Defense distributing credit for Newark football
NEWARK — Lukas Kubik never expects to see his name at the top of the stat sheet for the Newark football team, but that does not bother the senior defensive lineman.
The work done by the first line of the Wildcats’ defense does not go unnoticed.
"It's all about helping the other guys get the job done. That is all that matters," Kubik said. "You don't get tackles necessarily all of the time, but it's always nice to have another guy get in there and get a tackle. It feels pretty good."
That unselfishness is what has boosted Newark this season and gives the Wildcats hope for what they believe is a bright future.
"They have good motors," said coach Bill Franks, whose defense also is primarily using senior Cameron Carver, sophomore Luke Samples and freshman Preston Lunsford on a rotating basis up front.
"They play with athleticism and cover their gap," Franks added. "Once their gap is taken care of, they run and make plays."
Newark has lost three consecutive games against a difficult schedule, but the Wildcats hope their payoff for staying the course is ahead. Newark continues Ohio Capital Conference-Buckeye Division play with a visit to Reynoldsburg on Friday.
The Raiders (0-6, 0-1), which lost its first five games to teams currently at 4-2 or better, fell late 20-19 at Groveport last Friday. Cameron Turner ran for 102 yards and a score, and dual-threat quarterback Troy Martin added 84 yards and a score on the ground.
"We're small compared to people, so a lot of it is heart," Carver said. "Once we won that first game, we knew we could do it. Now, we are just putting in the work."
Carver made at least 3 1/2 tackles in four of the first five games and has two sacks. Lunsford made three tackles, including a sack, against Olentangy Orange in Week 5 in his first significant varsity action.
"It's honestly like our coaches say, 'Just play for the guy next to you,' We play for our teammates, knowing how good it feels to win and have each other's backs," Carver said.
The work at the line of scrimmage continues to allow linebackers senior Calvin Untied and sophomore Kalen Winbush, who had 12 1/2 tackles in last week's 35-6 loss to Pickerington Central, to shine. They rank among the team leaders in tackles as they flow and attack from the edge.
The final four weeks against opponents a combined 6-18 provide Newark an opportunity the Wildcats have not enjoyed since 2016. They have not won more than two games since a 5-5 finish that year.
Another win also puts the Wildcats on the cusp of a Division I playoff berth. They rank No. 16 this week but have Reynoldsburg and Lancaster, which the Wildcats see down the road in the season finale, right behind them.
"Playing last year to this year has been a heck of a ride considering we've had a lot of ups and downs," Kubik said. "Bringing the team together and playing as a unit has really showed. It takes heart and determination to get the job done."
ksnyder@newarkadvocate.com
740-973-4541
Twitter: @newarkurt
This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Defense distributing credit for Newark Wildcats football
