Michael Lehmkuhle The AdvocateValley 37, Buckeye Local 6: Licking Valley's Storm Klein carried the ball 17 times for 97 yards during the Panters' 37-6 win over Buckeye Local.
Michael Lehmkuhle The AdvocateValley 37, Buckeye Local 6: Licking Valley's Storm Klein carried the ball 17 times for 97 yards during the Panters' 37-6 win over Buckeye Local.
NEW PHILADELPHIA -- Licking Valley's offense was limited Saturday in that it only threw six passes and didn't use a variety of formations that have been commonplace in recent weeks.
Then again, the Panthers didn't want to mess with a good thing.
After an opening-drive punt, Licking Valley went vanilla, and Poland Seminary didn't know what hit it. A healthy dose of Drew Ryan and Storm Klein led to big yardage and an explosive offense despite little variety, and the Panthers cruised to a dominating 41-7 win against the Bulldogs in a Division III, Region 11 semifinal at New Philadelphia's Woody Hayes Quaker Stadium.
"We barely even passed today and we still put a bunch of points up, so it's got to make some people think," Ryan said. "As usual, the line did great."
Second-seeded Valley (11-1), now riding an 11-game winning streak, will meet top-seeded Dover (11-1) in a regional final next Saturday. The two teams last met in 2005 when Valley won a first-round playoff game on a last-second field goal.
Coach Randy Baughman figures his offense will have to show a little more than it did during Saturday's rout, but this blowout -- and the 327 rushing yards, 241 of which came in the first half -- simply served as an honor to the FieldTurf's stadium's namesake.
"In honor of Woody, that's right," Baughman said. "There's no dust, but it was working for us, so you certainly want to stay with what's working."
Klein up the middle and Ryan going outside proved to be more than enough, helped in part by a dominating performance up front. The duo each had three rushing touchdowns, with Klein going for 188 yards on 20 carries and Ryan rushing for 110 yards on just six carries. The senior quarterback also finished 5-of-6 passing for 89 yards.
...
Said Klein: "I think we can come out and pound the ball against just about anybody. We help each other out. We've got a nice offense and we've got a good rhythm going. I'm loving it. It's fun and we're playing loose, and it's working out well for us."
While he produces there in HS, I think OSU needs him more at LB.leroyjenkins;1320346; said:
jwinslow;1320354; said:
2008 Advocate Football Offensive Player of the Year: Storm Klein, Licking Valley
By JOSH HACHAT ? Sports Writer ? November 27, 2008
HANOVER -- He was 14 going on 24 when he played his first varsity game, which meant giant expectations always were right around the corner.
Fifty varsity football games followed for Licking Valley senior Storm Klein, who blew through and shrugged off those expectations as he did any powerless defender.
Classmate Drew Ryan could have predicted all of this years ago, however.
"In biddy league, my coach told me wherever Storm went, I went during a game. He must have knocked me on my butt 30 times that game," Ryan said.
A dominant career soon followed.
Klein went 80 yards for a touchdown on his first play from scrimmage as a seventh-grader -- a sign of what was to come.
He joined the varsity team on the fourth week of his freshman year and never left, and his stamp on the Valley program is unquestioned.
His career totals include 6,268 rushing yards and 99 touchdowns, both records in the Central District, and Klein, an Ohio State recruit, has more than 6,500 total yards in an illustrious career.
As a linebacker, he led Valley in tackles in 2007 and was a first-team All-Ohio selection at the position, an honor he topped this year when he was named Division III co-offensive player of the year.
While battling injuries to both feet, Klein rushed for 1,804 yards and 24 touchdowns and is The Advocate's Offensive Player of the Year. A year ago, Klein was The Advocate's Defensive Player of the Year.
"For many years, he will be a role model of what kids try to live up to," Valley coach Randy Baughman said. "The effects of what he's done will live on for quite a while."
