What have we learned at midseason?
Coaches like to say, ad nauseam, "we're only taking this one week at a time."
It's my job, however, to take a look at the bigger picture.
So five weeks into the 2016 football season, as leaves start to turn and a cold nip fills the air, what have I seen in Licking County? And what do I expect the remainder of the way, as conference play begins full tilt?
Save for a few defensive problems, and slow starts, 5-0 Johnstown is as advertised. It's amazing to see such a ground-hugging team cover so much ground, so quickly, in so little time. It helps when you have a healthy Cody Workman and Justin Franklin carrying the load. Both seem to have a different gear this time around.
The Johnnies, thanks to beating three teams with winning records including 4-1, Division III Chillicothe, stand atop a highly-competitive Division IV, Region 15 that also includes the likes of Heath (No. 4), Lakewood (No. 6) and Licking Valley. The Panthers are No. 11 and not that far out of the hunt at 2-3 thanks to a pair of heart-stopping wins including one over 4-1 Philo, which stands eighth in the same region.
Heath (5-0) and the superlative Aaron Latiolais opened a whole bunch of eyes in the county Friday, with their win over Division II, LCL Buckeye Division favorite Licking Heights. It's not just the fact the Bulldogs beat the talented Hornets, which had lambasted them by an average of 40 points over the past two seasons. It's the way they did it: stopping explosive Heights when it had to and booting a winning 36-yard field goal when kicking has not exactly been a strongpoint in recent seasons.
Good teams find a way to get it done, and the Bulldogs have seemingly found the formula, but will likely have to go to it again at least a couple of more times in the LCL Cardinal. Newark Catholic comes calling next Friday, and Heath ends the season hosting Johnstown with likely a whole lot on the line.
NC, which hosted Lakewood last night (before this was written), also has Johnstown to deal with in Week 7 along with the slew of injuries it has suffered. But the Green Wave and its beast of a tailback, Kyle Gibson, will be getting healthier, and still sits atop Division VI, Region 23 even with the lopsided loss to a Heights team still not out of it in Division II, Region 7.
Speaking of Lakewood, I can't say enough about the job coach Craig Conley has done with the Lancers. Granted, the NC game started a challenging, season-ending stretch for them. But the 4-0 start has put a smile on many a face in the greater Hebron area, including athletic director Bo Hanson as he surveyed a packed house last Friday against Utica.
Early in the season, Lakewood and Newark, with its 3-0 start, were the talk of Licking County. The Wildcats' luster has been somewhat dimmed by losses to Lancaster and Olentangy Orange, but all is not lost. Newark finishes its season with five games in the newly-formed Ohio Capital Conference-Capital Division.
It's almost like the start of a new season. The Wildcats are currently 10th in Division I, Region 2, and a strong finish could boost them into the postseason. Surely then, they would be back in the county conversation.
Someone already there is Granville senior wideout-defensive back Jack Peterson, surely one of the best players in the LCL. He's gotten the attention of fans, media and opponents alike, with his 39 catches for 484 yards and five touchdowns, three interceptions and always-around-the-football defense. The Blue Aces are 1-4, but their losses are to teams with a combined 19-1 record.
dweidig@newarkadvocate.com
740-328-8557
Twitter: @noz75