zach Hutchins (6-foot, 195 West Jefferson 7-0 12-1
for the MSL-Cardinal Division BERNE UNION pounds), senior fullback T-Jay Queen Fisher Catholic 6-1 10-2
championship in football. With one scrimmage past, Berne (5-9, 200) and junior halfback Colton Liberty Union 5-2 7-3
West Jefferson High School went Union coach Gary Cox was waiting Speelman (5-9, 180). Licking Heights 4-3 5-5
Berne Union 2-5 4-6
7-0 against league opponents and for everything to fall into place. Senior guards James Angles (5- Grandview 2-5 2-8
finished 12-1 overall after losing to With seven starters returning on 9, 185) and Chris Parrish (5-7, 190) Millersport 1-6 3-7
Amanda-Clearcreek 21-14 in a Divi- offense and eight on defense and 17 return on the offensive line with Harvest Prep 1-6 1-9
sion IV regional final. From that seniors on a 56-player roster, the senior Chris Holloway (6-2, 180) 2007 SCHEDULE
Sept. 14
team, 20 letterwinners are back. fourth-year coach wants to find the back at wide receiver. Berne Union at Licking Heights
The Roughriders finished ahead appropriate slots to help his Rock- Ronnie Edwards (6-5, 200) started Grandview Heights at Harvest Prep
of Fisher Catholic at 6-1, Liberty ets reach the top of the MSL-Car- at quarterback last season, but might Liberty Union at West Jefferson
Sept. 15
Union at 5-2, Licking Heights at 4- dinal. move to wide receiver to make way Millersport at Fisher Catholic
3, Berne Union and Grandview at “We have a senior class that is for junior Nick Adams (5-8, 165). Sept. 21
2-5 and Millersport and Harvest Prep really unselfish and they really don’t “One of them will be the quar- West Jefferson at Berne Union
Liberty Union at Grandview Heights
1-6. care who gets the credit as long as terback and the other will play wide Harvest Prep at Millersport
For sixth-year West Jefferson it’s for the good of the team,” said receiver and also play (cornerback) Sept. 22
coach Shawn Buescher, the goals Cox, whose team was 4-6 overall for us,” Cox said. “Ronnie is a big Licking Heights at Fisher Catholic
are the same every season — to get last season and will open Friday at guy at 6-5 and his release and his Sept. 28
Fisher Catholic at Berne Union
better. Glouster Trimble. “They want to go Grandview Heights at West Jefferson
“We do not sit down at the begin- out and give the school and the com- See MSL-CARDINAL, page 74
Licking Heights at Harvest Prep
Millersport at Liberty Union
Oct. 5
Berne Union at Harvest Prep
Grandview Heights at Millersport
Liberty Union at Licking Heights
Oct. 6
West Jefferson at Fisher Catholic
Oct. 12
Liberty Union at Berne Union
Licking Heights at Grandview Heights
Millersport at West Jefferson
Oct. 13
Harvest Prep at Fisher Catholic
Oct. 19
Grandview Heights at Berne Union
Fisher Catholic at Liberty Union
Millersport at Licking Heights
Oct. 20
West Jefferson at Harvest Prep
Oct. 26
Berne Union at Millersport
Grandview Heights at Fisher Catholic
Harvest Prep at Liberty Union
Licking Heights at West Jefferson

Grandview Heights
Peters sets bar
high in first year

as Bobcats coach
By DON DELCO
ThisWeek Staff Writer
Mercifully, the Grandview Heights
High School football team ended its
morning session Aug. 13. For the last
15 minutes of practice, the team under-
went conditioning drills on the field
north of the Bobcat Stadium.
As the team slinked its way toward
the locker room for a midday break,
Central Ohio High School Football Preview ’07 • August 22, 2007
. . . .
ished 22-19 overall, and in 2005 he
led the Bobcats to their first appear-
ance in the postseason since 1987 and
first league title since 1979.
Peters has no desire to draw moti-
vation from last season’s struggles. By Karen Carter/ThisWeek
“We’re moving on,” he said. “We
started with this season and we’re Jason Peters begins his first season as head coach of Grandview, which opens Friday at home against Utica.
going forward.”
is at center.”
Peters is in his first role as a head
coach after 12 years as an assistant At a glance Juniors Casey Rouch and Russ
Cheney are battling for time at tight

