HIGH SCHOOL

10 to Comprehend | Unexpected Contributions

Derrick Webb
Reporter
Zane Trace's Evie Bennett receives a serve against Huntington in a match earlier this season. Bennett, just a sophomore, has a been a major plus for the Pioneers this year.

I'm not afraid to admit that the fall sports season is absolutely my favorite.

You've got Friday night lights, competitive volleyball night in and night out, a plethora of talented area cross country runners, local soccer teams that habitually reach a district level and an ever-evolving Scioto Valley Conference golf race.

To my dismay, all of those aforementioned activities are at least halfway through their regular seasons.

While I slip into a slight depression because of that fact, I can also be excited because we've seen so many players step up, unexpectedly, and lend a helping hand towards their team's overall success. This week's "10 to Comprehend" focuses on exactly that: the unforeseen contributions from many of the area's athletes.

  • Chillicothe is leading the South Central Ohio League volleyball race by a large margin. The Cavs are 10-0 in SCOL play, and freshman Sophie Fulkerson is a big reason why. Fulkerson has been a welcome addition to the Cavs' starting lineup with 107 kills, 107 digs and 20 aces. Head coach Greg Tracey is high on Fulkerson, and I can see why. It'll be exciting to see how she develops going into her sophomore year as opponents start to key on her.
  • With a pivotal 42-19 win against Paint Valley on Friday night, Unioto has put itself in a position to once again be a contender in the SVC. The Shermans' defense held PV to 275 yards, and outside linebacker Cameron Bryce made his presence known throughout the ballgame. Bryce leads the area with eight sacks and has recorded 24 tackles on the year. The junior deserves credit for his level of play. He's fun to watch.
  • During her freshman year at Zane Trace, Evie Bennett was used, mostly, as a defensive specialist. Her role has changed this season. Bennett has been a mainstay in the Pioneers' offensive attack and has registered 97 kills, 37 aces and 17 assists while still being productive on defense with 176 digs. She could be the spark plug the Pioneers, at 8-8, need to rip off a lengthy tournament run. It's SVC volleyball. Don't underestimate it.
  • We knew Adena's JD Blevins was an athlete, but a running back? That has never been the case. Well, things change. Blevins has blossomed in the Warriors' backfield and has posted two straight 100-yard performances. On the season, the junior has 257 yards on 70 carries. He's scored once on the ground and has even become a weapon in the passing game with 129 receiving yards and three touchdowns. Keep feeding him the ball.
  • When Maci Conley went down with an injury, she led Piketon with 247 assists and was a crucial part to the Redstreaks' offensive game plan. Enter Kaylee Courtright, who has stepped in for Conley rather nicely. While Piketon has stayed afloat, Courtright has logged 82 assists and even broke the school record with 51 in a game this past Thursday. There's no question Piketon needs Conley healthy, but Courtright has earned her playing time.
  • Before the beginning of this year, we thought Westfall's Matt Jude was the key to the Mustangs' success. Turns out we're just talking heads. When Jude went down with an injury, sophomore Zach Gibson stepped to the plate. During his time under center, Gibson has scored four times with his legs and three more with his arm. Before a 34-17 win against Huntington, Gibson had tallied 231 rushing yards 257 passing. Those numbers will only grow.
  • Player of th e Week: 64 kills. 59 digs. 10 aces. 11 assists. All in a week's worth for Huntington's Rikki Magill. Magill broke a school record Thursday night with 47 kills against Piketon. She's without question the POW.
  • Player of the Year races: After witnessing Magill's performance Thursday night, it's evident there's not one player in the area who is more important to her team. She leads this race in my mind, followed by Adena's Devon Putnam and SE's Ella Skeens. On the gridiron, Unioto's Clay Edler still leads the area in rushing and still leads the POY race in my opinion. Piketon's Gabe Birkhimer and ZT's Austin Harris are a close second and third.
  • Fact that probably interests me only: If you've never heard of Jim Strausbaugh, you probably should have. Before going on to play for Ohio State University and the NFL's Chicago Cardinals, on Sept. 20, 1935, Chillicothe High School's backfield featured Strausbaugh against Waverly in their season-opener. The Cavaliers beat the Tigers that day 80-0, and Strausbaugh scored 12 touchdowns, still a single-game record at CHS.

dwebb@chillicothegazette.com

Twitter: @dw1509

Power Rankings

Football: Chillicothe (4-1), Zane Trace (3-2), Piketon (4-1), Unioto (3-2), Paint Valley (3-2), Huntington (2-3), Southeastern (3-2), Adena (1-4), Westfall (1-4)

Volleyball: Unioto (13-2), Southeastern (13-3), Huntington (11-2), Adena (11-5), Piketon (7-6), Chillicothe (13-5), Zane Trace (8-8), Westfall (4-9), Paint Valley (2-10)