All-hands-on-deck approach helps New Albany beat Grove City in OCC Ohio opener
Friday, September 25, 2026
By Steve Blackledge
sbleckledge@cbussports.com
In the absence of injured running back Jett Jerwers, New Albany’s Maddox Vann led the Eagles in rushing with 124 yards during their home win against Grove City Friday. Photo: John Hulkenberg
NEW ALBANY, Ohio – It’s hard to say how long the New Albany football team will be without Harvard-bound running back Jett Jerwers, a second-team All-Ohioan in 2025 and in the words of first-year coach Mark Solis “an Ohio Mr. Football kind of player.”
Jerwers sustained what Solis would merely term “an upper body injury” last week during a 42-29 win over Dublin Jerome and those close to the team speculated that the injury might keep him on the sidelines for upwards of three to four weeks or even longer.
But while Jerwers, who had rushed for 639 yards (on a 7.8-yards per carry average) with 11 touchdowns in the first half of the season, may represent the heart and soul of the team along with fellow second-team All-Ohio linebacker Mason Ackerman, life will go on for the talented Eagles.
The modern pro-style offense Solis installed is designed to feature the unique skillsets of numerous players and that next-man-up, balanced approach was on full display Friday as New Albany disposed of Grove City 28-21 in an Ohio Capital Conference Ohio Division opener.
“We always talk about spreading the wealth and this offense is predicated on finding creative ways to the ball into the hands of our playmakers,” said Solis, who features a diverse history with 23 years as a head coach and a handful of other stints as both an offensive and defensive coordinator for other programs.
“It’s tough for the kids to deal with losing a player and leader the caliber of Jett, but I know we’ve got three really talented running backs, and other skill position players, who are getting opportunities to shine in his absence.”
Junior Maddox Vann led a three-tiered backfield with 124 yards on 19 carries with a touchdown, while senior move-in quarterback Drew Jackson and senior tight end Evan Murfield connected on two touchdowns to pace New Albany (5-1, 1-0), which already has exceeded the win total for the previous three seasons while achieving a lofty spot in the top-heavy Division II, Region 7 computer ratings.
New Albany quarterback Drew Jackson threw for 159 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Eagles to their 28-21 home win against Grove City Friday. Photo: John Hulkenberg
“I do feel like there’s a little more on my back with Jett gone, but he’s been super supportive and I also have an amazing offensive line to run behind,” Vann said. “This offense is designed to spread the ball around and I was confident that we’d continue to be true to the same plays we practice every day.”
Sophomore running mate Kingston Torres-Lofton chipped in 49 yards and receiver Chase Jackson sprinkled in a handful of reverse runs to keep Grove City’s defense guessing.
Jackson, a 6-foot-4, 220-pound senior whose family moved in from Fort Smith, Arkansas in mid-July, competed 13 of 15 passes for 159 yards. Murfield, an imposing and athletic 6-5, 225-pound target, hauled in six receptions for 75 yards with TD hookups of 11 and 3 yards.
“Our coach said it would be a next-man-up approach until Jett gets back and I think this proves what we’re capable of doing,” Murfield said.
Jackson (no relation to Chase) completed his first 11 passes stretching into the early stages of the fourth quarter. He has thrown 11 TDs with just one interception thus far.
“We’re prepared for every single situation that we might face and while we’re certainly going to miss Jett, we know we’ve got a good team with plenty of other options,” Jackson said.
Given that Grove City (4-2, 0-1) came in scoring 37.6 points per game and New Albany 34.2, observers were well-founded in expecting a shootout of sorts.
The Greyhounds took the opening kickoff and marched 80 yards in 16 plays with Blaike Jackson scoring from a yard out.
New Albany countered with an 11-play, 62-yard scoring drive.
New Albany tight end Evan Muirfield (9) runs after a catch against Grove City Friday. Muirfield scored two touchdowns in the Eagles’ home win. Photo: John Hulkenberg
The Eagles, who scored on their first four drives, took a 28-14 lead into the fourth quarter and seemed on the verge of putting the win to bed. But gritty Grove City patiently pieced together a 13-play, 80-yard scoring drive to make it a one-score game with 3:30 left.
New Albany, however, celebrated Military Appreciation Night by running out the clock for the win. The Eagles’ only two drives that didn’t produce a touchdown chewed up precious clock and kept the Greyhounds’ fast-break offense off the field.
“It’s hard to simulate in practice the tempo that they play with but I think we made some adjustments and, overall, bent but didn’t break,” Solis said. “I told the guys coming in that your best defense is a ball control offense and I’m proud of the way we executed the game plan … in all phases tonight. Nothing has been easy for the kids with the coaching change but they’ve embraced the culture, class and high standards that we’ve made a major point of emphasis.”
Grove City running back Blaike Jackson (9) was held to 72 yards rushing at New Albany Friday after a 436-yard, five-touchdown performance against Dublin Coffman last week. Photo: John Hulkenberg