DUBLIN — After 10 weeks of high school football, every team still playing is back to 0-0.

For the Logan Chieftains, that means their outstanding 10-0 regular season is behind them. But for Dublin Jerome, it’s a chance to erase a disappointing 6-4 regular season and make up for mistakes in the “survive and advance” nature that makes up the OHSAA post-season.

Dublin Jerome opened in 2004 and coach Mark Hundley has been there all five seasons with an overall record of 23-28, including one playoff appearance in 2005.
The Celtics had high expectations entering the season, hoping to ride fourth-year starting quarterback Kevin Jackson (5-8, 165) to an OCC title. Injuries got in the way early in the season, but the green and gold still managed to share the OCC Cardinal Division championship.

Jerome played back-to-back weeks without eight starters due to injury in the first half of the season, splitting games with Groveport-Madison (a 27-7 loss) and Westerville North (a 14-13 win). In Cardinal division play, the Celtics were 5-2 — both losses game in games where they were near 500 yards of total offense but combined for 10 turnovers.

Offensively, the Celtics are averaging 24.3 points per game and 343 yards of total offense. Jerome has shown tremendous balance, averaging 150 yards per game on the ground and 193 yards per game through the air.

The Celtics line up in two distinct offenses: a packed-in tight double-wing and a sideline-to-sideline spread offense. But the one key ingredient in both offensive sets is the talent of Jackson under center.

The senior signal-caller has completed 132-of-249 passes for 1,700 yards with 10 touchdown passes. He is also a dangerous threat on the ground, where he is Jerome’s career leader in rushing touchdowns.

But the green and gold are far from a one-man show. Senior Cody Burris (6-0, 190) leads Jerome with 21 catches for 453 yards and is also a solid runner out of the backfield. Senior Robert Carmona (6-1, 170) and freshman Cameron Wilson (6-1, 175) are also reliable pass catchers when the Celtics want to spread the field. Senior Mike Adolph (5-11, 185) may see time at receiver as well.

Joining Jackson in the backfield are seniors Joe Horrine (5-7, 140) and Connor Rosenbaum (5-11, 190) along with junior Steve Mehrer (6-0, 220). Mehrer is the leading Celtic runner with 718 yards and 11 touchdowns on 125 rushes. Horrine has the ability to play wide receiver and holds a school-record with 12 catches in a game set against Westerville South. Junior Chris Bahr (6-0, 230) will also see time at fullback when Jerome is in short yardage situations.

Up front, Jerome is led by senior tackle Spencer Breseman (6-3, 215) and sophomore tackle Josh Vradenburg (6-1, 210). Junior Trevor Mendelson (6-3, 235) is the center. Junior Cody Townsend (6-2, 225) will play one guard spot, while senior Cian Nielson-Mayer (6-0, 265) will be the other guard. When Jerome is in its double-wing formation, Bahr and senior Alex Dyer (5-8, 170) will also see time as the ends.

Defensively, the Celtics have allowed 330 total yards and 24.9 points per game with an average of 243 of those yards coming on the ground. Jerome is allowing only 87 yards per game through the airwaves.

The defense is young, with only three seniors in the front eight of the Celtics 4-2-5 defense. Up front, Breseman and senior Rick Armstrong (6-5, 220) are the ends with Bahr and Townsend acting as run-stoppers inside at the tackle spots. Senior Zac Saleski (6-2, 205) adds depth on the defensive line.

The linebackers are Mehrer and Rosenbaum. Sophomore Connor O’Brien (5-9, 165) and junior Patrick Cooney (6-1, 170) are the outside safeties who are equally adept against the pass and the run. O’Brien has been a catalyst for the Jerome defense and always seems to come up with the big play defensively despite only being a sophomore.

In the secondary, senior Jeff Robison (6-0, 180) is the top corner and is coming off a two-interception game against winless Westerville Central last week. Classmate Jason Pollo (5-9, 150) is the other cornerback with senior Adolph playing safety. Burris adds depth in the secondary.

Sophomore Alex Flexer (5-9, 155) will handle the placekicking duties for Jerome with senior Josh Green (5-10, 170) kicking off. Sophomore Eric Ruhl (6-2, 165) does the punting and averages roughly 40 yards per boot. Leo Horrine (5-5, 140, sophomore) returns both punts and kickoffs for the green and gold.

Logan football historian Spencer Waugh of loganfootball.com previews the Logan Chieftains’ football opponent every Thursday in The Logan Daily News.

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