The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Bombers bombard on ground, through air
Kenston’s offense presents a quandary to opposing defenses.
If defenders try to stack the box against All-Ohio running back Jack Porter, 2,000-yard passer Jon Tomcufcik will capitalize through the air. When defenses try to key in on the Bombers’ passing game, Porter needs a little daylight to start running downhill and churn out yardage.
Essentially, Kenston forces its opponent to pick its poison.
“It’s huge,” Coach Jeff Grubich said. “It’s something that we’ve been working for the last three years, being able to have that kind of two-headed monster back there in the backfield.”
The 11-1 Bombers enter a Division III, Region 9 final against Canfield at Warren G. Harding on Nov. 16. The 11-1 Cardinals lost in the regional final last season when Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary handed them their first loss of the season.
Canfield’s stingy defense presents a challenge for a Kenston offense that averaged 432 yards per game during the regular season. The Cardinals yield 8.7 points per game.
Porter amassed 1,627 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns on 273 carries during the regular season. The junior was a first-team All-Ohio selection last year and was named the 2018 Northeast Lakes District offensive player of the year.
“He’s a competitor,” Tomcufcik said. “He doesn’t like to lose. He runs the ball hard. He’s just a great running back.”
The player responsible for handing Porter the ball out of Kenston’s zone read offense is equally dangerous. Tomcufcik threw for 18 scores and 2,039 yards in the regular season. When
the Bombers defeated Riverside, 42-14, Tomcufcik threw more touchdowns than incomplete passes.
“He slings that thing, man,” Porter said. “He’s slinging it to the best wide receiving corps in the WRC.”
Senior Bransen Stanley leads Tomcufcik’s group of pass catchers. He caught 44 passes for 772 yards and 10 scores during the regular season.
Porter and Tomcufcik’s production is mirrored by
their leadership and work ethic. During the summer, they took the lead on organizing workouts with their teammates alongside offseason lifting.
“They’re football junkies, man,” Grubich said. “They’re old-school football junkies, so they’re a pleasure to coach.”
A victory against Canfield would send Kenston on to a D-III state final Nov. 23 against the winner between Columbus Eastmoor and Thornville Sheridan.
“Our goal is just to keep winning,” Tomcufcik said. “If we keep winning, we get to keep practicing and once again, we don’t want the season to end.”
Many of the Bombers have played together since their elementary school days. Advancement to Week 14 would entail another week of practice and preparation.
Said Porter: “I love film on Saturday morning.”