Badin Dealing With Two-Quarterback Success, Heads To Edgewood On Friday

By Rick Cassano

There is still much to be learned before Badin High School’s football team reaches Greater Catholic League Coed Division play in Week 6.

The Rams are 2-0 after dominating home victories over Hamilton and Dixie Heights (Ky.). Now the focus turns to a road trip and Butler County rival Edgewood (1-1) at 7:30 p.m. on Friday in St. Clair Township.

Badin coach Nick Yordy said facing the Cougars, Columbus Hartley and La Salle in the next three games will tell him a lot about his crew.

“I think this three-week stretch is going to be a good indicator of how good we think we are,” Yordy said.

The next three games are big for Edgewood as well. The Cougars have split with Division I foes Oak Hills (49-20 loss) and Miamisburg (32-28 win) and will face three straight GCL Coed squads (Badin, Fenwick, Dayton Chaminade Julienne) before diving into Southwestern Buckeye League Southwestern Division competition in Week 6.

“Playing two Division I schools, we’ve obviously been challenged,” said Matt Root, a longtime Edgewood coach in his first year as the head man. “We knew our schedule was going to be really tough, so getting a win last week against Miamisburg was really good for our confidence.

“Our offense has shown that it can move the ball and put up some points. Our defense is young and they’re getting really good reps and really good work, so they’re just going to continue to get better and better.”

Badin leads the series with the Cougars 19-7 and has won the last four meetings. Root said he’s expecting a major challenge, but he thinks Edgewood will be ready on Pee-Wee Night at Kumler Field.

“We believe in our team,” said Root, noting that five sophomores are seeing significant action for his squad. “We believe we’ve got an excellent football team also, and I’m expecting a sellout. I think you’ll see a great football game.”
The Rams’ quarterback situation is something to keep an eye on because they have two QBs that are performing at a high level.

Junior Davis Martin was slated to be the starter heading into the season, but he was diagnosed with mononucleosis after Badin’s final scrimmage against Monroe. He missed the season opener against Hamilton, then came back in a rotating role against Dixie Heights and completed 5-of-5 passes for 82 yards and two touchdowns.

Sophomore Jimmy Gajewski has started both games and has made a clear case for himself as the No. 1 guy. He’s converted 17-of-22 throws for 316 yards and five TDs with one interception.

So what’s the status of the position?

“It’s a great question, and we’re going to try to figure it out this week,” Yordy said. “We’re having a little competition at practice. We talked to both of them and told them that every rep counts, every play matters, so you need to approach practice that way.”

Yordy said it’s likely that both quarterbacks will play Friday. He’s not sure how much time that will include for each guy.

The Badin coach conceded there are worse problems to have than making decisions about playing time with two QBs who are both performing well.

“We’ve never really been in a situation like this before. We’re trying to figure it out ourselves,” Yordy said. “We tell our kids you’ve always got to be ready. Credit to Jimmy for being prepared and stepping up there.”

There is an old adage that says players shouldn’t lose their starting position because of an injury or illness, and there’s no doubt that Badin was counting on Martin coming out of the scrimmages.

Martin said he wants to play, but he’s not looking for a controversy. He knows there are no guarantees in football.

“I feel like it’s just whatever they need me to do, I’m going to try to do it, even if that means I’m not on the field,” Martin said. “Honestly, I think we’re both good, and we both have our off days. Whatever decision the coaches make, whatever they think, I feel like they’re going to make the right decision that’s going to be best for the team.”

Martin played in both of the Rams’ preseason scrimmages, yet felt that something wasn’t quite right.

“I was feeling a little bit sick before we played Talawanda in our first scrimmage, but I played through it,” Martin said. “I played through Monroe and nothing was really getting better, so we went to the doctor just to make sure what was going on because originally they thought it was a sinus infection. They did some bloodwork and discovered I had mono.

“Once they diagnosed me, I wasn’t allowed to practice. They said if I would’ve taken any hits, I could’ve had a ruptured spleen. The good thing was I was already most of the way through it. It was a little disappointing missing the Hamilton game. Me and Jimmy had a close talk before that game and I told him to just his clear his head and do what we practiced.”

