ROAD WARRIORS
Despite no home stadium, Gahanna finding success on others’ fields
With the rain mostly holding off after a short downpour earlier in the afternoon last Tuesday, the members of the Gahanna football team trickled in for practice.
Some came in personal vehicles, others on a school bus that had been arranged to drive students almost 2 miles to a temporary practice field at Gahanna Middle School East.
One player arrived only to realize he'd forgotten some of his equipment and had to go back to the high school.
A school bus isn't available for the team until 4 p.m., so the members of the program gathered in the locker room shortly after school let out to watch film, as they do twice a week, with two days per week reserved for a pre-practice weightlifting session. Most years, film sessions are held at the end of practice.
On Thursday, the Lions traveled to Whitehall to check out the facilities for their next “home” game, which was to be held the next day against New Albany.
“Right now we're handling it well, focusing on what we have to accomplish and getting up the mountain we have to climb,” junior wide receiver Jalen Scott said. “We just have to block out the distractions and face the adversity.”
It's that type of outlook that has led to success during a season requiring flexibility from players, coaches and fans.
Gahanna beat Mason 9-7 on Aug. 19 and Groveport 20-13 on Aug. 26 in its home stadium before the process of building a new stadium began.
The Lions' next two games were scheduled road games, but they then beat Pickerington Central 22-20 on Sept. 16 in what was considered a home game even though it was played at Thomas Worthington.
“We’re the road warriors. It’s funny, because we’ve got some shirts that say the ‘No Stadium Tour’ on them. It sucks walking out your back doors and seeing your field destroyed, knowing you’ve got to wait to practice. Most of the kids get up at 6:30 (a.m.), so it creates a long day for the kids.” Bruce Ward Gahanna football coach
After Gahanna opened the OCC-OHIO Division schedule with a 55-7 win Sept. 23 at Westland, the Lions defeated New Albany 38-24 on Friday to improve to 6-1 overall and 2-0 in the league.
Gahanna's other home game is scheduled for Oct. 14 against Grove City and will be held at Fortress Obetz, which is closer by 4 miles to Grove City than to Gahanna. If the Lions earn any postseason home games, those contests also will have to be held at other schools.
“We're the road warriors,” coach Bruce Ward said. “It's funny, because we've got some shirts that say the ‘No Stadium Tour' on them. It sucks walking out your back doors and seeing your field destroyed, knowing you've got to wait to practice. Most of the kids get up at 6:30 (a.m.), so it creates a long day for the kids.
“Obviously (we're building) team camaraderie, but we're also just facing adversity. Our kids are a resilient group. They've faced a lot of things, from the COVID year to the year after COVID to now the construction.”
The Lions had two games canceled last season because of COVID-19 protocols and then lost 31-3 to New Albany in Week 7 before closing the regular season with three consecutive victories en route to a 7-3 finish.
Gahanna's 6-1 start is its best through seven games since Ward's second season in 2015, when the Lions started 6-1
but lost three of their final four.
While the Lions expected a defense featuring senior lineman Kamari Burns and senior linebacker Jaden Yates to be their biggest strength, Ward also has been impressed with his team's running game and the growth of the offensive line while the passing attack progresses.
Junior running back Diore Hubbard averages 165 yards rushing behind a line that includes seniors Isaac Perkins and Griffin Flusche, juniors Ben Morris and Jake Grimm and sophomore Jeremy Mcdowell.
“The offensive line has more recently, sadly, been one of our weak points, so we took pride in the offseason in making that one of the best factors of the team,” said Perkins, who starts left tackle and nose guard. “Part of it is the great people we have up front, but also a mindset of, ‘Do you want to win or do you want to lose?' ”
Gahanna has been “getting better” offensively but still needs to develop more consistency, according to Ward. Sophomore quarterback Brennen Ward threw three touchdown passes, including two to senior wide receiver Makai Shahid, against New Albany. Brennen is the coach's son.
The Lions travel Friday to Westerville Central.
“We've adjusted to (our circumstances),” Hubbard said. “We're still working every day, all day. Our practice field still feels like home because we're still in Gahanna. We're just missing one piece of the puzzle and we've been clicking, but we've just got to pick it up a little bit more..”