HEATH ― For the first time since 2021, Licking Valley and Heath won’t be facing each other in a Licking County League crossover football game.
So the 7-on-7 passing scrimmage at Swank Field on July 13 might have carried a little more meaning than normal.
“We love the competition. They love to compete, and so do we,” said Bulldogs’ senior wide receiver Joe Ward. “It was good for us.”
Heath features a corps of versatile, veteran senior wide receivers in Ward, Cam Stephens and Tyler Marks. Panthers’ coach Randy Baughman was glad to see his team face that challenge. Valley previously had 7-on-7s against Maysville and Columbus Academy, and this marked its final one of the summer. The Bulldogs return to New Lexington for their last one on July 15.
“We really needed this,” Baughman said. “We’re taking an acclimation day tomorrow, so this will be good for us to build from.”
The Bulldogs will have a new quarterback under center in junior Ethan Grise, and against the Panthers, he showed the ability to make all the throws on short, intermediate and deep routes.
“He’s very calm, a super calm kid, and he’s really accurate,” said Ward. “He makes really good reads and is a threat as a runner.”
Ward, who has a knack for making catches in tight spaces, made a sliding grab in the end zone on a crossing route for Heath’s first score. Grise also found Stephens and Marks on touchdown passes, with Stephens scoring on a sideline route and Marks snagging a seam route TD despite being interfered with. Stephens turned another sideline pattern into a long gain, while Marks had an interception.
“All of our skilled guys are the biggest plus on our team,” Ward said. “I didn’t run track this year. I wanted to be in the weight room, working with strength and conditioning coach Lee Montgomery.”
Valley graduated a strong senior class that helped the Panthers go 22-3 over the last two seasons. A lot of new faces will be part of the receiving corps, but they do have multi-talented senior quarterback Brody Rodgers back to distribute the ball to them.
“We have big, strong receivers this season,” said senior Griffin Williams, who will contribute on the offensive side of the ball while continuing to be a defensive playmaker. “Carter Nethers did not play last year, and he’s come back and is looking really good.”
Damian Rudasill, a 6-foot-4, 225-pound junior, not only muscled the ball away from a defender for a touchdown in the end zone, but held on to the ball after having his helmet knocked off on a crossing route.
Rodgers also hit Nethers, a junior, on a fade route for a TD and found Williams on a post pattern for another score. Williams and classmate Brandt Lichtenauer lead the defense and figure to be receiving threats. Lichtenauer had an interception.
“I really haven’t gotten much of a chance on offense, but hopefully will be more involved this year,” Williams said. “The biggest thing is learning the playbook.”
This 7-on-7 was a little more physical than many, as the longtime rivals get ready for season openers that loom just a little more than five weeks away. On Aug. 21, Valley hosts Sheridan while Heath is at Philo.
“Early on today, they kind of out-physicaled us,” Williams admitted. “As it went on, we got better with that and started playing our brand of football.”
dweidig@gannett.com
740-704-7973
X: @grover5675
Instagram: @dfweidig
This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Licking Valley, Heath get to air it out head to head during 7 on 7
Reporting by Dave Weidig, Newark Advocate / Newark Advocate
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Dave Weidig, Newark Advocate | USA TODAY Network
