OHSAA football playoffs: New Albany, Upper Arlington to clash in battle of unbeatens

Carson Gresock and Upper Arlington take on New Albany in a Division I, Region 3 semifinal Nov. 12. Both teams are 12-0.
Carson Gresock and Upper Arlington take on New Albany in a Division I, Region 3 semifinal Nov. 12. Both teams are 12-0.

•New Albany (12-0) to date: Def. Watkins Memorial 50-7; def. Westerville North 35-14; def. Licking Heights 49-14; def. Lancaster 34-20; def. Newark 77-0; def. Grove City 56-14; def. Gahanna 31-3; def. Westland 58-14; def. Pickerington North 20-19; def. Westerville Central 56-20; def. Westerville North 63-14; def. Hilliard Darby 49-26

•Upper Arlington (12-0) to date: Def. Reynoldsburg 42-41; def. Toledo St. Francis 37-14; def. Springboro 38-7; def. Central 42-0; def. Central Crossing 31-0; def. Hilliard Bradley 35-6; def. Olentangy Liberty 41-24; def. Olentangy Orange 35-10; def. Dublin Coffman 42-13; def. Hilliard Davidson 42-14; def. Thomas Worthington 56-0; def. Reynoldsburg 31-12

Their undefeated records might have indicated that New Albany and Upper Arlington would run into each other at some point.

But everything else the Eagles and Golden Bears can do, such as trying to loosen the opposing defense with the passing game, might decide a Division I, Region 3 semifinal Nov. 12 at Olentangy Liberty.

Both teams come in at 12-0 and have thrived in similar ways, albeit with different schemes. Top-seeded UA outscores its opponents 39.3-11.8 on average with a potent spread offense that emphasizes the run, and fourth-seeded New Albany — which averages 48.2 points and allows 14.3 per game — continues to use the run-oriented wing-T.

“They remind me a lot of us,” UA coach Justin Buttermore said. “It’s completely different schemes, but they play with great effort on every play. Their team speed really sticks out. Offensively, (it’s) the tempo at which they get to the ball and run plays. Their speed is really good, not just with their tailbacks and quarterback, but with their slotbacks and offensive line.”

Carson Gresock, the district Offensive Player of the Year, has rushed for 2,085 yards and 32 touchdowns on 224 carries to pace UA. Quarterback Simon Monnin has completed 128 of 178 passes for 1,799 yards and 22 touchdowns with three interceptions, and Sam Cannon leads the receivers with 46 catches for 728 yards and 14 touchdowns in 10 games.

Jadyn Garnes’ 190 carries for 1,836 yards and 27 touchdowns lead New Albany, which has rolled up 4,471 of its 5,200 total yards on the ground and sees its backs average 8.6 yards per carry to UA’s 7.1.

Christian Manville has rushed for 1,004 yards and 15 touchdowns on 105 carries. Quarterback Brock Kidwell is 38-for-57 passing for 729 yards and nine touchdowns with an interception and has 116 carries for 985 yards and 15 scores.

Garnes, Gresock, Kidwell and Monnin all are first-team all-district honorees.

Seventeen undefeated teams remain statewide. This is one of two games between 12-0 teams, with the other being a Division V, Region 17 semifinal between Canfield South Range and Sugarcreek Garaway.

This is the first meeting between New Albany and UA, but Buttermore went 2-1 against the Eagles in three Division II, Region 7 playoff meetings from 2010-12 while at Dresden Tri-Valley.

The 2010 game, a 30-27 double-overtime win for the Scotties, was New Albany’s only loss after a 10-0 start.

The winner will play second-seeded Pickerington Central or sixth-seeded Pickerington North in the regional final Nov. 19.

“As you get further in the playoffs, it seems like the teams are just a little bit faster and there’s less margin for error,” Eagles coach Bubba Kidwell said. “A lot of those things that people don’t see are the things that really matter, staying on blocks, playing your assignment and doing your job. Those are the things that have to happen when everything’s heightened.”

dpurpura@thisweeknews.com

@ThisWeekDave

This article originally appeared on ThisWeek: New Albany vs. Upper Arlington: A look at the Division I regional semi