With several key players back from a team that reached a Division II regional semifinal, Dublin Scioto again hopes to contend for a league title and advance in the postseason.
After opening with a 42-28 loss to eventual OCC-Capital Division champion Westerville South, the Irish won seven consecutive games before falling 35-10 to Massillon Perry in a Region 7 semifinal to finish 7-2 overall.
“We have a lot of guys who got a lot of playing time last year,” said coach Karl Johnson, who is in his 22nd season. “We feel good about that, and now it’s just a matter of what’s our depth look like and can we stay healthy.”
The Irish open Aug. 20 at Grove City and again begin league play Sept. 10 atSouth. Scioto went 5-1 in the league last year to tie Westerville North for second behind the Wildcats, who finished 5-0.
“One of our main goals every year is to win a league title, and it’s been a long time since we have,” Johnson said. “If you win the league, then you know that you’re pretty solid heading into the playoffs.”
The Irish last won aleague title in 2003.
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One of the key returnees from an offense that averaged 28.8 points last season is senior quarterback Amare Jenkins, who was first-team all-district and honorable mention all-state and all-league.
“We’re just working hard,” Jenkins said. “Our No. 1 goal is to win state. We’re just trying to practice harder than we did last year. Last year we came up a couple of games short and that just gave us a lot of motivation over the offseason to work hard. … Overall, I feel like we’re better than we were last year.”
Key losses to graduation included Joe Trent (TE/DL) and Zion Freeman-Walker (WR/DB), who were both first-team all-district and all-league while Trent was third-team all-state and Freeman-Walker was honorable mention all-state.
“This is the fun time, trying to pull that team together and see who are the guys that should be guys and who are going to be those new faces that break into making names for themselves,” Johnson said.
OFFENSE
Jenkins will again direct the spread offense after passing for 1,871 yards with 16 touchdowns and five interceptions last season.
“They want me to be an overall leader,” Jenkins said. “Lead the younger classes and lead by example.”
Another returning starter is junior running back Ed Worthen, who had a team-high 815 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns on 157 carries. He was second-team all-district.
Senior Mason Salvator and junior Dayo Olobatuyi also will see time in the backfield.
“We have a lot of weapons back and we’re ready to go,” Salvator said. “It’s gone by super fast, and I’m really excited to finish it off on a good note and win the (state) championship. My goal is the state, but league first. … I love helping my teammates out and trying to win.”
Senior receiver Lesley Andoh led the Irish in receiving with 37 receptions for 552 yards and seven touchdowns, and was first-team all-league and second-team all-district.
“Lesley had a good junior year and he’s definitely a guy we want to have the ball in his hands because he can do electric things,” Johnson said.
Tysen Boze, another senior receiver, had 21 catches for 366 yards and five touchdowns and was special mention all-league and honorable mention all-district.
Other key receivers are seniors Xavier Jeffy and Silas Moore and juniors Drew Baughman and Mark Gaston.
Junior Jeriah Moore and sophom*ore Ashton Wilson are looking to replace Trent at tight end.
A key returning starter on the line is senior left tackle Max Martin-Lee, who was first-team all-district and all-league and honorable mention all-state.
Senior Terrell Triplet (guard) and junior Colin Sink (center) also return, with junior Miles Bryant expected to move into the starting lineup.
Other key linemen include senior Eddie Bakay, junior Can Saygan and sophom*ore Israel Hernandez-Gomez.
DEFENSE
Andoh, Silas Moore and junior Aaron Weeks at cornerback and Boze, Salvator and Jeriah Moore at safety should help lead the base 4-2-5 defense in the secondary.
Senior Daylan Campbell will also see time in the secondary.
Senior Cameron Jackson Jr. is a returning starter at linebacker, where he will be joined by Olobatuyi, senior Patrick Joyce and sophom*ores Kian O’Ryan and Jackson Waldrum.
Key linemen include Bakay, Bryant, Hernandez-Gomez, Martin-Lee, Saygan and seniors Nicholas Bradfield and Troy Hall Jr.
“We have a bunch of guys competing and rotating in on that defensive line,” Johnson said.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Salvator is the kicker and punter, with senior Nico Crawford serving as long snapper.
Silas Moore and Andoh will return kicks.
THE LINEUP
Offense
Quarterback: *Amare Jenkins (sr., 6-3, 175)
Running backs: *Ed Worthen (jr., 5-9, 210), Dayo Olobatuyi (jr., 6-0, 180), Mason Salvator (sr., 5-11, 195)
Receivers: *Lesley Andoh (sr., 6-1, 177), *Tysen Boze (sr., 6-3, 190), Drew Baughman (jr., 5-8, 150), Mark Gaston (jr., 6-0, 165), Xavier Jeffy (sr., 5-10, 170), Silas Moore (sr., 5-11, 150)
Tight ends: Jeriah Moore (jr., 5-11, 150), Ashton Wilson (so., 6-3. 200)
Lineman: *Miles Bryant (jr., 6-0, 238), *Maxwell Martin-Lee (sr., 6-3, 305), *Colin Sink (jr., 5-7, 196), *Terrell Triplett (sr., 5-10, 301), Eddie Bakay (sr., 6-3, 240), Israel Hernandez-Gomez (so., 5-9, 217), Can Saygan (jr., 5-9, 200)
Defense
Linemen: *Troy Hall Jr. (sr., 6-0, 200), *Martin-Lee, Bakay, Bryant, Nicholas Bradfield (sr., 6-0, 190), Hernandez-Gomez, Saygan
Linebackers: *Cameron Jackson Jr. (sr., 5-9, 190), Patrick Joyce (sr., 5-11, 185), Olobatuyi, Kian O’Ryan (so., 5-11, 185), Jackson Waldrum (so., 5-10, 130)
Secondary: *Andoh, *Boze, *Silas Moore, *Salvator, Daylan Campbell (sr., 6-1, 180), Jeriah Moore (jr., 6-0, 164), Aaron Weeks (jr., 5-8, 150)
Special teams
Kicker: *Salvator
Punter: *Salvator
Returners: *Andoh, *Silas Moore
Long snapper: *Nico Crawford (sr., 6-2, 250)
(*Denotes projected starter)
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At a glance
2021 SCHEDULE
Aug. 20 at Grove City
Aug. 27 at Watkins Memorial
Sept. 3 vs. Olentangy Berlin
*Sept. 10 at Westerville South
*Sept. 17 vs. Worthington Kilbourne
*Sept. 24 vs. Canal Winchester
*Oct. 1 at Franklin Heights
*Oct. 8 vs. Delaware
*Oct. 15 at Big Walnut
*Oct. 22 vs. Westerville North
2020 RESULTS
(7-2 overall, 5-1 in OCC-Capital)
*Westerville South L, 42-28
*Worthington Kilbourne W, 21-13
*Canal Winchester W, 28-21
*Franklin Heights W, 41-0
*Delaware W, 28-0
*Big Walnut W, 15-14
PLAYOFFS
Mifflin W, 48-14
Big Walnut W, 31-13
Massillon Perry L, 35-10
*League contest
INSIDE THE IRISH
•Coach: Karl Johnson, 22nd season
•Top players: Lesley Andoh, Tysen Boze, Troy Hall Jr., Amare Jenkins, Maxwell Martin-Lee, Mason Salvator and Ed Worthen
•Key losses: Vaughn Francis, Zion Freeman-Walker, Xavier Lopes, Koel Shaw, Joe Trent and Vernon Williams
