Northwest District Football Schedule

Transcription

T34
PR EP FOOTBA LL
THE COURIER
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2015
Northwest District Football Schedule
Thursday Aug. 27
NW Ohio Games
Napoleon at Defiance
Marion Elgin at Ridgedale
Friday Aug. 28
NW Ohio Games
Akron Firestone at Wooster Senior
Allen East at Van Buren
Anthony Wayne at Findlay
Arcadia at Lakota
Archbold at Hicksville
Arlington at Anna
Ashland Crestview at Galion Northmor
Ashland Senior at Wadsworth
Bedford, Mich. at Toledo St. Francis
Bellefontaine at Wapakoneta
Bellevue at Sandusky Perkins
Benjamin Logan at Fairbanks
Bowling Green at Rossford
Bradford at New Bremen
Buckeye Central at Plymouth
Buckeye Valley at Delaware Hayes
Cardington Lincoln at North Union
Carey at Riverdale
Castalia Margaretta at Willard
Celina at Versailles
Clear Fork at Fredericktown
Cleveland Villa-Angela at Genoa
Clyde at Tiffin Columbian
Columbus Grove at Pandora-Gilboa
Convoy Crestview at Parkway
Cory-Rawson at Bluffton
Covington at St. Henry
Delphos Jefferson at Lima Shawnee
Delphos St. John’s at Lima Bath
Eastwood at Toledo Start
Edgerton at Patrick Henry
Firelands at Milan Edison
Fort Loramie at Minster
Fremont St. Joseph at Mohawk
Galion Senior at Bucyrus
Gibsonburg at Elmwood
Hilltop at Waynesfield-Goshen
Holgate at North Baltimore
Howard East Knox at Danville
Huron at Sandusky Senior
Kenton at Coldwater
Liberty Center at Tinora
Lima Cent. Cath. at Elida
Lima Perry at Troy Christian
Linden McKinley at Orrville
Lorain Clearview at Vermilion
Loudonville at Sparta Highland
Lucas at Lowellville
Mapleton at Crestline
Marion Harding at Mount Vernon
Marion Local at McComb
Marysville at Jonathan Alder
Monroeville at Edon
Montpelier at Lake
Mount Gilead at Colonel Crawford
New London at Oberlin
Normandy at Upper Scioto Valley
Northwood at Ayersville
Oak Harbor at Ottawa-Glandorf
Ontario at Lexington
Oregon Clay at Perrysburg
Otsego at Evergreen
Ottawa Hills at Swanton
Piqua at Toledo St. John’s
Port Clinton at Woodmore
River Valley at Upper Sandusky
Riverside at Arcanum
Seneca East at South Central
Shelby at Mansfield Madison
Sidney Lehman at Fort Recovery
Spencerville at Leipsic
Springfield at Fremont Ross
St. Marys Memorial at Sidney
Sunbury Big Walnut at Mansfield Senior
Sylvania Northview at Toledo Waite
Sylvania Southview at Toledo Rogers
Tiffin Calvert at Hopewell-Loudon
Toledo Bowsher at Maumee
Toledo Christian at Delta
Toledo Scott at Fostoria Senior
Toledo Whitmer at Cuyahoga Falls Walsh Jesuit
Toledo Woodward at Cardinal Stritch
Utica at Centerburg
Van Wert at Bryan
Vanlue at Ridgemont
Wauseon at Fairview
Wayne Trace at Paulding
Wooster Triway at West Holmes
Wynford at Liberty-Benton
Saturday Aug. 29
NW Ohio Games
Cleveland Benedictine at Tol. Cent. Catholic
Hardin Northern at Beallsville
Lima Senior at Middletown
Norwalk Senior at Mentor Lake Catholic
Sandusky St. Mary’s at Norwalk St. Paul
Thursday Sept. 3
NW Ohio Games
West Jefferson at Jonathan Alder
Friday Sept. 4
Northern 10 Conference
Buckeye Central at Seneca East
Mohawk at Colonel Crawford
Upper Sandusky at Carey
Wynford at Ridgedale
Western Buckeye League
Defiance at Kenton
Elida at Celina
Lima Bath at Ottawa-Glandorf
Van Wert at St. Marys Memorial
Wapakoneta at Lima Shawnee
Other NW Ohio Games
Anna at Brookville
Anthony Wayne at Toledo Start
Ashland Crestview at Loudonville
Ayersville at Ottawa Hills
Beallsville at Marion Local
Bryan at Tiffin Columbian
Bucyrus at Crestline
Cardington Lincoln at Riverdale
Centerburg at Lucas
Cleveland John Hay at Norwalk Senior
Cleveland Lincoln-West at Toledo Scott
Clyde at Eastwood
Columbus Crusaders at Galion Senior
Columbus Whetstone at Buckeye Valley
Cuyahoga Heights at New London
Danbury at Toledo Woodward
Danville at Fredericktown
Delphos Jefferson at Coldwater
Edon at Edgerton
Elmwood at Hopewell-Loudon
Evergreen at Montpelier
Fairbanks at Mechanicsburg
Fairfield Christian at Hardin Northern
Fort Recovery at Fort Loramie
Fremont Ross at Sylvania Southview
Galion Northmor at Worthington Christian
Genoa at Oak Harbor
Hamilton at Findlay
Heath at Sparta Highland
Hicksville at Convoy Crestview
Highland at Ashland Senior
Hillsdale at Willard
Huron at Bellevue
Lake at Northwood
Lakota at Gibsonburg
Leipsic at Columbus Grove
Lexington at Shelby
Liberty Center at Napoleon
Liberty-Benton at Bowling Green
Lima Cent. Cath. at Delphos St. John’s
Lima Perry at Allen East
Mansfield Madison at River Valley
Mansfield Senior at Canton McKinley
Mapleton at Magnolia Sandy Valley
Marion Harding at Lima Senior
Marion Pleasant at Cincinnati Country Day
Maumee at Toledo Waite
Milan Edison at Monroeville
Minster at Sidney Lehman
New Bremen at Holgate
Normandy at Arlington
North Baltimore at Otsego
North Union at Triad
Norwalk St. Paul at Fremont St. Joseph
Ontario at Clear Fork
Oregon Clay at Sylvania Northview
Orrville at Wooster Triway
Pandora-Gilboa at McComb
Parkway at Spencerville
Patrick Henry at Wayne Trace
Paulding at Fairview
Ridgemont at Mount Gilead
Rittman at South Central
Riverside at Arcadia
Rossford at Port Clinton
Sandusky Perkins at Sandusky Senior
Springfield at Toledo Bowsher
St. Henry at Eaton
Tinora at Delta
Tol. Cent. Catholic at Columbus Bishop Hartley
Toledo St. Francis at Perrysburg
Toledo St. John’s at Toledo Rogers
Toledo Whitmer at Detroit Catholic Central
Troy Christian at Waynesfield-Goshen
Upper Scioto Valley at Cory-Rawson
Utica at Howard East Knox
Van Buren at Bluffton
Vermilion at Fairview
Versailles at Germantown Valley View
Wauseon at Fostoria Senior
West Holmes at New Philadelphia
Western Reserve at Castalia Margaretta
Wickliffe at Archbold
Wooster Senior at Wadsworth
Saturday Sept. 5
NW Ohio Games
Marion Elgin at Bradford
Plymouth at Sandusky St. Mary’s
Chillicothe Southeastern at Vanlue
Swanton at Tiffin Calvert
Woodmore at Toledo Christian
Friday Sept. 11
Blanchard Valley Conference Blanchard
Cory-Rawson at Liberty-Benton
Blanchard Valley Conference Valley
North Baltimore at Leipsic
Colonel Crawford at Wynford
Mohawk at Carey
Ridgedale at Upper Sandusky
Seneca East at Bucyrus
Midwest Athletic Conference
Anna at Fort Recovery
Delphos St. John’s at Versailles
Minster at Coldwater
New Bremen at Marion Local
St. Henry at Parkway
Celina at Lima Bath
Defiance at Elida
Kenton at Wapakoneta
Lima Shawnee at St. Marys Memorial
Ottawa-Glandorf at Van Wert
Other NW Ohio Games
Archbold at Lake
Ayersville at Lima Perry
Bellevue at Clyde
Benjamin Logan at Marion Elgin
Bluffton at Fort Loramie
Bowling Green at Otsego
Bryan at Napoleon
Canal Fulton Northwest at Orrville
Cardinal Stritch at Lakota
Cedarville at Riverside
Clear Fork at Shelby
Columbus Grove at Patrick Henry
Convoy Crestview at Wayne Trace
Coshocton at West Holmes
Danville at Ontario
Delta at Tiffin Calvert
Edon at Hicksville
Fairview at Delphos Jefferson
Fostoria Senior at Port Clinton
Fredericktown at Utica
Galion Northmor at Lucas
Genoa at Sandusky Perkins
Green at Wooster Senior
Hopewell-Loudon at Arlington
Jean Vanier Catholic (Canada) at Hilltop
Johnstown-Monroe at Buckeye Valley
Jonathan Alder at Amanda-Clearcreek
Kettering Fairmont at Toledo St. John’s
Lagrange Keystone at Galion Senior
Lancaster (N.Y.) at Tol. Cent. Catholic
Lancaster Fisher Catholic at Crestline
Lexington at Norwalk Senior
Liberty Center at Nelsonville-York
Lima Cent. Cath. at Normandy
Lima Senior at Piqua
Lorain at Toledo Scott
Mansfield Senior at Marion Harding
Marion Pleasant at Centerburg
McComb at Van Buren
Milan Edison at Western Reserve
Monroeville at Castalia Margaretta
Montpelier at Paulding
Mount Gilead at Johnstown Northridge
Mount Vernon at Mansfield Madison
North Union at Grandview Heights
Northwood at Rossford
Norwalk St. Paul at Huron
Oberlin at Hardin Northern
Oak Harbor at Eastwood
Ottawa Hills at Evergreen
Pandora-Gilboa at Riverdale
Perrysburg at Toledo Whitmer
Ridgemont at Buckeye Central
Rittman at Mapleton
Sandusky Senior at Fremont Ross
Sandusky St. Mary’s at Danbury
South Central at Cardington Lincoln
Sparta Highland at River Valley
Spencerville at Holgate
Sullivan Black River at Ashland Crestview
Sylvania Southview at Findlay
Tiffin Columbian at Ashland Senior
Tinora at Wauseon
Toledo Bowsher at Sylvania Northview
Toledo Christian at Elmwood
Toledo Rogers at Anthony Wayne
Toledo St. Francis at New Albany
Toledo Start at Maumee
Toledo Waite at Oregon Clay
Toledo Woodward at Springfield
Triad at Fairbanks
Upper Scioto Valley at Indian Lake
Vanlue at Arcadia
Vermilion at Firelands
Waynesfield-Goshen at Allen East
Wellington at New London
Willard at Plymouth
Woodmore at Swanton
Saturday Sept. 12
NW Ohio Games
Gibsonburg at Fremont St. Joseph
St. Paris Graham at Sidney Lehman
Friday Sept. 18
Riverdale at McComb
Three Rivers Athletic Conference
Fremont Ross at Toledo St. John’s
Tol. Cent. Catholic at Oregon Clay
Toledo St. Francis at Findlay
Toledo Whitmer at Lima Senior
Hopewell-Loudon at Vanlue
Buckeye Central at Upper Sandusky
Bucyrus at Mohawk
Carey at Wynford
Seneca East at Colonel Crawford
Northern Buckeye Conference
Eastwood at Fostoria Senior
Elmwood at Genoa
Otsego at Woodmore
Rossford at Lake
Northwest Conference
Convoy Crestview at Columbus Grove
Normandy at Spencerville
Paulding at Bluffton
Northwest Ohio Athletic League
Evergreen at Bryan
Patrick Henry at Liberty Center
Swanton at Archbold
Wauseon at Delta
Northern Ohio League
Norwalk Senior at Shelby
Ontario at Tiffin Columbian
Willard at Sandusky Senior
Toledo Area Athletic Conference
Cardinal Stritch at Edon
Gibsonburg at Northwood
Tiffin Calvert at Danbury
Toledo Christian at Hilltop
Upper Sandusky at Seneca East
Wynford at Mohawk
Firelands Conference
Ashland Crestview at South Central
Plymouth at Monroeville
Eastwood at Otsego
Elmwood at Rossford
Lake at Fostoria Senior
Woodmore at Genoa
Green Meadows Conference
Edgerton at Hicksville
Fairview at Wayne Trace
Holgate at Tinora
Bluffton at Allen East
Columbus Grove at Normandy
Delphos Jefferson at Paulding
Spencerville at Convoy Crestview
Coldwater at St. Henry
Fort Recovery at Delphos St. John’s
Marion Local at Minster
New Bremen at Versailles
Parkway at Anna
Northern Lakes League
Archbold at Wauseon
Delta at Patrick Henry
Liberty Center at Evergreen
Swanton at Bryan
Northwest Central Conference
Bellevue at Tiffin Columbian
Norwalk Senior at Ontario
Shelby at Sandusky Senior
Maumee at Bowling Green
Napoleon at Sylvania Southview
Springfield at Perrysburg
Sylvania Northview at Anthony Wayne
Hardin Northern at Waynesfield-Goshen
Lima Perry at Ridgemont
Riverside at Fort Loramie
Sidney Lehman at Upper Scioto Valley
Danbury at Cardinal Stritch
Hilltop at Edon
Northwood at Ottawa Hills
Tiffin Calvert at Gibsonburg
Ohio Cardinal Conference
Clear Fork at Mansfield Senior
Lexington at Orrville
West Holmes at Mansfield Madison
Wooster Senior at Ashland Senior
Ashland Crestview at Western Reserve
Norwalk St. Paul at New London
South Central at Plymouth
Sandusky Bay Conference
Huron at Sandusky Perkins
Milan Edison at Oak Harbor
Hicksville at Fairview
Tinora at Edgerton
Wayne Trace at Ayersville
Elida at Wapakoneta
Lima Bath at Defiance
Ottawa-Glandorf at Celina
St. Marys Memorial at Kenton
Van Wert at Lima Shawnee
Anna at Coldwater
Minster at Versailles
New Bremen at Delphos St. John’s
Parkway at Fort Recovery
St. Henry at Marion Local
Other NW Ohio Games
Arcadia at North Baltimore
Clyde at Toledo Bowsher
Cory-Rawson at Pandora-Gilboa
Fairbanks at Marion Harding
Fremont St. Joseph at Ottawa Hills
Liberty-Benton at Leipsic
Loudonville at Crestline
Marion Elgin at Fredericktown
New London at Mapleton
Port Clinton at Castalia Margaretta
Rocky River at Vermilion
Toledo Rogers at Bellevue
Toledo Start at Cincinnati Winton Woods
Toledo Woodward at Akron Hoban
Van Buren at Arlington
Maumee at Anthony Wayne
Napoleon at Sylvania Northview
Perrysburg at Bowling Green
Sylvania Southview at Springfield
Hardin Northern at Fort Loramie
Riverside at Ridgemont
Sidney Lehman at Lima Perry
Upper Scioto Valley at Waynesfield-Goshen
Ashland Senior at West Holmes
Clear Fork at Lexington
Mansfield Madison at Wooster Senior
Mansfield Senior at Orrville
Saturday Sept. 19
Allen East at Delphos Jefferson
Oak Harbor at Huron
Sandusky Perkins at Clyde
Western Reserve at Norwalk St. Paul
Defiance at Celina
Elida at St. Marys Memorial
Kenton at Van Wert
Lima Shawnee at Ottawa-Glandorf
Wapakoneta at Lima Bath
Other NW Ohio Games
Ayersville at Sandusky St. Mary’s
Trenton Edgewood at Lima Cent. Cath.
Waverly at Ridgedale
Friday Sept. 25
Other NW Ohio Games
Arlington at Riverdale
McComb at Arcadia
Findlay at Oregon Clay
Fremont Ross at Lima Senior
Toledo St. John’s at Toledo St. Francis
Toledo Whitmer at Tol. Cent. Catholic
Leipsic at Pandora-Gilboa
Van Buren at North Baltimore
Colonel Crawford at Bucyrus
Ridgedale at Buckeye Central
Castalia Margaretta at Milan Edison
Cleveland Heights at Toledo Start
Lakota at Toledo Woodward
Liberty-Benton at Hopewell-Loudon
Mapleton at Monroeville
Marion Elgin at Sparta Highland
Marion Harding at North Union
Toledo Bowsher at Massillon Washington
Toledo Christian at Montpelier
Toledo Scott at West Carrollton
Toledo Waite at Sidney
Valley Forge at Vermilion
Vanlue at Cory-Rawson
See SCHEDULE, Page T35
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PR EP FOOTBA LL
THE COURIER
Schedule
Continued from page T34
Western Reserve Academy at Crestline
Willard at Port Clinton
Saturday’s Sept. 26 Games
Other NW Ohio Games
Carey at Sandusky St. Mary’s
Fremont St. Joseph at Danville
Toledo Rogers at Lima Cent. Cath.
Friday’s Oct. 2 Games
Arcadia at Cory-Rawson
Arlington at Liberty-Benton
Findlay at Toledo St. John’s
Oregon Clay at Toledo Whitmer
Tol. Cent. Catholic at Fremont Ross
Toledo St. Francis at Lima Senior
Pandora-Gilboa at Hopewell-Loudon
Van Buren at Vanlue
Buckeye Central at Carey
Mohawk at Seneca East
Ridgedale at Colonel Crawford
Upper Sandusky at Bucyrus
Fostoria Senior at Elmwood
Genoa at Rossford
Otsego at Lake
Woodmore at Eastwood
Allen East at Paulding
Delphos Jefferson at Bluffton
Normandy at Convoy Crestview
Bryan at Wauseon
Delta at Liberty Center
Evergreen at Swanton
Patrick Henry at Archbold
Sandusky Senior at Bellevue
Tiffin Columbian at Norwalk Senior
Willard at Shelby
Edon at Northwood
Hilltop at Cardinal Stritch
Ottawa Hills at Danbury
Toledo Christian at Gibsonburg
Monroeville at South Central
New London at Western Reserve
Fairview at Ayersville
Hicksville at Tinora
Holgate at Wayne Trace
Coldwater at Parkway
Delphos St. John’s at Minster
Fort Recovery at New Bremen
Marion Local at Anna
Versailles at St. Henry
Anthony Wayne at Perrysburg
Bowling Green at Sylvania Northview
Springfield at Napoleon
Sylvania Southview at Maumee
Fort Loramie at Waynesfield-Goshen
Lima Perry at Upper Scioto Valley
Ridgemont at Hardin Northern
Sidney Lehman at Riverside
Lexington at Mansfield Madison
Mansfield Senior at Ashland Senior
Orrville at West Holmes
Wooster Senior at Clear Fork
Clyde at Oak Harbor
Port Clinton at Sandusky Perkins
Toledo City League
Toledo Start at Toledo Waite
Celina at Wapakoneta
Defiance at Ottawa-Glandorf
Lima Bath at St. Marys Memorial
Lima Shawnee at Kenton
Van Wert at Elida
Other NW Ohio Games
Ashland Crestview at Mapleton
Columbus Bishop Ready at Wynford
Crestline at Danville
Galion Senior at Marion Harding
Huron at Castalia Margaretta
Leipsic at McComb
Loudonville at Lucas
Mount Gilead at Marion Elgin
North Baltimore at Riverdale
Sandusky St. Mary’s at Milan Edison
Vermilion at Ontario
Friday Oct. 9
Arcadia at Arlington
Riverdale at Liberty-Benton
Fremont Ross at Toledo Whitmer
Lima Senior at Findlay
Toledo St. Francis at Tol. Cent. Catholic
Toledo St. John’s at Oregon Clay
Leipsic at Van Buren
Vanlue at Pandora-Gilboa
Bucyrus at Buckeye Central
Mohawk at Upper Sandusky
Ridgedale at Carey
Seneca East at Wynford
Eastwood at Genoa
Elmwood at Otsego
Lake at Woodmore
Rossford at Fostoria Senior
Bluffton at Spencerville
Columbus Grove at Delphos Jefferson
Convoy Crestview at Allen East
Paulding at Normandy
Archbold at Bryan
Evergreen at Delta
Swanton at Patrick Henry
Wauseon at Liberty Center
Sandusky River League
Sandusky St. Mary’s at Lakota
Norwalk Senior at Bellevue
Ontario at Willard
Shelby at Tiffin Columbian
Northwood at Danbury
Ottawa Hills at Hilltop
New London at Monroeville
Norwalk St. Paul at Ashland Crestview
Western Reserve at Plymouth
Ayersville at Holgate
Tinora at Fairview
Wayne Trace at Edgerton
Delphos St. John’s at Anna
Marion Local at Coldwater
Minster at Fort Recovery
New Bremen at St. Henry
Versailles at Parkway
Bowling Green at Anthony Wayne
Maumee at Napoleon
Perrysburg at Sylvania Southview
Sylvania Northview at Springfield
Fort Loramie at Ridgemont
Hardin Northern at Sidney Lehman
Upper Scioto Valley at Riverside
Waynesfield-Goshen at Lima Perry
Ashland Senior at Orrville
Mansfield Madison at Clear Fork
West Holmes at Mansfield Senior
Wooster Senior at Lexington
Clyde at Milan Edison
Port Clinton at Huron
Toledo City League
Toledo Waite at Toledo Rogers
Toledo Woodward at Toledo Bowsher
Elida at Lima Shawnee
Lima Bath at Van Wert
Ottawa-Glandorf at Kenton
St. Marys Memorial at Celina
Wapakoneta at Defiance
Other NW Ohio Games
Cardington Lincoln at Marion Elgin
Castalia Margaretta at Sandusky Perkins
Cory-Rawson at North Baltimore
Gibsonburg at Montpelier
Hopewell-Loudon at McComb
Johnstown Northridge at Hicksville
Lima Cent. Cath. at Columbus Bishop Ready
Lucas at Crestline
Manchester at Colonel Crawford
Marion Harding at Jonathan Alder
Oak Harbor at Fremont St. Joseph
South Central at Mapleton
Vermilion at Parma Heights Holy Name
Saturday Oct. 10
Cardinal Stritch at Tiffin Calvert
Edon at Toledo Christian
Friday Oct. 16
Upper Sandusky at Wynford
Elmwood at Woodmore
Fostoria Senior at Genoa
Lake at Eastwood
Rossford at Otsego
Allen East at Columbus Grove
Bluffton at Normandy
Delphos Jefferson at Convoy Crestview
Paulding at Spencerville
Delta at Bryan
Liberty Center at Archbold
Patrick Henry at Evergreen
Swanton at Wauseon
Bellevue at Willard
Ontario at Shelby
Tiffin Columbian at Sandusky Senior
Cardinal Stritch at Northwood
Danbury at Gibsonburg
Edon at Ottawa Hills
Tiffin Calvert at Toledo Christian
Monroeville at Ashland Crestview
Plymouth at New London
Western Reserve at South Central
Maumee at Springfield
Napoleon at Anthony Wayne
Perrysburg at Sylvania Northview
Sylvania Southview at Bowling Green
Ridgemont at Waynesfield-Goshen
Riverside at Lima Perry
Sidney Lehman at Fort Loramie
Upper Scioto Valley at Hardin Northern
Clear Fork at Ashland Senior
Lexington at West Holmes
Mansfield Senior at Wooster Senior
Orrville at Mansfield Madison
Huron at Milan Edison
Port Clinton at Clyde
Sandusky Perkins at Oak Harbor
Toledo City League
Toledo Bowsher at Toledo Waite
Toledo Scott at Toledo Rogers
Toledo Start at Toledo Woodward
Celina at Van Wert
Defiance at St. Marys Memorial
Kenton at Elida
Lima Shawnee at Lima Bath
Wapakoneta at Ottawa-Glandorf
Other NW Ohio Games
Arlington at Leipsic
Bay Village at Vermilion
Crestline at Normandy
Hilltop at Montpelier
Lima Cent. Cath. at Bluffton (Ind.)
