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Announcement
From The GAZETTE: By Lisa Gayle Grayson, Staff Writer
WILLARD — Chris Hawkins knew what Buckeye coach Chris Medaglia and his staff were going through this week.
Four years ago, the Willard football coach was scrambling days before the Crimson Flashes' first playoff game.
"I remember my first year as coach (at Willard), it was so overwhelming," said Hawkins, who is in his fourth year with the Flashes after heading Bucyrus Winford for five seasons.
But Willard is a couple of years from those pre-playoff game jitters.
Unlike Buckeye, which is preparing for its first playoff competition, Hawkins will be coaching his third Division III regional game with the Flashes tonight when the teams meet in Willard at 7.
The Flashes' playoff resume is noteworthy. They boast a 3-4 record heading into their fifth regional appearance.
In 1999, Hawkins took his first team to the regional semifinals. Behind quarterback Charlie Frye, now playing for the University of Akron, the Flashes lost 33-27 to eventual state runner-up Columbus Bishop Watterson.
Willard returned to regional action in 2001 and again made it to the semis with a 27-7 win over Bellefontaine. Its season ended when the Flashes were upended 24-22 by Sunbury Big Walnut.
The Bucks say they are ready to face-off against the Flashes. The winner gets a chance to play the winner of top-seeded Akron Buchtel
(10-0) and No. 8 Napoleon (9-1) next Saturday.
Buckeye and Willard both have one conference loss during the season. The Bucks lost to Triway (7-3), while Willard fell to Northern Ohio League champ and D-II playoff-bound Tiffin Columbian (9-1).
"They're really similar to us in a lot of ways," Buckeye running back/defensive back Forest Mercer said. "They've got a lot of skilled players and some skilled kids. They run a lot of similar things that we do."
Hawkins thinks the strength of his team — which returned 14 starters, including eight on offense — is its diversity.
While the Flashes' stats imply they are a passing team, Hawkins said their running game is also effective.
"We're not a run-and-shoot (offense like) Kenton," said Hawkins, referring to the Wildcats' quarterback Ben Mauk who broke the national high school record for career passing yards this season.
"We'll throw the ball 25 to 30 times, or 10 times if they shutdown our passing. If they have nine people in the box, we'll pass."
Added Columbian coach Steve Gilbert, "They're as balanced of a team as you'll find. They're a senior-dominated team with a lot of kids who played as sophomores."
A main staple to Willard's success is three-year starting quarterback Nick Stance. The 6-foot-2, 180-pound senior has connected on 130-of-219 attempts for 104 yards with 24 touchdowns.
"He's really similar to the guy who quarterbacked them in 1999," Gilbert said. "They just slipped him right in and he grew with that team."
His main targets are three seniors — J.J. Ditz (55 catches for 734 yards, 5 TDs), Nick Dials (26, 594, 6 TDs) and Nate Williams (20, 419, 9 TDs).
If Buckeye shutdowns Stance's passing, Willard will likely count on Williams to carry the ball.
While coaches who played the Flashes this season said Williams has not been utilized in every game, he has 581 rushing yards and 10 TDs this season.
"They put the ball in the air about 70 percent of the time," Medaglia said. "We'll have to make sure to mix up our defensive coverage."
Buckeye's offense can make it easy on the defense if it can sustain long drives.
It won't come easy against the Flashes with a player like defensive lineman/tight end Gabe Sanders, a four-year starter, in the lineup. The 6-3, 240-pounder has 78 tackles and five sacks this season.
Sanders gets plenty of help on the defensive front. Sophomore Danny Hammond (5-11, 195) led the NOL in sacks with 12. Junior Hiram Smith (5-11, 170 pound) has 118 tackles.
"We have good kids and great athletes," Hawkins said. "The fans are knowledgeable and yell at me when I make stupid plays, so it will be a tough place to play. There will be crimson, black and white all over the place."
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