Good Luck - The Lima News

Transcription

Pumped up
2015 Lima News High School Football Preview
Emphasis on
weight room brings
size, speed and
strength to area
high school teams.
INSIDE:
Team previews,
schedules, statistics
and more
Thursday, August 27, 2015
Section E
FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2015
2E Thursday, August 27, 2015
The Lima News
Spartans aiming high in 2015
By Tom Usher
Jaden
Walker,
of Lima
Senior,
catches
a pass
during
Lima
Senior’s
media day
in August.
The
Spartans’
highpowered
offense is
back with
most of
its skilled
players
this
season.
LIMA SENIOR OUTLOOK
tusher@civitasmedia.com
LIMA – Last year was a
magical year for Spartans’
football.
Lima Senior reached the
playoffs for the first time since
1999.
The Spartans had their first
winning record (8-3) since
1999.
And they had the most wins
since 1997.
But it all stopped in a hurry
with a first-round playoff loss
to Harrison, 37-36.
Now the Spartans are aiming
for more.
“We had a great year last
year, but we weren’t as successful as I thought we would
be,” Lima Senior quarterback
Darius Gordon said. “But I’m
looking to go forward and
beyond where what we did last
year.”
Added Lima Senior wide
receiver Ruben Flowers, “We
ended 0-3, and it’s all about
how you finish.”
Wide receiver Rico Stafford
said the team needs to keep up
its intensity level throughout
the year.
“We have to come out like
every game is going to be our
last,” he said.
Lima Senior coach Mike Fell
wants his team to build on last
year, when the Spartans started 8-0 before finishing 8-3.
“That first three months of
the season, we were like rock
stars,” Fell said. “We were 8-0,
then we get to the last two
weeks of the season and played
a little tougher competition,
but we didn’t play our best and
we ended on a sour note, being
up 36-7 and letting a team
COACH: Mike Fell
YEARS AT SCHOOL, RECORD: 3rd, 13-8
LAST YEAR’S RECORD: 8-3 (5-2 TRAC)
DIVISION: II, Region 6
RETURNING LETTERMEN: 18
RETURNING STARTERS: Darius Gordon (Sr., QB); Ruben Flowers
(Sr., WR); Rico Stafford (Sr., WR); Demontay Liles (Sr., WR); Eugene
Smart (Sr., DT); Joquavious Denson (Sr., DE);
OFFENSE: “The system,” spread
DEFENSE: 3-5
PLAYER TO WATCH: Wide receiver Ruben Flowers is a 6-foot-4
leaper who was a nightmare for opposing defensive backs. He was
first team all-state and has committed to Pittsburgh. Last year he
had 65 receptions for 1,314 yards and 13 TDs.
TOP NEWCOMERS: Keaton Upshaw (So., WR), Diamonte Fisher (Jr.,
DB), Keaton Towsey (So., G), Jaylin Thomas (Sr., LB), Miguel Clark
(Jr., LB).
LIMA SENIOR SCHEDULE
Richard
Parrish | The
Lima News
Aug. 29...................... at Middletown...........................................7 p.m.
Sept. 4....................... Marion Harding........................................7 p.m.
Sept. 11...................... at Piqua....................................................7 p.m.
Sept. 18..................... Toledo Whitmer........................................7 p.m.
Sept. 25..................... Fremont Ross...........................................7 p.m.
Oct. 2......................... Toledo St. Francis.....................................7 p.m.
Oct. 9......................... at Findlay..................................................7 p.m.
Oct. 16....................... Toledo St. John’s......................................7 p.m.
Oct. 23....................... at Oregon Clay..........................................7 p.m.
Oct. 30...................... at Toledo Central Catholic........................7 p.m.
(Harrison) come back and beat
us in the playoffs. That left a
bad taste in our mouth.”
Fell also felt last year gave
this team plenty to build on.
“I think they got a taste of
success last year, and they
liked it,” Fell said. “They want
to get back to it.”
A total of 10 starters return,
including four on offense.
Quarterback Gordon returns
after throwing for 3,011 yards,
with 36 TD passes and only six
interceptions.
His three top targets are
back, as well, including firstteam all-state Flowers, a 6-foot4 receiver who has committed
to Pittsburgh. Flowers had 65
receptions for 1,314 yards and
13 TDs.
Also back are 6-foot-5 receiver Stafford (23 receptions, 545
yards and 11 TDs) and receiver
Demontay Liles (35 receptions,
464 yards, 5 TDs).
The key to the offense will
be replacing all five starters
on the offensive line. The only
player who saw limited action
on the line last year is left
tackle junior Darius Collins
(6-3, 275).
“That’s a big-time concern,”
Fell said. “We have some skill
kids, if we have enough time to
get them the ball. … That offensive line is a work in progress.”
Taking over for tailback
Juniel Liles (1,319 yards, 20
TDs) will be a pair of defensive
backs from last year, sprinters
Jaden Walker (99 yards, 1 TD)
and B.J. Mays.
On defense, Eugene (E.J.)
Smart (5-10, 310) returns at
nose tackle. Joquavious Denson returns at end.
Linebackers Jaylin Thomas
and Miguel Clark will anchor
the five-man linebacking corps.
In the secondary, the junior
Walker moves from cornerback
to free safety. Walker had three
interceptions and 70 tackles
last year and was named third
team all-state.
Mays returns at cornerback
to give the defense six starters.
“We have to run to the ball
and be physical,” Fell said.
The high-flying, Spartans’
offense averaged 47 points and
gave up 28 a game last year.
“We feel real good about our
offensive group, as long as our
offensive line comes through
like we think they will,” Fell
said. “We put a lot of stock
in scoring a lot of points, but
we have to stop people on the
defensive side.”
Reach Tom Usher at tusher@civitasmedia.
com or on Twitter at @Lima_Usher.
Three Rivers Athletic Conference forecast
By Tom Usher
1. TOLEDO CENTRAL
CATHOLIC: The Irish (13-2,
7-0 TRAC) won the Division III state title last season
behind three 1,000-yard
rushers, quarterback Marcus
Winters and tailbacks Tre’Von
Wade and Michael Warren.
Winters is gone, but Wade
(1,670 yards, 27 TDs) and
Warren (2,055 yards, 26 TDs)
both return in the TCC’s runhappy offense. Warren was
first team all-TRAC.
2. TOLEDO WHITMER:
Whitmer (7-4, 5-2 TRAC)
handled Lima Senior 41-7
last season. Running back
Malik Moore and quarterback
Chase Bodeman are both
back. Bodeman ran for 155
yards on 11 carries against the
Spartans. Also back are first
team all-TRAC players tight
end Zamon Paris and lineman
Kobee Houghtlen. Moore was
second team all-TRAC.
3. LIMA SENIOR: The
Spartans (8-3, 5-3 TRAC)
need to replace their offensive line, but even with a new
line, this team should score
in bunches. Darius Gordon is
back at quarterback and will
throw to veterans Demontay
Liles, Rico Stafford and firstteam all-state Ruben Flowers.
4. FREMONT ROSS: Ross
(7-4, 5-2 TRAC) made the
playoffs last year, but gone
are quarterback Jalen Slick
and tailback Willie Arrington.
Among the returnees are
wide receiver Russ Yeast and
running back Tyler Grine.
Linebacker Tyler Schell was
second team all-TRAC.
5. TOLEDO ST. JOHN’S:
Lima Senior just held off St.
John’s (2-8, 2-5 TRAC) last
year in a shootout, 72-50.
Returning for St. John’s is its
quarterback, Matt Winzeler,
who completed 38 of 68 for
569 yards with five TDs
against the Spartans. His top
receiver, Max McMormick
(first team all-TRAC) is gone,
but wide receiver Bennett
Miller is back. Sean Rattay
(first team all-TRAC) will
anchor the offensive line. Tailback Tyler Turner returns to
lead the ground game.
6. FINDLAY: Findlay (6-4,
3-4 TRAC) returns its second
team all-TRAC running back
Emmanuel Mogolu, who ran
for 122 yards on 11 carries
with a 62-yard TD in a 56-17
loss to the Spartans last year.
Findlay graduated two first
team all-TRAC players on
defense in linebacker Sam
Siampaus and back Nick Kiffmeyer.
7. OREGON CLAY: Clay
went 2-8 (1-6 TRAC) last year
and graduated second team
all-TRAC tight end Blaze
Okey. Returning on defense
is second team all-TRAC back
Lorenzo Levally.
8. TOLEDO ST. FRANCIS:
St. Francis finished 1-9 last
year (0-7 TRAC), and that
was with first team all-TRAC
running back Lamar Carswell, who took the ball out
of the shotgun and seemed to
carry the ball on nearly every
play. Also gone is first team
all-TRAC offensive lineman
Andrew Dymarkowksi. First
team all-TRAC defensive back
Tevin Walker will lead the secondary.
2015 Lima Senior
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The Lima News
Thursday, August 27, 2015 3E
Bigger, stronger,
faster and closer
Weight rooms build teams
physically and mentally
By Jim Naveau
jnaveau@civitasmedia.com
Van Wert football coach
Keith Recker did not hesitate
when asked how weight training has affected high school
football. He knew exactly the
word he was looking for.
“It has had a profound
effect,” he said.
A look at football rosters
from every level of football —
pros, college and high school
— illustrates what weight training has done for athletes.
They are on average bigger,
stronger and faster at every
position at every level. And the
game itself is different, too.
When the Cleveland Browns
won the most recent championship by a Cleveland team in
1964, they had one starting
offensive lineman who weighed
more than 255 pounds. The
biggest starter on either side of
the ball was 270-pound defensive lineman Jim Kanicki.
At the high school level, in
Lima Senior coach Mike Fell’s
first year as a starter at quarterback there in 1977, the Spartans had only two players on
their roster who weighed more
than 200 pounds — linemen
Jim Endicott (211 pounds) and
Brent Fackler (210 pounds).
Last season’s 8-3 Lima
Senior team had 18 players on
its roster who weighed more
than 200 pounds, and two of
them checked in at more than
300 pounds.
“Back when we were in high
school, if you benched (bench
pressed) 200 pounds, you were
considered strong. The 200pound guys were considered
the strong guys on the team,”
Fell said. “Now if your wide
receivers don’t bench 200
pounds, people are like, ‘Those
guys aren’t very strong at all.’
