Groveport Madison High School boys soccer coach Deke Scott continues to look for ways to get his team's offense untracked.

He only can hope that a 5-0 win over Coshocton on Sept. 8 proves to be a breakthrough performance. In their previous five games, the Cruisers totaled five goals.

"We're not catching many breaks," Scott said. "We're not putting the ball in the net, which means we're not winning. I wouldn't say the guys are frustrated, but we're getting to the point where if we don't score some goals, it's make or break.

"We're playing really well, but we just need to score some goals to get a win. I think then it will snowball. I told the guys that we're so close to being a really good team."

Groveport was 2-3-1 overall and 0-2 in the OCC-Ohio Division before playing Lancaster on Sept. 11. The shutout against Coshocton was the Cruisers' first of the season. Led by sophomore goalkeeper Jacob Weakley, a first-year varsity player, they had allowed eight goals through six games.

"He was our (junior varsity) keeper and never played a varsity minute last year," Scott said. "He's been a pleasant surprise for us this year. He's stepped up."

Aiding Weakley in his transition to varsity are the four starting defenders in seniors Matt Ater and Tyler Mehl and juniors Kris Henry and Limamu Mohammed. All four defenders are returnees.

"What it's done is taken the job off Jacob," Scott said of the Cruisers' solid play in front of the goal. "When you have a guy with no experience, it helps to have four guys who have been there."

Through five games, Weakley had 35 saves and Javier Memeses had a team-high two goals.

"I'm very pleased with the effort," Scott said. "Our record doesn't indicate how good we really are."

Girls soccer team off to 'rough start'

The girls soccer team was 0-6-1 overall and 0-2 in the OCC-Ohio before playing Lancaster on Sept. 11.

"It has been a rough start, but our young players are growing and adjusting to the high level of soccer we are forced to face in our conference," coach Andy Ling said.

"The improvement is mainly in the area of our young girls, growing and improving in the face of the stiff competition."

Through seven games, Courtney Husch and Steph Siwicki led the team with two goals apiece.

Football team set to open OCC play

The football team opens OCC-Ohio play on Friday, Sept. 14, at Gahanna.

Gahanna improved to 3-0 with a 45-7 win over Upper Arlington on Sept. 7. In the win, running back Valquez "Tank" Davis rushed for 127 yards and two touchdowns on just four carries and quarterback Alec Tuohy was 13-for-18 passing for 179 yards and a touchdown.

The Lions' defense, which includes linebacker Mitchell Rowell, lineman Granyl Smith and back Emile Camm, limited UA to 145 total yards, and more than half of those yards came on an 80-yard touchdown run by Golden Bears running back Gus Ackley.

Gahanna defeated Groveport 47-13 last season.

The Cruisers improved to 1-2 with a 21-20 win over host Walnut Ridge on Sept. 7.

Groveport trailed 14-0 after the first quarter and 20-6 in the third quarter. Running back Jordan Garrettson scored on a 10-yard run and quarterback Mecca Swain scored on a 6-yard run and threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Markel Davis.

Garrettson rushed for 76 yards on 16 carries against Walnut Ridge, which fell to 1-2.