Worthington — Football is back, and so are the postgame columns. This week I opened the 2025 season at a familiar spot: Worthington Kilbourne. Wolves athletics are a regular in the coverage rotation, and it felt good to kick off football season on their home turf.
This year’s columns will blend commentary, key game moments, and coaching insight, something a little different from traditional postgame coverage, but still true to what makes high school sports so enjoyable to follow in Central Ohio.
Game Insights and Moments
Facing an opponent built in the mold of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Worthington Kilbourne’s challenge was clear: contain Ohio State commit Jaeden Ricketts. The Watkins Memorial wide receiver and cornerback was central to the Warriors’ game plan and had the ability to shift attention away from dual-threat quarterback Drew Samsal.
For Wolves head coach Michael Edwards, the approach was less about reinventing the wheel and more about sticking to fundamentals.
“We just have to be who we are and make really good adjustments during the game,” Edwards said. “You only get two scrimmages that don’t show you tendencies and they don’t have jersey numbers.”
Watkins Memorial leaned on Ricketts early, feeding him the ball throughout the opening drives. He picked up chunk gains on the first two possessions, but the Wolves’ defense held firm and forced punts. Late in the first quarter, though, Ricketts finally broke through, finding the end zone to put the Warriors ahead 7-0 with 3:21 remaining.
Needing an answer, Kilbourne pieced together a strong drive of its own, highlighted by a big reception from Grayson Benjamin and finished off with a Luke Page touchdown run on fourth-and-goal. It was a much-needed spark for a Wolves offense that had struggled to find rhythm up to that point.
From there until halftime, both defenses tightened and scoring chances were limited. The Wolves forced a string of punts while standing tall on longer drives, bending but refusing to break. It was a strong showing for a Kilbourne defense playing without senior Ben Davis, who suffered a broken leg during scrimmages.
One weakness did emerge for Kilbourne, however: third-down defense. The Wolves surrendered a series of conversions from varying distances in the first half, including on Watkins Memorial’s final drive before halftime. The Warriors capped that possession with a field goal to take a 10-7 lead into the break, a slim advantage for Watkins Memorial, but still a moral win for a Kilbourne defense tasked with plenty.
Offensively, the Wolves leaned on a smashmouth approach rather than putting the game on the arm of sophomore quarterback Jackson Szabo. Though more than capable of throwing for big yards, that wasn’t the formula Kilbourne needed Friday and the Wolves adjusted accordingly.
“Jackson is the best quarterback in the OCC, but we had to rely on our offensive line and run game to get us through the game,” Edwards said. “The vision was for him to throw the ball around because he is that kind of QB, but we had to adjust.”
The Wolves’ defense set the tone early in the second half with an interception, giving Kilbourne a midfield start on their opening drive. The offense pushed deep into scoring territory, but penalties stalled the momentum, forcing the Wolves to settle for a field goal and tie the game at 10-all early in the third quarter.
After forcing a punt, Luke Page struck for Kilbourne on a long touchdown run, giving the Wolves a 17-10 lead with 7:06 remaining in the third quarter. The play highlighted why Kilbourne leaned on him to carry the offense on Friday night.
“I told our offensive coordinator if Luke touched the ball at least 15 times in the second half, we would win the game,” Edwards said. “We put it on the backs of our offensive line and a senior captain that is one heck of a football player.”
Watkins Memorial answered with their most effective drive of the second half, finishing with a rushing touchdown to tie the game at 17-all with just 27 seconds left in the third quarter. Kilbourne, however, responded immediately to start the fourth.
The Wolves continued to ride Luke Page, who broke off another long run into the red zone. Sophomore quarterback Jackson Szabo then capped the drive with a QB keeper for a touchdown, putting Kilbourne back on top 24-17 with 10:38 remaining.
After another defensive stop, Szabo delivered the decisive blow with his second rushing touchdown of the half, extending Kilbourne’s lead to two scores with 3:59 remaining. Watkins Memorial answered with a late touchdown at 1:15 and a last-second Hail Mary, but the throw fell incomplete, sealing a 31-23 victory for the Wolves.
Game Balls and Final Thoughts
The offensive game ball goes to both Luke Page and the Kilbourne offensive line, who leaned on each other to execute the smashmouth game plan so effectively.
My favorite play of the game came from Grayson Benjamin. His long first quarter reception where he stiff-armed a defender and dragged him while getting face-masked for 5-10 yards. That was pure toughness right there.
On the defensive side, the game ball goes to Mason Cost, a sophomore who made his first career start Friday and recorded two sacks. Shifted from linebacker to defensive end to fill in for the injured Ben Davis, he made a strong impression and showed flashes of what could be a bright future at Kilbourne.
Kilbourne’s 1-0 start sets the tone heading into next week’s rivalry clash with Thomas Worthington, with the Wolves aiming for a 2-0 start for the second straight season. I really enjoyed returning to Kilbourne and seeing their athletics back in action, a scene that promises to be a regular highlight throughout the year.
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