Marion Elgin at Centerburg
Marion Pleasant at Marion Harding
Norwalk Senior at Columbus East
Norwalk St. Paul at Mapleton
Riverdale at Vanlue
Sandusky St. Mary’s at Castalia Margaretta
Seneca East at Lakota
Saturday Oct. 17
NW Ohio Games
Lucas at Bridgeport
Friday Oct. 23
Edgerton at Fremont St. Joseph
Montpelier at Tiffin Calvert
Woodlan, Ind. at Lima Cent. Cath.
Buckeye Central at Colonel Crawford
Carey at Bucyrus
Ridgedale at Mohawk
Anthony Wayne at Sylvania Southview
Napoleon at Perrysburg
Springfield at Bowling Green
Sylvania Northview at Maumee
Fremont St. Joseph at Sandusky St. Mary’s
Bellevue at Ontario
Sandusky Senior at Norwalk Senior
Tiffin Columbian at Willard
Fort Loramie at Upper Scioto Valley
Lima Perry at Hardin Northern
Hilltop at Gibsonburg
Ottawa Hills at Cardinal Stritch
Tiffin Calvert at Edon
Toledo Christian at Danbury
Monroeville at Norwalk St. Paul
Plymouth at Ashland Crestview
South Central at New London
Toledo City League
Toledo Rogers at Toledo Woodward
Toledo Start at Toledo Bowsher
Fairview at Edgerton
Hicksville at Holgate
Tinora at Ayersville
Celina at Lima Shawnee
Lima Bath at Kenton
Ottawa-Glandorf at Elida
St. Marys Memorial at Wapakoneta
Van Wert at Defiance
Anna at St. Henry
Coldwater at New Bremen
Fort Recovery at Versailles
Marion Local at Delphos St. John’s
Parkway at Minster
Other NW Ohio Games
Castalia Margaretta at Oak Harbor
Crestline at Mohawk
Howard East Knox at Marion Elgin
Liberty-Benton at Van Buren
Lima Cent. Cath. at Columbus Bishop Hartley
Lucas at Danville
Mansfield Senior at Lexington
Mapleton at Plymouth
Marion Harding at Buckeye Valley
Montpelier at Edon
Normandy at Vermilion
Pandora-Gilboa at Arcadia
Tiffin Columbian at Sandusky Perkins
Versailles at Marion Local
Waynesfield-Goshen at Riverside
Anthony Wayne at Springfield
Bowling Green at Napoleon
Perrysburg at Maumee
Sylvania Northview at Sylvania Southview
Fort Loramie at Lima Perry
Hardin Northern at Riverside
Upper Scioto Valley at Ridgemont
Waynesfield-Goshen at Sidney Lehman
Saturday Oct. 24
Ashland Senior at Lexington
Mansfield Madison at Mansfield Senior
West Holmes at Clear Fork
Wooster Senior at Orrville
Lakota at Fremont St. Joseph
Oak Harbor at Port Clinton
Sandusky Perkins at Milan Edison
South Central at Norwalk St. Paul
Toledo City League
Ridgemont at Sidney Lehman
Toledo Rogers at Toledo Start
Toledo Scott at Toledo Bowsher
Toledo City League
Toledo Waite at Toledo Scott
Other NW Ohio Games
Elida at Lima Bath
Kenton at Celina
Lima Shawnee at Defiance
St. Marys Memorial at Ottawa-Glandorf
Wapakoneta at Van Wert
Bradford at Fairview
Friday Oct. 30
Arcadia at Riverdale
Cory-Rawson at Arlington
Liberty-Benton at McComb
Other NW Ohio Games
Castalia Margaretta at Lakota
Mapleton at Western Reserve
Marion Elgin at Galion Northmor
Marion Harding at River Valley
Montpelier at Northwood
Shelby at Loudonville
Vermilion at Clyde
Warrensville Heights at Huron
Wayne Trace at Lima Cent. Cath.
Western Reserve Academy at Upper Sandusky
Fremont Ross at Findlay
Lima Senior at Tol. Cent. Catholic
Oregon Clay at Toledo St. Francis
Toledo St. John’s at Toledo Whitmer
Leipsic at Hopewell-Loudon
North Baltimore at Vanlue
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Toledo Scott at Toledo Woodward
Other NW Ohio Games
Bryan at Liberty Center
Delta at Swanton
Evergreen at Archbold
Patrick Henry at Wauseon
Bucyrus at Ridgedale
Carey at Seneca East
Colonel Crawford at Upper Sandusky
Wynford at Buckeye Central
Archbold at Delta
Bryan at Patrick Henry
Liberty Center at Swanton
Wauseon at Evergreen
Toledo City League
Delphos St. John’s at Coldwater
Minster at Anna
New Bremen at Parkway
St. Henry at Fort Recovery
Hopewell-Loudon at North Baltimore
Leipsic at Vanlue
North Baltimore at Pandora-Gilboa
Van Buren at Hopewell-Loudon
Plymouth at Norwalk St. Paul
Allen East at Normandy
Bluffton at Columbus Grove
Convoy Crestview at Paulding
Delphos Jefferson at Spencerville
Columbus Grove at Paulding
Convoy Crestview at Bluffton
Normandy at Delphos Jefferson
Spencerville at Allen East
Saturday Oct. 3
Ayersville at Hicksville
Holgate at Edgerton
Wayne Trace at Tinora
Findlay at Toledo Whitmer
Lima Senior at Oregon Clay
Tol. Cent. Catholic at Toledo St. John’s
Toledo St. Francis at Fremont Ross
Findlay at Tol. Cent. Catholic
Oregon Clay at Fremont Ross
Toledo St. John’s at Lima Senior
Toledo Whitmer at Toledo St. Francis
Fostoria Senior at Woodmore
Genoa at Otsego
Lake at Elmwood
Rossford at Eastwood
Arlington at McComb
Cory-Rawson at Riverdale
Liberty-Benton at Arcadia
McComb at Cory-Rawson
Monroeville at Western Reserve
New London at Ashland Crestview
Clyde at Huron
Milan Edison at Port Clinton
Bucyrus at Wynford
Colonel Crawford at Carey
Mohawk at Buckeye Central
Ridgedale at Seneca East
Danbury at Hilltop
Gibsonburg at Cardinal Stritch
Northwood at Tiffin Calvert
Toledo Christian at Ottawa Hills
Anna at New Bremen
Coldwater at Versailles
Fort Recovery at Marion Local
Parkway at Delphos St. John’s
St. Henry at Minster
Mansfield Madison at Ashland Senior
Orrville at Clear Fork
West Holmes at Wooster Senior
Edgerton at Ayersville
Fairview at Holgate
Hicksville at Wayne Trace
Pandora-Gilboa at Van Buren
Shelby at Bellevue
Willard at Norwalk Senior
Eastwood at Elmwood
Genoa at Lake
Otsego at Fostoria Senior
Woodmore at Rossford
T35
REBATES
START 8/28/2015
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T36
FINDLAY
THE COURIER
Trojans will run
with Mogolu,
experienced line
KEY TO THE SEASON
By DAVE HANNEMAN
STAFF WRITER
Mogolu
Ochoa
O FFE N S E
According to running back
Emmanuel Mogolu: “We’ll still
be throwing the ball because we
have some tall athletic receivers
who can make big plays down field.
But I think our running game can
be the strength of this team.”
D E FE N S E
According to linebacker Jose
Ochoa: “This year, we have to be
a lot more physical. I think there is
this perception of Findlay that we
are soft. Coach drills into us all the
time that we need to change that.”
2014 LEADERS
PASSING
Muehl
ATT
261
COMP
151
YDS
1,806
TD
18
RUSHING
Mogolu
Jones
Muehl
ATT
186
27
48
YDS
1,482
135
128
AVG.
8.0
5.0
2.7
TD
21
1
4
RECEIVING
Niswander
Hammond
Feay
Stillings
REC
65
41
16
16
YDS
846
427
173
149
AVG.
13.0
10.4
10.8
9.3
TD
11
2
0
1
INT
9
Mark Ritzler has been Findlay
High’s head football coach for nine
seasons and on staff for 25.
But what he saw three weeks ago,
at the end of Findlay’s first preseason
scrimmage, stunned even him ... took
him back to another era.
“It was our final drive of the scrimmage,” Ritzler said. “We chunked and
chunked and chunked, I think we went
something like 70 yards in 12 plays,
and we finished it off with a play
action pass to the tight end dragging
across the back of the end zone.
“I can’t remember the last time I
saw a Findlay team do that. Probably
not since I played, anyway.”
It’s something Findlay fans might
be seeing a lot more of this season.
Ritzler isn’t scrapping the fivewide spread offense that has been a
Trojans’ trademark since Cliff Hite
brought it with him when he took over
the program in 1996. But with a talented backfield and a veteran offensive
line returning this season, he is planning on adding a few wrinkles to it.
“I feel that with our running backs,
and because we have four guys return-
RANDY ROBERTS / The Courier
FINDLAY WIDE RECEIVER Joe
Misamore looks to pick up some
yardage after the catch during a
7-on-7 tourney earlier this summer.
ing up front that played all or part of
the time last season, that the running
game, right now, is our strength,” Ritzler said. “We are going to form our
offense around the possibilities of
what we can do in the run game. That
means using tight ends and H-backs,
things we haven’t seen around here in
Findlay in a long time.”
Graduation cost the Trojans three
two-year starters at key offensive positions who generated a ton of yards
the past two seasons: quarterback
Brandon Muehl and receivers Grant
Niswander and Joey Hammond.
There’s another two-year starter
back, though, to spearhead Findlay’s
offense. Emmanuel Mogolu made an
impressive debut as a sophomore when
he rushed for 505 yards. The 5-foot-10,
180-pound senior speedster followed
that with an explosive junior season
when he averaged 8 yards per carry,
rushed for 1,482 yards and scored 21
touchdowns. Mogolu added another
140 yards and three TDs receiving.
Findlay’s backfield will be more
than one dimensional, though, with
senior Jordan Jones (5-10, 176) and
junior D’on Stinson (5-10, 213) also
returning. Jones, who along with
Mogolu formed half of Findlay’s
record-setting state-qualifying 400meter relay team last spring, rushed
for 135 yards and a TD last season;
Stinson had just six carries in 2014,
but like Jones averaged 5 yards per
carry.
It’s a backfield with talent, speed
and depth.
Seniors Nick Berry (6-2, 183) and
junior Mitchell Hucke (6-0, 191) will
be called on when Findlay lines up
with a tight end. Stinson, Hucke and
junior Kyle Nunn (6-5, 187) will be
H-back in that formation.
Findlay’s backs will be operating
behind a veteran offensive line that
returns big 6-5, 279-pound senior
tackle Noah Routson, guards Dewey
See TROJANS, Page T47
DEPTH CHART
OFFENSIVE UNIT
Pos.
QB
RB
WR
WR
WR
WR
OT
OT
OG
OG
C
K
Tre Miller
Emmanuel Mogolu
Chandler Stillings
Cam Crotinger
Nick Berry
Joe Misamore
Noah Routson
JJ Reneau
Dewey Lee
Rick Coleman
Luke Cosiano
Grant McKinniss
Yr. Ht.
Wt.
Pos.
Jr.
Sr.
Sr.
Jr.
Sr.
Sr.
Sr.
Sr.
Jr.
Sr.
Sr.
Sr.
141
180
181
189
183
146
279
216
251
254
216
207
QB
RB
RB
WR
WR
WR
WR
OT
OT
OG
OG
C
5-8
5-10
6-2
6-1
6-2
5-11
6-5
6-2
5-10
6-1
5-11
6-0
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Chandler Stillings
Jordan Jones
D’on Stinson
Mitchell Hucke
Sami Salama
Adam Gutting
Chaze Proehl
Alex Miller
Loren Charles
Justin Hudson
Devin Zimmerman
Zach Short
DEFENSIVE UNIT
Yr. Ht.
Wt.
Pos.
Sr.
Sr.
Jr.
Jr.
Jr.
So.
Sr.
So.
Jr.
Jr.
Jr.
Jr.
181
176
213
191
175
186
193
175
218
262
286
178
DE
DE
DT
DT
MLB
OLB
OLB
CB
SS
FS
CB
P
6-2
5-10
5-10
6-0
6-0
6-2
6-9
6-2
6-1
6-0
6-0
5-7
Sam Kovaleski
Aaron Kupferberg
Anthony Bilbrey
Tre Gerlach
Jose Ochoa
Jeremiah Tate
Bryce Burrows
Jordan Jones
Cam Dillon
Kyle Nunn
Justin Eyerly
Grant McKinniss
Yr. Ht.
Wt.
Pos.
Jr.
Jr.
Sr.
So.
Sr.
Jr.
Jr.
Sr.
So.
Jr.
Sr.
Sr.
171
197
216
170
185
211
189
176
196
187
160
207
DE
DE
DT
DT
MLB
OLB
OLB
CB
SS
FS
CB
P
6-0
6-0
6-0
5-10
5-8
5-11
5-11
5-10
6-2
6-5
5-9
6-0
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Connor Price
Matthew Lichtinger
Gage Watson
Billy Milliron
Bryant Shaffer
D’on Stinson
Jesse Lamb
Brandon Armstrong
Cam Armstrong
Avery Wirt
Elisha Hensley
Avery Wirt
Yr. Ht.
Wt.
Sr.
So.
Jr.
Sr.
Sr.
Jr.
Sr.
Jr.
So.
Jr.
Jr.
Jr.
177
200
265
274
187
213
159
136
126
173
140
173
6-4
6-1
6-0
6-0
5-7
5-10
6-0
5-6
5-5
6-0
5-8
6-0
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QUICK FACTS
COACH: Mark Ritzler (10th
year, 49-42).
LAST YEAR: 6-4 overall, 3-4
Three Rivers Athletic Conference.
LAST TRAC TITLE: 2011.
OFFENSIVE SCHEME: Spread.
DEFENSIVE SCHEME: 4-4.
STRENGTHS: Running game;
kicking game. In Manny Mogolu,
Findlay has
one of the top
running backs
in the TRAC
and he has
four returning
veterans on the
offensive line
as well. Findlay
also has one of
the top kickers
Ritzler
in the state in
Grant McKinniss, a three-time
all-Ohioan.
WEAKNESSES: Overall size,
youth on defense. Findlay’s offensive line will average around 245
pounds per man. Good, but still
likely smaller than many of the
TRAC programs. The Trojans
will be young on defense, with
seven underclassmen starting on
that side of the ball.
GRIDIRON GURU
Findlay’s schedule favors a
young team needing to get some
quality Friday night experience.
The first four games are at home.
Only one of the first six opponents
won more than two games last
season. There’s enough talent in
the backfield and experience up
front for the offense to control time
of possession and “chunk” its way
down the field. That would be a
huge advantage for a young, a bit
undersized defense that last season
was on the field for long periods
of time.
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FINDLAY
THE COURIER
T37
Cam Armstrong (2), Jordan Jones (3), Emmanuel Mogolu (5), Justin Eyerly (6), Will Kiffmeyer (8), Joe Misamore (9), Brayton Rader (10), Tre Miller (11), Owen Morse (12), Sami Salama (13),
Marlon Collins (14), Nick Berry (15), Mitchell Hucke (16), Jacob Harris (17), Marquis Landers (18), Kyle Nunn (19), Elisha Hensley (20), Brandon Armstrong (21), Chandler Stillings (22), D’on
Stinson (23), Bryant Shaffer (24), Caleb Peltier (25), Sam Kovaleski (26), Josh Shuck (27), Cade McCaskey (28), KCaleeb Gonzales (29), Cam Dillon (30), Avery Wirt (31), Jesse Lamb (32), Zach
Hannah (33), Loren Couch (34), Bryce Burrows (35), Jake Shaw (36), Tre Gerlach (37), Brady Butler (38), Blake Watson (39), Anthony Bilbrey (40), Elijah Mahone (41), Baylee Hamilton (42),
Adam Gutting (43), Matt Short (44), Mathew Lichtinger (45), Joran Contreras (46), Aaron Kupferberg (47), Jeremiah Tate (48), Jose Barrientos (49), JJ Reneau (50), Connor Price (51), Dewey
Lee (52), Jose Ochoa (53), Jonathon Ricard (54), Justin Hudson (55), Alex Miller (56), Seth Leonard (57), Zach Short (58), Chris Ricker (59), Luke Cosiano (61), Jonathon Arthur (62), Wyatt
Deem (63), Peyton Manns (64), Noah Routson (65), Tod Beard (66), Loren Charles (67), Drake Heidepriem (67), Jesse Guzman (69), Zach Fairbanks (70), Devin Zimmerman (71), Gage Watson
(72), Thomas Riker (73), Damien Preteroti (74), Wes VanAtta (75), Alex Gallegos (76), Rick Coleman (77), Robert Hammond (78), Ben Baldridge (79), Grant McKinniss (80), Brice Engard (81),
Javon Stallings (82), Darius McDonald (83), Anthony Gonzalez (84), Chaze Proehl (85), Caden Spradlin (86), Cameron Crotinger (87), Peter Strzempka (88), Sam Giedeman (89), Billy Milliron
(90). HEAD COACH — Mark Ritzler. ASSISTANT COACHES — Todd Armstrong, Dave Sprouse, Chris Ireland, Marc Bosworth, Brad Burrows, Ryan Brooks, Cory Echelberry,
2015 SCHEDULE
Date
Opponent
Home/Away
August
28 Anthony Wayne
H
September 4 Hamilton
H
11 Sylvania Southview
H
18 Toledo St. Francis*
H
25 Oregon Clay*
A
October
2 Toledo St. John’s*
A
9 Lima Senior*
H
16 Toledo Central Catholic* A
23 Toledo Whitmer*
A
30 Fremont Ross*
H
All games 7 p.m.
*—Three Rivers Athletic Conference games
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TROJANS
2014 RESULTS
Anthony Wayne
Grove City
Sylvania Southview
Oregon Clay
Toledo St. John’s
36-28
27-25
45-14
48-0
56-28
Lima Senior
Toledo Central Catholic
Toledo Whitmer
Fremont Ross
Toledo St Francis
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RECORD BOOK
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
17-56
14-35
21-58
34-41
41-13
6-4
2-8
8-2
9-2
5-5
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
Clean The
Field Trojans!
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T38
BLUFFTON
THE COURIER
Pirates look
to win the close
ones this season
KEY TO THE SEASON
QUICK FACTS
By MICHAEL BURWELL
STAFF WRITER
Swank
Crisp
O FFE N S E
According to center Kyle
Swank: “For our offensive line,
we need to make sure that we’re
all going hard every single play
and being more physical. We just
need to learn to execute more and
finish more.”
D E FE N S E
According to defensive end
Sam Crisp: “Defensively, we’re
making it a lot more simple than
last year so we can focus on our
jobs and execute more properly
than having a bunch of different
concepts and get jumbled up. ”
2014 LEADERS
PASSING
Ault
ATT COMP YDS
256
143 2,208
TD
25
RUSHING
Wilson
Ault
ATT
83
80
YDS AVG
301 3.6
233 2.9
TD
5
6
RECEIVING
A. Bricker
Stratton
Kistler
REC
46
38
22
YDS
628
592
435
TD
5
10
4
AVG
13.7
15.6
19.8
INT
7
BLUFFTON — Mental toughness
is just as critical as physical toughness
in football.
For Bluffton, the most important
part of the offseason was stressing the
mental aspect of the game after finishing 3-7 in 2014, with four of those
losses coming by four points or less.
“We really tried to address mental
toughness this year with our kids,”
said Kyle Cutnaw, who is entering
his second season as Bluffton’s head
coach. “We went through a leadership series and tried to really work
on mental toughness and focusing
in on not worrying about mistakes
and being able to play under pressure
and how you treat the mental side of
the game. We’ve really grown I think
through that process.”
The four close losses came in the
midst of a six-game losing streak. Five
of Bluffton’s seven losses were against
playoff teams, including Division VII
state semifinalist Columbus Grove.
The Pirates lost a heartbreaking
42-41 contest against rival Ada on a
blocked extra point with 22 seconds
left in a game in which they led by
RANDY ROBERTS / The Courier
BLUFFTON’S KYLE SWANK drops the 65-pound weights and crawls while
taking part in a lineman challenge this summer at Bluffton.
three touchdowns in the fourth quarter.
“After losing so many games in a
row, it’s the last thing you ever want
to do again. It’s an awful experience,”
Sam Crisp, the Pirates’ starting tight
end and defensive end, said. “I think
we’ve definitely all learned from it
and if we can improve on that, we
can definitely use it to our advantage
this year.”
But similar to last season, Bluffton has the athletes at key positions
in order to succeed, especially on
offense. Ten letterwinners return,
including seven starters.
And it all starts under center.
Mitchell Ault enters his third year
as the Pirates’ starting quarterback.
He completed 55.9 percent (143 of
256) of his passes for 2,208 yards
(second in the Northwest Conference). He also threw for a leagueleading 25 touchdowns and had just
seven interceptions.
The 6-foot, 190-pound senior, who
earned second-team all-NWC and special
mention all-district honors last season,
was effective on the ground as well, rushing for 233 yards and six scores.
See PIRATES, Page T48
DEPTH CHART
GRIDIRON GURU
OFFENSIVE UNIT
Pos.
QB
RB
WR
WR
WR
OT
OT
OG
OG
C
TE
K
Mitchell Ault
Dustin Falk
Joel Siefker
Bret Rumer
Dakota Bricker
Zach Little
Blake Sampson
Misha Groman
Colin Phillips
Kyle Swank
Sam Crisp
Carrick Lancaster
COACH: Kyle Cutnaw (2nd year,
3-7).
Northwest Conference.
LAST NWC TITLE: 2004.
OFFENSIVE SCHEME: Multiple.
DEFENSIVE SCHEME: 4-3 or
4-4.
STRENGTHS:
Athleticism,
especially in
the passing
game. Mitchell
Ault has thrown
for more
than 3,800
yards with 41
touchdowns
and just 14
Cutnaw
interceptions in
his two seasons
at quarterback.
Sam Crisp, who was part of Bluffton’s winning 800 relay team at
the Division III state track meet
in June, will be Ault’s leading
target. Scoring points should
once again be a strength for the
Pirates (averaged 322 yards and
31.7 points per game last season).
WEAKNESSES: The running
game, on both sides of the line.
Cutnaw believes his team needs
to run the ball more effectively
this year (97.7 yards per game
rushing last year) and stop the
run (allowed 211 yards per
game).
Yr. Ht.
Wt.
Pos.
Sr.
Jr.
Sr.
Sr.
So.
Sr.
Sr.
Sr.
Jr.
Sr.
Sr.
Sr.
190
140
150
160
140
220
250
185
210
165
200
170
QB
RB
FB
FB
WR
WR
WR
OT
OT
TE
K
6-0
5-6
6-0
5-10
5-6
6-2
6-1
6-0
5-10
6-0
6-4
5-10
Jason Bracy
Kaleb Jefferson
Brady Basinger
Gavin Devier
Owen Bischoff
Shawn Justus
Joe Schriner
Justin Haggard
Levi Mikesell
Brice Rayle
Braeden Edwards
DEFENSIVE UNIT
Yr. Ht.
