MHS quarterback Nate Morey looks for a receiver during a recent scrimmage at Hilliard Bradley. The Monarchs will open the regular season on Friday by hosting Northland at Olentangy High School.
(Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
Riddle me this…
When is a home game not really a home game?
When your field isn’t ready to play.
Due to the ongoing stadium project at Marysville High School, the Monarch football squad will open the 2019 campaign on the road.
Friday’s game against Columbus Northland is technically a home game, but will be played at Olentangy High School.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
“There is an element of disappointment that we can’t open the season on our home field,” said MHS head coach Brent Johnson. “However, our mind set is that we are going to have a ‘Monarch Takeover’ at Olentangy on Friday.
“Our guys are going to compete regardless of where we play,” he said. “We just have to go out and play football.”
The Monarchs will host Delaware Hayes at Hilliard Bradley next week.
Northland runs out of the spread formation and are led by Kalil Branham.
A versatile athlete who has already committed to the University of Kentucky, Branham can play running back, quarterback and wide receiver.
“They like to get the ball in his hands,” said Johnson. “Our defense is going to have to eliminate any big plays by him.”
The Vikings also have another solid running back in DeShawn Wyche.
“He’s a quick guy and runs misdirection well,” said Johnson.
Antonio Woods is another weapon at wide receiver.
The Monarch coach said his defensive unit must remain gap sound in order to stop Northland’s ground game.
The Viking offense, however, will still throw the ball approximately 60 percent of the time.
“Our defensive backs will have to be sound in their zones and we must contain Branham,” said Johnson.
Marysville’s offensive unit will encounter a 4-3 defensive alignment from Northland.
“Their defensive end (Ishaman Ford) and nose guard (Darius Boyd) are very active on the line of scrimmage,” said the Monarch boss. “They play man coverage in the secondary and they have a very big safety (217-pounder Israel Day) who is very aggressive.
“They move downhill very well and will ‘lay the wood’ to you,” he said. “They bring pressure off the edges and run to the ball well.”
Johnson, who said the Monarchs will have to keep turnovers and penalties at a minimum, said he saw some things he liked last Friday when the Monarchs closed out the preseason with a scrimmage at Hilliard Darby.
“Our running backs moved the ball well and we got a lot of them some work,” he said. “I think we found a lot of answers to questions we had.”
Johnson said he was still in decision-mode earlier this week when it came to who will start at quarterback.
He said that both Nate Morey and Logan McSwords played well, but added he was leaning more toward Morey as it became closer to Friday’s game time.