High School Football: Olentangy looks like complete team in win over Wildcats
Friday, September 1, 2023
By Jarrod Ulrey
julrey@cbussports.com
Olentangy quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer throws toward the sideline during the Braves’ 31-14 win Sept. 1 at Westerville South. Photo: Kevin Lam
With many of the same offensive weapons in place as it began its second season under coach Wade Bartholomew this fall, Olentangy expected to again be one of central Ohio’s most explosive teams.
What was clear after the Braves moved to 3-0 with a 31-14 victory Friday at Westerville South is that they can no longer be considered a one-dimensional threat.
Olentangy, which allowed 27.5 points per game in 2021 when it finished just 3-8 and 32.3 last season while going 4-7, might have played its most complete game under Bartholomew against the Wildcats.
In addition to producing more than 300 yards of offense, the Braves intercepted South senior quarterback Dominic Birtha twice and kept South out of the end zone during two first-half drives after the Wildcats got inside the Olentangy 20.
“We’re all playing with a lot of confidence,” Braves senior linebacker Will Beinecke said. “We’re a very physical team, and I think we can trust each other’s ability to make a play. That allows us to go all out.
“We’ve got a lot of room to grow, but there’s no stopping us right now. Our chemistry is a big thing that’s changed. We’re putting a lot of trust in our coaches, and I think we have a lot more guys invested in the program.”
The Wildcats, who defeated Olentangy each of the past two seasons but are 1-2 as they begin OCC-Capital Division action next Friday, fell behind 7-0 when Olentangy senior running back P.J. Harrison ran for a 2-yard touchdown midway through the first quarter. Preston Danner helped set up the score with a 46-yard run.
Westerville South running back Nasir Phillips looks for a lane during the Wildcats’ game against Olentangy Sept 1. Photo: Kevin Lamb
South then moved to the Olentangy 4 on the ensuing drive, but Braves sophomore defensive lineman Daniel Stephens sacked Birtha for a 7-yard loss on third-and-goal. Birtha was stopped for a 2-yard gain on fourth-and-goal from the 11 as the Wildcats turned it over on downs.
South moved to the Olentangy 16 on its next drive, but Stephens responded with a 5-yard sack and Birtha followed with three consecutive incompletions to also end that threat.
Stephens, who is 6-foot-3, 250 pounds and was playing in only his sixth varsity game, also had a tackle for loss on the final play of the first quarter.
“Once people start seeing his film … he’s going to be the real deal,” Bartholomew said. “I can’t speak more highly about our defense. Our defense has kept us in games.
“Offensively, everybody looks at the points and yards, but it’s really nice that we can go big play and we can march it down the field. That’s really fun as an offensive coordinator.”
Olentangy made it 14-0 when senior quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer, a Penn State commit who is in his third season as the starter, hit junior wide receiver Jackson Wiley for a 69-yard touchdown with 3:23 to go before halftime.
“I actually ran the play wrong,” Wiley said. “I ran too many steps out to break into the slant, but I scored, so it’s whatever.”
Beinecke and junior linebacker Lucas Jackson both intercepted Birtha during the final three minutes of the first half.
Olentangy running back Preston Danner cuts off tackle during the Braves’ game at Westerville South Sept 1. Photo: Kevin Lam
After Jackson returned his interception to the South 30, Grunkemeyer scrambled for 13 yards on second down and then found senior tight end Gavin Grover for a 17-yard touchdown on the final play of the first half to make it 24-0.
“I thought we had this kind of team the whole time, so it’s finally amazing to see it come forth,” Grunkemeyer said. “We’ve definitely got the playmakers on the edge and the (offensive line) to be able to block and set it up. It’s awesome to have those wide receivers that are able to take them deep and make the catch.
“We’re returning a bunch of kids, so having that chemistry the past couple years has been huge. That’s what’s catapulted us to the next level.”
Grunkemeyer finished 17-for-26 for 216 yards and three touchdowns, including hitting junior wide receiver Sam Uhlenhake for a 30-yard touchdown early in the third quarter.
South scored a pair of late touchdowns, one of which was a 3-yard run by senior running back Nasir Phillips, who finished with 99 yards on 16 carries.
“We drove the ball, (but) we’re making too many mistakes,” South coach Matthew Christ said. “That’s not winning football. We’ve got to align correctly, have the confidence to see it and go 100 miles an hour. There’s some hesitation, and some of that is guys playing varsity football for the first time. We’re playing several sophomores. We have a lot of talent, but we need to play better complementary football.”