By SPENCER WAUGH for The Logan Daily News
ZANESVILLE — A scouting report of Zanesville could be as short as five words: They are good. Really good.
The Blue Devils are 7-0 and ranked third in this week’s Associated Press Division II poll. Zanesville is averaging over 48 points per game on offense and holding opponents to just over 12. Their offense is averaging over 450 yards per game while the defense is allowing fewer than 175 yards per game.
The Blue Devils are winning games by an average of 36 points per game.
ZANESVILLE — A scouting report of Zanesville could be as short as five words: They are good. Really good.
The Blue Devils are 7-0 and ranked third in this week’s Associated Press Division II poll. Zanesville is averaging over 48 points per game on offense and holding opponents to just over 12. Their offense is averaging over 450 yards per game while the defense is allowing fewer than 175 yards per game.
The Blue Devils are winning games by an average of 36 points per game.
And the schedule hasn’t been easy. ZHS dominated traditional Muskingum Valley League contenders Sheridan (49-7) and Tri-Valley (52-7), and are nearly a lock to win their first East Central Ohio League championship after beating Dover (35-14) and New Philadelphia (28-14) the last two weeks. Dover had not lost an ECOL game since 2006.
The Chieftains and Blue Devils do share one opponent. Zanesville beat Newark in their season opener 49-13. The Chieftains beat Newark 32-27 for their first win back in week three.
On offense, the Blue Devils will likely remind Chieftain Nation of the 2008 and 2009 Chieftain teams quarterbacked by Patrick Angle.
Thomas Wibbeler (5-11, 170, senior) has completed 116-of-177 passes (65 percent) for 1,867 yards throwing 22 touchdown passes and only six interceptions. He adds 324 yards and four touchdowns on 48 carries running the ball.
Dar Stanford (5-11, 175, senior) leads ZHS with 40 catches for 633 yards and five touchdowns. JT McFarland (5-11, 170, senior) adds 26 catches for 390 yards and four scores while Granger Long (6-4, 220, senior) leads the team with nine touchdown catches and has 21 total catches for 406 yards.
Jordan Church (5-8, 165, senior) and Ben Kaufman (5-9, 150, sophomore) will also see time at receiver for the Devils.
Jamal Gladden (5-10, 175, senior) will be the lone running back in most formations. The senior has rushed for 708 yards and 13 touchdowns on 98 carries and caught ten passes for 125 yards and a touchdown.
The Muskingum Countians have a veteran unit led by tackles Austin Kimble (6-3, 255, senior) and Mac Masterson (6-3, 220, senior), guard CJ Hoskinson (6-4, 295, senior), and center Zach Clapper (6-2, 255, senior).
Guard Coulter Wilson (6-5, 300, sophomore) is the lone newcomer on the line. Masterson has been slowed by injury recently forcing senior Tristan Rock (6-0, 215) into duty at tackle.
Defensively the Blue Devils are extremely quick and aggressive in their flexible 3-3-5 defensive front. They have allowed only 95 yards per game rushing and held opponents to 77 yards passing while intercepting 12 passes.
Rock is an absolute monster on the defensive side of the football, leading the linebacking corps. Jeremiah Jones (5-11, 185, junior) and Devon Green (6-3, 200, senior) will flank Rock at linebacker. Deaunte Goins (5-10, 185, sophomore) adds depth.
Darien Daniels (5-9, 185, senior) is the nose guard who is joined by Brandon Paul (6-1, 240, senior) and David Johnson (5-11, 175, senior) on the defensive line. Kimble and Tristan Garnes (6-3, 175, junior) add line depth.
In the secondary, Stanford and Kaufman will be the corner backs with McFarland at free safety and Gladden at strong safety. Stanford has picked off five passes and recovered two fumbles, turning three of those into defensive touchdowns.
Trey Scoles (6-0, 150, senior) will play the “Devil” role, a bit of a free roaming position on the ZHS defense.
Logan Graham (6-3, 180, junior) will handle kicking duties for the Blue Devils. He is 40-48 on PATs and has converted both field goal tries with a long of 31 yards.
And McFarland will handle the punting… if/when the Devils are forced to do so. They’ve only punted eight times all season.
Logan football historian Spencer Waugh of loganfootball.com previews the Chiefs’ opponent every Thursday in The Logan Daily News.
The Chieftains and Blue Devils do share one opponent. Zanesville beat Newark in their season opener 49-13. The Chieftains beat Newark 32-27 for their first win back in week three.
On offense, the Blue Devils will likely remind Chieftain Nation of the 2008 and 2009 Chieftain teams quarterbacked by Patrick Angle.
Thomas Wibbeler (5-11, 170, senior) has completed 116-of-177 passes (65 percent) for 1,867 yards throwing 22 touchdown passes and only six interceptions. He adds 324 yards and four touchdowns on 48 carries running the ball.
Dar Stanford (5-11, 175, senior) leads ZHS with 40 catches for 633 yards and five touchdowns. JT McFarland (5-11, 170, senior) adds 26 catches for 390 yards and four scores while Granger Long (6-4, 220, senior) leads the team with nine touchdown catches and has 21 total catches for 406 yards.
Jordan Church (5-8, 165, senior) and Ben Kaufman (5-9, 150, sophomore) will also see time at receiver for the Devils.
Jamal Gladden (5-10, 175, senior) will be the lone running back in most formations. The senior has rushed for 708 yards and 13 touchdowns on 98 carries and caught ten passes for 125 yards and a touchdown.
The Muskingum Countians have a veteran unit led by tackles Austin Kimble (6-3, 255, senior) and Mac Masterson (6-3, 220, senior), guard CJ Hoskinson (6-4, 295, senior), and center Zach Clapper (6-2, 255, senior).
Guard Coulter Wilson (6-5, 300, sophomore) is the lone newcomer on the line. Masterson has been slowed by injury recently forcing senior Tristan Rock (6-0, 215) into duty at tackle.
Defensively the Blue Devils are extremely quick and aggressive in their flexible 3-3-5 defensive front. They have allowed only 95 yards per game rushing and held opponents to 77 yards passing while intercepting 12 passes.
Rock is an absolute monster on the defensive side of the football, leading the linebacking corps. Jeremiah Jones (5-11, 185, junior) and Devon Green (6-3, 200, senior) will flank Rock at linebacker. Deaunte Goins (5-10, 185, sophomore) adds depth.
Darien Daniels (5-9, 185, senior) is the nose guard who is joined by Brandon Paul (6-1, 240, senior) and David Johnson (5-11, 175, senior) on the defensive line. Kimble and Tristan Garnes (6-3, 175, junior) add line depth.
In the secondary, Stanford and Kaufman will be the corner backs with McFarland at free safety and Gladden at strong safety. Stanford has picked off five passes and recovered two fumbles, turning three of those into defensive touchdowns.
Trey Scoles (6-0, 150, senior) will play the “Devil” role, a bit of a free roaming position on the ZHS defense.
Logan Graham (6-3, 180, junior) will handle kicking duties for the Blue Devils. He is 40-48 on PATs and has converted both field goal tries with a long of 31 yards.
And McFarland will handle the punting… if/when the Devils are forced to do so. They’ve only punted eight times all season.
Logan football historian Spencer Waugh of loganfootball.com previews the Chiefs’ opponent every Thursday in The Logan Daily News.
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