High School Football: Johnson sparks Olentangy Berlin over rival Olentangy Orange
Friday, August 25, 2023
By Michael Rich
mrich@cbussports.com
Olentangy Berlin’s Alejandro Aguilar looks to avoid Olentangy Orange’s Zane Konczak on Aug. 25. Photo: John Hulkenberg
Angelo Johnson remembered his game film and he remembered what he was coached to do when he stepped in front of Levi Davis’ first pass of the game and returned it 36 yards for a touchdown.
Johnson’s interception gave the Olentangy Berlin football team a two-touchdown cushion on its way to a 31-24 win at Olentangy Orange in non-league play on Aug. 25.
“I watched film and (saw Davis) always liked to throw that post route to No. 10 (Kobe Sharpe),” said Johnson, a junior. “I saw (Davis) rolling out and figured I might as well jump on it. The ball was there, so I just grabbed it and scored.”
The Bears, who improved to 1-1, have won all three meetings against the Pioneers since the two began playing in 2021.
“I think (Johnson’s interception) ignited us,” Berlin coach Mark Nori said. “We weren’t going to take the ball. But we lost the coin toss and ended up getting the ball, so we went down and scored six (on Harrison Brewster’s 11-yard run).
“We knew (Orange had an explosive offense and we had to hold them on defense. Angelo made a great play and was in the right place at the right time. He did what he’s coached to do.”
Both teams turned the ball over three times. With the Bears leading 21-7 early in the second quarter, Berlin’s Dylan Robertson returned an interception 49 yards to the Orange 23. But Brewster was intercepted in the end zone by Orange’s Will Musgrove on the next play.
Brewster had 19 carries for 110 yards and two rushing touchdowns, but added a pair of interceptions and a fumble going into the end zone.
Olentangy Orange’s Kobe Sharpe finds running room against Olentangy Berlin on Aug. 25. Photo: John Hulkenberg
Still, Orange couldn’t get closer than four points. Terryn Thomas caught eight passes for 155 yards, including a 23-yard touchdown on a fade to the right sideline that accounted for the final margin.
“It’s a long season – I want (our players) to understand that,” Orange coach Zebb Schroeder said. “I know it stings, but it’s never as good as it seems and it’s never as bad as it seems. It’s somewhere in between. We have to look at that and see what we can do better.”
Treyton Schroeder had Orange’s other interception, which he returned 33 yards to Berlin’s 16. The play set up a Carter Musgrove 29-yard field goal to pull the Pioneers within 21-10 at the break.
Davis scored his second rushing touchdown on Orange’s first possession of the second half to pull within 21-17. He finished 21 of 39 passing for 251 yards, a touchdown and three interceptions. He added 15 carries for 45 yards and two scores on the ground.
Elijah Duncan had 5.5 tackles, Brady Jacobs added five tackles and Kaydan Arsalane had a fumble recovery for the Pioneers, who dropped to 1-1.
Payton Yonce made big plays on consecutive possessions for the Bears on defense, forcing a Nate Grubb interception on one, coming with a sack on another and hurrying Davis into an incompletion on fourth down on a third.
Alejandro Aguilar scampered 34 yards up the middle for a touchdown to make it 31-17 Bears on the next play. Aguilar finished with 48 yards rushing on eight carries and added a 22-yard reception on third-down screen play to keep a drive alive in the fourth quarter. He helped the defense with 3.5 tackles earlier in the game.
Both teams are at home against non-league opponents on Sept. 1. Berlin hosts Dublin Scioto and Orange against Hilliard Darby.
“We win and lose as a team,” Nori said. “Everybody does. When we have guys that go out there and make mistakes, we have guys that can pick them up. It’s a roller coaster ride for us, but tonight we were able to get it done.”
Olentangy Berlin’s Aidan Sills breaks up a pass intended for Olentangy Orange’s Terryn Thomas on Aug. 25. Photo: John Hulkenberg