Wt.
Pos.
Jr.
So.
Jr.
Fr.
Jr.
Sr.
Sr.
So.
Jr.
So.
So.
140
180
150
185
155
150
180
165
210
160
125
DE
DE
DT
DT
ILB
OLB
OLB
CB
CB
S
S
P
6-2
5-10
5-6
5-8
5-11
5-10
6-0
5-11
5-11
6-1
5-6
Sam Crisp
Kyle Swank
Zach Little
Blake Sampson
Kaleb Jefferson
Mitchell Ault
Brady Basinger
Dakota Bricker
Bret Rumer
Dustin Falk
Owen Bischoff
Jason Bracy
Yr. Ht.
Wt.
Pos.
Sr.
Sr.
Sr.
Sr.
So.
Sr.
Jr.
So.
Sr.
Jr.
Jr.
Jr.
200
165
220
250
180
190
150
140
160
140
155
140
DE
DE
DT
DT
ILB
OLB
OLB
CB
CB
S
S
P
6-4
6-0
6-2
6-1
5-10
6-0
5-6
5-6
5-10
5-6
5-11
6-2
Misha Groman
Cole Wilson
Levi Mikesell
Dylan Pletcher
Gavin Devier
Brice Rayle
Justin Haggard
Joel Siefker
Jason Bracy
Joel Piercefield
Shawn Justus
Bret Rumer
Yr. Ht.
Wt.
Sr.
Jr.
Jr.
Sr.
Fr.
So.
So.
Sr.
Jr.
So.
Sr.
Sr.
185
160
210
195
185
160
165
150
140
120
150
160
6-0
5-11
5-11
5-6
5-8
6-1
5-11
6-0
6-2
5-7
5-10
5-10
Kyle Cutnaw has a motto for
his team this season: simplicity,
consistency and intensity. He simplified the playbook to give his
players more reps with certain
plays; expects consistent behavior
and effort on and off the field; and
wants his kids to go hard all the
time. If the Pirates can do those
things well and finish games
strong, they can improve significantly from last year’s 3-7 record.
Walk-In Sports Injury Clinic
Every Saturday, 8:00-9:00 a.m.
August 29 - October 31
Julie A. Cole Rehab & Sports Medicine Center
1721 Medical Blvd., Suite B, Findlay
Located off Western Ave., along Lake Cascades.
Questions: 419.429.6473
Stop in for an Evaluation!
Athletes will receive an evaluation by sports medicine
physicians, Dr. James Davidson or Dr. Michael Stump.
In addition to being sports medicine certified, Dr. Stump
is also the only area physician trained in computerized
concussion testing. Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Davidson can
further evaluate your sports injury if needed.
BLUFFTON
THE COURIER
T39
Braeden Edwards (1), Jason Bracy (2), Joe Schriner (3), Cole Fruchey (4), Dustin Falk (5), Logan Rhodes (8), Brice Rayle (10), Gavin Conrad (12), Chad Veit (13), Brady Basinger (14), Mitchell
Ault (15), Mason Ault (17), Sam Crisp (18), Carrick Lancaster (20), Dakota Bricker (21), Caleb Webster (22), Shawn Justus (23), Joel Piercefield (24), Bret Rumer (25), Kaden Reneker (27),
Kaleb Jefferson (28), Gavin Devier (31), Owen Bischoff (34), Nate Staley (38), Garrett Habegger (48), Dylan Pletcher (50), Brett Basinger (51), James Mortimer (52), Jordan Wehrly (53), Misha
Groman (54), Kyle Swank (55), DeAndre Nassar (56), Blake Sampson (57), Colin Phillips (58), Jaden Jenkins (59), Levi Mikesell (60), Justin Haggard (63), Cole Wilson (70), Jason Althaus (72),
Zach Little (77), Joel Siefker (81), James Badial-Luna (82), Hunter Busch (88). HEAD COACH — Kyle Cutnaw. ASSISTANT COACHES — Steve Lemley, Pat Prichard, Jesse Herr, Dave Bracy,
Kevin Burkholder, Jeremy Basinger.
2015 SCHEDULE
Date
Opponent
Home/Away
August
28 Cory-Rawson (7:30 p.m.)
September 4 Van Buren (7:30 p.m.)
11 Fort Loramie (7:30 p.m.)
18 Paudling*
25 Allen East*
October
2 Delphos Jefferson*
9 Spencerville*
16 Ada*
23 Convoy Crestview*
30 Columbus Grove*
All games 7 p.m. unless noted
*—Northwest Conference games
H
H
A
H
A
H
A
A
H
A
Bluffton
PIRATES
2014 RESULTS
Cory-Rawson
Van Buren
Delphos Jefferson
Convoy Crestview
Ada
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7-9
19-22
31-41
41-42
Allen East
35-39
Spencerville
20-60
Western Reserve Academy 61-13
Paulding
48-0
Columbus Grove
6-21
*22'/8&.
3,5$7(6
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RECORD BOOK
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
3-7
6-4
5-5
6-4
5-5
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
4-6
4-6
4-6
5-5
7-3
T40
CA R EY
THE COURIER
Blue Devils
will have many
new starters
KEY TO THE SEASON
QUICK FACTS
By JAMIE BAKER
SPORTS EDITOR
LaRoche
O’Flaherty
O FFE N S E
According to receiver Abel
LaRoche: “We don’t have the size
we normally do, so we’re going to
have to spread the field a little
more this season. We have some
quick guys and we’ll need to utilize
them by throwing the ball when
we can.”
D E FE N S E
According to defensive lineman Marcus O’Flaherty: “We
need to know our jobs, do our jobs
and do them correctly on every
play.”
2014 LEADERS
PASSING
Noon
ATT
101
COMP
56
YDS
1,082
TD
12
RUSHING
Powers
Nordyke
Racheter
Noon
ATT
93
75
65
77
YARDS
587
535
440
389
AVG
6.3
7.1
6.8
5.1
TD
12
5
10
9
RECEIVING
J. Wentling
Powers
Boes
REC
14
16
7
YDS
296
267
186
AVG
21.1
16.7
26.6
TD
3
4
3
INT
3
CAREY — Green as the grass at
C.D. Wentling Field.
That would be a good way to
describe the football team Carey will
be putting on the field this fall.
“Well, let’s just say there will be a
lot of new faces out there this season,”
Carey coach Todd Worst said with a
laugh.
He isn’t kidding.
Turnover is bound to happen when
a small school graduates 22 seniors
as the Blue Devils did last spring.
Less than a handful of starting spots
weren’t manned by seniors in 2014.
Among the key losses are Northern
10 Special Teams Player of the Year
Bryan Powers, who was a first-team
selection at running back and defensive back after scoring a team-high 17
touchdowns.
First team all-N10 offensive linemen Brady Mullholand and Deven
Patrick, defensive lineman Levi Smalley, linebacker Zach Brodman and first
team defensive back and second-team
Satchel Strahm also graduated. Three
other seniors also earned second team
or honorable mention all-conference
MICHAEL BURWELL / The Courier
CAREY QUARTERBACK Gavin Woods decides whether to hand the ball
off to fullback Jonathan Racheter or keep it himself during the Blue Devils’
scrimmage against Leipsic on Aug. 21.
honors last fall after leading the Blue
Devils to an 8-2 record that included
a 5-2 mark in league play.
As far as Worst is concerned, his
staff is looking forward and not back.
“You shouldn’t make a big deal of
losing 22 seniors. Why dwell on it?
It’s in the past and they aren’t going
to help you this year,” Worst said. “We
have to focus on the kids we do have
and do everything we can to make
them better.”
There is some experience returning, particularly on the defensive side.
Gavin Woods, a 6-2, 160-pound
junior strong safety, was third on the
team with 47 tackles. He also grabbed
three interceptions. Senior defensive
backs Abel LaRoche (6-2, 160) and
Derek Wentling (5-10, 150) recorded
31 and 20 tackles respectively while
Wentling also picked off three passes.
Another senior defensive back, Cody
Ferguson (5-11, 180) made 19 stops.
The biggest holes to fill will be
along the line and at linebacker in
the Blue Devils’ 4-4 alignment. The
only player in the front eight with
significant experience is senior defensive lineman Marcus O’Flaherty who
registered 34 tackles including eight
stops for losses.
See DEVILS, Page T47
GRIDIRON GURU
DEPTH CHART
OFFENSIVE UNIT
Pos.
QB
RB
RB
FB
TE
SE
OT
OT
OG
OG
C
Gavin Woods
Derek Wentling
Cody Luzader
Jonathon Racheter
Aaron Jacoby
Abel LaRoche
Nathanyal Griffin
Devon Orwick
Marcus O’Flaherty
Gavin Lowe
Brent Mullholand
COACH: Todd Worst (9th year,
70-26).
Northern 10 Conference.
LAST LEAGUE TITLE: 2013.
OFFENSIVE SCHEME: Wishbone.
STRENGTHS: The biggest thing
Carey has on
its side heading
into the season
is a winning tradition. The Blue
Devils haven’t
had a losing
season since
2005 when they
went 4-6. The
coaching staff
Worst
and offensive
schemes haven’t
changed in years
so the players know them well.
The Blue Devils do have some
key experienced players back like
seniors Abel LaRoche at receiver
and Marcus O’Flaherty on the
offensive and defensive lines.
WEAKNESSES: Experience.
Last year’s 22 seniors manned
most of the starting spots the past
couple of seasons. Depth could be
a concern too. With less than 40
players on the roster, the fewest
the school has had in more than 20
years, players will have to go both
ways and injuries will be a concern.
Yr. Ht.
Wt.
Pos.
Jr,.
Sr.
So.
Jr.
Sr.
Sr.
Sr.
Jr.
Sr.
Sr.
Jr.
160
150
150
210
160
160
220
220
230
180
180
QB
RB
RB
FB
TE
SE
OT
OT
OG
OG
C
6-2
5-10
5-10
6-0
5-11
6-2
6-2
6-0
5-11
5-10
5-11
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Brayden Wentling
Curtis Blair
Brayden Wentling
Cody Ferguson
Garrett Billock
Evan Plott
Xavi Boes
Brandon Black
Adric Stombaugh
Jacob Stover
Daniel Barnett
DEFENSIVE UNIT
Yr. Ht.
Wt.
Pos.
So.
So.
So.
Sr.
Jr.
So.
Jr.
Jr.
Sr.
Jr.
So.
160
152
160
180
160
130
285
200
190
190
205
DE
DE
DT
DT
ILB
ILB
OLB
CB
CB
FS
SS
P
6-0
6-0
6-0
5-11
6-0
5-11
5-9
6-3
5-9
5-10
5-6
Carey
Blue Devils
Good Luck in the
2015 season!
Visit us online at csbanking com
128 S. Vance St.
Carey
419.396.7631
Arlington | Findlay | Carey | Upper Sandusky | Harpster | Marion
Yr. Ht.
Jonathon Racheter
Gavin Lowe
Devon Orwick
Marcus O’Flaherty
Cody Ferguson
Nathanyal Griffin
Gavin Woods
Brayden Wentling
Aaron Jacoby
Abel LaRoche
Derek Wentling
Abel LaRoche
Jr.
5-10
Jr.
Sr.
Sr.
Sr.
Jr.
So.
Sr.
Sr.
Sr.
Sr.
6-0
180
6-0
5-11
5-11
6-2
6-2
6-0
5-11
6-2
5-10
6-2
Wt.
Pos.
210
DE
DE
DT
ILB
OLB
CB
FS
SS
P
220
230
180
220
16
160
160
160
150
160
Adric Stombaugh
Brandon Black
Xavi Boes
Jacob Stover
Logan Smiley
Cody Luzader
Curtis Blair
Grant Frederick
Jonathon Racheter
Yr. Ht.
Wt.
Sr.
Jr.
Jr.
Jr.
So.
So.
So.
So.
Jr.
190
200
285
190
130
150
152
150
210
5-9
6-3
5-9
5-10
5-5
5-10
6-0
6-0
6-0
The first goal at Carey is always
a winning season. Every Blue Devil
team that goes .500 or better gets
its picture on the wall. With an
inexperienced team, achieving
that goal might not be as easy as
it has been in the past. Replacing
22 seniors is a difficult chore. But
Worst thinks if he can get his club
to play as a team they’ll have yet
another solid season. At Carey this
fall it can’t be about “me” it has to
be all about “we.”
CA R EY
THE COURIER
T41
Cody Ferguson (2), Aaron Jacoby (4), Austin Hertel (6), Gavin Woods (7), Evan Plott (9), Brayden Wentling (10), Zach Seifert (11), Abel LaRoche (12), Casey Crawford, (14), Justin Schlack
(15), Grant Frederick (18), Derek Wentling (20), Cody Luzader (24), Curtis Blair (26), Brendan Duffman (27), Logan Smiley (30), Willie Schafer (32), Garrett Billock (33), Jordan Clauss (42),
Jonathon Racheter (46), Adam Hackworth (49), Jacob Stover (50), Daniel Barnett (51), Marcus O’Flaherty (53), Andrew Seifert (55), Nathanyal Griffin (58), Jacob Boes (59), Ethan Schlack (60),
Gavin Lowe (62), Brent Mullholand (63), Mason Feucht (65), Brandon Black (67), Michael Shulaw (69), Adric Stombaugh (70), Xavi Boes (71), Clay Fletcher (74), Devon Orwick (76). HEAD
COACH — Todd Worst. ASSISTANT COACHES — Bob Damshroder, David Steen, Jonathon Mershman, Tim Baldridge, Jeremy Traxler.
2015 SCHEDULE
Date
Opponent
Home/Away
August
28 Riverdale
September 4 Upper Sandusky*
11 Mohawk*
18 Wynford*
26 Sandusky St. Mary
October
2 Buckeye Central*
9 Ridgedale*
16 Bucyrus*
23 Seneca East*
30 Colonel Crawford*
All games 7 p.m.
*—Northern 10 Conference games
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Carey
BLUE DEVILS
2014 RESULTS
Upper Sandusky
Riverdale
Mohawk
Wynford
Crestline
35-14
61-0
21-13
13-14
62-0
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RECORD BOOK
35-14
62-0
48-37
55-24
7-19
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
8-2
7-3
8-2
8-3
6-4
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
10-2
10-2
8-3
5-5
4-6
GO BLUE
DEVILS
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T42
ELMWOOD
THE COURIER
Royals to run
the ball behind
big offensive line
KEY TO THE SEASON
QUICK FACTS
BY RYAN SATKOWIAK
STAFF WRITER
Baker
Bentley
O FFE N S E
According to quarterback
Noah Baker: “We just have to
keep going after it and running
hard, staying in it and not getting
down on ourselves.”
D E FE N S E
According to defensive end
Rob Bentley: “Defensively we
have to follow our assignments,
keep our technique and stick to
what we’re doing. We have to be
more aggressive and try to lay a
hit.”
2014 LEADERS
PASSING
Baker
ATT COMP YDS
142
75 964
TD
7
RUSHING
Jasso
Baker
ATT YDS AVG
217 1,019 4.7
119
419 3.5
TD
8
8
RECEIVING
Camden
Hall
REC
26
24
TD
3
0
YDS AVG
419 16.1
256 10.7
INT
14
BLOOMDALE — To borrow a
quote from Elmwood head coach Brian
Cooper, the Royals’ veteran players have
been through some tough experiences.
But they have been experiences,
and it’s those experiences that Cooper
is going to lean on to help Elmwood
improve this season.
Experience has been one of the key
words for the Royals this summer. Following a difficult 2014 season that saw
the team trot out an unnaturally high
number of underclassmen, Elmwood
returns a solid group of players that
have game experience.
“I’ve already seen it with a couple
of guys that it’s going to be a bonus,”
said Cooper, who is entering his fourth
season as the team’s head coach. “The
game maybe doesn’t move as fast. You
never want to put a freshman or sophomore in a bad position, but when you’re
rolling out the numbers we are, it’s just
a necessity.
“It was a good experience for them
and I think, obviously any time you
get game experience even if it’s just a
game or two, let alone starting nine
or 10 games, they now know what to
MATTHIAS LEGUIRE / for The Courier
ELMWOOD COACH BRIAN COOPER gives instruction to Brock Reinhard
between plays during a 7-on-7 scrimmage against Fremont St. Joseph.
expect and what it means to be a part
of the team.”
Of the 24 non-freshmen listed on
Elmwood’s roster, 13 are letterwinners.
Among that group are 2014 All-Northern Buckeye Conference honorable mentions in receiver/safety Dylan Hall and
tight end/linebacker Noah Smith.
Smith and Hall are both three-year
starters, and are part of a senior class
that has seen a lot of bad, but hopes to
leave the program on a positive note.
“You definitely have to be resilient
out here and be able to bounce back
and go back to work every single time,”
Smith said. “If you get down on yourself,
you just have to get right back up.”
The Royals’ seniors are charged with
guiding a team that is still dominated
by underclassmen. Elmwood has five
seniors on the roster — Hall, Smith,
linemen Rob Bentley and Nick Wiseman, and split end/defensive back Josh
Lorenzen — compared to 15 freshmen
See ROYALS, Page T46
DEPTH CHART
OFFENSIVE UNIT
Pos.
QB
FB
HB
WR
WR
TE
OT
OT
OG
OG
C
Noah Baker
Noah Smith
Jace Grossman
Christian Aldaco
Dylan Hall
Nate Uzelac
Rob Bentley
Ryan Krouse
Jordan Thrash
Nick Wiseman
Kyle Dibling
Yr. Ht.
Wt.
Pos.
Jr.
Sr.
Jr.
So.
Sr.
Jr.
Sr.
Jr.
Jr.
Sr.
Jr.
175
200
185
150
165
180
265
300
175
240
180
QB
5-11
6-3
5-11
5-7
5-11
6-4
6-3
6-4
5-10
5-11
5-8
DEFENSIVE UNIT
Yr. Ht.
Brock Reinhard
Wt.
Pos.
So. 5-11 155
DE
DE
DT
DT
MLB
OLB
OLB
CB
CB
FS
SS
Chant Meece
Calvin Thatcher
Griffin Sperry
Nick Wiseman
Jordan Thrash
Noah Smith
Nate Uzelac
Jace Grossman
Christian Aldaco
Noah Baker
Dylan Hall
Yr. Ht.
Wt.
So.
Jr.
Jr.
Sr.
Jr.
Sr.
Jr.
Jr.
So.
Jr.
Sr.
190
185
200
200
175
200
180
185
150
175
165
6-3
5-11
5-10
5-11
5-10
6-3
6-4
5-11
5-7
5-11
5-11
Pos.
Yr. Ht.
Wt.
COACH: Brian Cooper (4th year,
6-24 overall).
Northern Buckeye Conference.
OFFENSIVE SCHEME: WingT.
DEFENSIVE SCHEME: 4-front.
STRENGTHS: The Royals
have plenty of
returning experience in the
trenches, led by
mammoth tackles Rob Bentley
and Ryan
Krouse, which
should help the
team as they
transition to a
Wing-T offense.
Cooper
Elmwood also
returns key
players at quarterback, linebacker
and in the secondary.
WEAKNESSES: For a team that
has only two victories the past
two years, learning to win can
be a hard thing to accomplish.
Cooper said the team needs to
avoid the “here we go again,” attitude if something goes wrong on
the field, and needs to maintain
focus on only the things it can
control.
GRIDIRON GURU
The Royals took their lumps a
year ago with a roster composed
mostly of freshmen and sophomores. With a solid, albeit small,
senior class, Elmwood hopes the
lessons learned a year ago will pay
dividends this year. The first three
games will be key. If the Royals can
pick up a win or two, or even in all
three games, they should be feeling pretty confident heading into
league play. But if things don’t go
well early, it could be another long
season in Bloomdale.
ELMWOOD
THE COURIER
T43
Brock Reinhard (2), Aaron Crislip (3), Nate Uzelac (5), Adam Lewallen (6), Dylan Hinton (7), Noah Baker (8), Noah Smith (9), Tyler St. Clair (14), Christian Aldaco (15), Corey Loera (18), Dylan
Hall (20), Josh Lorenzen (21), Jacob Corral (22), Marshall Tienerand (23), Matthew Cline (28), Carter Taft (32), Levi Garner (35), Karl Clementz (40), Donovan Gallagher (45), Jace Grossman
(46), Miguel Garcia (50), Jordan Thrash (52), Lincoln Thatcher (54), Tyler Zimmerman (55), Calvin Thatcher (57), Dakota Clementz (58), Griffin Sperry (60), Kyle Dibling (63), Nick Wiseman
(67), Connar Barringer (68), Kain Brossia (70), Chant Meece (72), Rob Bentley (77), Ryan Krouse (78), Brayden Heinze (79), Austin Murphy (80), Bo Donaldson (82), Kyle Klett (87). HEAD
COACH — Brian Cooper. ASSISTANT COACHES — Vic Meyer, Jason Shirkey, Ben Steele, Jeremy Woodard.
2015 SCHEDULE
Date
Opponent
Home/Away
August
28 Gibsonburg
September 4 Hopewell-Loudon
11 Toledo Christian
18 Genoa*
25 Rossford*
October
2 Fostoria*
9 Otsego*
16 Woodmore*
23 Eastwood*
30 Lake*
All games 7 p.m.
*—Northern Buckeye Conference games
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ROYALS
2014 RESULTS
Gibsonburg
Hopewell-Loudon
Toledo Christian
Fostoria
Otsego
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28-50
42-49
27-47
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Woodmore
Eastwood
Lake
Genoa
Rossford
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RECORD BOOK
26-16
12-49
6-55
13-53
0-48
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
199.
6?-5
<9C+6=
1-9
1-9
4-6
4-6
5-5
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
3-7
6-4
7-3
8-2
7-4
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T44
FOSTOR I A
Redmen have
made strides
in weight room
KEY TO THE SEASON
By SCOTT COTTOS
STAFF WRITER
Lorenzen
Phillips
O FFE N S E
According to tackle Jarrett
Lorenzen: “I believe the offense
is going to be effective this year
because we were in the weight
room a lot more. A lot of us are
stronger than last year, and we’re
pretty quick off the ball, too.”
D E FE N S E
According to linebacker
Ryan Phillips: “A lot of us were
in the weight room all winter, so
we’re a lot stronger. ... A lot of
changes (on defense) will be beneficial, I think.”
2014 LEADERS
PASSING
Stanton
ATT COMP YDS
172
88 1,111
RUSHING
Stanton
Diaz
ATT
142
110
YDS AVG
503 3.5
492 4.5
RECEIVING
Twining
Ko. Bemis
REC
21
17
YDS AVG
382 18.2
216 12.7
TD
x
INT
12
FOSTORIA — Second-year coach
Derek Kidwell likes the players on
his Fostoria High School roster. He’d
just like to have more of them.
The Redmen lost just six seniors
to graduation from 2014’s roster of
40, but with only a half-dozen freshmen and the decisions of other players not to return for various reasons,
this year’s group numbers just 30.
Kidwell expected many more
players, but he realizes that football
is not for everyone and he’s moving
ahead in his second year of rebuilding the Fostoria program with the
ones he has on hand.
“We’re not going to beg anybody
to play this sport,” he said. “That’s
the last thing you want to do, is beg
somebody to play this sport, because
if they’re not playing for themselves,
they’re going to get hurt.
“We have 30 kids who I think are
pretty tough and committed, so we’ll
coach their butts off and we’ll see
what happens.”