Everybody benches 200 pounds
pretty much.
“I’ve got one guy who benches more than 400, and another
who does 315. Everybody is
basically between 200 and 300.
If you’re starting for us, you’re
probably benching more than
200 pounds and squatting more
than 300 pounds.”
Fell calls getting players
into the weight room the most
important thing in building a
football program. He emphasized it everywhere he has been
a head coach, starting in 1990
at Columbus Grove.
“That’s the No. 1 thing. My
very first head coaching job,
that was the No. 1 thing,” Fell
said.
Spencerville coach John
Zerbe rates the weight room as
just as significant as practices
and game planning in producing a winning football team.
“We can’t function without
strength. I would say it is
equally important as your practices, your game plans or the
systems you run. In fact, we
spend more time on that during a year than we do on the
football side of it,” he said.
“I talk to people who played
years ago who say they would
start getting in shape and lifting for football in July. In my
time, 20 years ago, maybe you
started in June. Now people
ask when does lifting start, and
I say January. That’s just the
way it is,” Zerbe said.
Speed, agility, mobility and
flexibility all can be increased,
though not multiplied, in the
weight room. But there are
limits.
“We try to get them to their
highest potential,” Recker said.
“But if you’re not made to run
a 4.6 in the 40-yard dash, we’re
not going to get you to a 4.6 in
the 40. Genetics and nutrition
are the two things we unfortunately can’t control.”
Almost universally, coaches
say the psychological benefits
of a good weight program with
a high participation level can
be as important, maybe more
important, as the physical
growth.
It is a team-building experience to work, stuggle and
sweat together. It’s a prod to
keep going when things get
tough in the fall.
“The most important thing
in the weight room is the camaraderie of the guys in there lifting. You build your team in the
winter and the summer with
the guys in there sweating and
working hard and helping each
other. When you get down to
it, that’s more important than
what you’re doing or how much
you’re lifting,” Fell said.
Zerbe said, “I think you
develop a work ethic. You kind
of learn to fight adversity.”
Lessons about fighting back
when things don’t go well on
the field can be learned in the
weight room, Recker said.
“Things are going to be
tough. You might screw up in
a game, and then how are you
going to respond? You’re going
to respond the same way as
when we were in the weight
room and you responded to
About
this section
ON THE COVER:
Andrew Nichols, a senior
at Columbus Grove, works
out with free weights in the
weight room in preparation
for the 2015 football
season.
COVER DESIGN:
Jayla Wallingford
COVER PHOTO:
Craig J. Orosz
EDITOR:
David Trinko
REPORTERS:
Mark Altstaetter, Ross
Bishoff, Jim Naveau, Tom
Usher, Mike Miller and Mike
Purdy.
PHOTOGRAPHERS:
Dean Brown, Craig J. Orosz,
Richard Parrish, Dennis
Saam, Don Speck, Amanda
Wilson.
Inside
FEATURES
Impact of weights / 3E
Players to watch / 1F
Rules changes / 3F
Things to watch / 3F
Weekly schedule / 12F
Craig J. Orosz | The Lima News
Members of the Columbus Grove football team work out in the school’s weight
room. Weight training helped players get bigger, stronger, faster and closer, area
coaches agreed.
help out your teammates,” he
said.
Weight training caught on in
the late 1960s and early 1970s
at the college level and worked
its way to the high school level.
“It was sometime in the ’80s,
I would guess,” Recker said
about when high schools began
to emphasize the weight room.
The two-time All-Ohio linebacker at Delphos St. John’s in
2000 and 2001, said, “When I
was growing up, my dad helped
Vic Whiting at St. John’s, and
he still says to this day that
it was the biggest reason St.
John’s got to where it is —
because Vic installed that idea
of weight lifting.
“Maybe some teams didn’t
buy into it, but I think it was
around that time it got huge.”
Boyd Epley, a University of
Nebraska pole vaulter, is credited by many people with making weight lifting part of the
training program for college
football programs.
Old-school Nebraska coach
Bob Devaney thought his teams
were getting pushed around
on the field in the late 1960s
and noticed players who had
lifted weights on their own with
Epley came back better than
they were before, according to a
recent ESPN.com story.
At the time, weightlifting
was thought to be something
for body builders, not athletes, by many coaches. Some
thought it would bulk players
up too much.
When Devaney agreed to let
Epley work with his players,
he reportedly said, “If anyone
gets slower, you’re fired.”
Nebraska won nine games
or more every year from 19692001 and became a dynasty.
Other teams copied what they
did.
Building new weight rooms
or upgrading existing high
school facilities has become
common in recent years with
football’s greater emphasis
on weight training and other
sports using it, too. Athletes
also have used private workout facilities and personal
trainers more.
“No matter what kind of
weight room you have, it’s
what you put into it in terms
of effort. But it helps when
you have nice facilities,”
Leipsic coach Andy Mangas
said. “You have room to put
everybody in there and the
kids get excited if you have
nice facilities.”
PREVIEWS
Midwest Athletic
Conference
Anna /11F
Coldwater / 7F
Delphos St. John’s / 8F
Fort Recovery / 11F
Marion Local / 7F
Minster / 7F
New Bremen / 7F
Parkway / 10F
St. Henry / 10F
Versailles / 11F
MAC Forecast/ 7F
Northwest Conference
Ada / 2F
Allen East / 2F
Bluffton / 4F
Columbus Grove / 5F
Crestview / 4F
Delphos Jefferson/ 8F
Paulding / 5F
Spencerville / 6F
NWC Forecast / 6F
Northwest Central
Conference
Perry / 9F
Upper Scioto Valley / 9F
Waynesfield-Goshen / 10F
NWCC Forecast / 9F
Three Rivers Athletic
Conference
Lima Senior / 2E
TRAC Forecast / 2E
Western Buckeye League
Bath / 5E
Celina / 9E
Defiance / 10E
Elida / 6E
Kenton / 5E
Ottawa-Glandorf / 7E
Shawnee / 8E
St. Marys / 9E
Van Wert / 10E
Wapakoneta / 11E
WBL Forecast / 11E
Others
Indian Lake / 11F
Leipsic / 10F
Lima Central Catholic / 4E
Pandora-Gilboa / 11F
Reach Jim Naveau at 567-242-0414 or on
Twitter at @Lima_Naveau.
“The most important thing in the weight room
is the camaraderie of the guys in there lifting.
You build your team in the winter and the
summer with the guys in there sweating and
working hard and helping each other.”
— Mike Fell
Lima Senior football coach
40784009
The Lima News
Lots of new faces in lineup for LCC
By Jim Naveau
LIMA — One of the
popular theories with some
coaches recently is to make
everything a competition
— every play in practice,
every repetition in the
weight room, everything.
But that might have
already been built into
Lima Central Catholic’s
football season, with 14
open positions in the starting lineup going into preseason practice.
The Thunderbirds, 8-3
a year ago, have returning
players at five positions on
offense and five on defense.
Six of those positions are
filled by returning two-way
starters.
“Last year when I came
in here, it was pretty obvious who our best 11 were
on both sides,” second-year
coach Scott Palte said.
“This year, we’ve had some
pretty intense competition.
Guys see there are opportunities to play.
“We’ve had a lot of competition, trying to find
guys. Like a lot of teams
right now, we’re still trying
to find out who’s playing
where. We think we’ve got
some good guys. Hopefully,
by Week 1 they’ll be ready
to go,” he said.
LCC will have to replace
six players who received
some type of All-Northwest
Ohio recognition from The
Associated Press, including linebacker Malik Laws,
who was a third-team Division VI All-Ohio player.
Quarterback Ethan
O’Connor (2,345 yards
passing, 829 yards rushing,
38 overall touchdowns)
leads the returning starters. He also starts at defensive back.
He has three returning
offensive linemen in front
of him — Jamison Bradley
(special mention All-Northwest Ohio), Tra Callahan
and Ryan Rhodes. But,
other than Nick Taflinger,
the wide receivers will
all be new. Replacements
will have to be found for
Dimitri Floyd (first-team
All-Northwest Ohio) and
Cameron White (secondteam All-Northwest Ohio)
in LCC’s spread offense.
Bradley and Callahan
also are returning starters
on the defensive line, and
linebackers Tate Lamb and
Vinny Pignataro were starters a year ago.
“We’re going to rely on
Ethan to run and throw the
ball. We think we’ve got
some pretty decent targets.
Nick Taflinger is a threeyear letterman. Thomas
Williams is back out as a
junior and he’s a big target
and can catch the ball. We
think we have some speed
and some athletes who can
catch the ball,” Palte said.
“I think we’ve thrown the
ball pretty well in practice.
On defense, we’ve got to
improve our tackling and
our physicality up front
has to improve both ways.
We’ve got some guys who
we think can do that. We
need some guys to grow
up for us. We’ve got some
players,” he said.
Some of those players
might have to come from
the sophomore class. LCC
has nine seniors and only
five juniors on its roster.
“You’re going to have to
have some sophomore guys
who are going to step up
and play. There are lots of
new faces when you’ve only
got five guys back on each
side,” Palte said.
Reach Jim Naveau at 567-242-0414 or
on Twitter at @Lima_Naveau.
LIMA CENTRAL CATHOLIC OUTLOOK
COACH: Scott Palte
YEARS AT SCHOOL, RECORD: 2nd; 8-3
DIVISION:VI, Region 22
RETURNING STARTERS: Ethan O’Connor QB/DB; Nick
Taflinger WR/DB; Jamison Bradley OL/DL; Tra Callahan OL/
DL; Ryan Rhodes OL/DL; Tate Lamb RB/LB; Vinny Pignataro
WR/LB
OFFENSE: Spread
DEFENSE: 4-3
PLAYER TO WATCH: Quarterback Ethan O’Connor threw
for more than 1,700 yards last season and was one of the
Thunderbirds’ top running threats.
TOP NEWCOMERS: Joey Watkins OL/DL; Thomas Williams
WR/DB; Ben Knapke OL/DL; Anthony Venturella QB/DB;
Connor Bowker OL/DL; Matthew Heider RB/LB; Salim Martin
OL/DL; Sammy Santaguida OL/LB; Logan Shultz RB/DL;
Brendan Stolly QB/DB
Richard Parrish | The Lima News
LIMA CENTRAL CATHOLIC SCHEDULE
Aug. 28...................................at Elida.......................................................... 7 p.m.
