Big Walnut’s Eli Stumpf eyes Division II playoff run while Orange, Liberty and Berlin also advance

DELAWARE COUNTY — Eli Stumpf, a three-year starting quarterback for the Big Walnut football team, had a little extra time at school one afternoon. So, he pulled up some old game tape from his sophomore year.

He hardly recognized himself.

“I saw somebody who wasn’t as confident as I am now,” said Stumpf, who is now a senior.

Stumpf went to Golden Eagles’ coach Curtis Crager to talk about what he watched.

“We talk all the time about ways I can improve,” Stumpf said. “He always tells me how much I’ve grown – not just as a player but as a leader in general. I can see that now when I watch the film back from this year.”

Stumpf, who is committed to Michigan State, has been on-point this season. He’s thrown for 1,909 yards and 25 touchdowns on 131 of 175 passes, with just one interception.

“He’s gotten much stronger and he does a great job of extending plays with his feet,” Crager said. “He’s so comfortable back there. The kid is really performing at a high, high level and that’s what’s really going to help us.”

The Eagles are 10-0 overall and won the OCC-Capital Division at 6-0, one game ahead of Worthington Kilbourne. It’s the program’s third consecutive league title.

Big Walnut has won 21 consecutive league games after beating Westland 67-12 on Oct. 23.

But the Eagles have their sights set on bigger things. They’re hoping to reach the state title game for the first time since 2007, when they won a Division III state title.

Big Walnut has reached the state semifinals in each of the last two years, falling to Cincinnati Anderson both times.

It’s a much taller task to get back there this year. Big Walnut is seeded second in Division II, Region 7 behind top-seeded Watterson — one of four Delaware County teams to make the postseason.

Watterson, winners of the last two Division III state titles, moved up a division this year.

Seeded third is Massillon Washington, which has lost to Big Walnut in the regional final in each of the last two seasons.

If the two meet again, it’ll be in a regional semifinal.

First things first, the Eagles have a first-round bye and will play the winner of seventh-seeded Louisville or 10th-seeded North Canton in a regional quarterfinal at home on Nov. 6.

Senior running back Nolan Buirley, a Northwestern commit as a linebacker, has done a little bit of everything for Big Walnut this season. He has 1,638 yards rushing and 26 touchdowns on 171 carries.

Buirley also leads the team with seven receiving touchdowns and is third in receptions (26) and yards (428).

Senior tight end Jackson Bowers (31 receptions, 467 yards, 5 touchdowns) and senior wide receiver Gavin Harrington (32 receptions, 429 yards, 6 touchdowns) are Stumpf’s top two targets.

Senior wide receiver Fen Stumpf, Eli’s cousin, also has 25 catches for 321 yards and four touchdowns.

Olentangy Orange showing growth this season

The difference between last year and this one is night and day for the Pioneers. But coach Wes Schroeder believes his team has the capability of making some noise in the postseason.

Last year, Orange was undefeated and the top seed heading into the playoffs.

But this year’s team returned just three players in the same positions as they were last year.

One returner changed spots: Junior Colby Luling, the Pioneers’ starting safety last season, is now playing quarterback. He was 52 of 116 for 612 yards, six touchdowns and six interceptions, and added 571 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground on 106 carries.

Orange is 5-5 overall heading into the Division I, Region 3 playoffs. The Pioneers are seeded ninth and will travel to eighth-seeded St. Charles in the first round on Oct. 30.

The winner will travel to top-seeded Gahanna in a regional quarterfinal on Nov. 6.

Sophomore running back James Schuh had 106 carries for 571 yards and six touchdowns but missed the Pioneers’ last game with an injury. Schroeder is hopeful he’ll return against the Cardinals.

Senior receiver Jake Luling, Colby’s brother, has 20 receptions for 264 yards and four touchdowns.

Senior safety Brock Miller (75 tackles) and senior linebackers Brennen Kesler (64 tackles, 6 tackles-for-loss, 4 sacks) and M​att Pizzino (65 tackles, 4 tackles-for-loss) lead the Pioneers on defense.

“I just want to see how far this group can go because we have gotten better,” Shroeder said. “We want to get the playoff experience, the reps in practice, game-planning — everything that goes along with being in the playoffs.

Orange went 15-0 last season on its way to the Division I state title.

This year hasn’t come as easy. Still, the Pioneers have shown improvement after opening the year with three losses in their first five games.

Orange had a chance at a share of the OCC-Central championship but fell to Olentangy Liberty 21-15 at home on Oct. 23.

“Once you get into the playoffs, you just got to be the better team on one night,” Schroeder said. “You just got to be better one time.”

Olentangy Liberty, Olentangy Berlin followed similar path

Liberty and Berlin are the other two county schools to reach the postseason, and both did it in similar fashion.

The Patriots and the Bears played daunting pre-league schedules and paid the price in terms of wins and losses. And both recovered to capture league crowns.

Liberty opened the year with three consecutive losses to Lakewood St. Edward, Cleveland Glenville and Gahanna.

But the Patriots found their footing and finished 6-4 overall, earning the No. 4 seed in Division I, Region 3.

And what’s ahead may be a rematch with Berlin. Liberty won a Week 4 contest between the two 27-17 in Delaware.

The Patriots shared the OCC-Central with Upper Arlington at 4-1 with their only blemish coming against Hilliard Davidson, 12-6 on Oct. 16.

Berlin was 2-2 after that game against Liberty and rolled off wins in each of the next six games, including an 18-6 win over Olentangy on Oct. 23.

Not only did the win give Berlin its fifth consecutive league title, but it knocked the rival Braves out of the playoffs. Olentangy finished 14th in the region.

Berlin is seeded fifth and will play 12th-seeded Westerville Central at home on Oct. 31. A trip to Powell awaits the winner.

Delaware Hayes finished 15th in the region and Buckeye Valley finished 17th in Division IV, Region 15. The top 12 teams in each region made the playoffs.