November into view for Licking County's top teams

The page on the calendar just turned to October, and that has coaches, players and fans thinking about November.

Two Licking County League teams are in prime position to make a push toward the postseason while several others still control their own destiny. Licking Heights has reason to feel good about its situation after a 31-22 victory against Watkins Memorial on Friday.

Heights has been ranked high in Division II, Region 5 all season, and a victory this week against fellow D-II foe St. Charles could keep the Hornets in the running for a home game in Week 11.

"It's my senior year. We have only gone past the first round in 2007, so that's something we think about as a senior class, wanting to go far," Heights senior quarterback Gabe Caldwell said. "I know where we are at. I don't need the computer system to tell us."

Victories against D-II Watkins Memorial and D-III Granville, Buckeye Valley and Chillicothe have Johnstown on top in Division IV, Region 13. The Johnnies can take another step toward claiming the top seed Thursday when Newark Catholic visits for a televised game.

The Johnnies' 35-0 victory against Northridge this weekend was just their second lopsided victory of the season. They have risen to the occasion in close games, and that is paying dividends.

"It creeps into my mind, but I try not to let it get into my mind,” Johnstown senior linebacker Hayden Bullard said of the playoff scenarios. “I try not to let it affect how I play. I don’t want to get cocky.”

The season is far from over, but this Friday could go a long way in determining how many teams can join the Hornets and Johnnies in contention.

Licking Valley hosts Granville in essentially a must-win game. Neither team wants to have a third loss with Licking County League-Buckeye Division matchups with Heights and Watkins ahead.

Watkins clinched its playoff berth in Week 9 a season ago, and it was a good thing because the Warriors were upset by Lakewood the following week. The Warriors will have no such luxury this season as they need to take on the "Just win baby" mantra after falling to both Johnstown and Heights.

"You hope to get to eighth," said Watkins coach Jeff Severino, whose team hosts Lakewood before closing the regular season with Granville, Valley and Newark Catholic in succession. "It's just a matter of going out and seeing if the kids respond next week and they did after the Johnstown game. These are good kids. I think they will."

Northridge has twice won after a long bus ride, and the Vikings have their longest one yet Friday. The Vikings make a three-hour trip to play 4-2 Hicksville and must beat the Aces to keep pace in Division V, Region 16.

With high school football enthusiasts beginning to refresh www.JoeEitel.com each week, hoping to see where their team stands, it is difficult not to watch the scoreboard.

One thing, however, is certain. The playoffs are only ahead for the teams that keep winning.

“Honestly, it does, but we just try to focus on that next team, get that next win,” Johnstown senior defensive Richie Carey said.

Tell Kurt Snyder what you think at ksnyder@newarkadvocate.com.