Friday, October 15, 1999
New Richmond seeks elusive postseason
Batavia game key to making playoffs
BY CAREY HOFFMAN
Enquirer contributor
When the Ohio High School Athletic Association membership voted to expand the playoffs this year and double the number of playoff teams, it was a decision made with programs like New Richmond in mind.
New Richmond has been a borderline playoff team in the past that always found itself on the wrong side of that border. Twice the Lions have done everything within their power, posting 10-0 season records, only to just miss qualifying for a playoff berth under the Harbin computer system that determines playoff berths.
Tonight, New Richmond (6-1) can take the biggest step of this season in retiring those playoff frustrations when it meets neighboring Batavia (7-0) in a game with playoff implications for both sides, as well as the inside track to the championship of the Southern Buckeye Conference.
“I think everyone wants to be going to the playoffs this year and this is a huge game towards us making it,” said New Richmond star quarterback Matt Armbruster. “We're not looking ahead, but we know we need this game. It's a goal for us to be the first team to make the playoffs at our school.”
New Richmond ranked 10th in the region this week in the Division III Harbin rankings, with only the top eight earning playoff berths. The Lions need to move up, making a win over an unbeaten team like Batavia seem an imperative.
New Richmond comes in on a roll. The Lions whipped perennial SBC power Hillsboro 35-6 last week for the most impressive performance to date from a young team that has seen its confidence grow throughout the season.
“I would say I'm pleasantly surprised,” said head coach Ron Bird, who is in his 31st year at New Richmond. Bird has seen a team that went 4-6 a year ago and only had a small group of seniors to build around mature into one that matches his formula for success: solid offensively, defensively and on special teams.
New Richmond's triple-option offense has really hit high gear of late. Sophomore halfback John McMonigle -- whose brother Brian led the area in scoring in basketball two years ago -- has run for 489 yards and averages 8.4 yards per carry. Junior halfback Matt Godsey has rushed for 454 yards and has added potency to special teams as a return specialist, averaging 18 yards per punt return and 29 yards per kickoff return.
And then there's Armbruster, the statistical leader of the offense. “He's one of the better quarterbacks I've had in running the option and making decisions on the field,” Bird said.
Armbruster ran for 156 yards and two TDs against Hillsboro, bringing his season totals to 112 carries for 847 yards. He ranks 17th in the area in scoring with 12 TDs.
“We have a great backfield,” Armbruster said, also praising the contributions of fullback Tony Rowan. “If you stop one of us, we feel like we'll beat you with the others.”
New Richmond lost its season opener to Deer Park, but has improved every week since, according to both Bird and Armbruster. Both point to the offensive line as an area where New Richmond is markedly better from the beginning of this year and all of last year.
“We're growing and maturing as we go along,” Armbruster said. “This season to last season there is such a change in the work ethic in practice, and it is paying off.”
Will it pay off with a spot in the playoffs? A strong finish by New Richmond could finally put their fate back in their own hands.
“Batavia ruined our playoff chances two years ago when they beat us,” Armbruster said. “If we had beaten them, we would have been in the playoffs. We'll be ready to play Friday night.”
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