Unger returns to lineup, leads Worthington Christian to playoff win over Vinton County
Friday, October 30, 2026
By Aaron Blankenship
info@cbussports.com
Josh Unger (7) returned to action after missing two games and led Worthington Christian to a 43-8 playoff win over Vinton County on Friday. Photo: Kevin Lam
WESTERVILLE – Josh Unger felt like he was experiencing a nightmarish version of déjà vu when he suffered a concussion during Worthington Christian’s one-point overtime loss to Orrville on Oct. 9, and then had to sit out the Warriors’ final two regular season games.
Exactly 364 days earlier, Unger temporarily lost movement in both of his arms after getting caught in a vicious collision during his squad’s loss at Orrville, bringing his season to a premature end.
“That was the most terrifying thing I’ve ever experienced,” Unger said. “My (cervical) spine was injured and I was paralyzed for 15 minutes, and didn’t know if I would ever move my arms again. Luckily my c-spine was just bruised and swollen and I got my arms moving as I was being carted to the hospital.
“But then to get a concussion a year later, almost to the day, against the same team, brought the morale down for our whole program, and I was worried that my season was over again.”
Fortunately, the junior running back/outside linebacker was medically cleared to return to action, just three days before Worthington Christian played host to McArthur Vinton County in their Division V, Region 19 playoff opener.
And Unger returned with a vengeance, rushing for 96 yards and two touchdowns in the first quarter alone, to help the sixth-seeded Warriors jump out to 15-point lead against the 11th-seeded Vikings, before rolling to a 43-8 victory on Thomas Field.
This was just the third playoff win for the Warriors, who improved to 6-5, and will play at third-seeded Columbus Academy in a quarterfinal on Nov. 6. Columbus Academy defeated Worthington Christian 28-7 in a regular season contest on Sept. 18 on Thomas Field.
Worthington Christian – which began playing varsity football in 2014 – also won playoff games in 2021 and 2022, but has never won two in one season.
“It just feels so amazing to be back out here with my teammates again, contributing to a big win like this, after everything I’ve been through the past two years,” said Unger, who also made several bone-jarring tackles on defense. “I appreciate every moment and don’t take anything for granted now, because those injuries taught me that any play could be my last one, and I’m motivated to make the most of this opportunity.”
Worthington Christian quarterback Isaac Zerkle (2) threw for two touchdowns during the Warriors’ home win over Vinton County on Friday. Photo: Kevin Lam
On just the fifth play from scrimmage, Unger escaped from the arms of a defender at the line of scrimmage, and then raced 31 yards up the middle of the field for a touchdown to give the Warriors a 7-0 lead just 1 minute, 50 seconds into the game.
“(Unger) is certainly a difference-maker,” said Vinton County coach Marcus Games, whose squad finished 6-5. “He’s a special kid, who is fast and runs hard every time he touches the ball. We didn’t know if he was going to play, and he made a big impact right away.”
On Worthington Christian’s next possession, Unger broke loose for a 30-yard run; and then stiff-armed his way past a defensive back en route to a 16-yard touchdown run down the right sideline, to help extend the Warriors’ lead to 15-0 with 5:39 remaining in the first quarter.
“Josh is a workhorse and he did a great job of giving us a big spark with those touchdown runs early in the game,” said first-year Worthington Christian coach Andy Johnson, who is serving as the Warriors’ fourth head coach in four seasons. “This is fun because our program is just hitting its adolescence, and now we have a chance to make history by trying to win two playoff games in the same year, when we get a rematch against a very good Columbus Academy team.”
Junior quarterback Isaac Zerkle also drew praise, after completing 14 of 17 passes for 184 yards and two touchdowns.
“We had been in an offensive funk coming into this game, and Isaac did an awesome job of leading us out of it,” Johnson said. “It all comes back to the quarterback, and Isaac shouldered the load and distributed the ball to where it needed to go. His biggest strength is his passion for the game.”
Just one play after linebacker Jayden Gesler recovered a fumble by Vinton County quarterback Jase Moore; Zerkle feathered a beautiful 18-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Kavion Reynolds, hitting him in stride in the deep left corner of the end zone, to stretch the Warriors’ lead to 22-0 midway through the first quarter.
“We worked on that play to Kavion in the corner all week, and after the turnover, we took a shot at it, and he made a great play,” Zerkle said. “Kavion also had two picks on defense tonight, so he was balling.”
Worthington Christian’s Jayden Gesler (54) chases a loose ball after a Vinton County fumble during the Warriors’ playoff win on Friday. Photo: Kevin Lam
In the third quarter, Zerkle scrambled away from a defender and zipped the ball to wide receiver Jack Smolenski for a 22-yard gain, setting up a 1-yard scoring run by slotback Dom Ortega on the following play.
“Their quarterback is a great dual threat guy, who can pass and run equally well,” Games said. “The way that he extends plays with his legs is special. He’s very dangerous when he runs, and even though we did a good job containing him (holding Zerkle to 15 rushing yards on five carries), he hurt us with his arm.”
And in the fourth quarter, Zerkle also tossed a 5-yard touchdown pass to Smolenski to extend the Warriors’ lead to 43-8 with 11:09 left, inducing a running clock the rest of the way.
Smolenski finished with six receptions for 97 yards and a score.
“I love this team so much and we’ve worked really hard to get to this point,” Zerkle said. “I didn’t even play football here my freshman year, and I barely played at all last year, mostly on special teams. But that’s when I learned how much I love football, and I’ve been working so hard to develop my game ever since then.
“I’ve dreamed about having a night like this since I was a little kid, and now we’re hoping to make a run in the playoffs.”
Both Unger and Zerkle praised the superior blocking of left tackle Cooper McGlothlin, center Bryson Lanker, left guard Shayden Testa, right guard Phil Vinson and right tackle Lucas O’Neil.
“All the credit goes to our line,” Unger said. “They are considered undersized, but they brought the fight and willpower we needed.”
Running back Jacob Thacker led the Vikings offense, by rushing for 86 yard on 20 carries.
Moore was 12-for-21 passing for 83 yards, including a 14-yard touchdown pass to receiver Kole Ousley with no time remaining in the second quarter, which pulled Vinton County within 29-8 at halftime.
But the Warriors held the Vikings to just 73 rushing yards on 31 carries, and dominated special teams play with Gesler blocking a punt and Smolenski recovering the ball in the end zone to put Worthington Christian ahead 29-0 late in the second quarter.
“Jayden Gesler and Blaze Johnson both did an awesome job at defensive line and linebacker once again, and our defense played great overall,” Johnson said. “We had some nice special teams plays, and I’m so proud of Jack Smolenski, because he’s been dealing with bum ankles all year, and he missed our last game, and then came back to have such a big impact tonight.”
Dom Ortega scores for Worthington Christian in the Warriors’ 43-8 postseason victory on Friday.. Photo: Kevin Lam