Division I regional track finals
Fenwick graduation 2012
Ponitz graduation 2012
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Football preview: Ponitz Tech
This is another in a series of capsules previewing area high school football for the 2010 season:
PONITZ TECH (D-VI, Region 24)
League: Dayton City League
Coach: John Wortham (2nd year)
2009 record: 0-4, 1-9
Key returners:
Bryant Ballard, sr., WR/DB
Nick Houston, jr., WR/DB
Craig Wallace, sr., QB/DB
Extra points:
The Golden Panthers won a single game during their inaugural season - a 34-20 defeat of Troy Christian in Week 9 - but there were other positives for the first-year school.
The Week 2 game against Jefferson, for instance, created instant buzz when the teams combined for 1,041 yards of offense in the 52-47 Jefferson victory. In that game, then-junior quarterback Wallace completed 14-of-26 passes for 243 yards and three touchdowns.
A senior now, Wallace in Ponitz’ returning star who is also gaining plenty of recruiting attention, mostly as a defensive back. The 5-foot-9 Wallace finished last season with more than 2,000 yards passing.
“If he was taller, we’d be talking about him like the kid at Wayne (Ohio State recruit Braxton Miller),” Wortham said.
“He picks things up very quickly, he’s a great competitor, and he can make quick adjustments on the fly. He has a great football IQ, so we try not to make his height an issue.”
The Golden Panthers faced some defensive problems last season, giving up at least 50 points seven times, so coaches changed this season to a defense with three down linemen to increase the importance of speed instead of size. One of the leaders is expected to be junior linebacker Jordan Baxter, an example of a Ponitz Tech player who runs well but doesn’t have major size.
The offense will get help from 285-pound offensive tackle Cal Griffith, whom Wortham said is increasing his strength to help protect Wallace.
Overall, Wortham said there were built-in difficulties with being a first-year program, and he hopes to improve in Year 2.
“It depends on how you measure success,” Wortham said. “We wanted to be able to win more, of course, but we were in a couple games late and youth got the better of us. We’re trying to lay a foundation of expectations.”
PONITZ TECH
Fri., Aug. 27 Lockland
Fri., Sept. 3 at Jefferson
Thurs., Sept. 9 Chaminade Julienne
Fri., Sept. 17 at North College Hill
Thurs., Sept. 23 Meadowdale
Fri., Oct. 1 Belmont
Fri., Oct. 8 at Dunbar
Fri., Oct. 15 Jonathan Alder
Fri., Oct. 22 at Troy Christian
Fri., Oct. 29 at Marshall
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