there was no mistaking the first-year
coach. Jason Peters, a Hilliard grad-
uate and former three-year starter on
the offensive line at Bowling Green,
was the largest presence among the
40-player team. In keeping with his
large presence, so, too are his expec-
tations for the Bobcats.
“Being mediocre is not acceptable,”
said Peters, whose team opens Friday
at home against Utica. “Playing hard
is not an expectation but a demand. If
you’re not going to play hard, you’re
not going to play for us.”
Grandview finished 2-8 last season
and fifth in the MSL-Cardinal Divi-
sion at 2-5, beating Millersport 14-0
and earning another victory after Har-
vest Prep had to forfeit its first five
games for using an ineligible player.
“We don’t want to go through what
we went through last year,” senior
wide receiver and defensive back Jack
Minnillo said. “It was embarrassing
for us and the whole school.”
Grandview was in search of a coach
after Scott Gordon ended his four-year
tenure last March to accept a position
70 at Thomas Worthington. Gordon fin-
that included stints at Bexley, Fosto-
ria, Ready and West Jefferson. Since
2004, Peters was the offensive coor-
dinator and offensive line coach at
Hilliard Darby.
“I’ve waited my whole life for this,”
Peters said. “I wanted to go some-
where where athletics mattered, where
Friday night is the only show in town,
and this is what we’re doing. That’s
why I’m here.”
So far, Peters experienced a smooth
transition and has established how he
wants his team to conduct themselves
on the field.
“We’re getting after people,” Peters
said. “We’re going to be aggressive
and put a lot of pressure on teams to
adjust to what we’re doing.”
Senior running back and linebacker
Sam Mehling has taken to Peters’
requests. “We have to push ourselves
ever play,” Mehling said. “We expect
to win each game, not give up and go
down fighting.”
Mehling led Grandview with 138
tackles last season. Peters brings a dif-
ferent philosophy on defense as the
Bobcats will play a 4-6 style.
GRANDVIEW HEIGHTS
Colors: Navy and white
Coach: Jason Peters, first season
Key players: Zach Jump, Fred Lane, Sam
Mehling, Jack Minnillo and Casey Rouch
On the Web: www.ghfootball.com
2007 SCHEDULE
Aug. 24 ........Utica .......................Home
Aug. 31 ........East Knox..................Away
Sept. 7 .....Eastmoor Academy.......Home
Sept. 14.......Harvest Prep .............Away
Sept. 21.......Liberty Union............Home
Sept. 28.......West Jefferson...........Away
Oct. 5...........Millersport.................Away
Oct. 12.........Licking Heights.........Home
Be a champion for life — donate blood!
1-800-GIVE-LIFE S www.BloodSavesLives.org
“It’s similar to what Buddy Ryan
ran with the (Chicago Bears),” Peters
said. “You’ll see nine to 10 guys in
the box. We’re bringing blitzes, twists
and stunts. We’re not going to sit still.”
Joining Mehling at linebacker are
juniors Shawn Rine and Casey Rouch
and sophomore Clay Teach. In the sec-
ondary, Minnillo is at free safety and
senior Jarrad Tittel is at one corner
with his counterpart still unknown.
Oct. 19.........Berne Union ..............Away
Oct. 26.........Fisher Catholic .........Home
2006 SCHEDULE
(2-8 overall, 2-5 MSL-Cardinal)
New Albany...............................L, 56-21
Madison Plains.........................L, 36-11
Eastmoor Academy .....................L, 18-0
Fisher Catholic............................L, 40-7
*Harvest Prep..............................W, 1-0
Liberty Union ............................L, 21-16
West Jefferson..........................L, 39-14
Millersport.................................W, 14-0
Licking Heights ............................L 20-7
Berne Union ...............................L, 27-7
*Harvest Prep forfeited
With 40 players total, Peters has
numerous two-way players and
nowhere is that more evident than on
the defensive and offensive lines.
“Right now, six guys are really step-
ping up,” Peters said. “They’re com-
ing together. Three guys are working
in at the tackle spots in Shawn Rine,
Zach Taylor and freshman Dan Sat-
terthwaite. At guard, it’s Blake West
and Erza Ruiz and Brendon Ballard
end. Senior Fred Lane returns at quar-
terback after throwing for 1,079 yards
last season and senior Zach Jump is
back at running back. Jump led the
team with 508 yards rushing.
Also expected to see time on offense
are junior Garrison Graves, Mehling
and Teach at running back and Tittel
at wing back. David Ellis returns at
place kicker while punting is between
Jump or Rouch.
“You’ll see lots of formations on
offense,” Peters said. “We’ll have lots
of motion, a little bit of option, a lit-
tle bit of the power game and we’re
going to throw the ball a little bit.
“But I’m old school, I’m an old
offensive lineman so we’re going to
run the ball first.”
Based off the enthusiasm and opti-
mism, Peters expects improve on the
two-win season.
“We’re not hoping just to hang on
and make it close,” he said. “We’re
going to get after it offensively, get
after it defensively and our special
teams are solid. We’re going to play
smart, aggressive football.”