Pickerington ties run deep as Ohio State heads to title game

 

Pickerington ties run deep as Ohio State heads to title game

 

 

 

PICKERINGTON, Ohio (WCMH) — Pickerington pride is beaming as the Buckeyes prepare to play in the national championship game thanks to a soon-to-be legendary play by a Pickerington native.

 

By now you’ve probably seen the highlight of Jack Sawyer, a former Pickerington North football player, scoop and score on a fumble return in the Cotton Bowl game against Texas. The moment has people in Pickerington even more excited to cheer on Sawyer and the five other Pickerington high school graduates on the team. Watch Sawyer, coach Ryan Day and quarterback Will Howard react to the fumble return in the video player above.

 

 

 

People in the community said what’s so great about Sawyer is that even through all his success, he has never forgotten where he came from.

 

“Just so happy, you know, and it was pretty cool,” Pickerington North High School head football coach Nate Hillerich said. “I’m sitting next to my son. He’s got a 33 jersey on. He’s jumping up and running around.”

 

Hillerich, who coached Sawyer in high school, said he always knew Sawyer would be one of the best to go through the program. He said the Buckeye defensive end always takes the time to give back.

 

“He cares about everybody, wants to help his alma mater Pickerington North, loves the community of Pickerington, loves Columbus, loves Ohio State and like I said, there’s no one better,” Hillerich said.

 

Hillerich said recently Sawyer took the time to visit his elementary school and say hi to the teachers. He said it’s inspiring to the current football players at Pickerington North to see someone who was once in their shoes thriving.

 

 

 

Local businesses like Roosters in Pickerington said Sawyer isn’t a stranger to them either.

 

“Jack Sawyer still comes here once a week to have lunch with his grandmother, which just shows what I mean,” Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations for Roosters Nicole Cox said. “He’s an incredible player, but what kind of person he is.”

 

Cox said this Buckeye season has been extra special for the Pickerington location.

 

“With there being six current players that actually graduated from Pickerington Central or Pickerington Northm” she said. “So we have Jack Sawyer, Sonny Styles, Lorenzo Styles and also Ty Hamilton and Max Lominaco and Sam Williams Dixon, which that’s a lot of Buckeyes that are from here. So it is a very special place in a lot of the hearts around here for those guys and the team. So in this particular restaurant, it is going to be just so full of love.”

 

Sawyer’s name is already up on the wall of that Roosters location for holding a high school record.

 

Now many in Pickerington are ready to watch these hometown boys cement their names as national champions.

 

 

 

“There’s nothing better than to watch your guys have success,” Hillerich said.

 

The people in Pickerington said they feel lucky to have such great hometown boys to cheer for th

roughout the season and next Monday.