Kidwell, a former Ohio Mr. Football as the quarterback who led the
Redmen to the 1991 Division II
FOSTORIA RECEIVER Kashata
Johnson hauls in a pass during the
Liberty-Benton 7-on-7 tournament
in late July.
state championship, returned to his
alma mater last year after having
reconstructed winning programs
at Hopewell-Loudon and Fremont
Ross.
Season one for Kidwell at Fostoria
ended with records of 4-6 overall and
2-5 in the Northern Buckeye Conference. None of the wins came against
particularly strong opponents, but it
THE COURIER
was good for the Redmen to claim
some victories after not having won
a game for two straight seasons.
Kidwell, however, wasn’t fully
satisfied with the season and he’s
looking for further progress this
season.
“For me, personally, as a head
coach, I didn’t think we progressed
during the season like we should
have,” he said. “Against the better
teams, we should have played
tougher and better, and we didn’t.
That was a little disappointing to
me.”
The Redmen did step up to meet
an important challenge in the offseason. Kidwell spoke all of last
season about how a lack of strength
was hampering his players, and he
said they have since addressed that
problem in the weight room.
“We’ve gotten light-years stronger,” Kidwell said. “Some of our kids
have gained 20, 30, 40 pounds — not
of fat, but muscle and proper weight
gain. So, we’ve closed the gap that
way.”
The Redmen will continue to
line up in Kidwell’s familiar spread
offense, but there will be an operational change due to several receivers not returning from 2014.
“We’ll probably run the ball a
little more than I envisioned at
first,” Kidwell said. “We’ll adapt to
our strengths.”
The running game looks to be in
See REDMEN, Page T46
DEPTH CHART
OFFENSIVE UNIT
Pos.
QB
RB
FB
WR
WR
WR
OG
OG
OT
OT
C
K
Jayden Stanton
Cordero Diaz
Zach Jimmison
Ryan Phillips
Kobey Bemis
Jordan Marshall
Brystan Baeder
Tommy Oldaker
Montrese Brooks
Jarrett Lorenzen
Monty Stahl
Tommy Oldaker
Yr. Ht.
Wt.
Pos.
Jr.
Sr.
Jr.
Jr.
Sr.
Sr.
Sr.
Sr.
So.
Jr.
So.
Sr.
160
175
150
155
165
160
200
200
205
200
220
200
QB
WR
WR
OG
5-10
5-7
5-6
5-8
5-9
5-10
5-11
5-8
5-9
6-0
5-10
5-8
Skylar Garcia
Jayden Stanton
Skylar Garcia
Collin Rice
DEFENSIVE UNIT
Yr. Ht.
Wt.
Pos.
So.
Jr.
So.
So.
140
160
140
185
DT
DT
DE
DE
MLB
OLB
OLB
CB
CB
SS
FS
P
5-9
5-10
5-9
6-0
Monty Stahl
Tommy Oldaker
Jarrett Lorenzen
Jordan Diaz
Zach Jimmison
Jace Boff
Ryan Phillips
Skylar Garcia
Jordan Marshall
Cordero Diaz
Jayden Stanton
Zach Jimmison
Yr. Ht.
Wt.
So.
Sr.
Jr.
Fr.
Jr.
So.
Jr.
So.
Sr.
Sr.
Jr.
Jr.
220
200
200
155
150
145
155
140
160
175
160
150
5-10
5-8
6-0
6-1
5-6
5-8
5-8
5-9
5-10
5-7
5-10
5-6
Pos.
Yr. Ht.
Wt.
QUICK FACTS
COACH: Derek Kidwell (2nd
season, 4-6)
LAST TITLE: 2008 in Northern
Ohio League
OFFENSIVE SCHEME: Spread
DEFENSIVE SCHEME: 4-3
STRENGTHS: The players
are familiar
with Kidwell’s
system after
one season,
and they have
a few victories
to build on
after winless
seasons in 2013
and 2012. The
Redmen sport
Kidwell
quite a bit of
game experience and have
added bulk to help them compete.
WEAKNESSES: Depth will be
a concern with only 30 players
on the roster. FHS is thin at
receiver, a spot at which some
players did not return from last
year. The schedule will provide
tougher tests, with Port Clinton
and Wauseon replacing Toledo
Horizon Science Academy and
Cardinal Stritch.
GRIDIRON GURU
Year 2 of Derek Kidwell’s
rebuilding mission at Fostoria
begins with a greater amount of
strength and a greater knowledge
of the coach’s system among the
players. But there’s little depth on
the roster and a tougher schedule,
so an interesting journey appears
to lie ahead.
FOSTOR I A
THE COURIER
T45
Jordan Marshall (2), Jaydn Miller (3), Cordero Diaz (4), Alex Sierra (6), Kasey Finsel (7), Malik Tucker (9), Jayden Stanton (12), Skylar Garcia (16), Jace Boff (22), Kobey Bemis (23), Donovan
Vogel (25), Gabe Turner (31), Weston Weimerskirch (33), Kashata Johnson (34), Zach Jimmison (36), Ryan Phillips (43), Mo’ntrese Brooks (50), Collin Rice (57), Kaiden Mezger (52), Tyler
Edwards (55), Kyle Gavin (58), Eli Ward (62), Nate Cessna (63), Chad Spangler (65), Brystan Baeder (66), Monty Stahl (72), Tommy Oldaker (73), Jarrett Lorenzen (75), Lucas Hill (81), Michael
Hoffbauer (83), Jordan Diaz (84). HEAD COACH — Derek Kidwell. ASSISTANT COACHES — J.T. Bates, Jeremy Robbins, Greg Fleming, John Groth, George Tucker, J.R. Haupert, Ryan Ottney,
Mykel Heberling.
2015 SCHEDULE
Date
Opponent
Home/Away
August
28 Toledo Scott
September 4 Wauseon
11 Port Clinton
18 Eastwood*
25 Lake*
October
2 Elmwood*
9 Rossford*
16 Genoa*
23 Otsego*
30 Woodmore*
All games 7 p.m.
*—Northern Buckeye Conference games
H
H
A
H
H
A
H
A
H
A
Fostoria
REDMEN
2014 RESULTS
Scott
Cardinal Stritch
Horizon Science
Elmwood
Rossford
12-30
36-14
68-6
47-27
12-49
Genoa
Otsego
Woodmore
Eastwood
Lake
*22'
/8&.
7($06
21$
:,11,1*
6($621
The Fostoria
Redmen
know the
meaning of
hard work.
Great accomplishments are the result of hard
work. The kind of work every Redmen puts in.
You are an inspiration to us all. Go Redmen.
Cg`YjlJ][q[daf_
Hours M-F 8-4:30// Sat. 9-12
biorefining
poet.com/fostoria
6SUXFH6W
)RVWRULD
RECORD BOOK
0-54
6-27
32-26
8-56
8-41
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
4-6
0-10
0-10
5-5
0-10
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
3-7
10-2
8-3
5-5
6-4
T46
Royals
and 11 sophomores.
But leadership isn’t something
Cooper is worried about. This senior
class is the first he’s seen all the way
through. He’s familiar with them,
they’re familiar with him and he’s confident in their abilities.
“I’ve seen them definitely grow, and
it’s neat to see,” Cooper said. “They’re
almost like your kids when you think
about it. You don’t realize how much
they’re growing until maybe you look
back at old film or rosters.
“They really understand what I’m
looking for and what each other are
looking for.”
Just because there’s familiarity doesn’t mean there haven’t been
changes. Cooper has traded in defensive
play calling for offense, bringing a shift
in scheme on both sides of the ball.
“We’ve changed everything each
year we’ve been out,” Hall said. “It’s
been pretty difficult, but coming back
every year it’s the same story so we just
have to get used to it.”
Offensively, the Royals are transitioning to a Wing-T offense. The Royals
PR EP FOOTBA LL
have a bevy of options out of the backfield as opposed to out wide like in past
years, Cooper said. There’s also have
some beef up front, led by the 6-foot-3,
265-pound Bentley and 6-foot-4, 300pound Ryan Krouse.
Third-year starting quarterback
Noah Baker will be utilized in a slightly
different way this year.
“We might not throw the ball 15-20
times a game, but hopefully we can
surprise somebody and go over the top
whenever we need to and set that up
with the play action,” Cooper said.
The biggest obstacle this year for
Elmwood is going to be attitude. Following several tough years, the Royals
have been keeping a positive mindset
in camp.
“It’s about being a team and working
together, and no matter what happened
in the past, you have to be together and
come back to work and give your best
every day,” Bentley said.
“(We’re going to be) leading by
example,” Hall said. “(Some) people
maybe don’t want to be out here,
they’re just in it for the jersey. You can
show them what to do and they’ll do it.
“You just play for the people out
here and not yourself, play for my
brothers.”
Redmen
strong hands with junior quarterback Jayden Stanton and senior running back Cordero Diaz, who rushed
for 503 and 492 yards, respectively,
last season.
Junior Zach Jimmison will also
be inserted as both a running and
blocking back.
The receiving corps will involve a
rotation of seniors Jordan Marshall
and Kobey Bemis, junior Ryan Phillips and sophomore Skylar Garcia,
who will also back up Stanton at
quarterback.
Stanton threw for 1,111 yards
last season, with Bemis catching 17
passes for 216 yards.
The offensive line has sophomore
Monty Stahl at center, senior Tommy
Oldaker and sophomore Collin Rice
at the guards, and senior Brystan
Baeder and junior Jarrett Lorenzen
at the tackles.
“I want to do some different kinds
of things offensively,” Kidwell said.
“Zach Jimmison will be our fullback
type of kid and we’ll run some Gun-I
stuff. We’ll be diverse on offense. We
won’t be as simple as we were last
year. We’ll give you some different
formations and different looks that
people haven’t seen from us. That’s
a tribute to our coaching staff, to
try to get creative and coach to the
strengths of our team.”
Stahl and Oldaker will line up
as defensive tackles, with Lorenzen
and freshman Jordan Diaz at the
ends. Jimmison will be the middle
linebacker, with Phillips and sophomore Jace Boff on the outside.
Garcia and Marshall will be the
cornerbacks, with Cordero Diaz at
strong safety and Stanton at free
safety.
“The biggest things are that we
have to communicate on defense and
we line up properly, and we’ve been
doing that at a high level,” Kidwell
said. “Then it’s going to come down
to our defensive line playing well
enough to keep the (opponent’s)
offensive line off our linebackers
and us tackling when we’re in space.”
Depth is a definite concern for
the Redmen.
“We’re going to have to stay
healthy,” Kidwell said. “Any injuries
to any of our starters, and it really,
really affects our landscape as a football team because we’ve got to really
shuffle and move people around and
it’s not fun once you’ve got to start
THE COURIER
doing that.”
With a desire to improve by
facing stronger competition, Fostoria will play a pair of playoff teams
of 2014, Wauseon and Port Clinton,
in nonconference games, in addition
to Toledo Scott in its opener.
The Redmen will then take on
good teams from Eastwood and Lake
to open Northern Buckeye Conference play.
“We’ll find out early on if we’re
better than we were last year, and
we’re going to have to be or we’re
going to take it on the chin because
our first five games are going to be
tough,” Kidwell said.
In the meantime, Kidwell and his
staff are putting through the paces
a squad that he’s enjoyed coaching.
“The kids we have are fun to be
around and they’ve worked hard,”
he said. “They’ve done everything
we’ve asked and they’ve picked up
everything and there’s not a whole
lot of confusion. There’s a strong
commitment from them.
“So, we’ll see what happens when
we line up each and every Friday
night.”
THE COURIER
Trojans
Lee (5-10, 251, jr.) and Rick Coleman
(6-1, 254, sr.) and senior center Luke
Cosiano (5-11, 216).
With 86 players out for football, the
biggest contingent Ritzler can remember during his years with the program,
there’s also some solid depth in juniors
Loren Charles (6-1, 218), Justin Hudson
(6-0, 262), Devin Zimmerman (6-0,
286) and Zach Short (5-7, 178) and
sophomore Alex Miller (6-2, 175).
Chandler Stillings, a 6-1, 181-pound
senior who caught 16 passes for 149
yards and a score, and Mogolu (10, 140,
3 TDs) are the top returning receivers.
Berry and Joe Misamore (5-11, 146)
also saw varsity time a year ago, and
there’s good size and talent at the position in juniors Cam Crotinger (6-1, 169),
Hucke and Sami Salama (6-0, 175),
sophomore Adam Gutting (6-2, 186)
and senior Chaze Proehl, possibly the
tallest wide receiver in the state at 6-9.
Junior Tre Miller, who saw action
in five varsity games last season, takes
over at quarterback. At 5-8 and 141
pounds, he’s not the prototypical drop
back passer that Muehl (6-5, 205) was,
but he brings a style that will also fit
well in Findlay’s scheme to run more
and throw less.
“Tre is able to throw the ball very
PR EP FOOTBA LL
well on the run, which a guy his size has
to be able to do,” Ritzler said.
“He’s very football smart. He seems
to just know when to tuck it in and he’s
elusive enough that he always seems to
avoid the big hit. He has enough shake
in him to buy a little more time, get
around the edge and pick up 5 yards if
the roll out (pass) isn’t there.”
Findlay’s defense didn’t get a lot of
rest last season. On average, opponents
had possession of the ball for 28:10 of
every game, Findlay for 19:47.
Ironically, it’s on defense where Findlay is lightest and least experienced this
season. Junior defensive Aaron Kupferberg (18 solo tackles, 3 sacks), and
senior middle linebackers Jose Ochoa
(68 tackles) and Nunn (74 tackles, 3
ints.) are the only full-time returning
starters. Junior linebacker Bryce Burrows (16 tackles, 1 int.) was a regular
in the lineup later in the season.
Findlay’s defensive front will average less than 190 pounds, and there will
likely be at least seven underclassmen
will be in the starting lineup.
“Defensively we’re really young and
we’re not very big,” Ritzler said. “At that
first scrimmage, everybody was pretty
much brand new, but the No. 1 thing we
as coaches saw on that field was how
well we were running to the football.
Aggressive, I think, is a great word to
describe them. They were hustling, they
were physical, they were really getting
after it.”
Senior Anthony Bilbrey (6-0, 216),
junior Sam Kovaleski (6-0, 171) and
sophomore Tre Gerlach (5-10, 170) will
join Kupferberg on the four-man defensive front, with Ritzler also able to call
on Lee, Gage Watson (6-0, 265), Wes
VanAtta (6-2, 273) and Elijah Mahone
(6-1, 240) when he needs more size in
the middle.
“A lot depends on what the other
team does,” Ritzler said. “Anthony
Wayne and Sylvania Southview are
going to bring a lot of two tight end
stuff. Lima Senior is going to give you
a five-wide look. We see so many different things. We have to try to get our best
football players in the right position.”
Jeremiah Tate will join Ochoa and
Burrows at linebacker, with senior
Justin Eyerly and sophomore Cam
Dillon joining Nunn and Jones in the
secondary.
Findlay enters the 2015 season with
an added weapon in kicker/punter
Grant McKinniss. Already a three-time
all-Ohio selection, McKinniss converted
40 of 42 PAT kicks last season, 5 of 8
field goals, including a school-record 53
yarder, averaged 40.8 yards per punt,
and put 12 of his 41 punts inside the
opponents 20-yard line.
“Grant makes the field a lot shorter
for us and a lot longer for them,” Ritzler said. “Any time we can get to the
40-yard line it’s a scoring opportunity.
That takes a lot of pressure off.”
Hanneman: 419-427-8408,
[email protected]
T47
Devils
On offense, Woods takes over
Carey’s wishbone attack at quarterback for Dylan Noon who passed for
1,028 yards and rushed for 389 yards
and nine scores.
Junior Jonathan Racheter, a bruising 6-foot, 215-pound fullback, is the
only returning back that rushed for
more than 100 yards last season.
He carried the ball 65 times for 440
yards and scored 10 touchdowns.
Wentling and sophomore Cody
Luzader (5-10, 150) have gotten
most of the reps at running back
during preseason practices. The
two combined for just 14 carries for
107 yards last season as graduates
Powers and Terry Nordyke carried
the ball the majority of the time.
Up front along the offensive
line, there are more questions than
answers.
O’Flaherty is back and will man
one of the guard spots. The rest of
the crew up front is new. Senior
Nathanyal Griffin (6-2, 220) and
junior Devon Orwick (6 -0, 220)
will be the tackles, junior Brent
Mullholand (5-11, 180) will be the
center and senior Gavin Lowe (5-10,
180) will be the other guard.
Depth, pa r ticu l a rly in the
trenches, is certainly a concern for
Worst.
There will be fewer bodies on
the sidelines this season at Carey.
Normally, the Blue Devils have 50
or more players in grades 9-12. This
year there are just 37 on the team.
“It’s still a matter of trying to get
our best 11 players on the field. The
difference is we won’t go as much
one way. We tried to split as many
guys up as we could on offense and
defense,” Worst said. “This year if
we get someone hurt, we’re going
to be in trouble. We don’t have the
bodies or experience to plug in there
like we have in the past.”
Worst thinks this year’s team has
the physical tools it needs to be successful. It’s the Blue Devils’ mental
game that still needs a bit of work.
“We just need to get mentally
tougher. We have some guys we
believe can play at the level we need
them too. I’m sure they believe it
themselves yet,” Worst said.
“The mental aspect is going to be
pretty important early in the season.
I like the personality of this team.
They are having fun and working
great together and, hopefully, that
will continue.”
Baker: 419-427-8409
[email protected]
T48
PR EP FOOTBA LL
THE COURIER
Fostoria grad Clay a Big Ten referee
By SCOTT COTTOS
STAFF WRITER
FOSTORIA — Joel Clay does what
many Big Ten football fans would love
to do.
During the season, he may be in
Columbus on one Saturday; Ann Arbor,
Michigan, the next; and West Lafayette,
Indiana, the one after that.
Clay, a Fostoria High School graduate, enjoys it. But he’s far from being a
fan with a seat in the stands, a box of
popcorn in his hand
and a rooting interest in a particular
team. His part of
attending the games
is one that few fans
would do or enjoy.
Clay’s part-time
job lands him in
those Big Ten college towns to offiClay
ciate games. And
while he enjoys the
avocation he’s had at some level for close
to 30 years, officiating is far more than
keeping the peace on a stadium floor for
three hours on a Saturday.
“It’s a great gig, but it’s not one of
those where you just drive down to
Columbus, work a football game and
drive home,” said Clay, 48, who now
lives in Fremont. “There is so much
more involved in what we do.”
Indeed, reviewing and learning are
never-ending facets of officiating at a top
college level, which Clay is heading into
his sixth season of doing. He has responsibilities not only on fall Saturdays, but
during the week while in season and on
a few occasions in the fall. While he gets
paid “pretty well” — Clay doesn’t wish
to disclose how much per game — his
Pirates
naw said what he’s most excited about
seeing from Ault is his growth as a
leader.
“I’m excited to see him take charge
and lead by example and vocally, and I
think that’s something that he’s really
been working on,” Cutnaw said. “I’m
excited to see him grow as a quarterback and keep his composure.”
“It’s not so much about me playing
quarterback now,” Ault said. “It’s more
about me leading others and getting
the most out of the team.”
Despite losing their top three
receivers to graduation (Austin
Bricker, Robbie Stratton and Levi
Kistler combined for 106 receptions,
travel and lodging expenses come out
of his own pocket.
And, of course, as Clay noted, “Only
half of the crowd likes you, and for only
half of the time.”
But there’s something about pulling
on that zebra-striped shirt.
Any official will tell you, no matter
what their sport is, that as soon as you
are into it and you get bitten by that
bug, it’s fun,” Clay said. “Yeah, there are
some officials who drop off because they
really don’t like it or they didn’t know
what they were getting into. The officials who stay in, they do it just because
they’re passionate about doing it. They
have a lot of fun. It’s just that officiating
bug. It’s hard to explain.”
While officiating is often pegged
as being “thankless,” jobs well done in
officiating do have their payoffs. Clay,
who is a field judge on his Big Ten crew,
has climbed the ladder from working
junior high games through high school
and small-college contests to the upper
echelon of the college football ranks.
Along the way in his career, he’s
worked two OHSAA state championship games, the Big 33 game (formerly
between Ohio and Pennsylvania allstars), the Ohio North-South All-Star
Game, four postseason contests in the
Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic
Conference, two Mid-American Conference title meetings, the 2012 Big Ten
championship game and the 2013 Sugar
Bowl.
“Even at the high school level — you
know, the Friday night thing is just so
much fun. ... It’s just fun to be a part
of that, to walk out on that field,” Clay
said. “And, of course, at the level I’m
at now, how much fun is it to walk out
on that field, to bring the captains out
at Ohio State when there are 105,000
people there? You’re escorting the cap-
tains out or you’re leading the team out
of the tunnel, and you come out of that
tunnel and into a Michigan or a Penn
State or an Ohio State or a Wisconsin.
... You know, it kind of sends chills down
your spine, knowing that, ‘Man, I am a
part of this game. I’m not in the stands
watching it. I’m part of this.’ It’s a lot
of fun.”
Joel and his younger brothers, John
and Jamie, came by the “officiating bug”
honestly, as their father, Dee, officiated
high school football games for 30 years
before stopping in 2007. He continues
to officiate track and field.
“They just kind of followed in my
footsteps,” Dee Clay said. “Of course,
they all played (football) at Fostoria
and they enjoyed the game, especially
because we were so successful as a football team here in Fostoria. None of them
got to play on a state-championship
team; all of that came after they graduated. But they enjoyed the game so
much, and they weren’t college football
material, and they missed the game, so
they said, ‘Well, dad, let’s do it.’”
John Clay lives in Gahanna and
continues to work high school football
games, while Jamie Clay, who resides
in Rossford, switched from officiating
football to basketball. Like Joel, both
have merited big assignments, with
John working three state championship
football games and Jamie handling two
state semifinal basketball contests.
But while his younger brothers have
started families and restricted their
officiating pursuits, Joel has remained
a bachelor who now leaves his job as a
health and physical education teacher in
the Clyde-Green Springs schools on Fridays to head to his Big Ten assignments.
“He’s very fortunate that they allow
him that time off,” Dee Clay said. “He
has to be (at his game site) on Friday
1,655 yards and 19 touchdowns), the
Pirates have weapons at that position.
Crisp, who Cutnaw said “was kind
of the forgotten guy” of the receiving
corps last year, will be Ault’s main
target at tight end.
“He’s a kid that obviously is gonna
be asked to lead those guys,” Cutnaw
said of the 6-4, 200-pound senior.
“We’ve got some older players that
are playing receiver for us that didn’t
play a whole lot, but they’re older players. They have that maturity, and they
have that focus that they need.”
Seniors Joel Siefker, Shawn Justus
and Bret Rumer; junior Owen Bischoff
and sophomore Dakota Bricker, Austin’s younger brother, will see significant playing time at wide receiver.
Several starters return on the
offensive line, including tackle Zach
Little (6-2, 220) and center Kyle
Swank (6-0, 165). Blake Sampson
(6-1, 250-pound tackle) and Misha
Groman (6-0, 185-pound guard) also
have experience.
Defensively, the Pirates allowed
33.4 points per game in their seven
losses and more than 300 yards per
game overall.
But with key returners at each level
of the defense, the Pirates could see
notable improvement.
