Football

Central Crossing seeks positive finish

At a glance

CENTRAL CROSSING at WESTLAND

*When: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 26

*Last meeting: 2011, Central Crossing 34-12

*Top Comets: Tory Clark (RB/WR/DB), Dwight Diggs (OL), Luke Duncan (QB), Kyle Farris (DB), Rob Fusner (LB), Cody Schrecengost (DL) and Jakob Welch (WR)

*Top Cougars: Cory Beasy (OL), Jalen Brown (QB/RB/WR/DB), Myles Fowler (QB/RB/WR/DB), Reggie Gilliam (WR/LB), Nick Green (RB/DL), Mike Jackson (RB/DB) and Kyle Maxwell (OL/DL)

*Central Crossing (1-8 overall, 0-6 in OCC-Central) to date: Lost to Whitehall 40-7; lost to Independence 40-0; defeated Franklin Heights 35-12; lost to Olentangy Liberty 56-34; lost to Hilliard Davidson 42-6; lost to Upper Arlington 63-27; lost to Dublin Coffman 53-6; lost to Thomas Worthington 28-27; lost to Marysville 65-38

*Westland (1-8 overall, 0-6 in OCC-Central) to date: Def. Columbus Crusaders 32-27; lost to Mifflin 53-38; lost to Hilliard Bradley 42-0; lost to Marysville 51-14; lost to Thomas 50-19; lost to Davidson 35-14; lost to Liberty 63-7; lost to Coffman 69-13; lost to UA 54-7

Enlarge Image
Paul Vernon/ThisWeek

Tory Clark and the Central Crossing football team travel to Westland on Friday, Oct. 26, for the season finale. Buy This Photo

By FRANK DiRENNA

ThisWeek Community News Tuesday October 23, 2012 7:54 PM

Although the season has not gone as well as it had hoped, the Central Crossing High School football team can finish on a positive note by winning at Westland on Friday, Oct. 26.

Both teams are 1-8 overall and 0-6 in the OCC-Central Division, but Comets coach Chris Harr said records don't matter in rivalry games.

"In athletics, it is always nice playing a backyard-type rival game for the last game of the year," Harr said. "Season and past game records mean nothing. Either team can win in any year. The challenge as coaches is to funnel all the energy and emotion into positive, small battles over the course of the week and game."

The Comets lead the series 3-0, including a 34-12 win last season.

Central Crossing also won 33-12 in 2010 and 13-0 in 2008.

"It's going to be a (battle) between two competitive teams," Central Crossing senior wide receiver Jakob Welch said. "A win would mean everything to us. It's a big rivalry and we're going to prepare like it's for (the) state (championship)."

The Comets dropped their sixth consecutive game by losing to Marysville 65-38 on Oct. 19.

Westland lost its eighth consecutive game by falling to Upper Arlington 54-7 on Oct. 19.

Senior Tory Clark leads the Comets in rushing with 731 yards on 94 carries, and he has a team-high 16 touchdowns. He had six receptions for 175 yards, including touchdown catches of 69 and 58 yards, against Marysville.

Quarterback Luke Duncan has completed 109 of 205 passes for 1,643 yards. He completed 12 of 28 passes for 334 yards and four touchdowns against Marysville.

"Their quarterback seems to be a big kid (6-foot-2, 170 pounds) and they do a nice job throwing the ball," Westland coach Steve White said. "Tory Clark is an amazing, exceptional athlete and he's a guy we definitely have to key on to have success in stopping them."

Jalen Brown and Myles Fowler have shared time at quarterback for Westland.

Fowler began the preseason as the starter, but broke the ring finger on his left hand during a scrimmage.

Fowler returned in a 51-14 loss to Marysville on Sept. 14 and played running back and wide receiver. He was the starting quarterback in a 69-13 loss to Dublin Coffman on Oct. 12.

Brown, who was the starting quarterback in the first seven games, leads the Cougars in rushing with 1,256 yards and eight touchdowns on 202 carries.

Against UA, Brown's 1-yard pass to Joseph Boykin in the second quarter accounted for the team's only touchdown.

"On offense, we need to minimize mistakes and penalties," Harr said. "On defense, we need to stop both (of Westland's) quarterbacks. They are exceptional athletes who make great plays. They are as athletic as we have seen all year and they will be a challenge we'll need to be up for."