Martin returned to practice last week and has been working to get himself back in game shape. He said he feels 100 percent.

“My first week of lifting in about four weeks, that was a rude awakening, but I feel good,” Martin said.

He was a quarterback as a sixth-grader, then moved to wide receiver the next year. Martin was still a receiver heading into his sophomore season at Badin and was also working a bit at QB when he broke his right arm in practice trying to catch a pass.

“Me and a teammate collided in midair,” Martin recalled. “When I came down, I reached back out … obviously not a smart thing to do. It was just broke. I knew right away.”

When he returned from the injury, Martin stepped into the JV quarterback role after another injury had the Rams looking to fill that spot. He’s been playing the position ever since.

Martin saw some varsity action in a backup role last year, completing 7-of-7 passes for 40 yards. He has yet to throw an incompletion at the varsity level.

“I’m not that fast. I can be mobile, but I’d definitely rather throw the ball,” Martin said. “I think I’m gritty. I think I can do whatever. We don’t really run a whole lot with the QBs, but we do have a read, so we get that opportunity sometimes. It’s all about making the right choices, and I feel like I’m a good decision-maker.”

He said Badin always wants to establish the run, but the Dixie Heights game became an aerial show. The Rams ran for 68 yards and threw for 262 in a 42-13 win.

“They came out and kind of smacked us in the mouth a little bit before we settled down,” Yordy said. “I think Dixie made a conscious effort to stop our running game. They were going to stop power and they were going to stop outside zone, and they did a pretty good job of that. But they also had a lot of guys committed to stopping the run, which opened up our passing game.”

Edgewood has been able to run and throw the ball effectively through the first two weeks. Sophomore quarterback Cayson Breedlove is 15-of-23 for 301 yards and three touchdows, while seniors Brody O’Banion (34 carries, 237 yards, three TDs) and Carter Breedlove (31 carries, 138 yards, one TD) are leading the ground attack in the Wing-T offense.

Root promised to bring the full-blown Wing-T back to Cougars football, and he’s done that with enthusiasm. He said the decision was a popular one.

“The kids and community really like it,” Root said. “It’s something the kids know they can run real well and compete in. It gives them a great shot to win, and it also gives a lot of guys a chance to touch the ball. It can be exciting offense if they’re doing things the right way.”

Yordy said nobody else on Badin’s regular-season schedule runs the Wing-T.

“It’s something you don’t see very much in high school football these days,” Yordy said. “It’s hard to emulate the way they run it. I don’t want to say it’s a dying offense because I think that a lot of the schemes in the Wing-T are used in a lot of other offenses. Even in the spread, we use some Wing-T principles with our blocking schemes.”

Carter Breedlove was the Cougars’ quarterback last season – now he’s the fullback and his little brother is running the offense. O’Banion is the running back, while senior Braden Sturgill and sophomore Easton Ballinger are the wings.

Root said Edgewood’s offensive linemen are an experienced bunch creating success up front.

“We’re never going to be the biggest team,” Root said. “We haven’t been the biggest team the first two weeks, not even close. We’re going to preach fast and physical and use our leverage. Edgewood football’s about playing really, really hard for four quarters and giving the best version of ourselves.”

Only three EHS starters on defense returned this year – senior cornerback Max Stover, senior end Carter Canaan and linebacker/safety Carter Breedlove. Root said a lot of guys are stepping up and rapidly improving on that side of the ball.

“What jumps out on film is that those guys are definitely flying around on both sides of the ball,” Yordy said. “Maybe that comes from Coach Root being back. Maybe they’ve got a little chip on their shoulder and want to go out and prove something.”

Junior Chase Even is leading Badin on the ground with 144 yards and one touchdown on 23 carries. Junior inside linebacker Jackson Turner and junior outside linebacker Joey Geltz top the Rams in tackles.

“They’ve got an excellent football team. You watch them on film and their games haven’t been close,” Root said. “Offensively and defensively, they just attack. I think halftime adjustments can be huge in this game. We’ve got to withstand them early on.”

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