Victories build confidence for Indians
By DENNY McPHERSON • The Marion Star • September 17, 2008
MOUNT GILEAD - Victories in recent close games have finally given the Mount Gilead High School football team and its faithful a winning attitude.
The Indians have won a pair of one-point contests in the last three weeks and slipped past Northmor 18-7 in between those two thrillers to run their overall record to 3-1. They are also tied atop the Mid Ohio Athletic Conference Blue Division with Pleasant at 3-0.
The first game of the Indians' run, a 7-6 cliff-hanger against arch rival and backyard foe Cardington-Lincoln, gave Mount Gilead a reason to believe its program was beginning to turn the corner.
"Defense won that game for us," said senior Indians quarterback Geoffrey Gompf, the third-leading rusher in the MOAC with 412 yards who has also thrown for 414.
"The defense saw what it is capable of doing and it has shut down teams." Senior tackle Dane Jobe has been a big part of that defense with more than 40 tackles on the season. He said the Indians' penchant for winning close games has not come by accident.
"We're a lot more conditioned now than what we were in the past," Jobe said Wednesday after completing some running drills to close a Mount Gilead practice. "In the fourth quarter, that gives us a boost. Everybody else is sucking wind."
Gompf believes the triumph over Cardington, which is also off to a 3-1 start, did a lot more than just add a notch in the win column for the Indians.
"If we get into a tight situation now, we know what to do," Gompf said.
First-year Mount Gilead head coach Steve Ringer also understands the importance of winning a tense struggle. As an assistant coach, he's seen the Indians falter in the past. Mount Gilead was just 3-7 a year ago, coming off of back-to-back 0-10 campaigns and a 24-game losing streak.
"I believe those close wins we have helped the kids believe in themselves," Ringer said. "I believe they always had the ability. A lot of this game is mental. When you win those type of games, it changes the whole attitude of the team."
It has also changed the outlook of the Mount Gilead community, Jobe said.
"A lot of people here are a lot more into the football team," Jobe said. "When you lose all of the time, they say the football team is horrible. Now everybody is coming to the games. They know what we can do and they are excited."
The Indians will look to extend their winning streak to four on Friday when they host Ridgedale's winless Rockets for the Indians' homecoming clash. Despite big games down the road against MOAC title contenders Pleasant, Highland, North Union, and Buckeye Valley, Ringer and his troops have their sights set on the Rockets.
"We could care less who we play next week. It's who we play this week and that's Ridgedale," Ringer said. "In past years we've been in 0-4 situations and people looked us over. We've learned from 0-10 and 3-7 to never take anyone for granted. We'll need to give our best effort."
Ringer is wary of the Rocket squad, no matter its 0-4 overall ledger and its 0-3 conference mark. "They come out in a lot of different formations and we will have to be prepared to defend the whole field," Ringer said.
"When they line up in the I, they run the ball effectively. In other games they have thrown the ball well. When they put everything together, they have a dangerous offense. "On offense, we will have to execute the plays we know how to run."
Denny McPherson: 740-375-5158 or dmcphers@marionstar.com
KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK, DANE! YOU FRIGGIN ROCK!!!
GO INDIANS!!!
By DENNY McPHERSON • The Marion Star • September 17, 2008
MOUNT GILEAD - Victories in recent close games have finally given the Mount Gilead High School football team and its faithful a winning attitude.
The Indians have won a pair of one-point contests in the last three weeks and slipped past Northmor 18-7 in between those two thrillers to run their overall record to 3-1. They are also tied atop the Mid Ohio Athletic Conference Blue Division with Pleasant at 3-0.
The first game of the Indians' run, a 7-6 cliff-hanger against arch rival and backyard foe Cardington-Lincoln, gave Mount Gilead a reason to believe its program was beginning to turn the corner.
"Defense won that game for us," said senior Indians quarterback Geoffrey Gompf, the third-leading rusher in the MOAC with 412 yards who has also thrown for 414.
"The defense saw what it is capable of doing and it has shut down teams." Senior tackle Dane Jobe has been a big part of that defense with more than 40 tackles on the season. He said the Indians' penchant for winning close games has not come by accident.
"We're a lot more conditioned now than what we were in the past," Jobe said Wednesday after completing some running drills to close a Mount Gilead practice. "In the fourth quarter, that gives us a boost. Everybody else is sucking wind."
Gompf believes the triumph over Cardington, which is also off to a 3-1 start, did a lot more than just add a notch in the win column for the Indians.
"If we get into a tight situation now, we know what to do," Gompf said.
First-year Mount Gilead head coach Steve Ringer also understands the importance of winning a tense struggle. As an assistant coach, he's seen the Indians falter in the past. Mount Gilead was just 3-7 a year ago, coming off of back-to-back 0-10 campaigns and a 24-game losing streak.
"I believe those close wins we have helped the kids believe in themselves," Ringer said. "I believe they always had the ability. A lot of this game is mental. When you win those type of games, it changes the whole attitude of the team."
It has also changed the outlook of the Mount Gilead community, Jobe said.
"A lot of people here are a lot more into the football team," Jobe said. "When you lose all of the time, they say the football team is horrible. Now everybody is coming to the games. They know what we can do and they are excited."
The Indians will look to extend their winning streak to four on Friday when they host Ridgedale's winless Rockets for the Indians' homecoming clash. Despite big games down the road against MOAC title contenders Pleasant, Highland, North Union, and Buckeye Valley, Ringer and his troops have their sights set on the Rockets.
"We could care less who we play next week. It's who we play this week and that's Ridgedale," Ringer said. "In past years we've been in 0-4 situations and people looked us over. We've learned from 0-10 and 3-7 to never take anyone for granted. We'll need to give our best effort."
Ringer is wary of the Rocket squad, no matter its 0-4 overall ledger and its 0-3 conference mark. "They come out in a lot of different formations and we will have to be prepared to defend the whole field," Ringer said.
"When they line up in the I, they run the ball effectively. In other games they have thrown the ball well. When they put everything together, they have a dangerous offense. "On offense, we will have to execute the plays we know how to run."
Denny McPherson: 740-375-5158 or dmcphers@marionstar.com
KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK, DANE! YOU FRIGGIN ROCK!!!
GO INDIANS!!!
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