Sept. 4....................................at Delphos St. John’s...............................7:30 p.m.
Sept. 11...................................at Ada............................................................ 7 p.m.
Sept. 19..................................Edgewood..................................................... 7 p.m.
Sept. 26..................................Toledo Rogers............................................... 7 p.m.
Oct. 3......................................Woodlan (Indiana)........................................ 7 p.m.
Oct. 9......................................at Bishop Ready............................................ 7 p.m.
Oct. 16....................................at Bluffton (Indiana)..................................... 7 p.m.
Oct. 23....................................at Bishop Hartley.......................................... 7 p.m.
Oct. 30...................................Wayne Trace.................................................. 7 p.m.
*Home games played at Spartan Stadium
Ethan O’Connor scrambles
for yards against Columbus
Grove during last year’s game.
O’Connor has three returning
linemen in front of him, but
many of the Thunderbirds’
starters will be new this year.
2015 LCC
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The Lima News
Bath will rely heavily on defense in 2015
By Jim Naveau
Kyle Lhamon (33) leads
an experienced defensive
front seven back for
Bath this season. “We
feel to take the next step
around here, we’ve got
to be good on defense,”
coach Bill Garland said.
BATH TOWNSHIP – Both
the emphasis and much of
the experience will be on the
defensive side of the ball for
Bath’s football team this year.
“We’ve put a big emphasis
on defense. We feel to take
the next step around here,
we’ve got to be good on
defense,” coach Bill Garland
said.
“We put a lot of our better
players on defense, and we’re
looking for that group to lead
us. If the defense is playing
well, we’ll have a chance to
win every game,” he said.
“Our defensive front seven is
the most experienced (position group) on the football
team. We’re looking for those
guys to lead us on defense.”
The Wildcats, 4-6 overall
and 4-5 in the Western Buckeye League last season, have
been 4-6 both of Garland’s
two seasons as head coach.
They will be looking to go
over the .500 mark overall
and in the WBL for the first
time since 2003.
Bath’s defense will have
six of last year’s top 10 tacklers back this season, led
by defensive lineman Kyle
Lhamon, a second-team AllWestern Buckeye League
selection a year ago, who was
second on the team with 79
tackles.
Linebacker Bo Gross (70
tackles), linebacker Dylan
Burkholder (59 tackles)
and defensive lineman Tyler
BATH OUTLOOK
Dennis Saam | The Lima News
Shobe (57 tackles) are among
10 overall returning starters
for the Wildcats.
Chase Clark, who led Bath
in rushing with 414 yards
last season, veteran offensive
linemen like Easton Rudasill,
Billy Nichols, Tyler Shobe
and Burkholder at tight end
are back. Sullivan, Clark,
Gross and Tre Terry all could
get carries in the running
game.
The passing game will be
led by a new quarterback and
new receivers.
Kaden Sullivan, a junior
who rushed for 141 yards as a
tailback in the season opener
against Lima Central Catholic
last season, will take over at
quarterback. He spent most
of last season injured, missed
three games and completed
4 of 7 passes for 21 yards in
limited time at QB last year.
Last season’s top three pass
catchers graduated, and no
returning player had more
than six receptions in 2014.
Jordan Berens, Logan Shafer,
Andy Ducker, Elijah Mather
and Burkholder could be Sullivan’s top targets.
From 2013 to 2014, the
Wildcats lowered their defensive average and cut down
on turnovers. One of the
goals this year is to be better
finishers in close games. Two
of last year’s losses were to
a pair of playoff teams, by
five points to Lima Central
Catholic and by six points to
Kenton.
Reach Jim Naveau at 567-242-0414 or on
Twitter at @Lima_Naveau.
COACH: Bill Garland
YEARS AT SCHOOL, RECORD: 3rd;
8-12
DIVISION:IV, Region 12
RETURNING STARTERS: Chase Clark
RB/DB; Ryan Kalb WR/DB; Dylan
Burkholder TE/LB; Kaden Sullivan
QB/LB; Kyle Lhamon RB/DL; Garrett
Norton K; Bo Gross RB/LB; Tyler Shobe
OL/DL; Billy Nichols OL/DL; Easton
Rudasill OL/DL
OFFENSE: Multiple
DEFENSE: 4-3
PLAYER TO WATCH: Junior
quarterback Kaden Sullivan will take
over that job after playing running back
last season.
TOP NEWCOMERS: Jon Lieurance
OL/DL; Kobe Burchett QB/WR/DB;
Jordan Berens WR/DL
BATH SCHEDULE
Aug. 28..... Delphos St. John’s......7 p.m.
Sept. 4...... at Ottawa-Glandorf....7 p.m.
Sept. 11..... Celina..........................7 p.m.
Sept. 18.... at Defiance.................7 p.m.
Sept. 25.... Wapakoneta................7 p.m.
Oct. 2........ at St. Marys................7 p.m.
Oct. 9........ at Van Wert.................7 p.m.
Oct. 16...... Shawnee.....................7 p.m.
Oct. 23...... at Kenton....................7 p.m.
Oct. 30..... Elida............................7 p.m.
Depleted Kenton still aims high
By Mark Altstaetter
KENTON OUTLOOK
TLNSports@civitasmedia.com
COACH: Brent Fackler
YEARS AT SCHOOL, RECORD: 2, 11-3
LAST YEAR’S RECORD: 11-3, 8-1 in
Western Buckeye League (second),
state semifinalist
DIVISION: IV, Region 12
RETURNING STARTERS: Trent Hites
(QB, Jr.), Trey Reichelderfer (WR, Sr.),
Tyler Heintz (OT, Jr.), Chris Deardorff
(WR, Jr.), Aarin Tillman (DL, Sr.), Devin
McGrath (DB, Sr.), Austin Buroker (DB,
Jr.)
OFFENSE: Spread
DEFENSE: Multiple
PLAYER TO WATCH: Trent Hites is
coming off a stellar sophomore season
at quarterback. Now a junior, Hites will
be expected to lead the Kenton offense
once again.
TOP NEWCOMERS: Senior Trey
Reichelderfer and junior Chris
Deardorff will be looked upon to be
the main wide receivers for Hites this
season.
KENTON SCHEDULE
Aug. 28..... at Coldwater..........7:30 p.m.
Sept. 4...... Defiance......................7 p.m.
Sept. 11..... at Wapakoneta............7 p.m.
Sept. 18.... St. Marys.....................7 p.m.
Sept. 25.... at Van Wert.................7 p.m.
Oct. 2........ Shawnee.....................7 p.m.
Oct. 9........ Ottawa-Glandorf........7 p.m.
Oct. 16...... at Elida........................7 p.m.
Oct. 23...... Bath............................7 p.m.
Oct. 30..... at Celina......................7 p.m.
KENTON – It’s always
tough to duplicate a very
successful season.
For Kenton, which returns
just seven starters from a
team that went 11-3 (8-1
Western Buckeye League)
and were Division IV state
semifinalists, getting back
to the same place it was last
season will be a lofty challenge.
“I’ve been coaching
here since 1985 (second
year as head coach), and I
can’t remember ever having seven starters coming
back. … It’s going to be
interesting,” Kenton coach
Brent Fackler said. “We will
have a lot of sophomores
and juniors starting for us
this year. Usually, we have
seniors coming back, who
have played a lot and have
matured for a couple years.
“I know the other teams
in the WBL know we are
down a little, so they aren’t
going to feel sorry for us.
I’m hoping the Friday night
lights and all the tradition
will motivate them.”
For years, the quarterback
position has been the focal
point for Kenton. This season will be no different.
Junior Trent Hites (5-9,
170) returns at quarterback
for the Wildcats. During
the regular season in 2014,
Hites passed for 2,647 yards
(first in WBL), 19 touchdowns (second) and 13
interceptions.
However, two of Hites’
main targets are gone. Kollin Stollar (65 catches, 804
yards, 8 TDs) and Colyn
Blackford (93 catches, 1,117
yards, 11 TDs) have graduated.
“Trent threw for a lot of
yards last season,” Fackler
said. “Last year, he pretty
much found those two
(Blackford and Stollar)
open and got them the ball.
This season, he will need to
make his reads a lot quicker.
I think this will make him a
better quarterback.”
Not only did the Wildcats
lose Stollar and Blackford,
but wideouts Conner Jones
and Luke Jackson are gone.
Looking to play a lot of time
at wide receiver this season
are Trey Reichelderfer (5-9,
165, Sr.), Chris Deardorff
(5-10, 160, Jr.), Blake
Swearengin (6-1, 170, Jr.)
and Hunter Phillips (6-3,
185, Jr.).
Also, four of Kenton’s
offensive linemen have graduated. The only returner
on the line is junior Tyler
Heintz (6-4, 275).
Kenton’s Trent Hites looks for a receiver during a playoff game last year.
Hites will be asked to make his reads more quickly this season and
distribute the ball to a variety of unproven receivers.
On defense, Kenton will
need to fill several voids.
Last season’s defensive unit
was one of the best in Kenton history. The Wildcats
allowed just 11.2 points
and 221.3 yards per game
(both second in the WBL).
Senior Aarin Tillman (5-11,
275) is the only starter back
from the front seven. Senior
Devin McGrath (5-11, 175)
and junior Austin Buroker
(6-1, 185) shared a cornerback position last year and
look to be the leaders this
season in the secondary.
“We don’t have a lot of
those big guys this season.
But I think so far they have
done a good job of flying to
the football,” Fackler said.
Fackler said his team will
need to come out strong
and take it one week at a
time.
“We really don’t have a
rivalry game. I think every
week, teams want to come
in and knock us off. You
have to be ready to play
every Friday night,” he said.
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The Lima News
Elida aiming to compete in WBL
By Mark Altstaetter
ELIDA — Turnovers
can hurt a team.
Just ask Elida coach
Jason Carpenter.
In 2014, Elida (4-6,
4-5 Western Buckeye
League) turned the football over 18 times.
This season, the Bulldogs are hoping to clean
up the turnovers and
work their way back into
the WBL title race.
