Westerville North
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Central Ohio High School Football Preview ’07 • August 22, 2007
24
Inexperienced Warriors have high hopes
By CORY STEGER
ThisWeek Staff Writer
Westerville North High School football
coach Chad Williams entered last season opti-
mistic that his team would make a run at return-
ing to the Division I playoffs for the first time
since 1999.
But the Warriors lost their first four games,
then watched as some key players got injured.
North eventually finished 3-7 overall and went
2-3 in the OCC-Buckeye Division to place
fourth.
The Warriors do not return many starters
but do have a lot of seniors and depth at the
skill positions, and again there is some opti-
mism.
“We felt like we did some good things last
year and we got some younger guys into the
game,” said Williams, whose team will open
Friday at Olentangy Liberty. “There are going
to be a lot of first-year starters out there, but
they’ve gotten better every day. They’ve been
working hard, and they’ve been positive. The
more we go along, the better I feel about where
this group is going to end up.”
North will move from a spread-option
offense to a more traditional split-back option.
The Warriors will attempt to replace Terry
Tyree at quarterback with whoever wins the
competition between seniors Adam Krieger,
Chris McCluney and Matt Workman.
Workman also plays receiver and defen-
sive back, and McCluney will start at free
safety for the second consecutive season.
Krieger started at quarterback in a scrimmage
at Newark on Aug. 12.
“I think (the new offense) works in our favor
and gives us more control of the game,” Krieger
said. “It’s a better offense for us because we
can control the clock and the ball.”
“Krieger has leadership and a good grasp
of the offense,” Williams said. “He played
some varsity last year and has taken a lot of
strides this year. Chris and Matt are battling
every day. It’s never a bad situation to have
three options at quarterback that you feel com-
fortable with.”
The rest of the offense will consists of some
combination of seniors Eric Sulsarz (OL/DL),
Matt Clegg (OL), Tony Nardone (OL), Jake
RAIDERS
Continued from page 23
doing. You get a better feel for what you
might see Friday night.”
Playing behind Cook at linebacker are
seniors D’Angelo Brundage, Eric Davis and
Dale Torbert and juniors Jeremy Cook, Bran-
don Collins, Rico Handy, Austin Kirby and
Huss Trowery.
Kimbler is a third-year starter at strong
safety and will be joined in the defensive
backfield by seniors Troy Webster and Chris
Elledge, who play cornerback. Either Gar-
rett Newsome or Jamie Killilea will start
alongside Kimbler at free safety with the
other one being a top reserve.
The other returning defensive backs are
seniors Tyler Dodley, Serrano Mitchell and
Webster, and juniors Justin Bostwick and
Bruce Williams.
“The secondary is a lot better this year,”
Kimbler said.
“We have hitters in the secondary. We have
corners making hits this year. We’ll have a
nice run support.”
At a glance
WESTERVILLE NORTH WARRIORS
Colors: Cardinal and gold
Coach: Chad Williams, fifth season
Key players: Shane Borowy, Matt Clegg, Nate Gua-
genti, Adam Krieger, Grant Lewis, Chris McCluney,
Jake Milnes, Tony Nardone, Joe Salvino, Eric Sulsarz,
Taj Taylor and Matt Workman
On the Web: wcsoh.org/north/index.html
2007 SCHEDULE
Aug. 24..............Olentangy Liberty................Away
Aug. 31..............New Albany.......................Home
Sept. 7...............DeSales.............................Away
Sept. 14 ............Pickerington Central ..........Home
Sept. 21 ............Central Crossing ...............Home
Sept. 28 ............Reynoldsburg .....................Away
Oct. 5 ................Grove City.........................Home
Oct. 12 ..............Upper Arlington...................Away
Oct. 19 ..............Hilliard Davidson ...............Home
Oct. 26 ..............Dublin Coffman ..................Away
2006 RESULTS
(3-7 overall, 2-3 OCC-Buckeye)
Hilliard Darby ..........................................L, 31-14
Westerville South ......................................L, 34-7
DeSales .................................................L, 53-19
Pickerington Central ................................L, 42-10
Central Crossing.......................................W, 20-0
Reynoldsburg .........................................W, 20-14
Grove City ..............................................W, 28-21
Upper Arlington .......................................L, 17-13
Hilliard Davidson .......................................L, 48-7
Dublin Coffman .........................................L, 21-3
By Lorrie Cecil/ThisWeek
BE THE ONE to
North’s Chris McCluney dives for extra yardage Aug. 11 against Newark. McCluney is in a
three-way battle for the starting quarterback job.
champion
life for patients in need.
Milnes (OL), Ryan Call (WR/DB), Isaac Pet- “I’d like to see our defense have some 1-800-GIVE-LIFE
BloodSavesLives.org
tiford (WR/DB), Lewis Childs (WR) and Tyler shutouts,” senior linebacker Grant Lewis said.
Rowland (WR), juniors Brandon Laws (RB), “We we’ve been working on a lot of run reads
. . . .
David Lomax (RB), Taj Taylor (WR), Zach and not over pursuing the ball. We just want Seven teams that made the playoffs last
Walker (OL), Simon Wallace (OL), Ryan to give our offense the ball to put points on year are on North’s schedule.
Sroufe (G), Mark Xander (C) and Kordell the board.” “We realize that there are no easy games
Smith (WR) and sophomores Andrew Ziegler Leading the defense will be Lewis, seniors on our schedule,” Williams said. “But the kids
(TE/LB) and Zach Yontz (OL/DL). Joe Salvino (LB), McCluney (FS), Shane know what the competition is. We’ve faced
“Last year, we threw the ball about 50 per- Borowy (DL), Workman (DB), Call (DB), this competition every year I’ve been here. I
cent of the time,” Williams said. “We’re going Justin Brewton (LB), Nate Guagenti (LB), believe good competition makes you better.
to mix in a more of a power offense this year. Brandon Oshodin (LB/DE) and Marcus Raney We’ll find out right away kind of players we
We’ll still throw the ball, just not as much.” (LB), junior Chizo Emeaghara (DB) and have.
The Warriors will use a 50 base defense, sophomore Drew Hall (LB). “We have to understand what kind of team
featuring five down linemen, two lineback- “The 50 base allows us to use a lot of vari- we are and we have to play our type of foot-
ers and four defensive backs. Williams likes ations out of it. We can use different fronts ball. We have to control the football offen-
the formation because it allows him to put his and have different looks,” Williams said. “We’ll sively and shut down the run defensively.
best defensive athletes on the field at the same bring some pressure so we need guys who That’s what we need to do to become a suc-
time. can get into the backfield.” cessful team this season.”
Good Luck
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