Whitehall-Yearling Roundup: Rams can't take it easy
FRANK DIRENNA THISWEEKSPORTS.COM @ThisWeekFrank
Oct 15, 2019 at 2:05 PM Oct 15, 2019 at 4:51 PM
The Whitehall-Yearling football team enters the final three games of the regular season with its main goals still attainable.
After a slow start, the Rams have won three consecutive games and are 4-3 heading into a home contest against Ready on Friday, Oct. 18.
"Our next three games are going to be challenges," coach Rod Lightfoot said. "We have to be ready to go with Ready. ... With coach (Joel) Cutler taking over, they're going to be more disciplined. They come off the ball really hard. Defensively, they fly to the football, so we're going to have our hands full again."
The Silver Knights have lost two consecutive games to slip to 3-4, but they were competitive in a 21-15 overtime loss to Harvest Prep on Oct. 11 at Fortress Obetz.
Whitehall closes the regular season with MSL-Ohio Division games Oct. 25 at Harvest Prep and Nov. 1 at home against Buckeye Valley. The Rams are tied with Columbus Academy for second at 3-1, trailing Harvest Prep (3-0).
The Warriors have league games remaining against Bexley on Oct. 18, Whitehall and Liberty Union on Nov. 1.
The Rams also are hoping to keep their Division II, Region 8 playoff hopes alive. Whitehall was projected to be 14th in the region this week, with the top eight qualifying for the postseason.
The Rams amassed over 500 yards of offense for the third consecutive week in a 48-27 win over Bexley on Oct. 11.
Whitehall finished with 560 yards and was led by quarterback Ni'Kai Cameron, who completed 15 of 19 passes for 310 yards with touchdowns of 70, 65, 43 and 19 yards. He also had a 2-yard scoring run.
"I'm a lot happier with the offense this week," Lightfoot said. "There were some big plays in the game."
Lightfoot said the offensive line continues to progress and has played a key role in the winning streak.
"Our offensive line is really beginning to find their identity even though it's Week 8," Lightfoot said. "We're anxious to see how our kids do against Ready as we keep moving forward."
Christian Gordon had eight receptions for 185 yards and two touchdowns against Bexley. Charles Miller added a 71-yard kickoff return for a score.
"Our goal is to win a league title," said Gordon, whose team finished first in the MSL-Ohio last season at 5-0. "We want to win out. ... Everybody can get better. That goes from the receivers to the quarterback to the linemen. Everybody can get better every day."
Gordon said the Rams need to continue to show progress this week.
"Ready is going to come to play and we're going to have to do the same," he said. "We're going to have to outwork them."
Cross country teams compete at league meet
The boys and girls cross country teams competed in the MSL-Ohio meet Oct. 12 at Buckeye Valley.
Daba Hordofe led the boys, finishing 12th in 18 minutes, 11.7 seconds. He was followed by Keteme Feye (20th, 18:54.8), Eyobong Ita (21st, 19:00.7), Yared Yesuf (30th, 19:57.7), Sam McQuate (35th, 20:45.9) and Jordan Burchnell (43rd, 22:55.1).
The boys finished fifth (118) behind Bexley (39), Buckeye Valley (63), Academy (66) and Grandview (105) and ahead of Worthington Christian (143) and Wellington (214).
The girls did not have enough runners for a team score in the junior varsity race. Cali Justice was 26th (31:02.7), Rebekah Revadelo was 29th (35:40.9) and Amy Hernandez-Paz was 30th (36:23.7).
The Rams will compete in Division I district meets Saturday, Oct. 19, at Hilliard Darby. The boys are in district 1, from which the top five teams and top 20 individuals advance to regional Oct. 26 at Pickerington North. The girls are in district 2, where the top six teams and top 24 individuals advance.
Boys soccer team opens postseason
The 37th-seeded boys soccer team was 5-5-5 before playing 25th-seeded Chillicothe in the first round of the Division I district tournament Oct. 15.
The winner plays at 15th-seeded Groveport in the second round Thursday, Oct. 17, with the winner likely playing at third-seeded St. Charles in a district semifinal Tuesday, Oct. 22. Whitehall lost to Groveport 3-1 on Sept. 19.
The Rams closed the regular season with an 8-1 win over Tree of Life on Oct. 14.
fdirenna@thisweeknews.com
@ThisWeekFrank
Below are the coming schedules for the Whitehall-Yearling girls soccer and girls volleyball teams:
Oct. 15 -- Played top-seeded Bloom-Carroll in first round of Division II district tournament. Winner plays eighth-seeded Caledonia River Valley or ninth-seeded Columbus School for Girls in second round Oct. 19 at home of better seed. Winner plays third-seeded Bexley, sixth-seeded Hamilton Township, 10th-seeded Sparta Highland or 15th-seeded Cristo Rey in district semifinal Oct. 23 at home of better seed. The 16th-seeded Rams lost to CSG 6-0 on Sept. 7 and Bexley 11-0 on Sept. 18.
Oct. 16 -- Played fourth-seeded Utica or 22nd-seeded Linden-McKinley in second round of Division II district tournament. Winner plays ninth-seeded Centennial, 12th-seeded Granville or 13th-seeded Buckeye Valley in district semifinal Oct. 23 at Licking Heights. The Rams are seeded 20th.
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