However, along with
cleaning up the turnovers, Elida will have to
fill some voids left from
the graduation of several
key players.
“We lost nine seniors
from last year. Most
significant, we lost five
of our defensive guys,”
Carpenter said. “We have
some voids we have to
fill, but the young guys
stepped up last year in
the second half of the
year, like we needed them
to. We turned the ball
over way too much last
season. We need to sure
that up.”
Returning at quarterback for Elida is senior
Logan Alexander (6-0,
200). Last season, Alexander was 114 of 208
passing for 1,545 yards,
12 touchdowns and 10
interceptions. He also
rushed for 1,102 yards
and 14 TDs (second in
the WBL). Alexander
was named WBL Offensive Back of the Year in
2014.
“We have to know
our assignments and be
fundamentally sound,”
Alexander said.
“Last year we had some
assignment busts that
lost us those close games.
We have to make sure we
finish games. I think all of
our losses were less than
seven (points) except for
one.”
Gone from last year’s
offense are two key wide
receivers. Clark Etzler
(40 catches, 601 yards,
7 TDs) is now playing
at Mount Union. Also,
Christian Moran (33
catches, 418 yards, 1 TD)
has moved on.
“It kind of goes to our
philosophy of how we
lost (quarterback) Reggie
(McAdams) and (wide
receiver) Austin (Clark)
in the same year (after
2011 season),” Carpenter
said. “It’s not that we’re
counting on just one guy.
Don Speck | The Lima News
Elida quarterback Logan Alexander, center, is back for his senior year. Last year he threw for 1,545 yards and rushed for 1,102 more on his way to becoming the Western
Buckeye League’s Offensive Back of the Year.
It’s when you’re losing
good athletes, you take
a couple and have them
combine to replace them.
It’s not like we’re asking
one guy to do what Clark
(Etzler) did. … It’s impossible. We’re going to ask
a couple guys to do what
Clark did.”
Last season, Elida
scored 26.3 points per
game. And like last season, the Bulldogs will
run the spread offense in
2015.
“Offensively, we’ve got
a lot coming back,” Carpenter said. “We return
nine starters, four of
which are on the offensive line. So, that’s got
to be the strength of our
team, the offensive line.”
Returners on the offensive line include center
Tristan Edwards (6-0,
240, Sr.), tackle Noah
Meeker (6-0, 235, Jr.),
guard Tyler Kanitz (5-9,
200, Sr.) and tackle Dylan
Holcomb (5-8, 175, Sr.).
Defensively, the Bulldogs return a lot. However, according to Carpenter, the defense still has
a way to go. Last season,
Elida’s defense gave up
24.4 points per game.
“Midway through last
season, we changed philosophies and switched to
a 3-3-5. …We’re going to
stick to a 3-3-5,” Carpenter said. “We have a lot
of guys back, but we still
have a lot of sophomores
and juniors out there on
defense. So, we’re young
on defense, but we’re
very talented on defense.
So, the good news is that
we’re young, and the bad
news is that we’re young.
But, I like the makeup of
our defense right now.
They fire out and get to
the ball and they’re going
to try to create turnovers,
which is something we
haven’t done very well in
the past.
“Our defense came up
with its own goals this
year. They want to come
up with three turnovers
a game. That’s a big
number, but I encourage
that. … If we’re getting
three turnovers a game,
then we’re going to win
the turnover battle. I’m
hoping that our defense
really steps up, like I
think they will.”
Last season, Elida
forced 14 turnovers.
Carpenter feels that the
WBL will be very competitive this season.
“O-G, on paper, is probably one of the favorites.
Kenton is always going
to be good. I think (head
coach) Doug Frye is
going to do a good job of
resurrecting St. Marys
football. Wapak is going
to be good because they
are big and mean. …
They’re just tough. So,
those are the teams that
really stick out. It’s going
to be tough. … Every
week’s going to be a
battle,” he said.
ELIDA OUTLOOK
COACH: Jason Carpenter
LAST YEAR’S RECORD: 4-6, 4-5 Western Buckeye
League
DIVISION: III, Region 8
RETURNING STARTERS: Brian Upshaw (WR, Sr.), Cole
Harmon (RB/WR, Sr.), Logan Alexander (QB, Sr.), Kiah
Russell (LB, Jr.), Baylen Stinson (DE, Jr.), Peyton Smith
(CB, Jr.), Noah Mosley (TE, Jr.), Danielle Lowe (LB, So.),
Tristan Edwards (C, Sr.), Dylan Holcomb (T, Sr.), Michael
Purdy (DE, So.), Tyler Kanitz (G, Sr.), Noah Meeker (T, Jr.)
OFFENSE: Spread
DEFENSE: 3-3-5
PLAYER TO WATCH: Logan Alexander returns at
quarterback. Last season, Alexander was second in the
WBL in rushing and was named WBL Offensive Back of
the Year.
ELIDA SCHEDULE
Aug. 28..............Lima Central Catholic....................7 p.m.
Sept. 4...............at Celina.........................................7 p.m.
Sept. 11..............Defiance.........................................7 p.m.
Sept. 18.............at Wapakoneta...............................7 p.m.
Sept. 25.............at St. Marys....................................7 p.m.
Oct. 2.................Van Wert.........................................7 p.m.
Oct. 9.................at Shawnee....................................7 p.m.
Oct. 16...............Kenton............................................7 p.m.
Oct. 23...............Ottawa-Glandorf............................7 p.m.
Oct. 30..............at Bath............................................7 p.m.
2015 Elida
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The Lima News
Titans looking to return to postseason
By Mark Altstaetter
OTTAWA-GLANDORF
OUTLOOK
OTTAWA – Making the postseason
playoffs has been the norm for the Ottawa-Glandorf football program.
However, the past two seasons, the
Titans have found themselves watching
from the sidelines as they just missed
making the playoffs. Previous to missing the playoffs the past two campaigns,
O-G made it to the postseason eight
consecutive seasons.
Last season, despite going 8-2 in the
regular season, O-G failed to make the
playoffs.
“Our seniors have a bad taste in their
mouths after going 8-2 last year and
not making the playoffs,” longtime O-G
coach Ken Schriner said. “Here’s the
hardest part for me – standing up in
front of the team at the end of the year
and saying, ‘You went 8-2, but goodbye.’
That was tough. … It was really tough
on the group that we lost. Last year, we
felt like we could get things going, but
our region was really tough. We’re hoping to improve on that this season.”
The Titans, who went 7-2 in the
Western Buckeye League last season,
return just five starters (three offense,
two defense).
Despite losing a slew of starters,
Schriner has confidence in his players
this season.
“We have a lot of guys that might
not have been starters but have a lot of
experience,” Schriner said. “We have
guys who started a couple games here
and there, due to injury, and maybe
moved around to different positions and
things like that. But all together, offensively and defensively, we have a number of guys with a lot of experience.”
One of the key returners for the
Titans is senior wide receiver/defensive
end Logan McDermott (6-3, 205).
“(Going) 8-2 and not making the
playoffs — and plus having a two-year
streak of not making the playoffs — is
not very common here,” McDermott
said. “So, we’re really looking to break
Ottawa-Glandorf returns only two starters to its defense, but coach Ken Schriner said many of his
players are ready for the challenge.“We lost a lot of those guys who were key components. But this
is a group that has been waiting their turn, and hopefully we can use that to our advantage,” he said.
that streak this year and have a good
season. Going 8-2 last year and not
making the playoffs was rough, but
we have to put it in the past and work
harder to be better this year.”
Last season, McDermott made 10
catches for 68 yards and one touchdown. Coming out of the backfield,
McDermott rushed for 457 yards and
four TDs.
Returning at quarterback is senior
Zac Unterbrink. In 2014, Unterbrink
passed for 1,956 yards and 20 TDs.
Unterbrink led the team in rushing with
508 yards, while hitting pay dirt four
times on the ground.
“We’ve got athletic kids,” Schriner
said. “Zac (Unterbrink) is making good
decisions. He’s a 4.0 student and a good
kid. And we’re going to take advantage
of him.
“We lost a lot of those guys who were
key components. But this is a group
that has been waiting their turn, and
hopefully we can use that to our advantage. We’re not the biggest, but our
kids are working hard. They’re going to
have to be technique-sound to compete.
That’s the goal, to go out and compete.”
Last season, the Titans’ offense ran
out of the spread. And this season looks
to be no different.
“We’re going to try to run the ball
more. I guess I’m a stubborn mule,”
Schriner said. “I want to run it more.
So, we’ve put some things in to try to
run it more. But, we will be running out
of the spread.”
O-G will be looking to fill a void in
the backfield. Gone from last season is
running back Kyle Niese (365 yards, 9
TDs).
Players in the mix for a spot in the
backfield are Daniel Beemer (5-10, 175,
Soph.), Connor Niese (6-0, 170, Sr.)
and Jordan Diemer (5-11, 175, Sr.)
Defensively, O-G will implement multiple three- and four-man fronts.
COACH: Ken Schriner
YEARS AT SCHOOL, RECORD: 20,
141-71
LAST YEAR’S RECORD: 8-2, 7-2
Western Buckeye League (third)
RETURNING STARTERS: Zac
Unterbrink (QB, Sr.), Aaron Rieman
(OL, Sr.), Bryce Utrup (LB, Sr.), Noah
Recker (LB, Sr.), Trevor Rieman (OL, Jr.)
OFFENSE: Spread
DEFENSE: Multiple three- and fourman fronts
PLAYER TO WATCH: Zac Unterbrink,
returning starting quarterback, will be
the focal point for the O-G offense. Last
season, Unterbrink was second in the
WBL in passing (1,956 yards, 20 TDs, 6
interceptions).
TOP NEWCOMERS: Jordan Diemer
(5-11, 175, Sr.) looks to get some
carries out of the backfield this season.
On defense, keep an eye on Jack
Cavanaugh (5-8, 170, Sr.), who should
get plenty of time at a linebacker spot.
OTTAWA-GLANDORF
SCHEDULE
Aug. 28..... Oak Harbor.................7 p.m.
Sept. 4...... Bath............................7 p.m.
Sept. 11..... at Van Wert.................7 p.m.
Sept. 18.... at Celina......................7 p.m.
Sept. 25.... Shawnee.....................7 p.m.
