Scouting Centerville (2-0)
Week 1: At Lakota East, won 42-6.
Week 2: Mason, won 30-7.
Rushing stat leaders:
Jake Carman, 17-150 (8.8), 2 TD’s.
Jon Overstreet, 24-127 (5.3), 2 TD’s.
Tristin Boykin, 17-108 (6.4), 2 TD’s.
Chris Barr, 16-107 (6.7), 2 TD’s.
Sack leaders:
Kyle Rose, Conner Donnini, Ifeadi Odenigbo, Michael Bennett, all with 1.
Fumble recoveries:
Rose 2; Brandon Reese, Connini 1.
Team strengths:
Running the ball, offensive line, entire defense, relentless precision. That all adds up to one of the best teams that coach Ron Ullery has produced.
Early commits:
OL/DT Bennett (Ohio State University), DT Rose (West Virginia) and LB Mike Replogle (Indiana).
He said it:
“The quarterback position is such an important position that I’m never dealt kids who are coming in with a limited skill set. Jon (Overstreet) is a special athlete; he was before I had a chance to even work with him.” — Elks QB coach Adam Ciarlariello
CENTERVILLE — Jon Overstreet already had two starting seasons as a cornerback on Centerville High School’s mighty defensive unit.
But that did little to prepare him for what awaited this, his senior, year.
The soft-spoken but gifted football talent was a quarterback-in-waiting. And just like his predecessors Zak Bertram and Logan Hanes, Overstreet is also a first-year starting senior under center.
That speaks equally for the trio’s ability to step in without prior varsity experience and for the offensive, run-heavy machine that has been in place at Centerville since the Bob Gregg era. The parts may change yearly, but the results are nearly always the same.
“I didn’t believe it myself until this summer,” said Overstreet, who won the No. 1 position after three preseason scrimmages.
“Coach would always tell me, but I didn’t understand how good it felt to be the Centerville starting quarterback.”
It won’t feel any better than this Friday, Sept. 10. Centerville hosts two-time defending Division IV state champion Alter and its 32-game win streak in the most anticipated regular-season matchup since Centerville vs. Wayne in 1999 when the rival squads entered undefeated and state-ranked in D-I.
Both Alter and Centerville are 2-0, the top-ranked teams in their divisions in the DDN rankings and both should be state ranked when that poll is released this time next week.
A capacity standing-room-only crowd is expected to jam the stadium, which can seat 8,000.
As leader of the Elks’ triple-option attack, it’s no wonder Overstreet is one of four players who has already surpassed 100 yards rushing in two blowout wins. He’s also completed 2-of-6 passes, but hasn’t needed to throw.
That could change Friday.
“They wait their turn and they work very hard to be ready when that turn comes and they stay with it,” said Centerville coach Ron Ullery of his QBs.
“It’s a tough position to learn and execute well and we were never fair to him in giving him the opportunity to just be a quarterback. We did this year and he’s taken advantage of it.”
Overstreet’s pass-defending corner days are done, for now. Instead of being “on an island” waiting for action, he is the action.
“I didn’t understand this at first until you walk out there,” he said.
“You don’t realize how many people watch and are aware of what you’re doing out there on Friday nights. It’s a lot of fun. The spotlight’s always on you, and that’s always good.”
Contact this writer at (937) 225-2381 or mpendleton @DaytonDailyNews.com.
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