Football

Groveport at Pickerington Central

At a glance

GROVEPORT at CENTRAL

*When: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 19

*Last meeting: 2011, Central 35-0

*Top Cruisers: Ben Adkins (LB), Markel Davis (WR), Jordan Garrettson (RB), Durrell Wood (OL/DL), Mecca Swain (QB) and Dawuane Smoot (DL)

*Top Tigers: Greg Basalyga (RB/LB), Taco Charlton (TE/DL), Nygel Hairston (RB/DB), Andrew Meyer (WR), Colby Simkins (QB), Nick Walter (OL) and Brent Walton (RB)

*Groveport (1-7 overall, 0-5 OCC-Ohio) to date: Lost to Westerville South 55-14; lost to Olentangy Orange 35-10; defeated Walnut Ridge 21-20; lost to Gahanna 38-14; lost to Grove City 42-24; lost to Lancaster 35-34; lost to Newark 16-14; lost to Pickerington North 35-7

*Central (5-2 overall, 4-1 OCC-Ohio) to date: Lost to Cincinnati Colerain 28-15; def. Marion-Franklin 45-24; def. Lancaster 14-10; def. Reynoldsburg 21-20; lost to Pickerington North 37-0; def. Grove City 28-7; def. Newark 35-6

Wednesday October 17, 2012 2:54 PM

After going 6-4 in both 2009 and 2010, Groveport is on its way to a second consecutive losing season.

With Jordan Garrettson and Jalen Weems leading the way at running back, the Cruisers have shown the ability to move the ball at times. Garrettson rushed for a touchdown and Weems rushed for three against Lancaster on Sept. 28, and Garrettson and Swain each had a scoring run against Newark on Oct. 5.

Groveport is allowing an average of 43 points per game.

As of late, Central has made a concerted effort to establish the run first with Greg Basalyga, Nygel Hairston, Brent Walton and Tawuain Gordon sharing the carries. A first-year starter under center, Colby Simkins was 6-for-7 passing for 91 yards and one touchdown against Grove City on Oct. 5.

The Tigers have allowed a total of 13 points the past two games.

*LAST WEEK -- Central amassed 527 total yards against Newark, with Gordon and Walton leading the way. Walton rushed 15 times for 203 yards and three touchdowns and Gordon had 226 yards and two scores on 13 carries.

The Tigers scored 14 points in both the first and third quarters and led 35-0 heading into the fourth quarter.

Garrettson scored Groveport's only touchdown against Pickerington North on a 2-yard run in the fourth quarter. The Cruisers rushed for 200 yards on 48 carries and had 250 total yards, with Garrettson rushing for 103 yards on 23 carries and Mecca Swain running for 101 yards on eight carries.