Oct. 2........ Defiance......................7 p.m.
Oct. 9........ at Kenton....................7 p.m.
Oct. 16...... Wapakoneta................7 p.m.
Oct. 23...... at Elida........................7 p.m.
Oct. 30..... St. Marys.....................7 p.m.
In 2014, O-G gave up 14.3 points per
game. The Titans scored 30.3 points
per game.
Schriner feels the WBL will be good
from top to bottom.
“You have to be ready every Friday
night,” he said.
2015 Ottawa-Glandorf
TITANS
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The Lima News
Shawnee’s Griffin Hites takes a hit during a 2013 game against Wapakoneta. Now a senior, Hites has a “football intelligence” that is “the highest it can be at a high school level,” new coach Jon Carpenter said
of his quarterback.
Carpenter anxious to tackle challenge at Shawnee
By Tom Usher
SHAWNEE TOWNSHIP –
On the walls of the Shawnee
football meeting room are a
number framed pictures.
One is new Shawnee coach
Jon Carpenter’s brother,
Bobby Carpenter, in a Dallas
Cowboys’ uniform.
Another is Jon’s dad, Rob
Carpenter, plowing through
the line for the New York
Giants.
One more shows his brother, Nathan, playing for Ohio
University.
Jon Carpenter has been
around football all his life, as
he played at Cincinnati and
was a grad assistant there.
He was also the offensive
line coach at Northern Colorado, a defensive assistant at
Notre Dame and a defensive
graduate assistant at Ohio
State last year.
Carpenter realizes the
challenge he has entering a
program that went 2-8 last
year.
“We’ve tried to connect
New Shawnee coach Jon Carpenter
with every single play here,
individually,” Carpenter said.
“That’s why the coaches here
were hired. They’re here
to build relationships with
every player. That’s why
I’m here. That’s what I love
to do. … That’s how I was
born and raised, coach and
develop young kids with the
game of football.”
Part of what Carpenter
preaches is chemistry.
“We’ve tried to be creative
to get into their hearts and
minds,” Carpenter said.
“Obviously, it’s new and
change, and people are hesitant to change. You have to
make the connection with
them, and then we can start
building the team from
there. We’ve made strides,
but there’s a long way to go.
There’s a lot of potential
here.”
The Indians return five
starters on offense, including
5-foot-10, 200-pound quarterback Griffin Hites.
“Griffin is an extremely
gifted young man,” Carpenter said. “His intelligence
level, for a high school football player, is extremely high.
His FBI, football intelligence,
is the highest it can be at a
high school level.”
Other returnees on offense
are linemen Austin Allison
and Jordan Tavarnak. Mitchell Shirk saw action on the
line, as well.
Gone is tailback Angelo
Fox. Carpenter said he isn’t
sure who will take over the
bulk of the running chores.
Among the players in the
mix are Noah Hanjora and
Spencer Jordan.
Also back was wide receiver Grant Wheeler.
Offensively, Carpenter will
seek balance between the
run and the pass.
“We want one (an offense)
that gets first downs,” Carpenter said. “We’re going to
run and we’re going to pass.
… I’d say it’s a West Coast,
pro-style offense. I’d like a
balance.”
On defense, the Indians
return backs Dylan Askins
and Zach Casey and Tovarnak and Rakim Hawthorne
on the line. Hanjora saw
action in the secondary.
Jordan returns at linebacker.
Carpenter didn’t mention
any specific number of victories, but he does expect a
few things from his team.
“I want them to come
together as a team,” Carpenter said. “I want them to play
and fight for four quarters.
That’s what I’d love to see
from these kids.”
Reach Tom Usher at tusher@
civitasmedia.com or on Twitter at @
Lima_Usher.
SHAWNEE OUTLOOK
COACH: Jon Carpenter
YEARS AT SCHOOL: First year
LAST YEAR’S RECORD: 2-8 (2-7 WBL)
RETURNING STARTERS: Griffin
Hites (Sr., QB); Austin Allison (Sr.,
OL); Jordan Tovarnak (Sr., OL); Grant
Wheeler (So., WR/DB); Dylan Askins
(Sr., DB); Zach Casey (Sr., DB); Rakim
Hawthorne (Jr., DL); Spencer Jordan
(Jr., LB).
OFFENSE: Multiple looks, West Coast
pro style
DEFENSE: Multiple looks
PLAYER TO WATCH: Veteran QB
Griffin Hites will be the focus of the
offense.
SHAWNEE SCHEDULE
Aug. 28..... Delphos Jefferson......7 p.m.
Sept. 4...... Wapakoneta................7 p.m.
Sept. 11..... at St. Marys................7 p.m.
Sept. 18.... Van Wert.....................7 p.m.
Sept. 25.... at Ottawa-Glandorf....7 p.m.
Oct. 2........ at Kenton....................7 p.m.
Oct. 9........ Elida............................7 p.m.
Oct. 16...... at Bath........................7 p.m.
Oct. 23...... Celina..........................7 p.m.
Oct. 30..... at Defiance.................7 p.m.
2015 Shawnee
INDIANS
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CELINA OUTLOOK
COACH: Trent Temple
YEARS AT SCHOOL, RECORD: Third,
12-8
LAST YEAR’S RECORD: 5-5 overall,
4-5 WBL
RETURNING STARTERS: Caleb Hoyng
(QB, Sr.), Garrett Wingett (RB, Sr.), CJ
Kimmel (OL, Sr.), Mitch Mabry (OL/DL,
Sr.), Zach Rieger (OL, Sr.), Jacob Stolly
(WR/DB, Sr.), Justin Keeling (DB, Sr.),
Zack Marks (LB, Sr.), Ryan Harter (DB,
Jr.).
OFFENSE: Spread
DEFENSE: 4-2
PLAYER TO WATCH: Hoyng returns
for his third season under center. The
6-4, 220-pound senior was lights out
his sophomore year but the offense
struggled last season with a young
offensive line and not much running
game. Scheme changes and a new
mentality could help benefit Hoyng’s
numbers tremendously.
TOP NEWCOMERS: Ian Hawkins, a
6-0, 280-pound sophomore will anchor
a young but stout defensive line.
CELINA SCHEDULE
Aug. 28..... at Versailles...........7:30 p.m.
Sept. 4...... Elida............................7 p.m.
Sept. 11..... at Bath........................7 p.m.
Sept. 18.... Ottawa-Glandorf........7 p.m.
Sept. 25.... Defiance......................7 p.m.
Oct. 2........ at Wapakoneta............7 p.m.
Oct. 9........ St. Marys.....................7 p.m.
Oct. 16...... at Van Wert.................7 p.m.
Oct. 23...... at Shawnee.................7 p.m.
Oct. 30..... Kenton........................7 p.m.
Celina toughens up for 2015
By Ross Bishoff
CELINA – Yes, Celina is still running
a spread offense.
No, under no circumstances should
that be synonymous with words like
“finesse” or “soft.”
At least that’s the message third-year
coach Trent Temple has been drilling
into his team. The former defensive
coach and his staff have made it a priority to make the Celina football program
tough, physical and attacking.
“Our biggest problem is we have
not been as physical a football team,”
Temple said. “We’re slowly gaining the
mentality that just because we’re in the
spread doesn’t mean we can’t be physical. We’re starting to find that, and the
kids are buying into it.”
In Temple’s first season at the helm,
the team went 7-3 behind an offense
that lit up the scoreboard. But a young
offensive line contributed to struggles
last year, and the team fell to 5-5.
This season, Celina’s offense has
changed things schematically on the
line and worked hard to toughen up.
“They’re developing toughness,”
Temple said. “Everybody thinks because
we’re in a spread it’s more of a finesse
offense, but that’s the mentality we’re
trying to get away from.”
With former offensive coordinator
Jay Imwalle taking the head basketball
coaching job, Temple switched his
focus from the defense to working more
with the offense. His biggest goal has
been to improve the group’s aggressiveness. He said the team revamped the
offense to be more “downhill.” While
it will remain in the spread, if the team
can run it 25 times a game, it will; if it
wants to pass more, that’s fine also.
“We’re trying to develop that mentality I had on defense, that we’re going
to dictate to you what you can’t do
defensively,” he said. “We’re not going
to sit back and wait for you to come at
us, we’re going to attack at all different
angles.”
That has to be music to the ears of
senior quarterback Caleb Hoyng (6-4,
220) in his third year as the starter. As
a sophomore, Hoyng had a breakout
season, but he and the offense struggled
last year, finishing second to last in
total offense in the WBL with 250.7
yards per game and scoring 21.9 points
a game.
Hoyng finished with 1,341 passing
yards, 10 touchdowns and eight interceptions.
“His sophomore year, we had a really
good offensive line and some skilled
players who really helped him,” Temple
said. “Last year, I know, was frustrating
for him at times. But going into this
year, he’s taking more of a leadership
role. Being a senior, he’s making sure
those little things are being done correctly on the line. He’s matured that
way as far as being a leader and keeping
those guys upbeat.”
Seniors CJ Kimmel (6-2, 220), Mitch
Mabry (6-1, 205) and Zach Rieger
(5-11, 210) along with junior Kent Jutte
(5-8, 177) will anchor the offensive line.
Garrett Wingett (5-8, 170) will lead the
running back corps. Senior Jacob Stolly
(5-10, 160) and sophomore Kole Murlin
(6-0, 165) will be two of the top receivers.
Defensively, the Bulldogs are young
but brimming with potential, especially up front, where sophomore Ian
Hawkins is a 6-foot, 280-pound load at
defensive tackle. He’s joined by freshman Seth Huston (5-10, 230) and outside linebacker Murlin.
Temple said early in the season the
young players will probably show some
inexperience, but he believes they’ll
mature quickly.
“A lot of times you play sophomores
because that’s all you got in those
positions,” Temple said. “In this case,
they’ve beaten people out. We’re going
to play the best we’ve got whether it’s a
freshman or not. They’re going to make
mistakes, but they’re going to make
them playing hard, I know that. I’m anxious to see what they do out there.”
Zack Marks (5-8, 150) will also play
linebacker along with Mabry on the
defensive line. Defensive backs include
seniors Justin Keeling (5-11, 175) and
Stolly with junior Ryan Harter (5-9,
165).