Little (honorable mention all-NWC
selection as a defensive lineman), Ault
(30.5 tackles at linebacker) and Dustin
Falk (32.5 tackles in the secondary) will lead each area. Sophomore
middle linebacker Kaleb Jefferson is
the Pirates’ leading returning tackler
(38.5), while Sampson and Bricker
(44.5 combined tackles) will start at
tackle and cornerback, respectively.
Burwell, 419-427-8407
[email protected]
night for dinner and a meeting. It’s not
too bad if on a Saturday he has to work
at Michigan or Ohio State or Indiana or
Northwestern because he drives there.
He’ll go in and teach half a day. He’s
already packed and he’ll get in his vehicle after lunch and go. But last year, his
first two games were at Iowa and Minnesota. You’re not going to drive there,
so he takes the day off without pay.”
As athletic director at the former
Emerson Junior High, Dee Clay helped
give Joel, then a track athlete at the University of Toledo, his start as an official
by hiring him for seventh- and eighthgrade games.
In 1988, Joel Clay began working
high school games, something he did
through 2005, and he also honed his
skills by working junior varsity games
of northwest Ohio small-college teams.
In 1999, Clay broke fully into college
ball as an NCAA Division II GLIAC official, and his weekends became very full.
“I would work a Friday night (high
school) game and then on Saturday
morning I would get up and drive to my
college game,” he said. “Or, oftentimes
I would take off (after a high school
contest) on Friday night, depending on
where I was and where my Saturday
game was, and get as far as I could or
just get to the site. In the GLIAC, we
would get, like, four hotel rooms for the
crew.”
Clay was hired by the MAC in 2006,
and “once I moved up to Division I, high
school had to go.”
After having worked in other spots
on a crew, Clay became a field judge
upon joining the MAC and he continues to hold that job as he enters his fifth
season in the Big Ten.
A field judge lines up for each play
about 24 yards downfield. His first concentration is on the widest stationary
man in a formation, which is typically
a wide receiver.
But then, the field judge will go with
the flow — without going too far.
“We all have initial keys, but some-
times you need to get off of them,
depending on how the play develops,”
Clay said. “You don’t just stare at your
man. There are 22 players on the field
and there are only eight officials. Generally speaking, you can’t just lock in on
one player because the math just doesn’t
work out.”
The field judge will look for infractions such as illegal hits, pass interference and holding, and if he needs to
escort a player away from an opponent’s
sideline after a play goes out of bounds,
he’ll do that, too.
“If the ball goes away from me —
let’s say there’s a sweep to the other
sideline — then I’ve got the back side,”
Clay said. “All of the flow is going away,
but you’ve still got these linemen back
here taking a shot or mixing it up. The
other officials’ focus is on the play, but
what we have to do is watch the seven
or eight players behind the play.”
Clay will pay attention to trash talk
and physical contact between players
and make sure it doesn’t escalate into
something outside the rules.
“A lot of times, you don’t necessarily
have to pull the flag,” he said. “But if
they’re jawing, you just get there, use
your voice, use your presence, and then
they know, ‘Oh, that official’s paying
attention to us.’ No flag was necessary,
but sometimes you just talk to them.
“These guys are kids. They look like
men and they’re fast and they’re huge,
but when you think about it, these guys
are 21- or 22-year-old kids. These guys
respond well to positive reinforcement.
If two guys are away from the play and
they’re kind of in each other’s faces, but
they don’t really do anything and don’t
push and shove, sometimes it’s just good
to get in there and say, ‘Hey, 86, great
job. Good job, you two, not mixing it
up. Good sportsmanship.’ Sometimes
it’s good to give them some positive
feedback. That tends to go a long way.”
If you ask Clay to sift through his
See CLAY, Page T49
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THE COURIER
Clay
memory bank, the game at the top of his
list comes from 2011: Michigan’s 40-34
win over Ohio State at Ann Arbor.
“I grew up an Ohio State fan, and if
you’re an Ohio State fan or a Michigan
fan, that game is The Game, no matter
what the records are,” Clay said. “When
I actually got a chance to work that, that
was my first year in the Big Ten. There
was nothing about the game, per se, that
stands out. It’s just the fact that I got to
work it. I mean, that’s a bucket-list game
and it’s possible that I may never get to
work that game again. It only happens
once a year, and they move it around
(between officiating crews) and it’s very
possible if I spend even another eight or
10 years in the Big Ten, I could get to
work that game another two or three
more times or maybe never.”
While Clay rooted for the Buckeyes
as a youngster, he said he and his fellow
officials do not let old allegiances play
into how they call a game.
“We truly do not care who wins,”
he said. “Any official will tell you that.
Our job is to make sure that it’s fair. The
team that wins — they won because
they had better strategy, they had better
PR EP FOOTBA LL
coaching, they had better players. And
sometimes it’s luck — they had good
breaks, the ball bounced in their favor.”
Largely, if you don’t hear an official’s name mentioned, that’s good for
everyone involved. But Clay did enjoy
one time when an announcer did call
him out — in a positive way, during
another memorable outing for him, the
2013 Sugar Bowl in New Orleans.
“I heard that one!” Dee Clay said,
referring to Teddy Bridgewater’s
15-yard touchdown pass to DaVante
Parker that helped Louisville upset
Florida 33-23. “Generally, officials’
names are not mentioned, but on that
one, it amazed me. He was right where
he was supposed to be, observing a
catch. It had to be possessed and had
to be inbounds, and as you roll out you
have to be in possession. Whoever was
doing the announcing said, ‘The field
judge is Joel Clay and he was right on
the money.’ That’s the only time I heard
his name mentioned.”
While both Dee and Joel Clay got a
kick out of that instance, they don’t talk
much about calls that Joel encounters
during the course of games, and there’s
certainly a line that’s never crossed.
“I don’t ever critique him,” Dee said.
“He’s more of a very good football official than I ever hoped to be. That’s why
he’s climbed the ladder. He’s very, very
good at what he does.”
T49
Photo provided by Joel Clay
BIG TEN OFFICIAL JOEL CLAY signals a touchdown in last year’s
Northwestern /Illinois game.
Officiating is like any other craft in
that you get better with experience. And
Joel Clay likes to get plenty of offseason
work in, whether it’s a college spring
game or an NFL team’s practices.
“The more I work, the slower the
game becomes, at least in my mind,” he
said. “I’ve had the opportunity the last
couple of years to go work at the Detroit
Lions’ (organized team activities) and
minicamps. Back in June, I spent two
separate days up at the Lions’ OTAs.
It’s not the mandatory stuff, but most of
the players are out there in shorts and
jerseys. Working at that level — they’re
the cream of the crop from the college
level. So, talk about fast — they’re just a
step above the Big Ten and the (Southeastern Conference). These guys were
the best in their conferences.
“Just getting a chance to go up and
work that and see those receivers and
quarterbacks and running backs and
how fast they are ... that helps, to watch
them and then you come down one level
(during the college season). As you do
it year after year after year, it just slows
down in your mind and you tend to see
more. ... You’re still amazed at some of
the plays they make, but it doesn’t surprise you because you’ve seen it before.”
Clay applied to officiate in the
NFL eight years ago, but he’s not been
selected and “I do know that at 48 years
old, it’s probably not going to happen
now.”
But he’s fine with that and he’ll continue to spend his fall Saturdays as he
has been for so many years.
“(NCAA Division I) is as high as you
can get without being (in the NFL),” he
said. “I realize that I’m very lucky to be
where I am.”
T50
H A R DIN NORTHER N
THE COURIER
Polar Bears
ready to roll
in NWCC
KEY TO THE SEASON
QUICK FACTS
By JAMIE BAKER
SPORTS EDITOR
Schlatter
Obenour
O FFE N S E
According to running back
Wes Schlatter: “Everyone needs
to run hard. We have to raise our
intensity and be physical. If we do
that we think we’ll be able to move
the football.”
D E FE N S E
Blake Obenour: “Trust is the big
thing. We need to worry about
doing our own 1/11th of the job.
We have to be confident that the
other 10 people are going to do
their job.”
2014 LEADERS
PASSING
Poling
ATT
94
COMP
35
YDS
582
TD
5
RUSHING
Schlatter
Ribley
Poling
ATT
223
54
81
YDS
1,214
547
183
AVG
6.0
10.1
2.3
TD
14
5
5
RECEIVING
Drumm
Schlatter
REC
15
3
YARD
326
38
AVG
21.7
12.7
TD
5
0
INT
10
DOLA — Hardin Northern has
something to play for this season —
a league championship.
After a season playing a junior
varsity schedule in 2013 and competing as an independent under first-year
coach Mike Dennis last year, Hardin
Northern will play its first season of
football as a member of the Northwest
Central Conference.
While there is little doubt the
Hardin Northern football program
made significant strides last year,
Dennis and his coaches won’t know
how far their team has come in the
offseason until they line it up and the
games begin to count.
“We’re trying to see if there’s been
improvement from last year by some
of the kids and whether some of the
kids have stayed the same,” Dennis
said. “We really won’t find that out
until we start the season and line up
against someone different than the
same old faces the kids see every day
in practice.”
Hardin Northern will put its most
experienced team on the football
field in a number of years when the
HARDIN NORTHERN HEAD COACH Mike Dennis shows a playcard to his
offense during a 7-on-7 scrimmage in July against Riverdale.
Polar Bears open the season Aug. 29
at Beallsville. A total of 15 letterwinners return from last year’s ballclub
that posted a 4-6 record.
Will Poling is back at quarterback
to run Hardin Northern’s Wing T
offense. The 5-foot-11, 165-pounder
had solid numbers last year for a freshman, throwing for 582 yards with five
touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
He added another 183 yards on the
ground.
Just about every offensive weapon
also returns for Hardin Northern.
Senior Wes Schlatter (5-9, 170), an
Associated Press all-Northwest Ohio
selection, rushed for more than 1,200
yards and led the team by scoring 14
touchdowns. Senior Preston Ribley
(5-9, 155) added 547 yards rushing
and five scores while classmate Storm
Drumm (6-1, 175) racked up 326
receiving yards on 15 catches with
five touchdowns.
There’s also experience and decent
size up front.
Senior Blake Obenour (6-0, 210)
anchors the line at center. He’ll be
See BEARS, Page T61
DEPTH CHART
OFFENSIVE UNIT
Pos.
QB
RB
WR
WR
WR
WR
OT
OT
OG
OG
C
K
Will Poling
Wes Schlatter
Storm Drumm
Nick Bame
Logan Lease
Andrew Stump
Trent Prichard
Colin Tobin
Logan Taylor
Kolten Garman
Blake Obenour
Storm Drumm
Yr. Ht.
Wt.
Pos.
So.
Sr.
Sr.
Jr.
So.
Jr.
Jr.
Jr.
Jr.
Jr.
Sr.
Sr.
165
170
175
185
150
190
215
210
190
210
210
175
QB
RB
WR
5-11
5-9
6-1
5-11
5-7
6-0
5-11
6-0
5-10
5-11
6-1
6-1
$,
"/0
!2+(&/(
DEFENSIVE UNIT
Yr. Ht.
Bradlee Watts
Owen Bame
Preston Ribley
Wt.
Pos.
Jr. 5-10 160
Jr. 5-11 180
Sr. 5-9 155
DE
DE
DT
DT
MLB
OLB
OLB
CB
CB
FS
SS
P
Kolten Garman
Colin Tobin
Blake Obenour
Wes Schlatter
Andrew Stump
Logan Taylor
Owen Bame
Logan Lease
Preston Ribley
Nick Bame
Bradlee Watts
Storm Drumm
Yr. Ht.
Wt.
Jr,
Jr.
Sr.
Sr.
Jr.
Jr.
Jr.
So.
Sr.
Jr.
JR.
Sr.
210
210
210
170
190
190
180
150
155
185
160
175
5-11
6-0
6-1
5-9
6-0
5-10
5-11
5-7
5-9
5-11
5-10
6-1
Pos.
Yr. Ht.
Wt.
COACH: Mike Dennis (2nd year,
4-6).
LAST YEAR: 4-6 overall.
OFFENSIVE SCHEME: WingT.
DEFENSIVE SCHEME: 4-2-5.
STRENGTHS: Numbers are
similar to last season, but the biggest difference
is that 15 of
those 27 players
are returning
letterwinners
which should
bode well for the
Polar Bears in
their second year
back as a varsity
program after
Dennis
playing a JV
schedule in 2013.
Sophomore
quarterback Will Poling should have
a better grasp of the offense after
starting as a freshmen.
WEAKNESSES: Hardin
Northern’s defense struggled
at times to get off the field last
season. They gave up big plays in
a number of games in key third
and fourth down situations. Even
with 27 players, depth is an issue.
A rash of injuries will force players to play out of position.
GRIDIRON GURU
The rebuilding continues at
Hardin Northern this season
under coach Mike Dennis. The
Polar Bears are a year more experienced and physically mature.
They are still a young bunch but
improvement should be evident.
They also have much more to play
for this season as this will be the
school’s first football campaign as a
member or the Northwest Central
Conference. If Hardin Northern
has some success early in its first
three games a winning season isn’t
out of the question.
H A R DIN NORTHER N
THE COURIER
T51
Storm Drumm (1), Nick Bame (3), Bradlee Watts (10), Will Poling (11), Cody Wilmoth (12), Preston Ribley (14), Owen Bame (21), Andrew Stump (22), Logan Lease (27), Wes Schlatter (28),
Nick Adams (33), Shawn Weihrauch (45), Kolten Garman (50), Trent Prichard (52), Bryce Hipsher (54), Blake Obenour (55), Logan Taylor (58), Colin Tobin (59), Anthony Russler (60),
Logan Pauley (61), Lance Lease (62), James Rickenbacher (65), Carter Gilmore (70), Zane Whitaker (76), Ty Kalb (77), Brad Rickle (78), Brady Cramer (87). HEAD COACH — Mike Dennis.
ASSISTANT COACHES — Matt Alloway, John Kloepfer, Keith Obenour, Travis Rettig.
2015 SCHEDULE
Date
Opponent
Home/Away
August
29 Beallsville (2 p.m.)
September 4 Fairfield Christian
11 Oberlin
18 Waynesfield-Goshen*
25 Fort Loramie*
October
2 Ridgemont*
9 Sidney Lehman*
16 Upper Scioto Valley*
23 Lima Perry*
30 Riverside*
*—Northwest Central Conference games
Cut to the
Top!
Good Luck
Bears!
The
Razor’s
Edge
270 ½ N. Main St.
Dunkirk
419-759-2406
A
H
H
A
A
H
A
H
H
A
Hardin Northern
POLAR BEARS
2014 RESULTS
St Wendelin
Waynesfield-Goshen
Ridgemont
Horizon Science
Fremont St. Joseph
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44-6
0-49
21-62
41-6
0-34
Open Door Christian
Gibsonburg
Lakota
Riverside
Crestline
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RECORD BOOK
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
41-36
12-41
0-48
14-70
47-34
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9
8
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2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
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1-9
1-9
0-10
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3-7
2-8
6-4
10-2
12-1
T52
OTTAWA-GLA NDOR F
THE COURIER
Unterbrink
back to lead
Titans’ offense
KEY TO THE SEASON
QUICK FACTS
By DAVE HANNEMAN
STAFF WRITER
Unterbrink
Recker
O FFE N S E
Zac Unterbrink: “We pride
ourselves on how hard we work,
and we’re going to have to work
together to get better each and
every day.”
D E FE N S E
Noah Recker: “Everybody has to
fly to the football and make plays.
We have some big hitters on this
team and we have to be physical.
A big thing is we have to communicate. We have to know each others
responsibilities and cover our own
ground.”
2014 LEADERS
PASSING
Unterbrink
ATT
252
COMP
135
RUSHING
Unterbrink
ATT
109
YDS
508
RECEIVING
Kuhlman
Moening
REC
59
11
YDS
899
182
YDS
1,956
TD
20
AVG.
4.7
INT
6
TD
4
AVG.
17.3
16.5
TD
11
1
OTTAWA — Zac Unterbrink’s
numbers were pretty impressive for
Ottawa-Glandorf’s football team last
season: 135 of 252 passing for 1,956
yards and 20 touchdowns, another
508 yards and four TDs rushing.
But Unterbrink put up another
number that O-G head coach Ken
Schriner will be counting on this
season.
“Zac’s super smart. He’s a 4.0 student,” Schriner said. “He does a great
job leading our kids and putting them
in positions to be successful. We have
to rely on our strengths, and knowing he’s back, without a lot of supporting cast, we feel that’s one of our
strengths.”
Ottawa-Glandorf, which reached
the Division IV state semifinals in
2009 and the regional finals in 2012,
lost 20 lettermen, including eight
offensive and nine defensive starters,
from last year’s 8-2 team. More often
than not, though, the Titans reload
rather than rebuild under Schriner,
who has seen only three losing records
in compiling a 141-71 record in his previous 19 seasons at the school.
OTTAWA-GLANDORF RECEIVER Kyle Gerding lays out as he attempts to
catch a pass in the Liberty-Benton 7-on-7 tournament in July.
“The toughest thing for me was
walking into that locker room after
the last game and saying, ‘Guys, we
didn’t make it,’” Schriner said when
O-G fell three-tenths of a point shy of
making the school’s ninth trip to the
playoffs in the last 11 years.
“I think that left a bad taste in
these guys mouths. Hopefully that
kind of fueled our offseason programs,
and hopefully it jump starts us in what
we’re doing this year.”
What Schriner plans on doing is
what worked well last season. And
that starts with Unterbrink, a 6-foot,
185-pound senior whose numbers
earned him second-team all-Western
Buckeye League honors.
“I have to lead not only with my
words, but with my actions as well,”
said Unterbrink, who had a 140.2 quarterback rating last season when his
passing and running ability accounted
for an average of 246.4 yards a game.
Graduation cost Unterbrink his
three top receivers in Zach Kuhlman,
a second-team all-Ohio end who
caught 59 passes for 899 yards and
See TITANS, Page T61
GRIDIRON GURU
DEPTH CHART
OFFENSIVE UNIT
Pos.
QB
RB
WR
WR
WR
WR
OT
OT
OG
OG
C
K
Zac Unterbrink
Connor Niese
Logan McDermott
Bryce Utrup
Jay Garcia
Kyle Gerding
Alex Hoehn
Trevor Rieman
Brian Karhoff
Jacob Schmitz
Aaron Rieman
Jordan Diemer
Yr. Ht.
Wt.
Pos.
Sr.
Jr.
Sr.
Sr.
Sr.
Sr.
Jr.
Jr.
Sr.
Sr.
Sr.
Sr.
185
170
205
195
160
170
255
260
212
225
245
175
QB
RB
WR
WR
WR
WR
OT
OT
OG
OG
C
K
6-0
6-0
6-3
6-2
5-10
5-10
6-3
6-2
6-0
5-11
6-2
5-11
Jay Kaufman
Daniel Beemer
Nick Weihrauch
Brandon Meyer
Evan Kaufman
Trent Basinger
Jacob Dible
Trevor Hashbarger
Drew Schroeder
Brady Kuhlman
Brandon Weis
Connor Niese
DEFENSIVE UNIT
Yr. Ht.
Wt.
Pos.
So.
So.
Sr.
Sr.
Jr.
Jr.
So.
Sr.
Sr.
Jr.
Sr.
Jr.
200
175
160
185
165
165
200
246
210
215
200
170
DE
DE
NG
OLB
ILB
ILB
ILB
OLB
CB
CB
FS
P
6-4
5-10
6-1
6-0
5-9
6-0
6-4
5-10
6-0
5-11
6-1
6-0
Logan McDermott
Jacob Schmitz
Aaron Rieman
Jay Kaufman
Connor Niese
Noah Recker
Jack Cavanaugh
Bryce Utrup
Jay Garcia
Brennen Birkemeier
Kyle Verhoff
Bret Llewellan
Yr. Ht.
Wt.
Pos.
Sr.
Sr.
Sr.
So.
Jr.
Sr.
Jr.
Sr.
Sr.
Sr.
Sr.
So.
205
225
245
200
170
205
170
195
160
155
190
180
DE
DE
NG
OLB
ILB
ILB
ILB
OLB
CB
CB
FS
6-3
5-11
6-2
6-4
6-0
5-11
5-8
6-2
5-10
5-8
6-2
5-8
Drew Schroeder
Jacob Dible
Daniel Beemer
Brandon Meyer
Logan Balbaugh
Jordan Diemer
Chase Schreiber
Kyle Gerding
Trent Basinger
Nathan Rump
Cameron Remlinger
Yr. Ht.
Wt.
Sr.
So.
So.
Sr.
Jr.
Sr.
So.
Sr.
Jr.
Jr.
Sr.
210
200
175
185
160
175
165
170
165
145
175
6-0
6-4
5-10
6-0
5-10
5-11
5-8
5-10
6-0
5-8
5-11
COACH: Ken Schriner (20th
year, 141-71).
Western Buckeye League.
LAST WBL TITLE: 2012.
DEFENSIVE SCHEME: 3-5 and
multiple fronts.
STRENGTHS: Returning
veterans at
leadership positions on offense
and defense.
In quarterback
Zac Unterbrink
and middle linebacker Noah
Recker, the
Titans return
proven leaders
Schriner
coming off allWestern Buckeye League
seasons as juniors. Both will be
surrounded by good athletes, a
trademark of O-G teams.
WEAKNESSES: Depth and
experience. Nineteen players
on the 2015 roster lettered last
season, but only three offensive
and two defensive players were
in the every-day starting lineup
a year ago. O-G does have good
athletes, but keeping those frontline athletes healthy and on the
field will be crucial, especially in
a rugged league like the WBL.
The Titans aren’t deep in
returning veterans or an overpowering team physically, but there is
excellent talent and experience at
quarterback and middle linebacker,
pivotal leadership positions on
offense and defense. The schedule
also favors an O-G team needing
Friday night experience, with the
first two games at home against
Oak Harbor (3-7) and Lima Bath
(4-6), then a road game at Van
Wert (3-7).
OTTAWA-GLA NDOR F
THE COURIER
T53
Trent Basinger (1), Brennen Birkemeier (2), Connor Niese (3), Cameron Remlinger (4), Jay Garcia (5), Tristan Ball (6), Jay Kaufman (7), Russell Ellis (8), Ben Wischmeyer (9), Zac Unterbrink
(10), Nick Buckland (11), Chris Tippie (12), Aaron Powell (13), Joey Velazquez (14), Branten Lowe (15), Nick Weihrauch (16), Jordan Diemer (17), Bailey Krouse (18), Hayden Nichols (20),
Daniel Beemer (21), Kyle Gerding (22), Nathan Rump (23), Logan McDermott (24), Tony Carillo (25), Chase Schreiber (30), Evan Kaufman (32), Bryce Utrup (33), Jack Cavanaugh (34), Richie
Knowlton (35), Kyle Verhoff (36), Beau Fawcett (40), Gavin Schnipke (41), Grant Goecke (42), Danny Rosales (43), Logan Balbaugh (44), Dylan Tippie (45), Bret Llewellyn (46), Grant Fuerst
(48), Brandon Weis (50), Brian Karhoff (51), Drew Schroeder (52), Jacob Dible (53), Robert Recker (54), Trevor Rieman (55), Corey Diemer (56), Trevor Hashbarger (57), Tyler Kahle (58), Noah
Recker (59), Tyler Ebbeskotte (61), Jacob Schmitz (62), Brady Kuhlman (63), Aaron Rieman (64), Logan Clark (65), Will Nichols (66), Eric Racer (70), Matt Schmersal (71), Chris Podraski (72),
Ryan Heckman (73), Riley Karhoff (74), Connor Blossom (75), Lane Brooks (76), Alex Hoehn (77), Caleb Verhoff (78), Logan Hoffman (79), Ben Duling (81), Brandon Meyer (82), Jake Schriner
(84), Dwayne Quinn (88). HEAD COACH — Ken Schriner.
