Versus Fort Loramie last Saturday, 6-foot-3, 210-pound Carson Parker of Lima Central Catholic rumbled for 183 yards and an incredible average of nine yards per carry. Excellent athlete. Like a fullback disguised as a quarterback wearing the number “1” on his back. But, there were many busted tackles.
Rangy and speedy wide receiver Billy Bourk, a 6-6 target with superb hands, snared five passes at a whopping 32 yards per reception. Talented football player. Required attention from two defensive backs. The Redskins knew Bourk was the target. But, there were many busted coverages.
There is a silver lining to all of this, however. With improved play, Fort Loramie can “bust the bracket.”
Still searching for its best game of the season, Fort Loramie, 5-5, is ranked 11th in its region after the 45-21 loss to LCC and avoids Marion Local and Minster until a regional final, or week 14 of the football campaign, if it puts a victory streak together. A home game in Week 2 of the playoffs versus St. Henry is possible if SH knocks off Riverside in week one.
The challenge: the sleeping giant must wake up.
Fort Loramie displayed a number of bright spots against the Thunderbirds. Junior Gabe Hart, making his first start at quarterback, completed 18-of-28 passes for 230 yards and two touchdowns.
Max Maurer, who was moved to wide receiver, excelled in that role, hauling in seven passes for 129 yards and a score. Will Holland averaged nearly seven yards per tote on the ground.
On defense, Brock McCumber recorded eleven assisted stops and a pair of solos. Thomas Hoying registered four tackles and aided on six others.
But Fort Loramie this season has been unable to string together consistently good plays for the majority of four quarters on both offense and defense. Several critical letdowns seem to creep into the Redskins game along the way each week.
Adjustments from sixth year head coach Spencer Wells gave the offense a lift at LCC. Aiming to produce more explosiveness for the pass game, Wells inserted Hart at QB and he responded. Maurer was a playmaker at wide receiver. Carter Eilerman had five more snags. Maurer scored from 32 yards out, and Eilerman and Spencer Knouff grabbed 20 and 14 yard receptions, respectively.
LCC, however, generated more “explosive” plays, rushed for 228 yards, and was forced to punt only once.
Jack Kramer on ScoresBroadcast.com remarked during the contest that the 2023 edition of LCC football was its best during the Carson Parker era. Coach Wells of Fort Loramie later agreed.
Undefeated and 10-0 Division-V Columbus Academy, a Fort Loramie opponent in Week 4, probably fielded its best team in school history this season. D-VI Versailles, Minster and independent Lucas rolled to 23 total victories. In all, the five Redskins losses have been to clubs with a combined overall record of 39-10.
Without question, Fort Loramie played through one of the state’s top two or three most difficult schedules for a D-VII program this year. The Redskins hope to reap the benefits from playing against this gauntlet of high caliber foes.
The second season begins on Friday at Southeastern High School in South Charleston, which is located on Route 41 southeast of Springfield.
ScoresBroadcast.com carries the game at 6:20 p.m. Coach Wells and Southeastern Coach AJ Woods are featured in the pregame segment. Kickoff is at 7.
Two sections of additional bleachers are being added to the visitors side of the Trojans field. As a result of the dry fall, the gridiron is in good condition.
Do not expect Southeastern, 7-3, and a second place finisher in the Ohio Heritage Conference south division, to give up 55 points to Fort Loramie like it did last year in the playoffs’ second round.
Safety Jonah Asebrook and linebackers CJ Wilt and Hayden Davis pace the Trojans defense. Wilt has participated in 108 tackles, second best in the OHC. Davis has wrapped up ball carriers behind the line of scrimmage nine times. Asebrook has notched six interceptions. He has also returned two punts for touchdowns.
On offense, quarterback Zack McKee throws 15 to 20 times per game. He has pitched 14 TD’s and possesses a QB rating of 150. Brennan Workman has 46 receptions on the season. Asebrook averages 16 yards per catch. Davis rushed the ball more than 20 times per game and crossed the goal line 19 times.
The Trojans won their first three this season including a five-takeaway performance against Lehman. They then lost three of four to playoff squads — West Liberty-Salem, West Jefferson and Greeneview — before winning out over Madison Plains, Greenon, and playoff-bound Cedarville.
The seven win-three loss campaign represents Southeastern’s best since 2009 when the Trojans were 8-2.
It’s not unusual for Fort Loramie to tackle a club that has won seven or more this year. Thankfully, the likes of Carson Parker, Billy Bourk and two 330-pound linemen are behind them.
Still, the Redskins know that this Friday night they will have to rise to the occasion and kick off a series of well-played triumphs, if they want to be D-VII Region 28 bracket busters.
