Saturday’s game
What: Badin (5-2, 2-2 GCLC Central) vs. Chaminade Julienne (2-5, 2-2 GCLC North) at Wayne, 7 p.m.
Where: Good Samaritan Field at Heidkamp Stadium, 5400 Chambersburg Road, Huber Heights
Last meeting: Badin won 55-49 in 2014
Badin High School’s football team may have absorbed two brutal defeats this season, but its primary goals remain intact.
The Rams control their own destiny in the Greater Catholic League Coed Central Division race. And winning out will likely put them in the Division IV playoffs.
The losses to Fenwick and Alter were painful, but not season killers.
“We have to take care of things week by week,” said Badin coach Bill Tenore, who will take his squad to Wayne on Saturday to face Chaminade Julienne. “I think our players’ heads are in the right spot.”
The Rams (5-2) couldn’t hold an early 19-0 lead against Alter last Friday and lost 27-22. Tenore voiced his displeasure with the officiating, but said the game was really decided by Badin’s failure “to execute some fundamental football skills.”
“We couldn’t get in from the 1-yard line. We had a touchdown pass dropped. We got burned deep. There were some basic things we just didn’t get done,” Tenore said. “Against a great team like Alter, you’re going to lose the game doing that.”
Senior wide receiver/cornerback Philip Dozier said the Rams are determined to make a long postseason run.
“It’s a very sour taste in our mouths,” Dozier said. “We lost two close battles, but our attitude is we’re going to see them again, and we’re going to get ’em back.”
Fullback Cody Boxrucker became Badin/Hamilton Catholic’s all-time leading rusher and scorer during the Alter game. Dozier is next on the record hunt.
He has 1,737 career receiving yards and ranks second behind Alex Rieman, who totaled 1,801 yards from 2008 to 2010.
“It’s a big deal, but I’m still more focused on the team,” Dozier said. “If I break it, I break it. If I don’t, I will be sad, but I’m still making sure we get to the playoffs and go far. Alex is a good friend of mine. The Rieman boys are like big brothers to me.”
Dozier has been playing with a knee injury for several weeks. It’s slowed him down a bit, but he has no plans to sit out.
Two other key Rams are ailing. Halfback Cole Heflin is out indefinitely with a shoulder injury, and running back/cornerback Jack VanSteenkiste is questionable for Saturday because of an ankle injury.
Badin will be facing a CJ team that’s 2-5 and coming off a 45-7 beating from McNicholas. And the Eagles still have to play Fenwick and Alter.
CJ has been dealing with adversity all season, losing its four top players to transfers. Quarterback Jacob Harrison and wideout Tyler Traylor are at Centerville, defensive lineman Jeffery Pooler went to Dunbar, and running back Antwand Wilson plays for Wayne.
“I’m so past it. We’ve grown up and moved on,” Eagles coach Marcus Colvin said. “It’s been an up-and-down year, mostly down unfortunately. With that being said, these kids have had many chances since June 1 to give up, to not feel confident in themselves, yet they remain really resilient.
“We’re starting seven sophomores. I think in a year or two we’re going to look back at this season and be disappointed in it, but really see it as a springboard to what we think we can be in the next few years.”
Sophomore quarterback Ryan Peltier directs the CJ offense. The Eagles had a big ground game in a win over Roger Bacon, though Colvin said their attack is pretty balanced most of the time.
Senior linebacker Josh Simons (6-1, 205) is the top CJ player on defense.
“There’s enough talent on the team to give us problems if we mess around,” Tenore said. “We’re at a point now where each week is the biggest game of the year. If we really want to finish strong, we can’t stub our toe.”
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