“There’s some skill positions we’re
not very deep at, but if we stay healthy,
we’ve got a chance to be playing for
something Week 10,” Temple said. “It’s
about staying healthy and going out
each week and competing. If we do that,
I like our chances.”
Roughriders ready to build on last year’s turnaround
By Ross Bishoff
ST. MARYS OUTLOOK
St. Marys hopes to build on its 2014 turnaround season, when enthusiasm and fundamentals were keys to rebuilding
the football program under returning coach Doug Frye.
have taken a step forward.
“Really, I always thought
there were the same type
of kids at St. Marys. They
really hadn’t changed. We
just needed to get back to the
point where we were doing
things in a more solid way. I
know that at least we made
our kids believe again they
had a chance in every game.”
According to Frye, his
team this season will be
junior-dominated in a
senior-dominated league.
The offense, which led the
WBL in total offense (366.2
yards per game) and rushing
offense (303.1), lost fullback
Isaac Fitzgerald (159 yards
per game) and two hefty linemen in tackle Sean Bowen
(6-0, 290 pounds) and tight
end Quinn Zaerr (6-5, 260).
“We lost size on the offensive line and a good fullback,”
Frye said. “We’re not real big
in the trenches, and we’re not
deep in our senior class.”
But the Roughriders should
make up for that with speed,
toughness and a great work
ethic. And the returnees are
solid players.
On offense, junior Dustin
Howell is back to quarterback
the Wing-T, while a committee will make up the backfield. Senior Logan Maze and
junior Eric Spicer will handle
the halfback duties, while
sophomore Bo Kuenning
will take over as the fullback.
As a freshman, Kuenning
broke onto the scene with a
190-yard game in a win over
Celina. This year, he’s up to
6-1, 210 pounds.
Senior tackle Zach Elshoff
(5-11, 235) and senior guard
Aaron Alexander (5-11, 185)
are the building blocks on the
offensive line.
On the other side of the
ball, St. Marys has worked
hard to improve a defense
that allowed 26.9 points per
game and 324.1 yards per
game.
Senior Dane Chisholm
(6-0, 215) moved from center
to nose guard, senior Chase
Roop (5-11, 185) will be an
inside linebacker and junior
Julius Fisher will be an outside linebacker. Senior Austin Tester (5-11, 175) leads
the defensive backfield.
“We’re not deep in returnees, but we have some guys
we can build around,” Frye
said. “The big emphasis
for us was we had a young
coaching staff, and we
really wanted to solidify our
defense.
“Our kids worked extremely hard in the offseason. That
was one of the trademarks we
had before when I was here.
We might not match up with
you athletically at all times,
but our kids would work
extremely hard.”
COACH: Doug Frye
YEARS AT SCHOOL, RECORD:
Second year since return to St. Marys,
5-5; 28 years as a head coach, 191-107.
4-5 WBL
RETURNING STARTERS: Zach Elshoff
(OT, Sr.), Eric Spicer (RB/DB, Jr.),
Chase Roop (LB, Sr.), Logan Maze (LB/
RB, Sr.), Bo Kuenning (RB, Soph.),
Austin Tester (DB/RB, Sr.), Dustin
Howell (QB/DB, Jr.), Julius Fisher
(LB, Jr.), Dane Chisholm (DL, Sr.),
Matt Patten (LB, Jr.), Levi Ginter (OG,
Sr.), Aaron Alexander (OG, Sr.), Seth
Vorhees (SE/TE, Jr.), Randy Slife (SE,
Sr.).
OFFENSE: Wing-T
DEFENSE: 3-4
PLAYER TO WATCH: Dustin Howell.
The 6-2, 170-pound junior returns to
the quarterback spot he was moved to
a year ago. A good athlete with a better
understanding of the position, Howell
will be key to running the Roughriders’
Wing-T.
TOP NEWCOMERS: Bo Kuenning.
The 6-1, 210-pound sophomore did
gain a letter as a freshman last year
but should have a huge impact as the
team’s fullback this year. While he was
brought up for special teams last year,
he ripped off a 190-yard game in a win
over Celina.
ST. MARYS SCHEDULE
Aug. 28..... at Sidney.....................7 p.m.
Sept. 4...... Van Wert.....................7 p.m.
Sept. 11..... Shawnee.....................7 p.m.
Sept. 18.... at Kenton....................7 p.m.
Sept. 25.... Elida............................7 p.m.
Oct. 2........ Bath............................7 p.m.
Oct. 9........ at Celina......................7 p.m.
Oct. 16...... Defiance......................7 p.m.
Oct. 23...... at Wapakoneta............7 p.m.
Oct. 30..... at Ottawa-Glandorf....7 p.m.
2015 ST. MARYS
ROUGHRIDERS
Good Luck
Roughriders!!
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215 W. High St # A, St Marys, OH 45885
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ST. MARYS — Heading
into last year’s football season, Doug Frye wasn’t planning to judge his first season
back at St. Marys by wins
and losses.
His goal was much larger:
Stabilizing the program he
previously led.
The once-proud Roughriders’ program was riding a
21-game losing streak, and
the roster weighed in at
about 40 kids who lacked
confidence and fundamentals.
“I got used to things being
done pretty well,” said Frye,
entering his 28th season as
a head coach. “Last year,
I thought we had to teach
everything.”
Frye and his coaching staff
focused on recruiting and
teaching immediately. The
payoff was a roster with more
than 100 players and breaking the losing streak with
a 71-21 win over Sidney in
Week 1. St. Marys finished as
the turnaround team in the
Western Buckeye League and
the region with a 5-5 record
(4-5 WBL).
This year, the roster is
steady at 105 players, and the
program has a much different
complexion in Year 2 with
Frye back at the helm.
“I think our program is
better,” Frye said. “The kids
know the routine. They
know the expectations. They
understand the coaches, and
we’re more comfortable with
each other. Those things
from a program standpoint
The Lima News
Van Wert poised to make some noise
By Mark Altstaetter
VAN WERT – When
former Delphos St.
John’s standout Keith
Recker took over the
Van Wert football program three years ago, he
knew it would be a work
in progress.
Now, after taking his
share of lumps, Recker
is hoping all the hard
work will start paying
dividends.
With a class of seniors
who have been the cornerstone throughout
Recker’s tenure at Van
Wert (5-25), the Cougars are poised to finally
make a statement.
Last season Van Wert
went 3-7 overall and 3-6
in the Western Buckeye
League.
Recker is hoping this
senior group will finally
reap its well-deserved
rewards.
“The senior group
was freshmen when I
got here, and they have
completely bought into
our football program,
philosophy and expectations,” Recker said.
“We have seven seniors
that started as freshmen. They’ve went
through getting beat
around as freshmen and
sophomores. Last year
as juniors, they were in
most of the games. So,
now they know what
they need to do.
“However, the thing
about having seven
seniors that have started
since their freshmen
year is that we don’t
have a lot of depth.
That’s going to be the
challenge. We want to
keep our best players in
there as much as possible. But, we need to
have guys who can come
in and spell them.”
Offensively, Van Wert
will come out in the
spread. Leading the Cougars will be senior quarterback Colin Smith (6-2,
190). Last season, Smith
completed 84 passes
out of 196 attempts
for 897 yards with six
touchdowns and eight
interceptions. Smith also
rushed for 735 yards and
eight TDs.
“He’s really good,”
Recker said about
Smith. “He’s strong and
physical. Being there
for the past three years
and going through the
losses, has made him a
better quarterback.”
Joining Smith in the
backfield is last season’s
leading rusher for Van
Wert, senior Justice
Tussing (955 yards, 9
TDs).
Senior Ryan Stoller
(6-1, 170), who was the
second leading receiver
for the Cougars last
season (22 catches, 305
yards, two TDs), returns
at a wide out. Stoller
is also a standout at a
defensive back position,
where he led Van Wert
in 2014 with 109 total
tackles.
In 2014, Van Wert’s
offense rolled up 2,623
total yards (262.3 yards
per game), while scoring 16.9 points per
contest.
On the defensive side
of the football, the Cougars will utilize a 3-3
scheme. Last season,
Van Wert gave up 319.1
yards per game, while
its opponents scored
27.7 points per outing.
Recker is optimistic
about the upcoming
season.
“We have the most
physically talented team
coming into this season
that we’ve had since I
came to Van Wert in
2012,” he said. “Our
team speed and strength
is very good, which
should help us be competitive in 2015.”
Not only is the optimism up at Van Wert,
but also the number of
players on its roster.
There are a total of 78
players in grades 9-12,
up 30 since last season.
“At our last scrimmage at Wayne Trace, I
watched my team come
out onto the field. It was
nice to see (the number
of players). …That kind
of told people that Van
Wert football is still
VAN WERT OUTLOOK
COACH: Keith Recker
LAST YEAR’S RECORD: 3-7, 3-6 Western Buckeye
League
RETURNING STARTERS: Jon Averesch (OL/DL, Sr.),
Kaleb Cantrell (OL/DL, Sr.), Gavin Cross (OL/DL, Sr.),
Gavin Ferckel (WR/LB, Sr.), Gavin Gardner (K, Sr.), Andy
Hammond (WR/DB, Sr.), Keagan Hardmon (WR/DB,
Sr.), Kris Hart (TB/DL, Sr.), Kaleb Jenkins (WR/LB, Sr.),
Ryan McCracken (WR/LB, Sr.), Colin Smith (QB/DB,
Sr.), Nolan Smith (OL/DL, Sr.), Ryan Stoller (RB/LB, Sr.),
Justice Tussing (RB/LB, Sr.), Nick Gutierrez (WR/DB,
Jr.), Marcel Salcido (OL/DL, Jr.), Evan Williams (OL/DL,
Jr.), Jacoby Kelly (WR/DB, So.)
OFFENSE: Spread
DEFENSE: 3-3
PLAYER TO WATCH: Senior quarterback Colin Smith
looks to lead the Van Wert offense once again. Last
season, Smith passed for 897 yards and rushed for 735
yards.
TOP NEWCOMERS: The Cougars are looking to build
depth, behind its talented senior class. Senior Josh
Braun (WR/DB) looks to be one of those players who
could step up this season.
VAN WERT SCHEDULE
Aug. 28................ at Bryan......................................7 p.m.
Sept. 4................. at St. Marys................................7 p.m.
