Turbo-charged Corbett finding another gear down the stretch for Heath
HEATH ― It's not easy to slow Connor Corbett down.
Heath's dynamic sophomore running back-linebacker knows only one speed: all out. So how is it even possible for him to kick it up a notch?
Somehow, he has. In the last three wins, in which the Bulldogs have demolished opponents by a combined 136-6, Corbett has piled up 451 yards on 43 carries and scored 11 touchdowns. His rampage has helped Heath (5-3, 3-0) build a head of steam going into Friday's Licking County League-Cardinal Division showdown with state-ranked Newark Catholic (5-1, 3-0) at Swank Field. It will be senior night.
"He wants to be the best on the field, and he plays the hardest of anyone I know," said classmate and fellow linebacker Tanner Patterson. "When he runs the ball, it's the same as when he's on defense. He's going to hit you as hard as he can. When something goes to his side (on defense), I trust him to make the play."
Patterson has 74 tackles, 57 solos and 17 assists, while Corbett, a second-team All-Ohioan on defense as a freshman, has 71 tackles, 51 solos and 20 assists. He made 140 tackles in 2021. Offensively, he currently has 725 yards on 108 attempts, a 6.7-yard average, and has scored 13 touchdowns. Corbett also has 15 receptions for 143 yards.
"He plays exactly like what you would want in a football player, as hard as he can, every minute of every play," coach Tim Ward said. "It's not just a sports thing. He's intense in everything he does. So we call it moving his wall. Sometimes, he needs to take a break and fuel back up, so he never fully hits the wall."
"Playing both ways, I have to be in good shape," said the 5-foot-7, 165-pound Corbett. "Lately, I've been feeling more fresh running the ball. I can't take a break on plays, because everyone else is giving the same effort. Knowing this is for the league and playoffs, everyone is going to have to pick it up a notch."
Not only is Heath going for a third consecutive win against NC and a third straight league title, but the Bulldogs are trying to enhance their playoff standing. They're currently 12th in Division V, Region 19.
Foremost on their mind is securing a conference championship that would make them the first Heath team to win three in a row outright.
"Winning the league is our number one goal, because it's the one thing we can control," Ward said. "We want to be playing our best at the end of the season, and play meaningful games in October. This is the fourth straight year we've been able to do that."
After the Green Wave won 41-16 in 2019, Heath has prevailed 20-14 over NC in 2020 and 28-21 last season. The Bulldogs always seem to raise their game against their nearby rivals.
They'll need to again against the Green Wave, ranked second in the state in Division VII, handily leading Region 27 and having already clinched a home playoff game, according to joeeitel.com.
"They're extremely consistent and disciplined. They play hard, and are well coached," Ward said. "(Mason) Hackett is the real deal, and it seems as he goes, they go. (Miller) Hutchison does a good job managing the game."
"Our defense has to be very physical, because they'll outweigh us," Patterson said. "We'll have to swarm him (Hackett), shut him down on the outside and get everyone to the ball."
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This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Heath's Corbett running wild as Bulldogs enter final stretch run
