Article published November 01, 2007
Sidelines: Radcliff keeps Fairview moving while setting Ohio marks
Fairview senior quarterback Ryan Radcliff has thrown for 10,512 career yards, second-most in Ohio history.
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THE BLADE/LORI KING
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By JOHN WAGNER
BLADE SPORTS WRITER
SHERWOOD, Ohio — Theoffensive numbers produced by the Fairview football team this season seem too outrageous to be true.
Quarterback Ryan Radcliff has completed 297-of-451 passes for 4,212 yards and 58 touchdowns.
The Apaches (9-1) have had 16 different receivers catch at least one pass. Ben Wonderly, has amassed 1,419 receiving yards and set a single-season state record with 25 TD catches.
The numbers would be mind-boggling even for a video game. In fact, Fairview’s success has led others to write off those numbers as a product of the team’s offensive “system,” a spread offense with no running back and five receivers.
Just don’t say that to the team’s coach, Bob Olwin.
“I hate that comment [that the system is the key], and I think it’s a bunch of garbage,” Olwin said. “It’s unfair to the kids, who are running an offense that their coach has installed.
“When I hear that it’s our system, I always think that means other people should change to our system so they can score more points too. Plus, other teams are allowed to stop us.”
Few teams have. The Apaches have scored 464 points, surpassing the 40-point barrier eight times and bettering 60 points twice. Olwin said the key to his team’s offensive success isn’t the system, but the talent of his players.
“It comes down to kids, and executing what we give them,” he said. “It comes down to pass protection too.”
The receiving corps is led by Wonderly, a junior who was All-Ohio first team last season when he caught 103 passes for 1,548 yards and 20 TDs.
Ryan Radcliff has committed to play at Central Michigan.
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THE BLADE/LORI KING
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“Ben has the ability to change the position of his body in flight, and he’s got great hands,” Olwin said. “He knows where the seams and voids are [in a defense]. And he’s very quick after the catch — he can make you miss.”
Zeke Keesbury is second on the team with 63 receptions for 940 yards and nine touchdowns. Andrew Woenker and John Elchinger each have caught 43 passes; Woenker has 724 receiving yards and four scores, while Elchinger has 696 yards and 11 TDs.
“All I do is throw the ball,” Radcliff said. “[The receivers] have to do all the work. They have to sprint down the field, read the coverage, get open and catch the ball. And they do great work.”
But the key to the offense is the triggerman. Radcliff, a senior, has plenty of experience in this offense. He has run it since seventh grade and now is in his third season as the varsity starter. He has steadily improved since throwing for 1,173 yards in just four games as a sophomore before an injury ended his season prematurely.
Last year Radcliff connected on 336 of 557 passes for 4,611 yards and 57 touchdowns.
This year Radcliff, who has verbally committed to play at Central Michigan, has cut down his interceptions (from 18 to 13) while increasing his completion percentage (from 60 to 66 percent).
“His physical skills include a strong arm, his ability to get his feet set under him, and a quick release,” Olwin said of Radcliff. “The intangibles include his intelligence, his competitiveness and his work ethic.
“He never takes a play off. And he’s able to adapt to what he sees; he analyzes it, then he corrects it.”
Fairview’s offense helped the team begin this season with nine straight victories. But Tinora spoiled any hopes of a perfect season last Friday, pinning a 38-20 loss on the Apaches in a battle for the Green Meadows Conference title.
Fairview coach Bob Olwin directs anoffense that averages 46.4 points per game.
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THE BLADE/LORI KING
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Fairview still made the Division V state playoffs. What’s more, the Apaches will get a chance to avenge that loss tomorrow when they host the Rams in a first-round game.
“This is a great opportunity for our team, especially after [losing to Tinora] last week,” Radcliff said. “We know they are a good team, and that loss is still fresh in my mind.”
Radcliff said he’s happy for the opportunity not only to face Tinora again, but to run Fairview’s pass-happy offense for at least one more game.
“It’s every quarterback’s dream to play in a system where you throw the ball on practically every down,” he said. “I enjoy being involved in every play.
“It doesn’t bother me [when others say the system produces these numbers].
“We have a lot of good athletes that make this system go. Other people run this offense, and no one is producing the numbers we do.”
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