White and Liberty advance
The OHSAA playoffs kicked off on Friday with several Ohio State commits in action. Brendon White and Olentangy Liberty put together a 10-0 regular season, enough to earn the top seed in Division I Region II. The Patriots defeated crosstown rival Olentangy Orange 24-17 to advance to the regional semi-finals.
White was thrust into quarterback duties this off-season due to injuries but with sophomore starter Mitchell Okuley back, the role has changed. White did a little bit of everything offensively, lining up at running back, wide receiver, and quarterback. The new look makes the Patriots more dynamic offensively and White is willing to play whatever role is necessary.
"I'm just trying to be coachable," said White. "I'll do anything to help this team win. Whatever position that I have to play, I'm going to do that in order to help this team win."
White continues to man the free safety position on defense as well. He came up with a second half interception on a deep ball intended for Orange sophomore star Zach Harrison.
"(Harrison) is a really good player," White explained. "He's got some offers and a lot of potential. When he was the single receiver on a side, I knew that I had to go over to his side. Luckily the quarterback threw it up there and I got the ball."
White has been hampered a bit by injuries this season, but beyond that, his senior season has been everything he could have hoped for with an 11-0 record and a chance to keep advancing in the playoffs. The week-to-week focus, White says, has been the key to the success.
"We've just been taking one game at a time and not taking anything for granted," White explained. "We love football and we want to make a statement. We have lost in the first round of the playoffs (in the past) but this year we want to make a statement and go far. If we keep being coachable and keep grinding practice, hopefully we can make it to The Shoe."
White will be in 'The Shoe' on Saturday watching the Buckeyes host No. 10 Nebraska. It will be a big weekend for Ohio State's playoff hopes as well as its recruiting efforts. White is looking forward to meeting with some of his future teammates and helping those recruiting efforts.
"I'll just be communicating with them and building that bond," White said of his role as recruiter this weekend. "We have a very special class coming in and the better bond and relationship you have with them, the more success we'll have on the field together."
White and his Liberty squad will face Medina in the second round of the playoffs next Friday night.