2015 SCHEDULE
Date
Opponent
Home/Away
August
28 Oak Harbor
September 4 Lima Bath*
11 Van Wert*
18 Celina*
25 Lima Shawnee*
October
2 Defiance*
9 Kenton*
16 Wapakoneta*
23 Elida*
30 St. Marys Memorial*
All games 7 p.m.
*—Western Buckeye League games
WISHING THE
O-G TITANS
A GREAT SEASON
NZWU
,MKSUIV
4M_MTMZ[
Diamond & Gemstone Jewelry
Gifts for All Occasions
DOWNTOWN OTTAWA
SINCE 1888 • 419-523-3794
H
H
A
A
H
H
A
H
A
H
Ottawa-Glandorf
TITANS
2014 RESULTS
Oak Harbor
Van Wert
Celina
Lima Shawnee
Defiance
34-17
46-14
25-7
45-0
48-7
Kenton
Wapakoneta
Elida
St. Marys Memorial
Lima Bath
RECORD BOOK
3-28
14-21
28-21
42-21
18-7
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
8-2
6-4
12-1
8-3
8-3
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
11-3
8-5
9-3
7-4
10-2
T54
PATR ICK HENRY
THE COURIER
Patriots to
make switch
to wishbone
KEY TO THE SEASON
QUICK FACTS
By DAVE HANNEMAN
STAFF WRITER
Pfister
Bennett
O FFE N S E
According to fullback Brad
Pfister: “We have a big offensive
line, they’re all pretty strong, and
that’s going to really help us this
year. We’ve got that strength up
front and two really fast guys in
the backfield, so we’ve got a bit of
everything.”
D E FE N S E
According to defensive lineman Brandon Bennett: “Size and
speed are our strong suit. We’ve
got a lot of size on the defensive
line, some big boys, and our linebackers are really quick.”
2014 LEADERS
PASSING
Bonner
ATT
120
COMP
50
YDS
669
TD
5
RUSHING
Johnson
ATT
245
YDS
1,216
AVG.
5.0
TD
9
RECEIVING
Storch
Ehlers
REC
14
15
YDS
278
190
AVG.
19.9
12.7
TD
4
2
INT
7
HAMLER — Joe Kirkendall
decided to “bone-up” on past history
this summer, and solved a little arithmetic problem as well.
“We’re going to the wishbone,”
Kirkendall said as he prepared for
his second season as Patrick Henry’s
head coach, “because we have a quarterback who is more of a runner than
a thrower. It’s simple math.”
Traditionally a power-I team with
a good blend between the run and the
pass, Patrick Henry’s passing game
fell off last season. Sophomore quarterback Mitch Bonner completed just
41.6 percent of his throws (50 for 120)
for 669 yards with more interceptions
(7) than touchdowns (5). The Patriots’ leading receivers — Neil Storch
and Jacob Ehlers — combined had 29
catches for 468 yards.
Bonner has good wheels, though.
So does junior running back Donny
Johnson.
So Kirkendall, who has had good
success at Arcadia and Leipsic, dipped
into his past to make a plan for the
future.
“I have to go back 15 years, but I
KENT TARBOX / for The Courier
PATRICK HENRY’S JOSH WATERS breaks away from a Pandora-Gilboa
defender during a 7-on-7 scrimmage in July.
do have a background with the triple
(option),” Kirkendall said. “Ken
James ran the wishbone at Northwood and I coached with him when I
was in college. So I dug out some stuff
and dusted it off because it fits our
personnel. We have bigger physicaltype linemen, the kind that go with
an off tackle-type theme. I really like
our tight end, a physical, athletic
type. Then you put a physical kid at
fullback with a dynamic quarterback
and a dynamic tailback and it kind of
works in our favor.”
Bonner and Johnson, half of an allOhio 400-meter relay team that finished eighth in the Division III state
track meet, will be the featured backs
See PATRIOTS, Page T61
DEPTH CHART
OFFENSIVE UNIT
Pos.
QB
TB
FB
WR
WR
OT
OT
OG
OG
C
TE
K
Mitch Bonner
Donny Johnson
Brad Pfister
JJ Rettig
Alex VanDeBussche
Sydney Brewer
Brandon Bennett
Damian Lanzer
Anthony Ickes
Brennan Jackson
Kent Petersen
Kent Petersen
Yr. Ht.
Wt.
Pos.
Jr.
Jr.
Sr.
Jr.
Jr.
Sr.
Sr.
So.
Sr.
Sr.
Jr.
Jr.
150
168
216
148
151
211
268
212
294
203
202
202
QB
TB
FB
WR
WR
OT
OT
OG
OG
C
5-9
5-9
6-2
6-1
5-10
6-1
6-3
6-2
6-3
5-10
6-1
6-1
Jarrrett Maas
Tristan Novak
Trey Zimmer
Sean Norden
Kent Petersen
Joey Tanner
Jacob Clemens
Kal Harris
Jacob Stout
Jake Miller
DEFENSIVE UNIT
Yr. Ht.
Wt.
Pos.
So.
Jr.
Jr.
Jr.
Jr.
Jr.
Jr.
Jr.
So.
Jr.
150
153
208
167
202
290
283
180
184
260
NG
DE
DE
ILB
ILB
OLB
OLB
CB
FS
SS
CB
P
6-0
5-10
6-1
6-0
6-1
6-2
6-1
5-9
5-8
6-2
Brandon Bennett
Brad Pfister
Brennan Jackson
Trey Zimmer
Kal Harris
Tristan Novak
Kent Petersen
Mason Fintel
JJ Rettig
Hunter Schock
Alex VanDeBussche
Mitch Bonner
Yr. Ht.
Wt.
Pos.
Sr.
Sr.
Sr.
Jr.
Jr.
Jr.
Jr.
Jr.
Jr.
Jr.
Jr.
Jr.
268
216
203
208
180
153
202
149
148
163
151
150
NG
DE
DE
ILB
OLB
OLB
CB
FS
SS
CB
6-3
6-2
5-10
6-1
5-9
5-10
6-1
5-10
6-1
5-10
5-10
5-9
Jake Miller
Damian Lanzer
Sean Norden
Jacob Stout
Brock Michaelis
Steve Diem
Brock Gerken
Jarrett Maas
Xavier Wensink
Logan Wyss
Yr. Ht.
Wt.
Jr.
So.
Jr.
So.
Jr.
Jr.
Jr.
So.
Fr.
Sr.
260
212
167
184
157
166
133
150
158
154
6-2
6-2
6-0
5-8
5-9
5-8
5-6
6-0
5-10
5-10
COACH: Joe Kirkendall (2nd
year at PH, 66-32 overall).
Northwest Ohio Athletic League.
LAST NWOAL TITLE: 2009.
OFFENSIVE SCHEME: Wishbone.
STRENGTHS: The Dynamic
Duo on offense,
the linebacking corps
on defense.
Quarterback
Mitch Bonner
and running
back Donny
Johnson are
two of the fastest players in
Kirkendall
the Northwest
Ohio Athletic
League. The
Patriots are also athletic, aggressive and deep at linebacker.
WEAKNESSES: The passing
game. Patrick Henry had less
than 700 yards passing last
season. Aware of that, opposing
teams loaded up in the box, often
with nine players, and rendered
the Patriots one-dimensional.
Depth could be a factor and PH
needs to avoid key injuries.
GRIDIRON GURU
Kirkendall’s teams, first at
Arcadia, then at Leipsic, showed
marked improvement record-wise
in his second season as head coach.
That trend could well continue at
Patrick Henry, especially with
some key veterans returning in the
offensive backfield and defensively
at linebacker. Being the smallest
school in the Northwest Ohio
Athletic League also gives Patrick
Henry an underdog tenacity that
can translate into overachiever
results in the win-loss column.
PATR ICK HENRY
THE COURIER
T55
Logan Wyss (1), Mason Fintel (2), Sean Norden (3), Jarrett Maas (4), Mitch Bonner (5), Kent Petersen (6), Anderson Arps (8), Evan Brent (9), Hunter Schock (10), JJ Rettig (11), Alex
VanDeBussche (12), Logan Schwiebert (13), AJ Healey (14), Triston Novak (15), Ethan Spratt (20), Donny Johnson (21), Jordan Boyer (24), Brock Gerken (25), Xavier Wensink (28), Josephat
Hinojosa (30), Steve Diem (33), Trey Zimmer (34), Collin Johnson (35), Sam Zimmer (36), Brad Pfister (45), Damian Lanzer (50), Tommy Vance (51), Zach Clemens (52), Jacob Rohrs (53),
Kal Harris (55), Brayden Petersen (56), Brennan Jackson (57), Jacob Stout (59), Tyler Walters (60), Jake Miller (62), Sydney Brewer (63), Andrew Niese (64), Brandon Bennett (65), Jacob
Janczewski (73), Anthony Ickes (74), Jacob Clemens (76), Joe Tanner (79), Brock Michaelis (88), Josh Sharp (89). HEAD COACH — Joe Kirkendall.
2015 SCHEDULE
Date
Opponent
Home/Away
August
28 Edgerton
September 4 Wayne Trace
11 Columbus Grove
18 Liberty Center*
25 Delta*
October
2 Archbold*
9 Swanton*
16 Evergreen*
23 Bryan*
30 Wauseon*
All games 7 p.m.
*—Northwest Ohio Athletic League games
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PATRIOTS
2014 RESULTS
Edgerton
Bryan
Swanton
Montpelier
Paulding
26-23
14-44
7-49
40-22
48-27
Wauseon
Liberty Center
Delta
Evergreen
Archbold
RECORD BOOK
0-40
28-14
0-19
20-19
18-7
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
6-4
7-3
10-3
10-3
10-2
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
13-1
12-1
12-2
8-3
15-0
T56
UPPER SA NDUSK Y
THE COURIER
Rams are light
years ahead
of last season
KEY TO THE SEASON
QUICK FACTS
By JAMIE BAKER
Miller
SPORTS EDITOR
Holloway
O FFE N S E
According to wide receiver
Cory Miller: “We have to learn to
finish drives and cut down on mistakes. We definitely have to limit
our own number of turnovers, that
was a problem for us last year.”
D E FE N S E
According to defensive back
Kolin Holloway: “We need to work
on stopping the run. We’re not bad
at stopping the pass but we still
need to get better. You can’t stop
trying to improve and that’s our
focus, trying to get better all the
time.”
2014 LEADERS
PASSING
Frey
ATT
100
COMP
40
YDS
617
TD
5
RUSHING
Pack
Holloway
Frey
ATT
87
58
98
YARDS
360
348
281
AVG
4.1
6.0
2.9
RECEIVING
Luikart
Miller
Holloway
REC
7
14
15
YDS
205
192
124
AVG
29.6
13.7
8.3
INT
10
TD
0
5
3
TD
2
1
0
UPPER SANDUSKY — Upper
Sandusky is looking for bigger and
better things on the football field this
fall.
It’s Upper Sandusky grad Chris
Rodriguez’ second season in charge
of the program. His expectations and
those of his players are much higher
this season.
The Rams are also much further
ahead with their understanding of
the teams offensive and defensive
schemes.
“It’s not even close. We had to put
the whole offense in last year and that
took us all of two-a-days,” Rodriguez
said. “The kids know the offense and
defense already, so we are just tweaking things here and there. It’s a huge
difference between last year and this
year. The kids can just go out and
run the things we want to faster this
season.”
Having experienced personnel
helps too.
The Rams are much more experienced than they were a year ago when
they posted a 2-8 overall record that
UPPER SANDUSKY LINEMEN Cole Crawford, left, and Travis Thompson
get after each other in a blocking drill during August practice.
included an 0-7 record in the school’s
first and last season playing as a
member of the Mid Ohio Athletic
Conference.
“We had 14 first-year letterwinners last season,” Rodriguez said. “It’s
nice to have guys who know how to
lead and who want to lead. We have
a number of those guys on the team
this season.”
One of those leaders the Upper
Sandusky coaching staff is high on
this season is senior lineman Collin
Brown. The 6 -foot-1, 258-pound
offensive guard and defensive tackle
thinks the Rams can turn it around
this season, the school’s first in football as a member of the Northern 10
Conference.
“I’d love to see us make the playoffs. I think we have the guys who can
do it and I think we can win the N10
championship, too,” Brown said. “We
have the drive to keep going and we
See RAMS, Page T61
DEPTH CHART
OFFENSIVE UNIT
Pos.
QB
RB
WR
WR
WR
WR
OT
OT
OG
OG
C
K
Kolin Holloway
Shane Pack
Keegan Gullifer
Sam Musgrave
Tanner Smalley
Cory Miller
Travis Thompson
Cole Crawford
Dalton Foos
Collin Brown
Connor Johnston
Brandon Miller
Yr. Ht.
Wt.
Pos.
Sr.
Jr.
Sr.
Jr.
Sr.
Sr.
Jr.
Jr.
Jr.
Sr.
So.
Sr.
180
215
160
155
210
210
213
210
182
258
225
150
QB
RB
WR
WR
WR
OT
OT
OG
OG
C
6-0
6-2
5-10
6-0
6-0
6-4
6-0
6-2
5-10
6-1
6-2
5-10
Sam Musgrave
Troy Landrum
Nick Bay
Brandon Miller
Noah Frey
Avery Burks
Mitchell Dewitt
Nick Sheaffer
Chad Walkins
J.B. Hansen
DEFENSIVE UNIT
Yr. Ht.
Wt.
Pos.
Jr.
Sr.
Jr.
Sr.
Jr.
Sr.
So.
Sr.
Jr.
Sr.
155
170
180
150
198
213
200
195
215
220
DE
DE
DT
DT
MLB
OLB
OLB
CB
CB
FS
SS
P
6-0
5-9
5-11
5-9
5-11
5-9
5-10
5-10
5-10
5-8
Alex Grose
Cole Crawford
Nick Sheaffer
Collin Brown
Tanner Smalley
Cory Miller
Shane Pack
Nick Bay
Keegan Gullifer
Kolin Holloway
Troy Landrum
Shane Pack
Yr. Ht.
Wt.
Pos.
Sr.
Jr.
Sr.
Sr.
Sr.
Sr.
Jr.
Jr.
Sr.
Sr.
Sr.
Jr.
200
200
195
258
210
210
215
180
160
180
170
215
DE
DE
DT
DT
MLB
OLB
OLB
CB
CB
FS
SS
P
6-1
6-2
5-10
6-1
6-0
6-4
6-2
5-11
5-10
6-0
5-9
6-2
Chad Walkins
Mitchell Dewitt
J.B. Hansen
Connor Johnston
Travis Thompson
Noah Frey
Ian Cameron
Brandon Miller
Matt Luikart
Brandon Derr
Sam Musgrave
Brandon Miller
Yr. Ht.
Wt.
Jr.
So.
Jr.
So.
Jr.
Jr.
So.
Sr.
Jr.
So.
Jr.
Sr.
210
200
220
225
213
198
170
150
130
155
155
150
5-10
5-10
5-8
6-2
6-0
5-11
6-0
5-9
5-6
5-8
6-0
5-9
COACH: Chris Rodriguez (2nd
year, 2-8).
Mid Ohio Athletic Conference.
OFFENSIVE SCHEME: Wing-T
base.
STRENGTHS: With 13 returning seniors
and several
other letterwinners, Upper
Sandusky has
plenty of experience returning.
It also has size
and strength
in the trenches
in players like
Rodriguez
6-foot-1, 258pound senior
lineman Collin
Brown and 6-4, 210-pound senior
running back Cory Miller.
WEAKNESSES: Kolin Holloway will make the switch to
quarterback this fall. Holloway
is a terrific athlete, but he hasn’t
been a full-time starter at the
most important position on the
field. The defense must prove
itself this season. The Rams
allowed more than 30 points per
game last season.
GRIDIRON GURU
Upper Sandusky faced a tough
situation last season. The Rams
had a new coach with just seven
seniors and were contractionally
obligated to play one year in the
Mid Ohio Athletic Conference — a
conference they decided to leave
before the season even started.
They are in much better shape this
year with more experience and a
better familiarity with second-year
coach Chris Rodriguez’ offense and
defense.
UPPER SA NDUSK Y
THE COURIER
T57
Shane Pack (2), Caden Roberts (6), Noah Frey (7), Jaden Siebeneck (8), Levi Malone (9), Austin McIntosh (10), Jack Smith (11), Cory Miller (12), Sam Musgrave (14), Kolin Holloway (17),
Keegan Gullifer (18), Brandon Derr (19), Alex Grose (20), Lucas Blanton (2), Harrison Sheaffer (22), Brady Higgins (25), Troy Landrum (27), Dalton Bunker (30), Ian Kear (32), Ian Cameron
(34), Peyton Hawk (40), Parker Patchett (42), Hunter Chamberlin (44), Noah Clary (45), Tanner Smalley (47), Avery Burks (50), Cole Crawford (51), Jacob Davidson (53), Jonathan Hansen (55),
Travis Thompson (57), Gunner Morrison (59), Dalton Foos (60), Mark Collins (61), Nick Sheaffer (62), Chad Walkins (64), Ben Scheaffer (66), Alex Wheeler (67), Colton Breidenbach (68), Dylan
Ham (70), Jake Wheeler (72), Brett Powers (73), Collin Brown (74), Conner Johnston (75), Mitchell Dewitt (78), Micheal Verdugo (82), Nick Bay (84), Brandon Miller (85), Gabe Payne (86),
Tyler Sammet (88). HEAD COACH — Chris Rodriguez. ASSISTANT COACHES — Cam Crawford, Jim Hughes, Josh Thiel, Brian Thomas, Jason Beidelschies, Russell Hall, Dale Piecha, Matt
Thiel, Eric Troiano.
2015 SCHEDULE
Date
Opponent
Home/Away
August
28 River Valley
September 4 Carey
11 Ridgedale*
18 Buckeye Central*
25 Seneca East*
October
2 Bucyrus*
9 Mohawk*
16 Wynford*
23 Colonel Crawford*
30 Western Reserve Academy
All games 7 p.m.
H
A
H
H
A
A
H
A
H
H
Upper Sandusky
RAMS
2014 RESULTS
Carey
Elgin
Ashland Crestview
Fairbanks
North Union
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14-35
28-6
26-24
20-26
14-37
Galion
Jonathan Alder
Marion Pleasant
Buckeye Valley
River Valley
HAVE A
GREAT SEASON
RAMS!!
RECORD BOOK
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
14-21
0-42
0-41
13-28
0-51
9LOODJH
)DPLO\5HVWDXUDQW
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$OVR$YDLODEOH
225 N. Sandusky Ave.
P.O. Box 98
Upper Sandusky
419-294-1959
800-334-4975
:(6833257
7KH5$06
1:DUSROH8SSHU6DQGXVN\
2-8
7-3
7-4
5-5
1-9
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2-8
3-7
4-6
4-6
2-8
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T58
A DA
THE COURIER
Bulldogs aim for return to playoffs
KEY TO THE SEASON
By MICHAEL BURWELL
STAFF WRITER
Conley
Ansley
O FFE N S E
Seth Conley: “We have to come
out to practice and we have to
execute. We can’t jog through our
routes. The routes that we do run,
they have to be crisp. They have to
be on point.”
D E FE N S E
According to middle linebacker Blake Ansley: “Really
just do our job. No one (needs to)
be a hero, just step up, do your own
job and it’ll come together as one.”
2014 LEADERS
PASSING
S. Conley
ATT COMP YDS
447
285 2,809
TD
23
RUSHING
Ansley
ATT
82
YDS AVG
382 4.7
TD
5
RECEIVING
McBride
O. Conley
Ansley
REC
85
40
55
YDS AVG
718 8.4
546 13.7
538 9.8
TD
7
6
6
INT
8
ADA — Ada has produced some of
the best small-school quarterbacks in
Ohio for the past decade.
Seth Conley could be next in line.
After putting up impressive numbers as a freshman last year, Conley
will start his second season as Ada’s
quarterback. The 5-foot-11, 163-pound
sophomore completed 63.8 percent
(285 of 447) of his passes, threw for
2,809 yards and had 23 touchdowns
and eight interceptions in Ada’s highoctane offense.
“That’s daggone good for a freshman,” Ada head coach Bob Olwin said.
“It’s not good enough, obviously. He
wants to do better.”
Missing out on the playoffs for the
first time since 2005 is enough motivation for the Bulldogs to get better.
Through the first eight games of
the 2014 season, Ada was 5-3 after
winning its fourth-straight game and
sitting in the eighth and final playoff
spot in Division VI Region 22.
But the Bulldogs, who drop to Division VII this season, were shut out by
Delphos Jefferson (10-0) and Lima
Central Catholic (27-0) in the final
two weeks to miss out on the postseason. All five of Ada’s losses came
to playoff teams.
“I think you use it as motivation
in practice,” Olwin said about not
making the playoffs, “and talking to
ADA HEAD COACH BOB OLWIN gets in the huddle and gives his team a
play in the Liberty-Benton 7-on-7 tournament earlier this summer.
them about how we have to finish
what we’ve started and we have to
practice harder and make every rep
a competitive rep ... it eats at them.
They know that we should have been
better record-wise.”
Conley, who earned honorable
mention all-NWC and all-district
honors last season, had enormous
holes to fill, given the level of quar-
terback play at Ada recently.
Zac Dysert, who plays in the
National Football League for the
Denver Broncos, was the Associated
Press D-VI offensive player of the year
for the Bulldogs in 2006 and 2007.
Heath Jackson also earned co-offensive player of the year honors in 2009.
See ADA, Page T62
DEPTH CHART
OFFENSIVE UNIT
Pos.
QB
RB
WR
WR
WR
WR
OT
OT
OG
OG
C
K
Seth Conley
Chase Sumner
Blake Ansley
Slate Johansen
Trent Jolliff
Jordan Bailey
Jake Agin
Jakob Hoschak
Coleton Lee
Justin Shoemaker
Weston Robinson
Aaron Everhart
Yr. Ht.
Wt.
Pos.
So.
So.
Sr.
Sr.
Jr.
Jr.
Jr.
So.
Sr.
Sr.
Sr.
So.
163
140
185
135
184
185
260
260
191
230
200
150
QB
RB
RB
WR
WR
OG
C
K
5-11
5-10
5-10
6-0
5-11
6-1
6-5
6-0
6-0
6-1
5-9
5-8
Trent Jolliff
Aaron Everhart
Mason Klingler
Cole East
Owen Conley
Hunter Purdy
Ethan Swaney
Cole East
2015 SCHEDULE
Date
Opponent
Home/Away
August
28 Upper Scioto Valley
September 4
Arlington
11 Lima Central Catholic
18 Spencerville*
25 Columbus Grove*
October
2
Convoy Crestview*
9
Paulding*
16 Bluffton*
23 Delphos Jefferson*
30 Allen East*
All games 7 p.m.
DEFENSIVE UNIT
A
A
H
A
H
A
H
H
A
H
Yr. Ht.
Wt.
Pos.
Jr.
So.
Jr.
Sr.
Jr.
Jr.
So.
Sr.
184
150
170
160
231
188
185
160
DE
DE
DT
DT
MLB
OLB
OLB
CB
CB
S
S
P
5-11
5-8
5-8
5-8
6-4
6-0
5-11
5-8
Hunter Purdy
Coleton Lee
Jakob Hoschak
Justin Shoemaker
Blake Ansley
Jordan Bailey
Aaron Everhart
Seth Conley
Cole East
Trent Jolliff
Chase Sumner
Trent Jolliff
Yr. Ht.
