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Friday, September 21, 2007

By KEN KITCHEN
ThisWeek Contributor

Undefeated Big Walnut entered Friday's game at Westerville Central knowing the 0-4 Warhawks were better than their record.

The Eagles got all they could handle from Central, holding off a late charge to win 29-22 and improve to 5-0. Central dropped to 0-5.

Big Walnut scored a touchdown in every quarter, gained 315 yards on the ground and held Central in check for most of the game, but the outcome wasn't sealed until defensive back Joe Reed intercepted Central's Keegan Varner at midfield with 49 seconds remaining.

"The coaches were telling me to scoot up closer to the line the whole game," Reed said. "I finally listened to them, the defense got good pressure on the quarterback and I got the pick."

The Eagles came into the game ranked fourth in the state in Division III and ranked third in the Region 10 computer ratings. Central entered with losses to Dublin Jerome, Westerville South, Dublin Coffman and Olentangy Liberty ? teams with a combined 11-5 record.

"We took them seriously, we knew they were a dangerous team," Reed said. "We just came out of the gate slow."

Central took a 3-0 lead when Ohio State-bound senior kicker Ben Buchanan kicked a school-record 57-yard field goal midway through the first quarter.

It was the first of his five field goals. He also missed a 60-yard attempt in the third quarter.

Big Walnut moved the ball throughout the game, scoring a touchdown in every quarter. However, Eagles quarterback Ethan Wetzel was sacked by Central's Tyler Stevenson and fumbled in the third quarter. That led to a Central field goal that cut the lead to 21-12.

The Warhawks held Big Walnut to a punt and got another Buchanan field goal with 10:08 remaining in the game.

"We had them on the ropes there," Central coach Bob Fresch said. "It was a tough game. We moved the football and pushed the envelope."

Wetzel finished the game with 133 yards rushing on 20 runs and threw for 63 yards. He also had a reception for 9 yards. Wetzel scored his second touchdown with just over five minutes remaining to stretch the lead to 29-15.

Central's Onesiaum Glass gave his team hope with a 71-yard touchdown run on the game's next play from scrimmage.

Big Walnut ran three plays and punted and that set the stage for Reed's interception.

"We knew it would be a battle," Big Walnut coach Scott Wetzel said. "They are a good team and could easily win their last five games and run the table in their league (the OCC-Central Division)."

Glass finished the game with 190 yards on 25 carries.

"They are right up there with Olentangy, as far as physical play, we faced a good team tonight," Scott Wetzel said. "Now we get to start league play next Friday night."

The Eagles travel to Watkins Memorial to start defense of their OCC-Capital title. Central plays at Delaware.