Portsmouth scouting report: With top QB out for season, Trojans are a team in transition
By SPENCER WAUGH for The Logan Daily News
PORTSMOUTH — Logan makes its third — and likely final — trip to the Trojan Coliseum in Portsmouth on Friday night to face a team in transition.
The Trojans, under second-year head coach Jason Sparks, sit 1-4 with losses to Lucasville Valley (41-40), Portsmouth West (42-39), Wheelersburg (49-13), and Ironton (49-14). Their lone win came against Waverly (29-27).
The Scioto Countians’ high-flying spread offense was derailed in their week-two loss against Portsmouth West when senior quarterback Sky Oliver (5-11, 180, senior) was lost for the year due to a knee injury.
PORTSMOUTH — Logan makes its third — and likely final — trip to the Trojan Coliseum in Portsmouth on Friday night to face a team in transition.
The Trojans, under second-year head coach Jason Sparks, sit 1-4 with losses to Lucasville Valley (41-40), Portsmouth West (42-39), Wheelersburg (49-13), and Ironton (49-14). Their lone win came against Waverly (29-27).
The Scioto Countians’ high-flying spread offense was derailed in their week-two loss against Portsmouth West when senior quarterback Sky Oliver (5-11, 180, senior) was lost for the year due to a knee injury.
In the first two weeks, Oliver had completed 27-of 41-passes for 569 yards with five touchdowns and only one interception.
Taking Oliver’s place for PHS has been freshman Cole Lowery (5-10, 155). Lowery finished the game against Portsmouth West and has started since, completing 25-of-46 passes for 350 yards with two touchdowns and four interceptions.
While Lowery is a talented freshman and has performed well, the Trojan spread offense has changed to a more ground-oriented approach the last two weeks.
Running back Darion Robinson (6-2, 175, senior) will be the main man for the Trojan offense. Robinson has rushed for 552 yards and seven touchdowns on 75 carries and caught seven passes for 192 yards and another touchdown.
Robinson has the power to run between the tackles and the speed to get to the end zone if he gets to the secondary.
Austin Hollins (5-11, 172, junior) joins Robinson and Lowery in the backfield. Hollins has rushed 34 times for 135 yards and a touchdown and caught nine passes for 175 yards.
Alex Dickerson (6-3, 172, senior) is the top receiving threat with 21 catches for 344 yards and three scores. Luke Purdy (5-9, 135, sophomore) adds 10 catches for 160 yards and three scores. Tristan Visa (5-10, 139, junior) and Ryan Williams (5-11, 165, sophomore) will also play receiver in the Trojans spread offense.
Up front, PHS averages just about 230 pounds per man. The center is Michael Sturgill (6-0, 220, senior), the rotating guards are Warren Goddard (6-1, 202, junior), Ryan Penn (6-1, 227, senior), and Andrew Holsinger (6-0, 265, junior), and Vinnie Kennedy (6-1, 228, senior), Hunter Gibson (6-4, 230, senior), and Isaac Stanley (6-2, 237, senior) all rotate at tackle.
Defensively, the Trojans have struggled in allowing over 40 points and over 400 yards per game.
The Blue and Red will line up in three- and four-man fronts and have even shown five-man against run-oriented teams. Leading the defensive line are Kennedy, Jhalil Ellis (5-10, 200, sophomore), Stanley, and Daniel Hill (5-8, 176, sophomore).
Andrew Scott (5-10, 202, senior) and Zach Delotell (5-10, 222, junior) will both play on the line or at linebacker depending on how the defense lines up.
Austin Mullins (5-7, 176, junior), Hollins, and Sturgill are primarily used as linebackers.
Dylan Mullins (5-9, 145, junior) and Darray Richardson (5-11, 137, junior) will start at cornerback with Robinson and Dickerson playing at safety. Purdy, Williams, and Travis McKenzie (5-7, 117, junior) will all see time in the secondary as well.
Ellis will handle the placekicking and punting duties for Portsmouth while Robinson and Hollins will return kicks.
Logan football historian Spencer Waugh of loganfootball.com previews the Chiefs’ opponent every Thursday in The Logan Daily News.
Taking Oliver’s place for PHS has been freshman Cole Lowery (5-10, 155). Lowery finished the game against Portsmouth West and has started since, completing 25-of-46 passes for 350 yards with two touchdowns and four interceptions.
While Lowery is a talented freshman and has performed well, the Trojan spread offense has changed to a more ground-oriented approach the last two weeks.
Running back Darion Robinson (6-2, 175, senior) will be the main man for the Trojan offense. Robinson has rushed for 552 yards and seven touchdowns on 75 carries and caught seven passes for 192 yards and another touchdown.
Robinson has the power to run between the tackles and the speed to get to the end zone if he gets to the secondary.
Austin Hollins (5-11, 172, junior) joins Robinson and Lowery in the backfield. Hollins has rushed 34 times for 135 yards and a touchdown and caught nine passes for 175 yards.
Alex Dickerson (6-3, 172, senior) is the top receiving threat with 21 catches for 344 yards and three scores. Luke Purdy (5-9, 135, sophomore) adds 10 catches for 160 yards and three scores. Tristan Visa (5-10, 139, junior) and Ryan Williams (5-11, 165, sophomore) will also play receiver in the Trojans spread offense.
Up front, PHS averages just about 230 pounds per man. The center is Michael Sturgill (6-0, 220, senior), the rotating guards are Warren Goddard (6-1, 202, junior), Ryan Penn (6-1, 227, senior), and Andrew Holsinger (6-0, 265, junior), and Vinnie Kennedy (6-1, 228, senior), Hunter Gibson (6-4, 230, senior), and Isaac Stanley (6-2, 237, senior) all rotate at tackle.
Defensively, the Trojans have struggled in allowing over 40 points and over 400 yards per game.
The Blue and Red will line up in three- and four-man fronts and have even shown five-man against run-oriented teams. Leading the defensive line are Kennedy, Jhalil Ellis (5-10, 200, sophomore), Stanley, and Daniel Hill (5-8, 176, sophomore).
Andrew Scott (5-10, 202, senior) and Zach Delotell (5-10, 222, junior) will both play on the line or at linebacker depending on how the defense lines up.
Austin Mullins (5-7, 176, junior), Hollins, and Sturgill are primarily used as linebackers.
Dylan Mullins (5-9, 145, junior) and Darray Richardson (5-11, 137, junior) will start at cornerback with Robinson and Dickerson playing at safety. Purdy, Williams, and Travis McKenzie (5-7, 117, junior) will all see time in the secondary as well.
Ellis will handle the placekicking and punting duties for Portsmouth while Robinson and Hollins will return kicks.
Logan football historian Spencer Waugh of loganfootball.com previews the Chiefs’ opponent every Thursday in The Logan Daily News.
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