Carson Smith of Marysville (5) tries to reach a pass during Friday’s game against Big Walnut. The Monarchs pounded the Eagles, 38-10, during the first game in MHS’ new stadium. (Journal-Tribune photo by Chad Williamson)
Anticipation can be a gift or a curse.
In small doses, it can heighten your intensity and focus. Over sustained periods, the nervous energy that accompanies anticipation can be draining.
Marysville football coach Brent Johnson knew that this week as his team prepared to play its first game in its much anticipated new home stadium, that some local officials are already naming one of the premier facilities in central Ohio.
After moving the first two scheduled home games because of construction delays, Johnson knew his players couldn’t wait to play on their new turf.
“I worried about it all day,” Johnson said.
In the end, his fears were set aside early as the Monarchs jumped out to a 17-point lead over Big Walnut in the first quarter and cruised to a 38-10 victory, upping their record to 4-1.
“They really wanted to win game one in this stadium,” he said.
Johnson said the key to dealing with his team’s excitement about the contest was to just let it happen earlier in the week, but get them to focus just ahead of game time.
“We let them be excited last night,” Johnson said. “Today we said ‘be excited, but still understand there is work to do.’”
When it comes to channeling the spirit of teenage boys, the coaching staff told them to take in the game in small doses.
“We told them to just take care of your three feet (on the field),” Johnson said.
Marysville jumped on the Golden Eagles from the opening gun, scoring on its first four possessions with its new trademark physical style of play.
Johnson said the Monarchs’ brute nature at the line of scrimmage and hard-hitting style is no accident. In an era of football footnoted with concussions and other injuries, many teams take it easy in practice, but Marysville players hit each other hard, every day.
“We tell our kids ‘not every program goes at it like this,’” Johnson said.
MHS kicker Joe Duke scored the first points in the new stadium with a 37-yard field goal on the Monarchs’ opening drive.
Big Walnut muffed the ensuing kickoff and the Monarchs fell on the ball to set up a short field at the 27.
A few plays later, Gabe Powers went easily into the end zone from 15 yards out for the first TD in the new facility. Duke’s point after put the Monarchs up 10-0 with 4:36 left in the first period.
Marysville scored again in the opening frame.
The TD was set up when QB Nathan Morey found Jayden Simmons for a 28-yard gain over the middle. A few plays later, Chase Kilgore went in from eight yards out/
The PAT pushed MHS out to a 17-0 margin.
As the game moved into the second quarter, the Monarchs took another BW punt and again pushed the Eagles steadily backwards/
Powers went in for his second touchdown of the game on a four-yard burst.
The PAT gave Marysville a 24-0 lead with nine minutes to play until the half.
The Monarch offense tried to make it five-for-five on scoring drives, but a 32-yard field goal try by Duke was blocked.
The Eagles used the momentum from the block to put together their only drive of the half.
That resulted in a 32-yard field goal by Landen Rutkowski.
Marysville threatened to score again late in the half, but a third-down sack inside the 10 killed the clock before the Monarchs could take another crack at the end zone.
While the Eagle defense was somewhat overmatched in the first half, it did have success in one area.
Big Walnut was keying on Kilgore, who has been the workhorse for the Monarchs much of the season.
Despite scoring a touchdown, he was fairly bottled up.
That left Johnson to utilize other weapons, as showcased in the third quarter.
On Marysville’s second possession of the half, running back Ryan Kern took a handoff, shot through the middle of the line and raced 77 yards for a score.
On the succeeding series, Morey found Simmons for a 23-yard scoring strike.
Kern wound up being the Monarchs’ leading rusher with 137 yards on 12 carries.
Morey was an efficient 7-for-12 on the night for 106 yards.
After the two third-quarter TDs, the Monarchs headed into the final period up 38-3.
Eagle tailback Tyler Crotinger cracked into the end zone with four minutes left in the game for BW’s only touchdown.
The extra point closed out the scoring at 38-10.
As potent at the Marysville offense was, with nearly 400 yards of offense, it would be easy to overlook the efforts of the defense.
That unit bottled up the Eagle offense for just 147 yards of total offense, and only 52 on the ground.
Although Marysville’s record has local fans whispering about the Division I state playoffs, the true test of the Monarchs lies ahead with the meat of their league schedule.
One of those perennial Ohio Capital Conference Central Division monsters comes next week, as the Monarchs travel to 4-1 Dublin Coffman.