Warren football team impressive in 7-on-7 tournaments

VINCENT - If the 7-on-7 tournament is any indication, the Warren football team may be featuring a strong passing attack on the gridiron this upcoming season.

Last week, the Andy Schob-coached Warriors were a combined 10-0 in tourneys at Muskingum University in New Concord and at the University of Akron.

"We're making a lot of progress," Schob said.

Warren's quarterbacks were senior Justin Hilverding and sophomore Dylan Leffingwell, "who shared equal reps," Schob said. One of these student/athletes is expected to succeed 2009 starting signal caller Clay Ellenwood, who graduated this past spring after helping lead the royal blue and white team to a 7-3 record.

Looks like Schob, who will be in the his first year at the Warren football helm, will have some depth at the QB position this season.

Last season, Schob was the Marietta High head football coach.

Hilverding and Leffinwell combined to throw touchdowns to nine different Warrior recevers in the two 7-on-7 events.

Some of their targets were Grant Venham, Nate Root, Cameron Cowan, Jeremy Fivecoait, Tyler Ward, Andrew Vincent, Heath Blair, Justyn Rohr, Dustin Harlow, Austin Henthorn, Aaron Higgns, Chas Miller and Tanner Barrows.

Of these players, Venham stood out, making "over 20" TD catches in the two days, Schob said. Venham will also be handling the punting chores for Warrior this season.

The other Warriors who participated in the two 7-on-7s, were defensive back Jason Williams, linebacker Bryan Hendrix, center Dustin Timberman, lineback Kyle Lucas, and defensive back Austin Kuhn.

At Muskingum a week ago, Warren was 4-0, defeating River View, Coshocton, John Glenn, and Sheridan in "a hard-fought" final, Schob said.

The following day, the Warren squad traveled up Ohio Interstate 77 North to Akron to compete in a 16-team field.

Leading off, the Warriors rallied to beat Woodridge with a late touchdown and two-point conversion.

Next up was Tuscararas Central Catholic, and the royal blue and white won by two TDs.

In the bracket championship game with Wadsworth, Warren came back from a two-score deficit with six minutes left to tie the contest.

Then, with 30 seconds left, Venham intercepted a pass and ran it back to paydirt for the game-winner.

After routing Smithville by three TDs and Orrvile by two, Warren advanced to the final four, and rallied twice from a touchdown down with the final score and extra point coming with less than a minute to go for a one-point victory over Newcastle of Pa.

With the win, Warren finished with a 6-0 mark and a co-championhip with Gateway (Pa.), which was recently on ESPN competing in the National Nike 7on at the Nike complex in Oregon.

Schob said that "five of the six teams Warren beat at Akron were playoff teams in 2009."

Warren is scheduled to kick off practice for the upcoming 2010 campaign in Vincent from 8 a.m. to noon Monday.

The Warriors' season opener will be against Belpre at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 27.

If the royal blue and white has a running game to go along with its passing prowess, the scoreboard may be lighting up a lot this fall.

Ron Johnston is the Marietta Times sports editor, and can be reached at 376-5441 or at rjohnston@mariettatimes.com