Ohio’s Olentangy high school and the home of Penn State Football’s 2024 quarterback commit Ethan Grunkemeyer began the season Friday night against Ohio’s Toledo Whitmer high school.
Olentangy QB Ethan Grunkemeyer, a Penn State commit, warming up prior to tonight’s season opener. pic.twitter.com/IXmBMOkoMC
— Dillon Davis (@DillonDavis56) August 18, 2023
In a dominant 46-35 win that once saw Olentangy up 43-21, Grunkemeyer continued to dazzle as he has since he broke onto the national scene near the end of his junior season.
According to Dillon Davis of the Delaware Gazette, Grunkemeyer began the night with an 84-yard touchdown pass on the first play from scrimmage.
Later in the first half, per Davis, Grunkemeyer helped Olentangy regain the lead of the game with an 81-yard, 11 play drive that ended in an 8-yard touchdown run by Grunkemeyer.
Less than 4 minutes later, Grunkemeyer lead a 92-yard drive in 59 seconds, ending the half on a 14-yard touchdown pass with four seconds remaining. Davis reported Grunkemeyer threw for 288 yards and two touchdowns in the first half and added 27 yards and a touchdown rushing.
Masterful drive engineered by Ethan Grunkemeyer just before the half. He finds Jackson Wiley with 4 seconds left in the half on a 14-yard scoring strike.
Olentangy takes a 29-21 lead into the break.
Drive went 92 yards in 59 seconds. Grunkemeyer was 5-8 for 87 yards and the TD
— Dillon Davis (@DillonDavis56) August 19, 2023
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In the second half, Grunkemeyer led his team to two more touchdown drives to blow the game open, including a drive that ended with a 26-yard touchdown pass.
After the game, Davis caught up with Ethan Grunkemeyer to discuss the game. Listen in the link below.
Caught up with Olentangy QB Ethan Grunkemeyer following the Braves’ win over Whitmer.
‘Tangy head coach Wade Bartholomew mentioned Grunkemeyer was putting a lot of pressure on himself this summer. Here’s Grunkemeyer on how he dialed in tonight plus how his team can get better. pic.twitter.com/4tTt3CkYVQ
— Dillon Davis (@DillonDavis56) August 19, 2023
If Grunkemeyer can continue to play like he did Friday night, his historic rise in the rankings should continue.
The four-star prospect has already jumped up 578 spots in the 247 sports composite rankings since April. Grunkemeyer’s season continues next Friday when Olentangy travels to face Ohio’s Medina high school.
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Education: Saint Vincent College, Penn State Law School
Location: Washington, DC
Experience:Robert Casturo has covered Penn State football for NittanyCentral since 2022. Casturo previously covered Penn State football through a social media presence (@PSU_FB_Thoughts on X) since 2019. Casturo earned his bachelor's degree from Saint Vincent College in 2015, where he was a punter for 1 season on the Saint Vincent College football team and worked in the athletic department for 2 years as a student manager. Casturo earned his JD from Penn State Law in 2018 where he was a senior editor of the Penn State Law Review.
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