Sept. 11................ Ottawa-Glandorf........................7 p.m.
Sept. 18............... at Shawnee................................7 p.m.
Sept. 25............... Kenton........................................7 p.m.
Oct. 2................... at Elida.......................................7 p.m.
Oct. 9................... Bath............................................7 p.m.
Oct. 16................. Celina.........................................7 p.m.
Oct. 23................. at Defiance.................................7 p.m.
Oct. 30................ Wapakoneta...............................7 p.m.
around,” Recker said.
Recker feels the WBL
will be very balanced
this season.
“There is no team
that we cannot beat. But
there is no team that is
a ‘give-me’. We will need
to be ready every Friday
night,” he said.
Van Wert’s Justice Tussing (20) moves around Shawnee’s defensive
line for a few yards. Tussing is part of a senior class for the Cougars
that hope it’s their turn to shine after buying into a new coach’s
program as freshmen.
Defiance
DEFIANCE OUTLOOK
COACH: Jerry Buti
SEASONS, RECORD AT SCHOOL: 25 years,
163-103.
KEY RETURNEES: Alex Gonzalez (Sr., QB),
1,824 yards passing, 15 TDs, 641 yards rushing,
8 TDs; Jake Meyer (Sr., WR, DB), 39 receptions,
381 yards, 5 TDs; Cole Allman (Sr., C), Cohle
Clellan (Sr., LB, RB), 87 tackles; Nate Porter (Sr.,
DL), Jordan Scott (Sr., LB, WR), Abram Smith
(Sr., TE), Noah Strausbaugh (Sr., LB), Zane
Yocum (Sr., DL), Jack Frederick (Sr., OL), Mitch
Glassford (Jr., OL), Bishop Roberson (Jr., DE), 65
tackles, 2 sacks; Austin Ehlinger (Jr., DB, WR).
SEASON OUTLOOK: The Bulldogs look to
rebound after suffering through an 0-10 season
in 2014.
DEFIANCE SCHEDULE
Aug. 27............. Napoleon......................... 7 p.m.
Sept. 4.............. at Kenton......................... 7 p.m.
Sept. 11............. at Elida............................. 7 p.m.
Sept. 18............ Bath................................. 7 p.m.
Sept. 25............ at Celina........................... 7 p.m.
Oct. 2................ at Ottawa-Glandorf......... 7 p.m.
Oct. 9................ Wapakoneta..................... 7 p.m.
Oct. 16.............. at St. Marys..................... 7 p.m.
Oct. 23.............. Van Wert.......................... 7 p.m.
Oct. 30............. Shawnee.......................... 7 p.m.
2015 Van Wert
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The Lima News
Wapak’s expectations remain high
By Ross Bishoff
WAPAKONETA – The ninth page of
Travis Moyer’s season preview to the
media reads like a dream.
It’s the summary of the 2014 football
season, when Wapakoneta took the
region by storm.
The Redskins went 10-0 in the
regular season for the third time in the
school’s history and finished 12-1 for
the program’s most wins in a single
season. They won the Western Buckeye
League outright, continued an 18-game
league win streak, gained the top seed
in the Region 10 postseason and turned
in an epic performance in the regional
championship.
In that Division III regional final
game, Wapakoneta battled perennial
state contender Trotwood-Madison for
four overtimes before falling 34-28.
It was Moyer’s first season as Wapakoneta’s head coach, and all the team
did was rewrite history.
“Our expectations are for us to have
that each and every year,” said Moyer,
whose career coaching record is 13029. “Obviously, a lot of things have to
come together. Chemistry of the team is
very important. Last year we had great
leadership and great athletes, and we
continued to get better.”
The only problem is, many of those
players are gone. The team returns just
two players who saw significant time
for an offense that averaged 30.2 points
per game. Meanwhile, that unreal
defense that gave up all of 8.8 points
per game brings back six starters.
“We lost an outstanding senior group,
a very talented group and you can’t
achieve what we achieved last year
without good players,” Moyer said.
“Obviously, we said goodbye not only to
all-conference type players, but playerof-the-year type players.”
But before you think it’s time to
rebuild, consider what Wapak has either
returning or ascending to the varsity,
with 12 total returning letterwinners,
a solid group of seniors and a slew of
promising newcomers.
Offensively, two first team All-WBL
WAPAKONETA
OUTLOOK
COACH: Travis Moyer
Second, 12-1 overall (130-29 overall
record)
9-0 WBL champions
RETURNING STARTERS: Cameron
Lauck (RB/DB, Sr.), Corey Crawford
(OL/DE, Sr.), Jared Cockerell (RB/LB,
Sr.), Landon Hall (RB/LB, Jr.), Aaron
Huffman (QB/DB, Sr.), Drew Voll (QB/
DB, Sr.), Tristan Meyer (K, Jr.).
OFFENSE: Wing-T
DEFENSE: 4-3
PLAYER TO WATCH: Cameron Lauck
is a spark plug on both sides of the ball.
A three-year letterwinner who was first
team All-WBL a year and second team
All-District, the senior ran for 358 yards
and five touchdowns, caught 17 passes
for 289 yards and five TDs on offense
while making 20.5 tackles and grabbing
four interceptions on defense.
TOP NEWCOMERS: Aaron Huffman
was a key member of the defense last
year as a DB, but this year will also be
the starting quarterback for an offense
with a number of new faces.
Wapakoneta’s
Cameron
Lauck sprints
away from a
defense last
year. Lauck,
a three-year
letterwinner
who was
first-team
All-Western
Buckeye
League last
year, is one of
two returning
starters for
the Redskins
following
last year’s
impressive
run.
Richard Parrish
| The Lima
News
WBL Kicking Specialist of the Year,
along with receiving first team AllDistrict honors.
While the offense may need some
time to gel, the defense returns six
starters to a squad that dominated, with
four shutouts and that ridiculous 8.8
points allowed a game.
“To win championships, you’ve got
to have a great defense,” Moyer said,
“and obviously we were exceptional last
year in terms of our defense. We’ll need
to play extremely well on that side of
the ball. We return six starters on the
defensive side of the ball and some very
good football players.”
Crawford (34.5 tackles, 2.5 sacks)
is back as a defensive end, while Jared
Cockerell (6-1, 200, 60.5 tackles, 2.5
sacks) and Landon Hall (6-2, 205, 73
tackles, 2.5 sacks) return to the linebacking corps. The defensive backfield
returns Lauck (4 INTs), Drew Voll (1
INTs) and Huffman (3 INTs.).
While Wapakoneta may not enter the
selections return, with Corey Crawford
(6-4, 270) anchoring the offensive line
and Cameron Lauck (5-9, 170, 358
rushing yards, 17 catches for 289 yards
and 10 total TDs in 2014) giving the
backfield an explosive talent at running
back.
Aaron Huffman (6-6, 200) takes over
quarterbacking the Wing-T offense,
with running backs Jared Cockerell
(6-1, 200) and Landon Hall (6-2, 205)
joining the backfield.
“It’s unique this season in that we
only have one starter at the same position he played last year (Crawford) and
really only two who saw significant
time on offense,” Moyer said. “So the
offense is a work in progress. From a
skills standpoint, our kids have done a
good job. The big challenge is we want
to be balanced.”
Another weapon the offense returns
is the foot of kicker Tristan Meyer, who
made 50 extra points and eight field
goals a year ago and was named the
WAPAKONETA
SCHEDULE
Aug. 28..... Bellefontaine..............7 p.m.
Sept. 4...... at Shawnee.................7 p.m.
Sept. 11..... Kenton........................7 p.m.
Sept. 18.... Elida............................7 p.m.
Sept. 25.... at Bath........................7 p.m.
Oct. 2........ Celina..........................7 p.m.
Oct. 9........ at Defiance.................7 p.m.
Oct. 16...... at Ottawa-Glandorf....7 p.m.
Oct. 23...... St. Marys.....................7 p.m.
Oct. 30..... at Van Wert.................7 p.m.
season with as many returning starters
as a year ago, the players returning and
joining the varsity certainly have the
potential to equal or surpass last year’s
run. At least, that’s the expectation.
“Our kids understand that and understand for us to be successful year-in and
year-out, we’re going to have to work
extremely hard,” Moyer said. “Our
expectations are extremely high, so it’s
a challenge each and every week. But
it’s exciting.”
Western Buckeye League forecast
back Logan Alexander, along
with four offensive linemen.
The question mark might be
on the defensive side of the
football.
5. VAN WERT. Head coach
Keith Recker is hoping this
senior class, which has taken
its lumps for the past three
years, will finally reap its
rewards. Seven of this year’s
seniors have started since
their freshmen season.
6. ST. MARYS. After getting the Roughriders back to
the middle of the pack last
season, coach Doug Frye will
be relying on a junior-dominat-
to fill those voids. Quarterback Zac Unterbrink returns
for the Titans. Last season,
Unterbrink passed for 1,956
yards and 20 touchdowns.
3. KENTON. The Wildcats
lost several key playmakers
from last season. However,
with the depth it had last
season, especially at the wide
receiver position, look for
Kenton to still be in the hunt.
With quarterback Trent Hites
returning, the Kenton offense
should still be a potent unit.
4. ELIDA. The Bulldogs
return the WBL Offensive
Back of the Year in quarter-
1. WAPAKONETA. The
Redskins have several new
faces on offense. However, the
defending WBL champions
boast six returners from last
season’s top defensive unit.
Moving the football against
Wapakoneta won’t be an easy
task this season.
2. OTTAWA-GLANDORF:
The Titans lost several key
performers from last season’s
squad. However, there are
many athletes who saw action
last season who should be able
ed team in a senior-dominated
league. Despite losing a few
key players, the Roughriders
should still be a team to be
reckoned with.
7. BATH. With 10 returning
starters, Bath should be solid
on both sides of the football.
The Wildcats look to be solid
in the trenches. Look for Bath
to be in every game.
8. CELINA. With just 10
returning letterwinners, Celina hopes to fill some voids left
from graduation. Senior Caleb
Hoyng (1,341 yards, 10 TDs)
returns at quarterback for the
Bulldogs.
2015 Wapakoneta
9. DEFIANCE. The Bulldogs have been down for the
past couple of seasons. However, longtime coach Jerry
Buti should right the ship and
start moving his team in the
right direction.
