After a 5-6 finish last season, the football team is out to limit mental errors, turnovers, and missed tackles.
After it was announced that the then-sophomore would be the Worthington Christian football team’s starting quarterback last season, Tommy Hartings felt he was being handed the keys to a Ferrari. At the same time, he just had a learner’s permit.
“I was freaking out,” said Hartings, who had started the last game of the 2023 season. “By the year’s end, I really enjoyed it. (Former coach Ron Severance) was amazing for me. He helped me throughout the year mentally, physically, and spiritually. He shaped me into the quarterback I am today.”
During the Warriors’ 5-6 finish overall last year, Hartings, a special mention for the Division V All-Central District team, finished the season completing 55.8 percent of his passes for 1,558 yards and 18 touchdowns, but also had 10 interceptions.
Hartings and his teammates have a new coach in Chris Royal this season and a renewed sense of confidence as Worthington Christian prepares to host Danville in its Aug. 22 season opener.
“This is the most preparation we’ve done out of all the years I’ve been with the team,” Hartings said. “The team has bought in, and it’s been a lot of fun in the offseason. I’m really excited for this.”
Royal, the Warriors’ third coach in as many years, knows his team might be in for an uphill climb this season, but can’t wait to get started.
“I love building things from the ground up,” said Royal, whose son C.J. is a tight end and linebacker for the Warriors. “The one thing I hope the players get out of football is a genuine love for the game.
“Every coach will say their sport is the best, but I believe football is the best team sport ever created. All the guys must do what they’re supposed to do perfectly on every play, which doesn’t guarantee the play will work. There are so many lessons (from football) that translate over into real life.”
Offensively, Royal is planning to incorporate a spread offense to keep defenses off balance. Worthington Christian graduated key members from last year’s team, including wide receivers Cam Robinson and Jacob Corbin, and offensive lineman Ryan Kuerschner. Robinson, a first-team all-district selection, caught 49 passes for 666 yards and had 11 of the team’s 19 receiving touchdowns. Corbin (32 receptions for 377 yards with two touchdowns) and Kuerschner were second-team all-district picks.
However, Royal believes the team returns a solid corps of receivers in seniors C.J. Royal (6-foot-2, 185 pounds) and Cortland Haynes (6-4, 210), junior Dominic Ortega, and sophomore Jack Smolenski. Smolenski hauled in 16 passes for 201 yards and two TDs in eight games last year.
Worthington Christian must develop a secondary threat in its ground game to make the spread offense productive. Senior Gabe Long, a second-team all-district selection last season, might fit that bill. Last year, Long was the team’s leading rusher with 789 yards on 131 carries and scored 10 of the team’s 14 rushing TDs. Senior center Emmanuel Gyapong (6-2, 260) and junior tackle Asher Gilbert (6-2, 235) are anchoring the offensive line.
The key for the Warriors is to eliminate mental mistakes and turnovers, according to Coach Royal.
“We’re trying to improve our football IQ and ensure we execute without making crazy mental errors,” he said. “The big thing is eliminating false starts and turnovers. We are not built to withstand giving teams extra possessions.”
Coach Royal plans on using a 3-4 defensive scheme to revamp a defense that allowed 30.18 points a game. In their wins, the Warriors gave up 8.4 points a game and had shutouts of Elgin (41-0) and Bexley (35-0). However, in losses, that number jumps to 48.3 points per game. The six teams Worthington Christian lost to—Danville (12-3), Centerburg (8-4), Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy (9-2), Grandview (12-1), Columbus Academy (10-2), and Ironton (15-1)—were a combined 66-13 overall.
According to coach Royal, the 3-4 defense allows the team to utilize its stellar linebacking corps, led by junior Elijah Styer and senior Jake Mercer. Other players expected to be featured in the defense predominantly are seniors Gyapong at defensive end and Jordan Williams at cornerback, and sophomores Smolenski and Kavion Reynolds as cornerbacks. Gyapong was an honorable mention all-district last season.
“We’ve had a couple of linebackers step up in the offseason,” Coach Royal said. “We feel like we reloaded in that area. We have some athletic linebackers, and the 3-4 allows us to take advantage of that.
“One of the areas we must improve in is missed tackles. We had over 200 missed tackles last year. We could get players in position, but we couldn’t wrap up and finish the tackle. We’re trying to get rid of that.”