Orange sees results of focusing on special teams
A number of factors have contributed to Olentangy Orange’s unprecedented, unbeaten football season. A speedy, swarming defense and a balanced, opportunistic offense are most apparent.
But in perusing the statistics, one can make a case that the Pioneers’ strongest suit is special teams:
Kicker Grant Simon has seven field goals, 51 points and averages 53.2 yards per kickoff with 17 touchbacks. The left-footer, who doubles as a soccer standout, has 50-yards-plus field-goal range and aspires to play Division I college football.
Luke Schmeling, while averaging a modest 34.3 yards per punt, has allowed opponents 19 yards total in returns with high and directional kicks.
With Jayden Rodgers and Garrett Runyon leading the way, Orange is averaging 21.1 yards per kickoff return and 11.6 on punt returns. Both have scored touchdowns. Their opponents average 13.4 and 3.2 yards, respectively.
“There are some really spectacular numbers there,” coach Zebb Schroeder said. “It’s not something that just happens. It’s all by design and devoting a lot of time and work to it. We hammered at the kids all summer that this is an area we can dominate if we just decide that we care more about it than our opponents.”
Schroeder said that while many teams practice special teams once a week, the Pioneers devote 30 minutes per day, and a full hour on Thursdays.
“Our special teams coach, Bobby Roth, has handled this every place I’ve coached and his knowledge and organization is unbelievable,” Schroeder said. “He runs a really well-oiled machine. He divvies up the work stations on individual specialists — snappers, holders, kickers and coverage teams — and they are very concentrated reps.”
Schroeder cited a few reasons why the Pioneers have been able to bottle up opposing returners.
“We work hard on giving our coverage teams ideal angles so they run less, get there quicker and squeeze down on the returner,” he said. “It helps that our quarterback also is our punter. On a few occasions, we’ve gone up to the line in fourth-and-short in shotgun and, depending on what we see from the defense, Luke quick-kicks it.”
The coach has repeatedly raved about Runyon’s punt returning prowess. He had three big returns that tilted field position in a 30-28 win at Olentangy.
“Garrett, he really attacked that role in the summer,” Schroeder said. “Repetition breeds confidence. He doesn’t even have to think about catching it. And Jayden has run in the state track meet, and returning kicks is a great way to showcase his talents.”
Bang-up special-teams play provides an ideal complement to a defense allowing just 9.5 points per game.
“We feel like we’ve played with good field position all year, and a lot of that’s because of our special teams,” Schroeder said. “We sincerely feel that this is an area you can get a leg up on your opponent, just by simply emphasizing it and working hard at it. It all starts by convincing kids that it matters.”