Wt.
Pos.
Jr.
Sr.
So.
Sr.
Sr.
Jr.
So.
So.
Sr.
Jr.
So.
Jr.
188
191
260
230
185
185
150
163
160
184
140
184
DE
DT
CB
S
P
6-0
6-0
6-0
6-1
5-10
6-1
5-8
5-11
5-8
5-11
5-10
5-11
Weston Robinson
Ethan Swaney
Slate Johansen
Erryk Katayama
Aaron Everhart
Yr. Ht.
Wt.
Sr.
So.
Sr.
So.
So.
200
185
135
168
150
5-9
5-11
6-0
6-0
5-8
QUICK FACTS
COACH: Bob Olwin (3rd year,
14-9).
Northwest Conference.
LAST NWC TITLE: 2013.
DEFENSIVE SCHEME: 5-front.
STRENGTHS: The passing game will once again be a
strength for
the Bulldogs.
Seth Conley
threw for more
than 2,800
yards and 23
touchdowns as
a freshman last
year. Although
he lost his top
receiver, Grant
Olwin
McBride, due
to graduation,
he has plenty
of other players who put up solid
numbers and got experience last
year.
WEAKNESSES: The Bulldogs
will be very young, with 15
sophomores and eight freshmen
on the 35-player roster. Ada
will need to replace nearly its
entire offensive line, so providing
enough time for Conley to get rid
of the ball will be critical. Ada
has holes to fill on the defensive
line and secondary as well.
GRIDIRON GURU
Each of Ada’s five losses last
season came to playoff teams. But
the Bulldogs proved they could
pick up a big win by stunning
then-state-ranked and previously
undefeated Convoy Crestview
22-15 in Week 7. The Bulldogs will
need some more late-game magic,
especially against the top NWC
teams, if they want to return to
the postseason.
Ada
Bulldogs
2014 RESULTS
Upper Scioto Valley
Spencerville
Columbus Grove
Fort Loramie
Bluffton
49-14
0-42
17-31
21-35
42-41
Paulding
Convoy Crestview
Allen East
Delphos Jefferson
Lima Central Catholic
RECORD BOOK
61-14
22-15
28-22
0-10
0-27
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
5-5
9-4
10-2
9-3
10-2
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
12-1
12-1
9-5
7-4
3-7
COLUMBUS GROV E
THE COURIER
T59
Grove focuses on here and now
KEY TO THE SEASON
By TED RADICK
STAFF WRITER
Clement
Nichols
O FFE N S E
According to wide receiver
Baily Clement: “We have to be
able to run the ball and pass the
ball, because you can’t be onedimensional.”
D E FE N S E
Andrew Nichols: “We have to
trust in our coaches, and play with
intensity on every play. We have to
play as a team.”
2014 LEADERS
PASSING
Stechschulte
ATT COMP YDS
230
86 1552
TD
15
RUSHING
Warnecke
Stechschulte
Bogart
ATT
241
170
18
YDS AVG
1655 6.9
700 4.1
115 8.2
TD
18
7
0
RECEIVING
Bogart
Fortman
Clement
REC
29
17
16
YDS
399
451
346
TD
6
4
3
AVG
13.8
26.5
24.7
INT
15
COLUMBUS GROVE — Last
year’s playoff run to the Division VII
state semifinals was a great confidence booster for Columbus Grove’s
football team, and, as the Bulldogs
move to Division VI this year, the
cupboard is far from bare.
Six starters are back on each side
of the ball, yet coach Andy Schafer
wants his team, 9-5 a year ago,
focused on the here and now rather
than 2014.
“I had speech with the kids, that
sometimes it’s easier to get to the
top than stay at the top,” he said. “I
told them, if they thought it was a lot
of pressure coming off a 2-8 season,
there’s even more pressure now.
“That comes, I think, with the
other teams wanting to knock you
off. That’s one of the things we’ve
really been emphasizing.”
Grove returns three offensive
linemen, including tackles Jake
Utendorf (5-foot-10, 175 pounds)
and Logan Ridenour (6-0, 205).
“Obviously, trying to replace a
guy like Joey (Warneke) is pretty
much impossible,” Schafer said.
“But, it makes you sleep better at
night knowing you have three offensive linemen coming back. Especially
when you have three good ones.”
Warnecke rushed for 1,655 yards
and 18 TDs and was first-team
all-Ohio. Expect a committee of
tailbacks to try and match his production.
Wideouts Baily Clement and
Aiden Fortman return. Clement’s
OFFENSIVE UNIT
QB
RB
WR
WR
WR
WR
T
T
G
G
C
K
Reid Stechschulte
Lachlan Clymer
Aidan Fortman
Grant Cassidy
Brandt Follas
Baily Clement
Jake Utendorf
Logan Ridenour
Rece Roney
TJ Pardo
Adam Birkemeier
Jared Arnold
Yr. Ht.
Wt.
Pos.
Jr.
Jr.
Sr.
Jr.
Sr.
Sr.
Sr.
Jr.
Jr.
Sr.
Jr.
So.
170
180
155
145
175
165
192
225
275
260
170
140
QB
RB
WR
T
G
C
6-0
6-0
5-9
5-8
6-4
5-9
5-11
6-0
6-3
6-2
6-2
5-11
the pure burner and Fortman’s the
finesse possession receiver.
See GROVE, Page T62
2015 SCHEDULE
Date
Opponent
DEFENSIVE UNIT
Caleb Barrientes
Eric Warnecke
Logan Diller
Enoch Jones
Brandon Grigsby
Rayne Sharrits
Home/Away
August
28 Pandora-Gilboa (7:30 p.m.)
September 4
Leipsic
11 Patrick Henry
18 Convoy Crestview*
25 Ada*
October
2
Spencerville*
9
Delphos Jefferson*
16 Allen East*
23 Paulding*
30 Bluffton*
A
H
A
H
A
H
A
H
A
H
Yr. Ht.
Wt.
Pos.
Fr.
Jr.
Sr.
So.
Jr.
So.
130
165
180
190
235
220
DE
DE
DT
DT
OLB
OLB
MLB
CB
CB
FS
SS
P
5-8
5-9
6-3
5-10
6-0
5-7
COACH: Andy Schafer (4th
year, 16-18; 34-41 overall).
LAST BVC TITLE: 2005.
OF F EN SI V E S CH EM E :
Spread.
STRENGTHS: Six starters
return on both
of fense and
defense from
a squad that
ad v a nc e d t o
last year’s Division VII state
semifinals. It’s
a good mi x,
too, with three
starters back
Schafer
on the offensive
and defensive
lines, two in the
linebacking corps and two in the
secondary.
WEAKNESSES: Replacing
running back Joey Warnecke,
who had 1,655 yards and 18
touchdowns a year ago, won’t be
an easy task. Also lost to graduation is second-team all-Ohio safety
Tanner From (8 interceptions in
2014). The secondary is a bit thin
depth-wise.
COLUMBUS GROVE LINEMAN Rece Roney flips a tire during summer
camp in July at Grove.
DEPTH CHART
Pos.
QUICK FACTS
Brandt Follas
Alex Giesige
Rece Roney
Enoch Jones
Andrew Nichols
Isaac Siefker
Brandon Grigsby
Baily Clement
Eric Warnecke
Lachlan Clymer
Logan Diller
Reid Stechschulte
Yr. Ht.
Wt.
Pos.
Sr.
Sr.
Jr.
So.
Sr.
Sr.
Jr.
Sr.
Jr.
Jr.
Sr.
Jr.
175
160
275
190
205
190
235
165
165
180
180
170
DE
DT
DT
MLB
CB
FS
6-4
6-2
6-3
5-10
6-0
5-10
6-0
5-9
5-9
6-0
6-3
6-0
Adam Birkemeier
Cody Johnson
TJ Pardo
Rayne Sharrits
Grant Cassidy
Aidan Fortman
Yr. Ht.
Wt.
Jr.
Fr.
Sr.
So.
Jr.
Sr.
170
368
260
220
145
155
6-2
6-4
6-2
5-7
5-8
5-9
GRIDIRON GURU
Last year’s deep playoff run was
a nice treat for the Bulldog seniors,
but it also gave the younger players essentially an extra month of
practice. Those repetitions will pay
big dividends this season as Grove
tries to build on the success of last
year’s squad.
Columbus Grove
BULLDOGS
2014 RESULTS
Pandora-Gilboa
Allen East
Ada
Lima Central Catholic
Spencerville
30-28
46-21
31-17
17-38
32-35
Swanton
Delphos Jefferson
Paulding
Convoy Crestview
Bluffton
RECORD BOOK
17-30
0-36
42-0
26-13
21-6
PLAYOFF GAMES
Pandora-Gilboa
Tiffin Calvert
Arlington
Marion Local
21-6
17-7
19-7
7-55
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
9-5
2-8
5-5
7-3
7-3
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
7-4
4-6
6-4
7-5
8-2
T60
MOH AW K
THE COURIER
Warriors have senior-laden roster
KEY TO THE SEASON
By JAMIE BAKER
SPORTS EDITOR
Morter
Sowers
O FFE N S E
Juston Morter: “We have to
work as a team. I have to make
the right reads and I have to be
the team leader in the huddle. As
a quarterback, I have to know the
entire offense if any one has any
questions.”
D E FE N S E
According to linebacker Derrick Sowers: “Keys, aggression
and physicality those are the big
things we’re focused on. We need
to hit hard and take it to other
teams. We have experience and
we have to be physical.”
2014 LEADERS
PASSING
Johnson
Morter
ATT
70
17
COMP
33
7
YDS
272
75
TD
1
1
RUSHING
Johnson
Lonsway
Sowers
ATT
277
78
22
YARDS
1,819
353
135
AVG
6.6
4.5
6.1
TD
23
1
1
RECEIVING
Shock
Morter
REC
17
7
YDS
206
61
AVG
12.1
8.7
TD
2
0
INT
8
4
SYCAMORE — The time to win
at Mohawk is now.
The Warriors have a veteran offensive line that second-year coach Brent
Konkle believes will be one of the best
in the Northern 10 Conference.
That’s the good news.
The bad news is that Mohawk will
have to replace a once-in-a-generation
type of player in graduate Gunnar
Johnson. All Johnson did was rush
for 1,819 yards on 227 carries with
23 touchdowns. He also threw for
another 272 yards and one score at
the quarterback spot.
Despite the loss of Johnson, there
is plenty of reason for optimism.
The Warriors lost just a handful
of players to graduation and have a
dozen or so returning seniors who
played a key role on last year’s unit
that posted a 4-6 record. Last year’s
squad started slow, losing its first five
games. Mohawk rebounded to win
four of its last five to end up with a
3-5 record in the Northern 10.
With an experienced unit back,
things have been different during this
year’s preseason practices.
“We’re further ahead scheme-wise,
coaching-wise and all-around philosophy-wise. We have a nice senior group
and with their experience and knowledge, we’re way ahead of where we
were at this time last year,” Konkle
said.
MOHAWK’S AUSTIN SHOCK makes a catch and puts a move on a Tiffin
Calvert defender during a 7-on-7 scrimmage earlier this summer.
“I think we’ll be pretty diverse on
offense and we’ll be able to throw the
ball a little more than we’ve been able
to in the past.”
Line play will be key for the Warriors to offset some of the offensive
production lost by Johnson’s departure.
Senior Tyler Pummell, a 6-foot-4,
281-pound returning starter at tackle,
anchors the line. Senior Alex Daniel
(5-7, 200) and junior Cole Draper
(5-11, 185) have experience at guards
See WARRIORS, Page T62
DEPTH CHART
OFFENSIVE UNIT
Pos.
QB
RB
HB
TE
WR
WR
OT
OT
OG
OG
C
K
Juston Morter
Trevor Zender
Derrick Sowers
Cadin Emshoff
Austin Shock
David Dietrich
Tyler Pummell
Cade Ratliff
Alex Daniel
Cole Draper
Luke Gillig
Cadin Emshoff
Yr. Ht.
Wt.
Pos.
Sr.
Sr.
Sr.
Jr.
Jr.
Jr.
Sr.
Sr.
Sr.
Jr.
Sr.
Jr.
190
167
225
185
161
160
281
250
200
185
208
185
QB
RB
HB
TE
WR
WR
OT
OG
C
6-1
5-8
5-11
5-10
6-1
5-7
6-4
6-3
5-7
5-11
5-11
5-10
Zachary Binau
Parker Brown
Nick Theis
Ethan Weir
Ryan Strausbaugh
Daniel Price
Dominic Smith
Mason Hammond
Cole Butler
2015 SCHEDULE
Date
Opponent
Home/Away
August
28 Fremont St. Joseph
September 4
Colonel Crawford*
11 Carey*
18 Bucyrus*
25 Wynford*
October
2
Seneca East*
9
Upper Sandusky*
16 Ridgedale*
23 Crestline
30 Buckeye Central*
All games 7 p.m.
DEFENSIVE UNIT
Yr. Ht.
H
A
A
H
H
A
A
H
H
A
So.
So.
So.
Jr.
Sr.
So.
Sr.
Sr.
Jr.
5-9
5-9
6-0
5-9
5-8
5-8
5-8
5-10
5-10
Wt.
Pos.
135
167
217
153+
145
136
245
185
190
DE
DE
DT
DT
NG
MLB
WLB
CB
CB
FS
SS
P
Cole Draper
Cadin Emshoff
Dominic Smith
Tyler Pummell
Trevor Zender
Derrick Sowers
Nick Theis
Ryan Strausbaugh
Parker Brown
Austin Shock
Juston Morter
Austin Shock
Yr. Ht.
Wt.
Pos.
Jr.
Jr.
Sr.
Sr.
Sr.
Sr.
So.
Sr.
So.
Jr.
Sr.
Jr.
185
185
245
281
167
225
217
145
167
161
190
161
DE
DT
NG
MLB
WLB
CB
CB
FS
SS
5-11
5-10
5-8
6-4
5-8
5-11
6-0
5-8
5-9
6-1
6-1
6-1
Luke Gillig
Cade Ratliff
Cole Butler
Mason Hammond
Alex Daniel
Wyatt Cook
David Dietrich
Daniel Price
Bryce Kirian
Yr. Ht.
Wt.
Sr.
Sr.
Jr.
Sr.
Sr.
Jr.
Jr.
So.
Fr.
208
250
190
185
200
145
160
136
160
5-11
6-3
5-10
5-10
5-7
5-11
5-7
5-8
5-9
QUICK FACTS
COACH: Brent Konkle (2nd
year, 4-6).
Northern 10 Conference.
STRENGTHS: There are
experienced players back on both
sides of the
football, thanks
to a solid senior
class. Konkle
thinks his
offensive line
could be one
of the best in
the Northern
10 this season.
Tyler Pummell,
a 6-4, 281Konkle
pound senior,
anchors a line
where four of five starters return.
WEAKNESSES: While Mohawk
graduated just a handful of
seniors, they were quite talented.
Do-it-all player Gunnar Johnson
and his 1,800 yards rushing and
23 touchdowns will certainly be
missed. The Warriors also need
to learn to win. The team lost
a couple of tough, close games
last season and has had just one
winning record in the last seven
seasons.
GRIDIRON GURU
Mohawk won’t have the do-it-all
playmaker on the field this season
like Gunnar Johnson was last
season. But coach Brent Konkle
thinks his offensive line has the
ability to open enough holes to
make up for much of the 1,800
yards of rushing that was lost when
Johnson graduated. The Warriors
are still a work in progress in
Konkle’s second season, but they
have enough returning experience
that they should improve last season’s win total and inch above .500
for the first time since 2010.
Mohawk
WARRIORS
2014 RESULTS
Marion Pleasant
Colonel Crawford
Carey
Bucyrus
Wynford
6-48
14-47
13-21
19-20
7-49
Seneca East
Lakota
Ridgedale
Crestline
Buckeye Central
RECORD BOOK
23-9
33-7
34-0
9-20
8-41
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
4-6
4-6
3-7
3-7
10-2
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
4-6
4-6
5-5
9-2
7-4
THE COURIER
Titans
chdowns, Brad Recker and tight end
Sid Moening (11, 182, 1 TD). Also
gone are linemen Ben Recker (thirdteam all-Ohio), Jason Schnipke and
Ben Deitering, and running back Kyle
Niese (9 TDs).
The cupboard, though, is not
totally bare.
Logan McDermott, a 6-3, 205pound senior who scored nine rushing
and receiving touchdowns, will be one
of four starting receivers in the Titans’
spread offense. Seniors Bryce Utrup
(6-2, 195), Jay Garcia (5-10, 160),
Kyle Gerding (5-10, 170), Nick Weihrauch (6-1, 160) and Brandon Meyer
(6-0, 185) and juniors Evan Kaufman
(5-9, 165) and Trent Basinger (6-0,
165) are an athletic group as well.
“We have to go with a good thing,”
Schriner said. “Our passing game
worked well last year, and hopefully
we’ll be able to use that again.”
An all-Ohio lineman during his
prep career at Tiffin Calvert who
later played for Bowling Green State
University, Schriner is more of a
“3-yards-and-a-cloud-of-dust” kind of
coach. But he’s willing to adapt and
adjust, especially when his offense can
average a league-leading 30.3 points a
game like it did a year ago.
“We’re still primarily a spread
team right now, but I’ll admit there
are times I’m not real sure what we’re
doing,” Schriner said. “Those are the
times I look over at Darrin Fox, our
offensive coordinator, and say, ‘What
was that?’ And he always says, ‘Don’t
worry about it. It’s under control.’
“I can’t argue with that. As long as
we’re successful, I’m happy.”
Connor Niese, a 6-0, 170-pound
junior, will be the running back in
the spread formation. Senior center
Aaron Rieman (6-2, 245), junior
tackle Trevor Rieman (6-2, 260) and
Patriots
in Patrick Henry’s backfield. Both have
explosive speed.
Johnson, a 5-foot-9, 168-pound
junior, rushed for 1,216 yards and
scored nine touchdowns. Almost
half of his scores were catch-meif-you-can breakaways, including
an 84-yard dash against Bryan, an
80-yarder against Liberty Center,
one of 66 yards against Archbold and
a 46-yarder against Montpelier.
Bonner (5-9, 150, jr.) also scored
on a 46-yard run against Montpelier, and returned a kickoff 95 yards
against Bryan.
“Offensively, our strength is that
PR EP FOOTBA LL
senior guard Jacob Schmitz (5-11,
225) started on the offensive line all
or parts of the 2014 season. They’ll be
joined up front by junior tackle Alex
Hoehn (6-3, 255) and senior guard
Brian Karhoff (6-0, 212).
“At the end of last season, we
started running the ball a little more
out of the spread and we saw some
things we wanted to do,” Schriner
said. “We’re hoping to emphasize the
run a little more just to take some of
the pressure off our passing game.”
The smallest WBL school in terms
of enrollment, O-G is rarely among the
league leaders when it comes to physical size, its 2012 regional final team
being an exception. But the program
usually fields good athletes, a characteristic Schriner and his staff will be
counting on this season, especially on
defense.
Spearheading that group will be
Noah Recker, a senior linebacker who
earned honorable mention all-WBL
honors last season. Niese, Utrup,
Jack Cavanaugh (5-8, 170, jr.) and Jay
Kaufman (6-4, 200, soph.) will also
line up in a 3-5 set.
Aaron Rieman, McDermott and
Schmitz will handle the down linemen
positions, with cornerbacks Garcia
and Brennen Birkemeier (5-8, 155,
sr.) and free safety Kyle Verhoff (6-2,
190, sr.) manning a secondary that
graduated two of the WBL’s interception leaders in Jake Kahle (5 ints.) and
Cole Osting (4).
“Our linebackers are going to be
the strength of what we do,” Schriner
said. “We don’t have a lot of size, but
we have guys who can play in space,
guys who can run around out there
and make plays. We have to have a
nasty attitude when we get there, too.
Make a play, make a hit, then line up
and do it again.”
Bears
T61
Schlatter, a defensive tackle, led
the Polar Bears with 93 tackles last
season. Drumm added 56 stops.
The secondary should be improved
with Ribley and juniors Nick Bame
(5-11, 185) and Bradley Watts (5-10,
160) all back. Juniors Owen Bame
(5-11, 180), Logan Taylor (5-10, 190)
and Andrew Stump (6-0, 190) will be
counted upon to solidify the defense
at the linebacker spots.
Depth will still be a concern at
Hardin Northern. There are 27 players on the roster but any injury will be
doubled as most Polar Bears will be
forced to play both ways.
The biggest hurdle for the Polar
Bears to overcome is a lack of wins
in recent years. Dennis, who coached
with former Hardin Northern head
coach Pete Brunow during the
school’s glory days in the 1990s and
early 2000s, remembers the mentality
of those successful Polar Bear teams
of the past.
He wants this group of Hardin
Northern athletes to regain that edge.
“The big thing for us is attitude.,
the mindset. It’s still a work in progress. We haven’t had anyone here
that’s been part of a winning team,”
Dennis said.
“We have to get the kids over the
hump and get them to understand
what it takes to be a winning team.
We need some kids to step up with
that killer instinct.
“We’re getting better. I think we’re
making some progress, but as a coach
you’re never going to be satisfied.”
Rams’ defensive unit that allowed
more than 28 points per game a year
ago. Miller led the team with 121
tackles, including 13 stops for losses.
Pack was second on the team with 73
tackles. Senior Tanner Smalley (6-0,
210) is also back at linebacker.
Holloway is back at free safety
and Troy Landrum, a 5-9, 170-pound
senior, returns at strong safety. They
registered 66 and 57 tackles respectively a year ago.
The thing Rodriguez likes most
about his Rams heading into the season
is the team’s attitude. They have a confidence and can-do attitude that plays
in to the style of play he’s looking for
this season at Upper Sandusky.
“The kids want to. They are here
and they want to win football games
and do whatever it takes to get that
done,” Rodriguez said. “The boys
want to be physical and most of all
they have that desire to win.
“That’s what we’re looking for.”
Hanneman: 419-427-8408,
[email protected]
want to win as a team.
“Our motto this summer has been
‘Rise and grind.’ We’ve been working
hard to get ready for the season from
sun up to sun down.”
A pair of returning all-MOAC will
be counted upon to make an impact
on both sides of the ball.
Kolin Holloway, a 6-foot 180pound senior and honorable mention
all-conference selection last season,
takes over the duties at quarterback
for the Rams. He was one of the team’s
top rushers with 348 yards on 58 carries with five touchdowns. He also
added a team-high 15 receptions for
124 yards as a receiver.
Shane Pack, a 6-2, 215-pound
junior, returns at running back after
netting 360 yards on the ground.
Rodriguez is expecting big things
out of his receiving corps with senior
Cory Miller (6-4, 210) leading the
way. Miller was second team allMOAC and caught 14 passes for 192
yards and a score for the Rams.
Holloway’s other targets at wide
out are likely to be seniors Keegan
Gullifer (5-10, 160) and Tanner Smalley (6-0, 210) and junior Sam Musgrave (6-0, 155).
Surrounding Brown on the line,
juniors Travis Thompson (6-0, 213)
and Cole Crawford (6-2, 210) will line
up at tackle. Junior Dalton Foos (5-10,
182) and sophomore Connor Johnston
(6-2, 225) will play guard and center,
respectively.
