Marysville’s Colton Powers (left) and Mason Reed bring down a ball carrier earlier this season. The Monarchs will host Olentangy Berlin on Friday. Listen to the Journal-Tribune football podcast on Spotify.
(Journal-Tribune photo by Chad Williamson)
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Friday evening’s football game between Marysville and Olentangy Berlin will essentially decide the Cardinal Division championship of the Ohio Capital Conference.
Both the Monarchs and the Bears sport conference records of 3-0.
MHS is 7-0 overall, while Berlin stands at 7-1.
MHS coach Brent Johnson said the Monarchs and Bears both know what’s at stake as Marysville prepares to host Senior Night.
MHS will have to win this game in order to stay on its goal of defending its OCC Cardinal Division championship.
A victory will just about wrap up the title for MHS as it plays at Olentangy next week.
The Bears may present Marysville’s standout defense with its biggest test to date.
Johnson acknowledged his team has played squads that either predominately keep the ball on the ground or primarily go through the air.
The Bears’ offense, which is a spread with a couple of backs, is the closest thing to an evenly-based unit as MHS has faced this fall.
“From what we’ve seen on film, they are 50/50 between the run and the pass,” said the Monarch boss.
Olentangy Berlin has played a couple of quarterbacks this year – senior Dylan Reyes and sophomore Harrison Brewster.
“Brewster is the one who really makes them go,” said Johnson. “We will have to stop him.”
The Bear quarterback can get out and move.
He scored the winning touchdown during the team’s 28-21 victory over Olentangy on a 70-yard run.
Berlin has averaged a little more than 23 points per game.
That offense, however, must find a way to get through one of state-ranked Marysville’s best defensive units in a number of years.
The Monarchs are also one of the top D outfits in Central Ohio.
Through seven games, MHS has yielded a mere 39 points.
“Our defense has played well all season,” said Johnson. “That’s really the exciting part of all this.
“Olentangy Berlin has a very balanced offense,” he added. “They will try to establish long drives with their running game and then all of the sudden, hit you with a pass.”
Johnson said the Monarchs’ defense will have to speed up the Bears’ game plan.
“We have to force them to make quick decisions,” said Johnson.
Marysville’s defense has yielded only 1,106 total yards, or an average of 158 per game.
Of that total, 255 came from Hilliard Darby’s veer offense.
“Our defense has been aligned right the entire season,” said Johnson. “We’ve also run to the football on a consistent basis… that’s always been a trademark of Marysville football.”
The Bears will employ a 3-5 defensive front.
However, Johnson feels Berlin will walk players up to the line of scrimmage to create a five-man alignment in order to stop the Monarchs’ staunch ground attack.
MHS has rushed for 1,903 yards, an average of more than 271 per game.
“We know we’re going to get everyone’s best defensive effort against our ground game,” said Johnson.
The Monarchs have exhibited quality depth in the backfield through the likes of Gabe and Colton Powers, Griffin Johnson and Jerry McNeil.
Matt Krutowskis also got into the act as he picked up 95 yards and scored a pair of touchdowns last week against Thomas Worthington.
“Berlin’s defense is very aggressive going downhill,” said Johnson, whose Monarchs maintain the top spot in Region 2 of Division I.
“JT Tompkins is a very solid ‘mike’ linebacker and we’ll have to get a hat on him,” said Johnson.
“We just have to stay patient and keep doing what we do best on offense.”
Johnson said the Monarchs will have to maintain a clean game, eliminating turnovers and penalties in order to win.
While Marysville has outscored its opponents 220-39, the coach feels it still hasn’t played its best game.
“We still have some things to work on,” said Johnson. “Our offensive line has played very well, but there are times we still have to finish some blocks.
“Our O line is a quiet and unsung group,” he added. “Gavin (senior tackle Rohrs) has had a great year and some of our younger guys like Nick Johnson, Evan Collins, Brendan Gray and Mo Kern have gotten better as the season has progressed.”