This Friday #1 seed Olentangy Liberty will take on #16 seed Lancaster at Patriot Stadium for round one of the Division One Region Three football playoffs.
OLENTANGY LIBERTY
The Patriots went 8-2 in the regular season, including a 4-1 record against division opponents, and a recent 50-22 victory over 8-2 Olentangy Orange. Liberty is currently #14 in the state of Ohio via MaxPreps.
Three key players to look for on the offense this week will be seniors Andrew Leonard, Christian Moulton, and Jake Struck. Leonard’s dual-threat ability to extend plays, make deep throws, and run when necessary is a big reason why business has been booming for this offense. Moulton is one of the best jump ball receivers in the state, and his track speed has helped him get open on many scoring opportunities. When the ball’s in Struck’s hands, it’s almost always going to be a good play. Whether it’s on the ground or through the air, Struck just finds a way to make magic happen. His elusiveness mixed with physical attributes has been a big part in scoring drives on this offense
The defense has also done its’ job. Three key players to look for on the defense this week include Antonio Kish, Charlie Donehue and Austin Stamp. Kish has been locking down backfields, not allowing deep plays to get behind him. His elite talent has assisted Liberty with shutting down offenses. Donehue’s swift moves on the defensive line allow him to get pressure on quarterbacks, causing negative plays for opposing offenses. Captain and star Senior linebacker Austin Stamp will also be a big factor in this one, as he has a way of guiding his defense and amping the squad up.
“[Being a leader] means you are willing to take responsibility for the team and do anything for your teammates,” Stamp said. “It means you have accepted a new expectation of being the example for others to follow.”
LANCASTER
The Golden Gales had a rough regular season, going 3-7 with a 0-6 conference record. They’re currently ranked #294 in Ohio via MaxPreps but are not to be slept on. This Lancaster team has a few stars that Liberty may need to watch out for.
Their biggest offensive threat is Sophomore running back Jahmier Gordon. Gordon has done a good job getting the offensive moving, even exclaiming some drives with touchdowns. He does a good job of bouncing to the outside but tends to sometimes struggle with following his blockers and letting the play develop. Gordon’s agility can help keep Lancaster in this ball game.
Defensively, Liberty will need to watch out for Sophomore Jackson Reynolds. Reynolds is the heart of this defense, a player that teammates can rely on.
“Jackson Reynolds, their [Lancaster’s] linebacker, is a beast,” a member of 270 Gridiron, a high school football coverage company, said.
Reynolds vision allows him to read plays and shut down the middle of the field. This could help Lancaster slow down the Patriots run game and help keep quarterback Leonard from taking off for big gains. Regardless, a defense can’t be a one-man job and with big receivers like Christian Moulton and Ben Godwin running on the outside it could be too much for the Golden Gales defense to handle.
OVERALL
Liberty’s the huge favorite in this one and should take the easy home win. It would take a miracle for Lancaster to even have a chance in this one.