“The biggest thing for us is we
need to build confidence and that
comes with playing together. Football
is a team game and we need to play
as a team. We still have some work
to do, but we’re getting there,” Rodriguez said.
The biggest improvement for the
Rams, though, might just come on
defense.
Miller and Pack return at linebacker which should help bolster a
we have two dynamic playmakers in
Mitch Bonner and Donny Johnson,”
Kirkendall said.
“Hopefully that means we don’t
have to have a lot of 12- to 15-play
drives, that if we can execute and do
things perfect one time, it can go for
a very big play.”
Kirkendall hopes Patrick Henry’s
new-look offense creates scout-team
problems for the opposition.
“What we’re doing — if we can do
it — there’s nobody else running anything like it,” Kirkendall said. “The
version we’re running is not a huge
change from what we’ve done in the
past. We’re still going to be a big-time
off tackle team. We’re just trying to
incorporate the veers and the dives
and the option with it as well.
“It’s a base wingback/wishbone
look, but it’s very much a hybrid
scheme.”
Brad Pfister, a 6-2, 216-pound
senior who saw some time at fullback
as a sophomore, returns to that position after being used at tackle a year
ago. Kent Petersen, a 6-1, 202-pound
junior, moves from fullback to tight
end, giving Kirkendall a strong, athletic presence to lead the blocking.
Senior tackle Sydney Brewer (6-1,
211) and senior center Brennan Jackson (5-10, 203) are returning starters
on an offensive line that averages just
less than 6-foot-2 and just more than
237 pounds per man.
Kirkendall plans minor changes on
defense as well, a decision again based
on personnel.
“We have a bunch of linebackers,
a very athletic group and very good
depth, so basically we had to find a
way to get five linebackers on the field
at all times,” said Kirkendall, who
hinted the Patriots will show more
three-man fronts this season.
“The strength of our defense is our
linebacking corps. We’ll still go more
4-4 against some of the run-heavy
teams we face, but against some of the
bigger schools and the spread offenses
that we see, I like our athleticism and
our ability to run around the field and
make plays.”
Bennett returns at noseguard and
Pfister and Jackson will be the ends up
front. Inside linebackers Trey Zimmer
and Kal Harris and outside linebackers Triston Novak and Petersen are
all returning starters.
Juniors Mason Fintel, JJ Rettig,
Hunter Schock and Alex VanDeBussche will man the secondary.
While the return of six offensive
and seven defensive starters is prom-
ising, Kirkendall has been impressed
with other subtle changes this preseason.
“You see a lot of differences
between year one and year two,” Kirkendall said. “A lot of it is just understanding schemes and not having to
explain everything 10 or 12 times.
Some of it is knowing what the expectations are, bringing a certain level of
energy and intensity to practice and
maintaining that level of energy and
intensity.
“It’s about leadership and communication. Sometimes it’s just sophomores becoming juniors. Those things
are important in this business, and
what we’ve seen so far has been real,
real positive.”
center. He’ll be flanked by ex
perienced junior guards Logan Taylor
(5-10, 190) and Kolten Garman (5-11,
210) and junior tackles Trent Prichard (5-11, 215) and Colin Tobin (6-0,
210).
“The kids are a year older, a year
wiser and a year stronger,” Dennis
said. “I think with our experience
we’ll be able to throw the ball a little
more this year.”
Hardin Northern will need to
buckle down a bit more on defense as
well as the Polar Bears allowed 34 or
more points in eight of its 10 games
in 2014
Rams
Baker, 419-427-8409
[email protected]
Baker, 419-427-8409
[email protected]
Hanneman: 419-427-8408,
[email protected]
T62
PR EP FOOTBA LL
Grove
“Aiden may not be the fastest guy,
but he may be the best pure route
runner I’ve ever coached,” Schafer
said.
Junior Reid Stechschulte returns
at quarterback. He ran for 700 yards
and passed for 1,552 last year.
“Reid is definitely more comfortable and he’s been able to help
out our running backs quite a bit,
whereas last year those roles were
flipped,” Schafer said. “He’s taken
more of a leadership role and that’s
neat to see.”
The defensive line, where three
starters return, has Schafer excited.
Sophomore end Enoch Jones (5-10,
195) had 20 tackles for loss and
senior end Brant Follas (6-4, 185)
racked up 26 tackles for loss, 13
Warriors
and Luke Gillig (5-11, 208) is back
at center. Draper, a state placer
for Mohawk’s wrestling team last
winter, was an honorable mention all-N10 performer last season.
Senior Cade Ratliff (6-3, 250) will
man the tackle spot opposite Pummell.
“We have the potential to be
really good up front,” Konkle said.
“If you have a good offensive line,
you don’t need a Gunnar Johnsontype of kid. Plus we have skill kids
this year that understand their
roles.”
Konkle has some talented athletes to help fill the void left by
Johnson at the skill positions.
Juston Morter (6-1, 190), who
completed 7 of 17 passes for 75 yards
and a touchdown in limited action,
will be the quarterback.
Look for breakout seasons from
seniors Austin Shock (6-1, 161) and
Derrick Sowers (5-11, 225).
Shock was an honorable mention all-N10 pick after grabbing 17
catches for 206 yards and a pair of
sacks and 23 hurries in 2014.
Sophomore Rece Roney (6 -3,
265) is a Division I-caliber talent
who returns at offensive guard and
defensive tackle.
Senior outside linebacker Andrew
Nichols (6-0, 195) led the team last
year with 163 tackles.
Clement, at corner, and safety
Logan Diller are back in the secondary. That’s a unit that has Schafer a
little concerned.
“Our biggest area of depth is in
the defensive line, we’re fairly deep
at linebacker but the secondary is a
bit thin. We can’t afford many injuries there,” he said.
Grove opens with traditional rival
Pandora-Gilboa and plays Leipsic
and Patrick Henry before Northwest
Conference action begins.
“I don’t think we look for teams
that are bad,” Schafer said. “Pandora
is the rivalry game, we beat them
twice last year which was great, but
that’s going to tick them off even
more. Those guys will be ready.
“Leipsic is special being another
Putnam County school and the kids
know each other. Patrick Henry is
a traditional football school as we
are. It’s going to be a huge crowd
and I think it’s a good fit for both
programs.”
Schafer expects Spencerville and
Delphos Jefferson to be the NWC
teams to beat.
“Both those teams have essentially everybody back, and we have
a lot back as well,” he said. “Spencerville came down to inches, literally, when we played last year and
our guys are hungry to play them
again. Jefferson, we didn’t give our
best last year. Our guys are looking
forward to playing them again.”
scores as a wide receiver. Sowers
will line up at H-back. He was second-team all-conference and rushed
for 6.1 yards per carry in limited
duty last year. Senior Trevor Zender
(5-8, 167) and Parker Brown (5-9,
167) will rotate at tailback.
“Both our backfield and line are
senior dominated, and we feel really
good about both of them,” Konkle
said.
“With 41 kids, though, depth is
always a concern. Right now we’re an
injury away from having to revamp
stuff. Most schools our size are in
the same situation so you cross your
fingers and hope it doesn’t happen.”
Mohawk’s defense allowed more
than 26 points per game last season,
although Week 1 and 2 losses to
Marion Pleasant (48-6) and Colonel Crawford (47-14) skewed those
numbers considerably.
Again, play along the defensive
line will be key as Draper and Pummell return up front in Mohawk’s
f ive -m a n f ront. Junior C adin
Emshoff (5-10, 185), who is also
the team’s place kicker, and senior
Dominic Smith (5-8, 245) will play
defensive end and defensive tackle
respectively. At 5-8, 167, Konkle is
using speedy the Zender to try and
disrupt opponents’ offenses at nose-
guard.
It the Warrior defensive line does
it’s job, that should free up Sowers,
who recorded a team-high 66 tackles
in 2014, and sophomore Nick Theis
(6-0, 214) to make plays from their
linebacker spots.
Shock, who made 43 solo tackles
and intercepted a pass, is back at
free safety. Morter will be the strong
safety and sophomore Parker Brown
(5-9, 167) and senior Ryan Strausbaugh (5-8, 145) will be the corners.
“We have to communicate better
on defense. What really hurt us last
year was the big play,” Konkle said.
“We were maybe one step out
of position at times last year and
gave some things up we shouldn’t
have. We need to do a better job
getting the kids in the right positions to make plays. If we do that,
I think we’ll see a big improvement
on defense.”
Radick, 419-427-8405,
[email protected]
Baker, 419-427-8409
[email protected]
N@J?@E>PFL
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THE COURIER
Ada
that position.”
The Bulldogs, though, are young.
Of the 35 players on the roster, 15
are sophomores and eight are freshmen.
“We’re pretty young, so you got
to re-educate the young kids on how
to practice, what our program’s
about, what the journey is about,”
Olwin said.
The offensive line features senior
Justin Shoemaker (6-1, 230), the
lone returning starter. But the Bulldogs have some size, something they
didn’t have a year ago.
Jake Agin (6-5, 260-pound junior)
and Jakob Hoschak (6-0, 260-pound
sophomore) will start at tackle,
while seniors Coleton Lee (6 -0,
191) and Weston Robinson (5-9,
200) will start at guard and center,
respectively. Last year’s offensive
line averaged just 192 pounds.
“I feel like if our line can give
Seth a couple seconds just to get rid
of the ball, us receivers, we have so
many, we all can make a big play
happen,” Ansley said.
Defensively, Lee and Shoemaker
are returning starters on the line
and Ansley is back at linebacker
for the Bulldogs, who allowed 25.1
points per game.
Mitchell Faine (2008), Konnor
Baker (2010 and 2011) and Matt
Wilcox (2013) were second-team
all-Ohio, and Mason Acheson (2012)
earned third-team honors.
Olwin believes his field general
is embracing the role as quarterback
at Ada.
“He understands the tradition
of the quarterback position here,”
Olwin said. “He’s got quite a few
records up there to shoot after and
things, so he’s got plenty of motivation to do so.”
Conley has nearly all of his main
targets at wide receiver back to help
him out.
Owen Conley (6-4, 231), Blake
Ansley (5 -10, 185), Trent Jolliff
(5-11, 184) and Slate Johansen (6-0,
135) combined for 161 receptions,
1,713 yards and 14 touchdowns last
year.
Jordan Bailey and Cole East will
see playing time at receiver as well.
Chase Sumner, Aaron Everhart and
Mason Klingler also had experience
last year.
“We have about 10 receivers that
I think can move the ball for us,
catch the ball and that stuff,” Olwin
said. “There’s a lot of competition at
Burwell, 419-427-8407
[email protected]
GO SOMEWHERE...
UN-
EXPECTED
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our special visit days or schedule an individual campus visit.
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OHIO NORTHERN UNIVERSITY
PR EP FOOTBA LL
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T63
Jacoby returns as Lakota coach
2014 Prep
Football Standings
By ANDY WOLF
STAFF WRITER
Liberty-Benton
Arlington
McComb
Riverdale
Cory-Rawson
Arcadia
League Overall
5 0 12 1
4 1 11 2
3 2
8 4
2 3
3 7
1 4
3 7
0 5
2 8
PF
401
451
432
201
186
136
PA
132
120
178
423
330
425
Van Buren
Leipsic
Pandora-Gilboa
Hopewell-Loudon
North Baltimore
Vanlue
League Overall
5 0
9 3
4 1
5 6
3 2
6 5
2 3
3 7
1 4
5 5
0 5
1 9
PF
358
239
328
241
314
119
PA
199
274
212
340
340
473
Tol. Cent. Catholic
Lima Senior
Toledo Whitmer
Fremont Ross
Findlay
Toledo St. John’s
Oregon Clay
Toledo St. Francis
League Overall
7 0 13 2
5 2
8 3
5 2
7 4
5 2
7 4
3 4
6 4
2 5
2 8
1 6
2 8
0 7
1 9
PF
639
510
465
411
319
212
191
256
PA
334
314
285
365
298
407
394
461
Wynford
Colonel Crawford
Carey
Bucyrus
Buckeye Central
Mohawk
Seneca East
Ridgedale
Crestline
League Overall
8 0 11 2
6 2
8 2
6 2
8 2
6 2
7 3
4 4
5 5
3 5
4 6
2 6
2 8
1 7
2 8
0 8
0 10
PF
460
412
399
293
282
206
247
100
120
PA
115
199
135
181
242
261
362
399
488
Eastwood
Genoa
Lake
Rossford
Otsego
Fostoria Senior
Elmwood
Woodmore
League Overall
7 0
9 2
6 1
8 3
5 2
8 2
4 3
4 6
3 4
3 7
2 5
4 6
1 6
1 9
0 7
0 10
PF
409
383
437
320
169
224
212
172
PA
149
154
146
269
395
334
443
397
Delphos Jefferson
Spencerville
Convoy Crestview
Columbus Grove
Ada
Allen East
Bluffton
Paulding
League Overall
6 1
9 2
5 2
9 3
5 2
8 3
5 2
9 5
4 3
5 5
2 5
3 7
1 6
3 7
0 7
1 9
PF
353
422
333
326
240
275
317
147
PA
132
214
246
299
251
351
247
470
Wauseon
Delta
Patrick Henry
Bryan
Swanton
Liberty Center
Archbold
Montpelier
Evergreen
League Overall
8 0 12 1
7 1
9 2
5 3
7 3
5 3
6 4
4 4
5 5
3 5
3 7
2 6
2 8
1 7
2 7
1 7
2 8
PF
451
380
243
309
333
159
243
145
208
PA
126
121
222
276
298
300
315
348
406
Sandusky St. Mary’s
Lakota
Fremont St. Joseph
St. Wendelin
League Overall
3 0
6 4
2 1
4 6
1 2
2 8
0 3
1 9
PF
341
199
130
87
PA
228
216
305
506
Norwalk Senior
Bellevue
Ontario
Tiffin Columbian
Sandusky Senior
Shelby
Willard
League Overall
6 0 11 1
5 1
9 3
4 2
6 4
3 3
6 4
2 4
3 7
1 5
2 8
0 6
0 10
PF
449
431
249
351
130
219
54
PA
187
307
276
272
292
349
359
Tiffin Calvert
Gibsonburg
Northwood
Edon
Toledo Christian
Ottawa Hills
Cardinal Stritch
Danbury
Hilltop
League Overall
6 0
9 3
5 1
9 1
5 2
6 4
4 2
4 5
3 3
6 5
3 3
4 6
1 5
4 6
1 6
3 7
0 6
1 8
PF
397
433
312
276
354
210
216
229
81
PA
230
166
190
368
274
298
287
348
399
Norwalk St. Paul
Plymouth
Ashland Mapleton
New London
South Central
Western Reserve
Monroeville
Ashland Crestview
League Overall
7 0 13 2
5 2
8 3
5 2
7 5
4 3
4 6
2 5
3 7
2 5
2 8
2 5
2 8
1 6
2 8
PF
610
393
316
199
174
253
138
147
PA
185
286
263
308
351
379
352
330
Tinora
Wayne Trace
Ayersville
Hicksville
Edgerton
League Overall
7 0 13 1
6 1
8 3
5 2
8 2
3 4
5 5
3 4
4 6
PF
556
454
345
266
316
PA
112
272
177
347
308
Fairview
Holgate
Antwerp
3
1
0
4
6
7
4
3
1
6
7
9
199 236
204 436
166 376
Mid Ohio Athletic Conference Red
League Overall
7 0 11 1
5 2
7 3
5 2
6 4
4 3
7 4
3 4
5 5
3 4
4 6
1 6
1 9
0 7
2 8
Marion Pleasant
River Valley
Jonathan Alder
Galion Senior
North Union
Buckeye Valley
Fairbanks
Upper Sandusky
PF
457
253
310
284
240
157
92
129
PA
202
124
236
227
151
231
346
311
Marion Local
Coldwater
Minster
Versailles
Fort Recovery
St. Henry
Anna
Delphos St. John’s
Parkway
New Bremen
League Overall
8 0 15 0
7 1 14 1
5 3 12 3
5 3
7 5
4 4
7 5
4 4
6 4
4 4
5 5
2 6
4 7
1 7
1 9
0 8
0 10
PF
656
521
483
243
292
250
263
159
108
112
PA
88
128
329
297
239
184
187
313
365
443
PF
517
264
293
285
304
258
195
148
PA
162
192
243
270
376
275
291
258
Perrysburg
Bowling Green
Sylvania Southview
Springfield
Maumee
Napoleon
Sylvania Northview
Anthony Wayne
League Overall
7 0 11 1
5 2
8 4
5 2
6 4
4 3
7 3
3 4
4 6
2 5
5 5
1 6
3 7
1 6
2 8
Sidney Lehman
Fort Loramie
Riverside
Upper Scioto Valley
Waynesfield-Goshen
Ridgemont
Lima Perry
League Overall
6 0 10 2
5 1
7 4
3 3
6 4
3 3
4 6
2 4
3 7
1 5
3 7
1 5
2 8
PF
475
308
401
175
134
295
234
PA
222
230
209
262
310
417
330
Wooster Senior
West Holmes
Mansfield Madison
Ashland Senior
Mansfield Senior
Clear Fork
Orrville
Lexington
League Overall
6 1
8 4
6 1
6 4
5 2
6 5
5 2
6 5
3 4
4 6
2 5
4 6
1 6
2 8
0 7
0 10
PF
334
349
325
308
305
284
210
147
PA
222
251
251
231
282
417
441
410
Huron
Clyde
Sandusky Perkins
Port Clinton
Oak Harbor
Milan Edison
Castalia Margaretta
League Overall
6 0 10 2
4 2 10 3
4 2
7 4
3 3
7 4
2 4
3 7
2 4
5 5
0 6
4 6
PF
376
431
318
325
161
236
212
PA
160
219
242
302
237
254
260
PF
274
248
222
275
124
146
PA
152
304
213
191
346
441
Toledo City League
Toledo Scott
Toledo Waite
Toledo Bowsher
Toledo Start
Toledo Woodward
Toledo Rogers
League Overall
4 1
8 2
4 1
5 5
4 1
5 5
2 3
5 5
1 4
1 9
0 5
0 10
Wapakoneta
Kenton
Ottawa-Glandorf
St. Marys Memorial
Celina
Elida
Lima Bath
Van Wert
Lima Shawnee
Defiance
League Overall
9 0 12 1
8 1 11 3
7 2
8 2
4 5
5 5
4 5
5 5
4 5
4 6
4 5
4 6
3 6
3 7
2 7
2 8
0 9
0 10
PF
393
385
303
303
219
263
181
169
101
182
PA
114
171
143
269
136
246
238
277
356
414
Other Northwest Ohio
Lima Cent. Cath.
Lucas
Hardin Northern
League Overall
0 0
8 3
0 0
7 5
0 0
4 6
PF PA
368 252
371 323
220 386
KANSAS — Shane Jacoby has
turned Lakota into a winning program
before.
He’ll undoubtedly look to do so
again in his first year of his second
stint with the Raiders.
Jacoby previously helped Lakota
accomplish its last
two winning seasons, going 7-3 in
2006 and 6 -4 in
2007.
However in
all the years the
Raiders have had
football, not once
Jacoby
have they made the
playoffs.
“Our first goal is we want to win
the first game. We want to win the
league and then we want to go to the
playoffs,” Jacoby, who was an assistant
with the Raiders last year, said. “We’re
in a tough region. There’s not a whole
room for stubbing your toe. If we take
care of business week to week, those
things take care of themselves.”
He inherits a team that finished 4-6
overall with a 2-1 mark in the Sandusky River League.
In his first stint with the Raiders,
he compiled a 19-31 record over five
seasons. Since Jacoby’s last year in
2007, Lakota has won just 20 games.
“It’s always key to start out on the
right foot,” Jacoby said. “We want to
get that first win and we’ll go from
there. If we do what we’re supposed
to do and play hard, we should be in
every game.”
Last season the Raiders averaged
19.9 points per game but scored more
than half of their total in wins over
Hardin Northern (48-0) and St. Wendelin (54-0).
Running a multiple-look offense,
Lakota will lean on the bulk of its
offensive line and junior running back
Gabe Boose (6-foot-1, 220 pounds).
In a backup role, Boose rumbled
for 445 yards and eight touchdowns
on 87 carries.
“If we can get him going north and
south, he can pose some problems for
some defenses,” Jacoby said. “He’s just
a big kid that has good speed. That
combination doesn’t come everyday,
where you’ve got a kid who’s a breakaway threat and can run you over.
That’s a nice horse to have in the
stable.”
Paving the way for Boose is a
seasoned group of offensive linemen
with only the departure being center
Austin James.
Senior Josh Short (5-11, 210) and
junior Zack Stewart (5-9, 245) will
start at tackle while senior Chris
Fillhart (6-0, 195) and junior James
Knallay (5-11, 210) will start at guard.
LAKOTA QUARTERBACK TYLER
GABEL lets a pass fly during a 7-on7 scrimmage in July at PandoraGilboa.
Senior Dakota Gilbert will start at
center.
“Fillhart, he knows all the schemes
and can communicate better with
everybody at guard,” Jacoby said.
“Our line is our strength. It better be
a strength. As our line goes, we go.”
When they’re not clearing space for
Boose to get loose, they’ll be giving
time for sophomore quarterback
Tyler Gabel to grow accustomed to
the starting job.
Gabel (6-1, 175) led the Raiders
with 103 receiving yards and a touchdown on five catches, while seeing
limited reps at quarterback behind
Dakota Bowling.
With Bowling gone and now playing his junior year at McComb, Gabel
has earned the job and the respect of
his teammates.
“He’s been a great leader, taking
control of the huddle and that’s the
first thing yo look at,” Jacoby said.
“From where he was last year physically, to where he is today. he’s probably put on 15 pounds. He’s becoming
more of a man.”
As inexperienced as Gabel is at
quarterback, he’ll be throwing to
plenty of inexperienced wide receivers.
Senior Andrew Hovis (6-2, 170)
co-led the Raiders with nine catches
but played mostly junior varsity last
season. Seniors Hunter Greiner (5-11,
145) and Armando Palos (5-10, 170)
and sophomore Lucas Streacker (6-1,
165) round out the starting receivers,
having combined for just nine catches
in 2014.
The Raiders did boast the best
defense in the SRL, allowing 21.6 ppg
and just 212.7 yards per game.
All four starters return on the
defensive line. Fillhart and senior
Spencer King (6-1, 190) will be at
end with Stewart and Gilbert holding down the tackle spots.
Additionally, all three starting linebackers return with Andrew Ferree
(5-10, 200) and Boose on the outside
and Josh Short on the inside.
“We’ve got a lot of the core back,”
Jacoby said. “If you’re going to start
somewhere, that’s the place to start.”
Greiner and Hovis will start at cornerback while Gabel and Palos will
start at safety.
Because of the four-team SRL,
Lakota will have six nonconference
games, two not from last year’s slate
in Seneca East and Margaretta.
“Usually you play the same people
over and over and over and you learn
nuances, but it’s definitely a unique
thing,” Jacoby said. “It just means
we’ll have to work harder as coaches
and make sure our kids are the right
spot.”
Wolf, 419-427-8446
[email protected]
MEASURABLY
IMPROVING
PEOPLE’S LIVES
United Way of Hancock County
245 Stanford Parkway
Findlay, Ohio 45840
419-423-1432
http://LiveUnitedHancockCounty.org
Help us celebrate United Way of Hancock County’s Diamond Anniversary. That’s 60 years
of improving people’s lives in Hancock County. Give online or at your workplace. Great
things happen when we LIVE UNITED.
~Larry and Janelle Busdeker
2015 United Way Campaign Co-Chairs
T64
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