By Josh Morgret
On Twitter: @joshuamorgret
On Instagram: @joshuamorgret
Week 1 of the high school football season has come and gone.
The anticipation of the opening kickoff, the band hitting the first note, the first touchdown, and the first Hail Mary pass for a score was last Friday.
At times, the season flies by and at times, it drags on. But before we know it, it will be over and gone.
Week 2 kicks off soon, but here is a look and some thoughts on some of the local teams.
Football
Tiffin Columbian – The Tornadoes got off to a rocky start with a tough loss to Fremont Ross last week. There's no hiding the talent that the Little Giants have across the board, starting and ending with quarterback Kaden Holmes. I think the thing that surprised me most from what I've read is Columbian being scoreless in the first half. The Tornadoes trailed 22-0 before scoring more than three minutes into the third quarter. Brayden Roggow completed 18-of-30 passes for 210 yards, but also threw a pair of interceptions. It's not like Columbian lost to the little sisters of the poor here. Ross is a division bigger and very well could be 5-0 when they host Findlay in Week 6. The Tornadoes bounce back with a road game at (Holland) Springfield – also a Division II school. Springfield was thumped by Sandusky, 40-21.
Tiffin Calvert – I was at Frost-Kalnow Stadium last Thursday when the Senecas picked up a convincing 26-9 win over Mohawk. Calvert was also scoreless into the third quarter, but the difference here was the Senecas exploded for four touchdowns over the final 18 minutes of the game. Running backs Jacob Rombach (18 rushes, 126 yards, 2 TD) and Cal Warnement (10 carries, 32 yards, TD) are a formidable 1-2 punch and when you throw in a nice passing game with Harry Schultz at quarterback, Calvert sure seems set to score points and run up the wins. The Senecas battle Monroeville this week – an Eagles team that scored just a touchdown in a 21-7 loss at Lakota last week.
Carey – The reigning, defending, undisputed Division VI state champions (OK, that's enough Paul Heyman). The Blue Devils always have a target on their back, but when you bring the big, shiny trophy back home after a football game in December? Carey was unfazed. Facing the only team to beat them last year, the Blue Devils topped Hopewell-Loudon, 37-8. I keep hearing and reading about the big second half Carey had, but can we just limit to the fourth quarter? The Blue Devils led just 9-8 going into the final 12 minutes, but scored twice in about 16 seconds early in the quarter and less than 90 seconds later to burst the game wide open. The Blue Devils threw just four passes, but ran the ball 49 times for 252 yards. That will wear about 95% of teams down. Carey hosts Galion this week and travels to Toledo Waite next week before opening Northern 10 Athletic Conference action.
Hopewell-Loudon – You just read a little bit about what happened with the Chieftains. They led 8-0 early in the second quarter and even led 8-3 at halftime. But, the rush Carey had early in the fourth quarter was way more than H-L could overcome. Evan Kreais struggled against the tough Carey defense that was a main reason for a state championship last season. Kreais completed just 9-of-20 passes for 116 yards and two interceptions. The Chieftains get the chance to even their record this week when they open their home slate against Mohawk.
Mohawk – Speaking of Mohawk, Eric Daniel said in the preseason he wasn't married to a one-quarterback system, and it didn't take long for him to put Ben Bogner in. He took turns handling drives with starter Bryce Hannam, but both struggled. The two combined to complete 13-of-34 passes for 150 yards with each throwing an interception. Mohawk's defense more than kept the Warriors in the game, not allowing Calvert to score until midway through the third quarter. Mohawk answered Calvert once, but the Senecas finished the game strong. Things don't get any easier for the Warriors, as they travel to Hopewell-Loudon this week apart of a four road games in five-week stretch to start the season for Mohawk.
Lakota – The Raiders got off to a 1-0 start by topping Monroeville, 21-7. Lakota scored the first 21 points of the game before giving up a fourth-quarter touchdown. The Raiders went with sophomore Grant Bomer at quarterback and he completed 14-of-19 passes for 153 yards and three touchdowns. On the other end of a majority of those passes was Chase Dussel, who caught nine receptions for 131 yards and two TDs. Lakota opened last season with a blasting of the Eagles en route to seven wins and a playoff appearance. Things get significantly tougher this week for the Raiders as they make the 70-minute bus drive down Route 30 to take on Colonel Crawford.
For other teams in the area, Seneca East knocked off Northwood, 34-30… Clyde overcame five turnovers to top Toledo St. Francis, 22-18… Manny Mullins returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown to propel Buckeye Central to a 53-8 win over Crestline… Bellevue got revenge on Port Clinton from last year’s loss, 24-14… Fostoria fell, 55-7 to Oak Harbor… and Upper Sandusky lost to River Valley, 31-20.
OTHER SPORTS
Volleyball
Volleyball is underway in the area as well and Calvert got off to a hot start Tuesday in a straight-sets win over New Riegel. The Senecas are led by a trio of huge hitters in Hannah Miller, Camryn Shook, and Caroline Lanicek. If the other players that are relatively new to varsity action can come along and keep that level up, watch out for Calvert to not only win a fifth straight district title, but compete for a regional title and beyond. Coach Lori Rombach is 104-9 at Calvert. The junior varsity, eighth-grade, and seventh-grade teams all won this week, so watch out.
Columbian is just 1-3 on the season, but lost home matches to Fremont Ross and defending Division III state champions Liberty-Benton this week. The Tornadoes did pick up a win over Hopewell-Loudon this past Saturday. Freshman Kaela Jenkins already leads the team in kills with senior Lexi Smith and junior Marisssa Dunn right behind. Columbian faces Port Clinton, Upper Sandusky, and Clyde over the next week of action.
Hopewell-Loudon was on the losing end of matches to Columbian and Seneca East last Saturday, but bounced back Tuesday with a four-set win at Fremont St. Joseph. The Chieftains are playing under new coach Sara Bell and will find competition tough in the Sandusky Bay Conference River division, facing the likes of Calvert, New Riegel, Old Fort, and Lakota.
Speaking of Old Fort and Lakota, the Raiders topped OF in four sets on Tuesday, giving new coach Madison Baacke her first career win as a varsity coach. The Raiders return a plethora of talent in Carlie Foos, Emma Gregg, and Cassidy Foos. Old Fort is looking to replace perhaps the best player in school history, Grace Wasserman.
Everything else
Golf and tennis seasons are in full swing and cross country really gets underway this Saturday. Do yourself a favor and get out to an event and support the local athletes. The weather is gorgeous right now and nothing beats going out and rooting for your favorite team!
Hey Nate, just ended to day that I appreciate what you are doing for area sports. The article that Josh wrote was a good read, but it disappointed me a little that TCS Boys and girls soccer were omitted as "current fall sports". Now I'm not asking you guys to broadcast a soccer match or anything, but the boys team is hurting fir players this year, with only 13-14, total players(only 12-13 dressed players). That means that most the starters are playing 75 minutes a game. They have lost two tough games to non league a opponents. This Monday they take on Clyde, at Frost-kalnow, who also has number issues this year. Tiffin has a good chance at a close win or a blowout win, and I thought maybe a little positive publicity could help uplift the team. The boys are literally giving everything they have and leave it on the field. Also, have you thought about doing a podcast with officials of various sports(preseason). I became an OHSAA certified umpire this year, and thought maybe talking to some officials about the various sports they oversee and insight on why calls are made a certain way, or things of that nature. I think it would give the subscriber or viewer a better understanding of hie officiating actually works. Thank you very much fur your time, and congratulations on the success of HOOS so far. Best of luck to you.