It’s also homecoming for the Falcons, and a packed house is expected.
WEEK 7 FOOTBALL COVERAGE
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“When these kids decide to play football, this is the kind of night they’re coming out for,” said Fenwick coach Dan Haverkamp, whose squad is 4-2 with losses to Clinton-Massie and Alter. “We recognize they’re undefeated and we’re the underdog, but we feel pretty loose and pretty confident embracing that role this week.”
It might just be Round 1 for these two teams. They’re both in Region 12 and have clear playoff aspirations.
“We wanted to win the GCL, which is going to be tough now,” Falcons senior strong safety Henry Nenni said. “But our main goal was to make the playoffs, which is still really, really doable. We could win out, and that’s what we’re working for.”
Fenwick has played through multiple injuries and still found success. CJ (6-0) isn’t at full strength either, but for a different reason.
Three juniors — quarterback Ryan Minor, running back Marquis Henry and nose guard Marquel Henry — fell under the new Ohio High School Athletic Association transfer rule that allows players to participate in the first five games before sitting out the rest of the season.
All three were major contributors in the first five weeks. Minor (from Stebbins) completed 69-of-93 passes for 1,021 yards and 16 touchdowns, Marquis Henry ran 64 times for 597 yards and nine TDs, and Marquel Henry forced and recovered two fumbles. The Henrys are twins from Meadowdale.
“I’m not going to lie to you … I feel like we’re the only team in America who’s being punished with this rule,” Eagles coach Marcus Colvin said. “The good thing is they’re all juniors, so they’ll all get a full year next year. But I feel bad for them.
“I totally understand there’s a consequence for transferring, but I think the rule they had before was good enough — you sit the first five games and you get a chance to help your team in the last five and if you get a playoff berth. Honestly, I think it’s a little too punitive. I’m hoping they’ll reconsider.
“It’s not like it was a surprise. Being a Catholic school, we know where we rank in terms of regulations. We figured that was going to go through, so it’s something we’ve prepared for.”
CJ had a difficult time fighting off Roger Bacon 35-28 last week. It was the lowest point total of the year for the Eagles, but the spread offense didn’t exactly sputter. Freshman quarterback Luke Chandler was 13-of-24 for 238 yards and two touchdowns.
Junior running back Quincy Johnson has carried the ball 83 times for 617 yards and 10 scores. Four receivers have at least 185 yards, led by senior Dominic Wilcox (24 catches, 482 yards, eight TDs). CJ is scoring 45.8 points per game.
“As I complain and cry, we do have some guys that are very good playmakers for us,” Colvin said. “We spread it around and try to get the ball out in space for our guys and hope they can make plays. That’s really been our M.O.”
The Eagles use a 3-3 stack defense. Sophomore linebacker David Frederick has a team-high 58 tackles, and senior ends Shane Cokes (6-3, 231) and Colin Downing (6-3, 228) are difference makers.
This game has the makings of a high-scoring affair. Fenwick is scoring 31.3 points per game and has some playmakers of its own, including senior running back Jack Fessler (112 carries, 798 yards, 12 TDs), senior quarterback Sully Janeck (64-of-126, 1,056 yards, 10 TDs), and senior receivers Thomas Vogelsang (20 catches, 436 yards, five TDs) and R.J. Clesceri (17 catches, 303 yards, three TDs).
“I think they’re probably the best team we’ve played all year, no disrespect to anybody else,” Colvin said. “It’s a talented team that’s challenged itself with a really tough schedule. They look great on film, and they always play us really tough down there. Their crowd is always engaged and really into it.
“There’s two pretty explosive offenses that are going to be on that field. We really feel that we have to take a step forward defensively this week. We have the ability to be a good defense if we hang in there and focus for four full quarters. We didn’t do that last week, which was kind of disappointing.”
The Falcons found themselves in a 14-0 first-quarter hole at McNicholas last Friday. Fessler gave his team a wake-up talk between periods, then opened the second stanza with a 53-yard touchdown run.
Fessler went on to total 279 yards and five TDs on the ground as Fenwick won 57-26.
“We came out a little flat,” Haverkamp said. “I think coming off a loss to Alter, we allowed ourselves to overlook an opponent that was more than capable of beating us, and they took advantage of that early. You don’t want to go through a quarter like that, but it helped us realize we’ve got to be locked in every single week.”
He said Fessler’s speech was the jolt the Falcons needed.
“Being at Penn Station Stadium, we were right in front of all the fans, and I have to imagine everybody at the top row heard him talking,” Haverkamp said. “And then the very first play he was gone. All I said to our offensive coordinator was, ‘Hey, hand the ball off to Jack.’ That was my full input.”
The 5-foot-9, 175-pound Nenni had a hand in 17 tackles against the Rockets and tops the GCLC with 82. He’s moved closer to the ball after being mostly a coverage guy last season.
“I’ve kind of surprised myself a little bit,” Nenni said. “I’m just trying to make plays. They put me in a position to succeed.”
“I don’t know if I would’ve picked him to be our leading tackler at this point, but I can’t say I’m surprised,” Haverkamp said. “I remember seeing him on film. He really jumped out as a guy who would get to the ball quickly and stick his nose in there. Last year, he got there and didn’t finish tackles. This year, he’s not losing any of those tackles.”
Friday’s game
What: Chaminade Julienne (6-0, 3-0 GCLC North) at Fenwick (4-2, 2-1 GCLC North), 7 p.m.
Where: Krusling Field, 4855 State Route 122, Middletown
Series: CJ leads 7-5 and won 14-2 last year
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