'We're well prepared.' Anderson football ready for state final rematch
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In each of its four playoff games, the Anderson High School football team has had stretches where its high-powered offense short-circuited for a while.
The defense stepped up when needed, particularly in seven-point wins over La Salle and Sunbury Big Walnut.
In a 29-22 win over Big Walnut last week in the state semifinals, Anderson limited standout running back Nolan Buirley to 48 yards on the ground, and they intercepted veteran QB Eli Stumpf twice.
“Our defense did a great job,” head coach Evan Dreyer said. “I think Buirley should have been up for Mr. Football. To contain him last Friday night was huge, and we got some pressure on Eli. They did a great job, especially in the third quarter, when we weren’t playing well offensively. It was a game where they had to play well to keep us in it and ahead, and they did a great job. I was so proud of our kids to ride the roller coaster of emotions in that game and fight through it.”
The defense will have to perform well against a powerful Avon team as the Raptors play in the Ohio High School Athletic Association Division II state final. Anderson (14-0) will face Avon (13-1) with kickoff at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 4, at Canton’s Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium.
It is a rematch of last year’s state final, which undefeated Avon won, 20-13. Their one loss this year is to a team from Florida by three points. They have won their four playoff games by an average score of 40-15.
Offensively, Avon answered its biggest question in replacing graduated All-Ohio quarterback Nolan Good (now at Kent State) with senior Blake Elder. The son of coach Mike Elder, Blake has thrown for 2,827 yards (plus 31 TDs to four interceptions) with Grant Barr (957 yards, 11 TDs on 57 receptions) and Fin Jerdonek (740 yards, eight TDs on 49 receptions) as his top receivers. Mike Elder said his son has been in the locker room since kindergarten, and he stepped up to win two playoff games two years ago when Good was injured.
“The quarterback is different; it’s the coach’s kid,” Dreyer said. “He’s amazing. Game manager, and he makes explosive plays with his legs with scrambles. And then the running game, the running backs are all used to their strengths. So we have to make sure who’s in the game, know their numbers.”
Reid Baker is a senior linebacker and a leader of the defense
“I think we’re well prepared,” Baker said. “Coach has got us prepared well and I think the defense is going to shine as we have been. And the offense is going to produce for us going forward. So it should be a great game for us.”
The offense has always been there under Dreyer, but the defense has come along in the last three years. Anderson allowed 33 points per game in the 2022 season but only 13 this season.
“So that’s been great moving forward,’ Baker said. “We’re still not as well respected as we should be. And I think that really needs to change around here as Anderson’s not just an offensive school. We’re really showing up in the other side of the ball and just competing on the other side of the ball.”
When Anderson has the ball
Junior Owen Scalf has taken the reins at quarterback and thrown for 4,584 yards and 39 touchdowns, while rushing for 640 yards and seven scores. Jordan Davis has 671 rushing yards and 21 TDs. He also has 71 catches, fourth on the team to Tegan Jallick, Tysin Weaver and Cooper Kathman. Weaver leads with 1,250 receiving yards and 19 TDs.
“We have five guys, and we want to have to make you guard everybody,” Dreyer said. “Jordan Davis is the key component in our run game. He’s done a great job. He makes plays in our run and pass game.”
Dreyer said a main reason the offense has struggled at times in the postseason is that it has played talented defenses every round. Anderson prepared for that by scrimmaging Taft in the preseason and also played Winton Woods in league play.
Avon has another strong defense.
Miami (Ohio) commit Ryan Stolarski is a leader of the defense at linebacker with Cincinnati commit Lance Dawson at defensive end.
“They are very similar in the way they execute at a high level,” Dreyer said. “They have a great offensive line. And then on defensive line, they’re strong throughout. They have an incredible defensive line, just like last year. Then they’re linebacker (Stolarksi) is special. Then you look at the defensive backfield, and they’re playing at an elite level. They don’t give up explosive plays.”
Anderson enjoys the chance to return to Canton
Anderson has the experience of playing in Canton last year. Unlike last year, Dreyer will take the players to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, which is right next to the stadium.
“So we can see the history of football and create a cool experience for the kids,” he said. “And we want to make sure everybody has a first-class experience so we’re going to do something different. But our kids are ready to go. They’ve planned for this moment. They’ve worked really hard in the offseason to get back to this. They all have a vision of holding that gold trophy, and if we play well, we’ll have a great opportunity to.”
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Anderson High School football preps for state final rematch with Avon
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