Friday, October 27, 2000
Blanchester's goal: Unbeaten season
By Dave Schutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Qualifying for the Division IV state playoffs for the first time isn't good enough for the Blanchester football team.
Undefeated and guaranteed a spot in the playoffs, the Wildcats go for a 10-0 season Friday, taking on Wyoming. Blanchester hasn't had an unbeaten season since 1975.
“That's our goal,” senior quarterback Jeremy Lansing said. “We lost a lot of key players from last year's team. Coming into the season, no one was thinking 10-0.”
Although the offense averages nearly 350 yards and 38 points a game, there's more talk about a defense that has seven shutouts.
“All but three of our opponents' points came off turnovers,” Lansing said. “Greeneview was the only team to score off a drive, that ended in a field goal.”
The defense's biggest accomplishment thus far was when it held Williamsburg's Jason Bainum to under 100 yards. Bainum broke the single season state rushing record last week.
“Our defense has given us good field position in every game,” Lansing said. “This makes it a lot easier for the offense to operate.”
Coached by 34-year veteran George Rise, the Wildcats run out of the option.
Fullback Mike Williams is the leading rusher (900 yards) with halfback Isaac Barr used primarily as a blocker for Williams and Lansing.
“I never played quarterback until last season,” Lansing said. “I was disappointed at how I played against Wyoming and I learned a lot in that game.”
Rise has nothing but praise for Lansing.
“Jeremy has rushed for about 700 yards and does a nice job reading the defenses,” Rise said. “He has respectable speed and makes good decisions.”
The Wildcats use a 6-2 defense with Chris Baker, Aaron Brooks, Mike Williams, Clayton Reynolds, Shawn Runyon and Greg Blake on the line.
Barr and Ben Prewitt handle the linebacker positions with Joe Gray, Kalib Miller and Lansing in the secondary.
“The defensive players are relatively quick and swarm to the ball,” Rise said. “The secondary is experienced and are very intelligent kids.”
This is Blanchester's final season in the Kenton Trace Conference. The Wildcats were undefeated against KTC teams to win the title for the first time.
Next season, Blanchester will rejoin the Southern Buckeye Conference along with three other schools.
Rise pointed toward Barr, the lead blocker for the fullback and quarterback, as a key to success.
“A kid who is a team player must handle this position,” Rise said. “Isaac is just that and a kid with great character. He will do anything to help the team.”
Blanchester's defense will be tested by a strong Wyoming offense that includes tailback P.J. Pope, one of the leading rushers in Cincinnati.
“No one outruns us,” Lansing said. “P.J. runs between tackles and to the outside. We held Jason Bainum (Williamsburg) under 100 yards and we'll attempt to do the same thing with P.J.”
Complete prep football coverage at Enquirer.com/prepfootball
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Blanchester's goal: Unbeaten season