10. SHAWNEE. Jon Carpenter takes over as the head
coach for the Indians. Carpenter will have eight starters back from last season’s
2-8 squad. Leading the way
is quarterback Griffin Hites.
Carpenter is hoping to instill
a new attitude at Shawnee and
improve on last season’s performance.
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The Lima News
Thursday, August 27, 2015 1F
12 players to watch
By Tom Usher
GAVIN CUPP
Leipsic
(6-6, 280, Senior)
Offensive lineman
Cupp is the driving force in the
Leipsic offense. He originally
committed to Michigan State,
but Sparty pulled its scholarship
when Cupp went to Ohio State’s
Friday Night Lights. Cupp recently
committed to Ohio State. He was
the Blanchard Valley Conference’s
offensive lineman of the year and
was first team all-BVC, first team alldistrict and second team all-state.
RUBEN FLOWERS
Lima Senior
(6-4, 185, Senior)
Wide receiver
Flowers’ athletic ability is off the
charts. Combine that with his sure
hands and leaping ability, and he
was almost impossible to stop last
year. He had 61 receptions for
1,275 yards and 13 TDs. He was
named first team all-TRAC and was
the TRAC’s co-offensive player of
the year. He was first team
all-district and first team all-state.
He was The Lima News’ offensive
player of the year.
ZACH GOECKE
Spencerville
(6-1, 185, Senior)
Running back
Goecke was the engine in powering
the Bearcats to the playoffs in
their Wing-T, run-happy offense. He
led the Northwest Conference in
rushing with 1,407 yards
and 26 TDs. He was first team
all-NWC, first team all-district and
second team all-state.
DARIUS GORDON
Lima Senior
(6-0, 170, Senior)
Quarterback
In his first year at quarterback, all
Gordon did was guide Lima Senior
to its most wins (eight) since 1997
and its first playoff appearance
since 1999. He threw for 2,749
yards with 34 TDs and only five
interceptions. He was named first
team all-TRAC, second team alldistrict and was named to The Lima
News’ Dream Team.
Logan Alexander, Elida
Gavin Cupp, Leipsic
Ruben Flowers, Lima Senior
Zach Goecke, Spencerville
Darius Gordon, Lima Senior
Cameron Lauck, Wapakoneta
File photo | The Lima News
Josh Nixon, Minster
Ethan O’Connor, Lima Central
Zac Unterbrink, Ottawa-Glandorf
Jaden Walker, Lima Senior
DALTON HICKS
Delphos Jefferson
(6-1, 220, Senior)
Linebacker
He was voted the No. 1 linebacker
in the Northwest Conference last
season. He had 104 tackles and 10
tackles for loss. He was first team
all-NWC, first team all-district and
special mention all-state.
(Statistics are 10-game
totals from last year)
Dalton Hicks, Delphos Jefferson
Amanda Wilson | The Lima News
Hunter Wilker, Marion Local
Lima Location
Location
Lima
2948 Allentown
Allentown Road
Road
2948
419-991-2999
419-991-2999
JOSH NIXON
Minster
(5-11, 175, Senior)
Quarterback
Nixon guided the Wildcats to the
Division VI state championship. He
threw for 2,089 yards with 22 TDs.
He had only seven interceptions.
He ran for 122 yards. In the
Division VI state championship
game, a 46-42 victory over
Kirtland, he completed 26 of 41
for 417 yards and four TDs. He
was second team all-MAC and
honorable mention all-district.
ETHAN O’CONNOR
Lima Central Catholic
(6-3, 195, Senior)
O’Connor was the driving force
with his arm and legs in the
T-Birds’ offense. He threw for
2,345 yards with 20 TDs and had
only six interceptions. On the
ground, he ran for 829 yards and
12 TDs. He was second team
all-district.
ZAC UNTERBRINK
Ottawa-Glandorf
(6-0, 175, Senior)
Quarterback
Unterbrink led a revamped
Ottawa-Glandorf passing offense
with 1,956 passing yards. He
threw 20 TDs and had only six
interceptions. He also ran for 508
yards and four TDs. He was second
team all-WBL and second team
all-district.
JADEN WALKER
Lima Senior
(6-0, 150, Junior)
Defensive back/running back
As a sophomore, he helped lead
the Spartans’ secondary with 70
tackles and three interceptions.
He’ll play running back and free
safety this year. He was first team
all-TRAC, first team all-district and
third team all-state.
HUNTER WILKER
Marion Local
(6-0, 205, Senior)
Wide receiver
Wilker has played a big part in the
Flyers’ last three state titles. He
even scored three TDs in the 2012
state title game as a freshman
against Newark Catholic. In last
year’s Division VII state title
victory, 41-0 over Norwalk St. Paul,
he had seven receptions for 108
yards and two TDs. On the year, he
had 42 receptions for 763 yards
and 16 TDs. He also ran for 110
yards and three TDs. He was first
team all-MAC, first team all-district
and first team all-state.
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LOGAN ALEXANDER
Elida
(6-0, 195, Senior)
Quarterback
Alexander was the Western Buckeye
League’s offensive back of the year.
He threw for 1,545 yards and
12 TDs. On the ground, he ran for
1,102 yards and 14 TDs. He was
second in the WBL in rushing. He
was first team all-WBL and second
team all-district.
CAMERON LAUCK
Wapakoneta
(5-9, 165, Senior)
Defensive back/Running back
Lauck scored a total of 14 TDs last
year, including one on a 99-yard
interception return. A true threat
to score when he touches the ball,
he ran a 4.45 40 at the Ohio State
camp. He rushed for 363 yards
with six TDs and had 18 receptions
for 302 yards with six TDs. On
defense, he had 58 tackles, four
interceptions and seven pass
break ups. He was first team allWBL and second team all-district.
2F Thursday, August 27, 2015
The Lima News
Allen East wants to be more physical
By Tom Usher
ALLEN EAST
OUTLOOK
HARROD – It’s Year 5 for
Mike Abbey, who has built
a very successful wrestling
program at Allen East.
So far, the football development hasn’t gone as well as
wrestling. Abbey has compiled a 10-33 record, including 3-7 last year.
“It hasn’t come as we
thought,” Abbey said. “We
just keep plugging along, and
we’re getting better. … We’re
not all the way there.
“We’re not as physical as
we want to be. But they’ve
really bought into the weight
lifting and the offseason
workouts. We are stronger,
pound for pound, than we
have ever been. We are more
athletic than we have ever
been. …. But we have to be
much more physical.”
Abbey did bring back former Allen East coach Cam
Staley as the team’s defensive coordinator.
“Immediately, we (the
defense) have an identity,”
Abbey said. “He’s a 3-5
(defense) guy, we’re in a
three-man front, blitzing and
coming off the edges.”
The offense returns six
starters, while the defense
has eight starters back.
On offense, the line will
have veterans guard Logan
Emerick and center Austin
Allen East hopes to be more physical this year than in any other year under fifth-year coach Mike Abbbey. “We are
stronger, pound for pound, than we have ever been,” Abbey said. “We are more athletic than we have ever been. ….
But we have to be much more physical.”
Louth.
Also back are wide receivers Luke Perkins and Blake
Stevens, who will also see
time at tight end.
The Wing-T offense will
be keyed by second team allNorthwest Conference fullback Logan Schick, a 6-foot1, 200-pound senior. Schick
ran for 1,048 yards with 11
TDs last year.
Also back is junior halfback Caleb Smelcer, who ran
for 565 yards with 10 TDs.
The other running back
will be sophomore speedster
Kyle Nickles.
Spencer Miller, a 6-foot,
175-pound junior, moves
from halfback to quarterback. Miller ran for 604
yards last year.
“He’s one of our best athletes in the school,” Abbey
said of Miller. “He’s only
6-foot but can dunk a basketball. … We’re going to try
to have a little fun with him
back there and utilize his
athletic abilities.”
On defense, linebacker will
be a strength with veterans
Brent Wilson, Schick and
Emerick.
The line returns Johnny
Brinkman, Jesse Erevia and
Travis Goodin. The secondary will have experience with
Perkins and Austin Tafe.
“The last few years, we’ve
been scoring some points,
but we just haven’t been able
to keep people out of the end
zone,” Abbey said. “We’ve
been scoring 30-some points
per game but have been
giving up 30-some points a
game. Defensively, we have
to become much better.”
Lima_Usher.
COACH: Mike Abbey
YEARS AT SCHOOL: 5th (10-33)
LAST YEAR’S RECORD: 3-7 (2-5 NWC)
DIVISION: VI, Region 22
RETURNING STARTERS: Luke Perkins
(Sr., WR/DB); Caleb Smelcer (Jr., HB);
Blake Stevens (Sr., WR); Bubba Butler
(Jr., K); Logan Schick (Sr., FB/LB); Logan
Emerick (Sr., G/OLB); Austin Louth
(Sr., C); Brent Wilson (Jr., OLB); Johnny
Brinkman (Jr., DE); Jesse Erevia (Jr., DL);
Travis Goodin (Jr., DL); Austin Tate (Jr.,
CB).
OFFENSE: Wing-T
DEFENSE: 3-5
PLAYER TO WATCH: Logan Schick, the
6-foo-1, 200-pounder ran for over 1,000
yards last year and will also be a key to
the defense from his linebacker spot.
TOP NEWCOMERS: Cody Musselman
(Sr., WR/DB); Caleb Austin (Jr., OL/DL);
Blaine Blankenship (Jr., OL).
ALLEN EAST SCHEDULE
Aug. 28..... at Van Buren...............7 p.m.
Sept. 4...... Perry...........................7 p.m.
Sept. 11..... Waynesfield-Goshen..7 p.m.
Sept. 19.... at Delphos Jefferson..7 p.m.
Sept. 25.... Bluffton.......................7 p.m.
Oct. 2........ at Paulding..................7 p.m.
Oct. 9........ Crestview....................7 p.m.
Oct. 16...... at Columbus Grove.....7 p.m.
Oct. 23...... Spencerville................7 p.m.
Oct. 30..... at Ada..........................7 p.m.
Ada hopes to bounce back
By Mike Miller
ADA OUTLOOK
ADA — Ada is hungry to return to
the playoffs after missing last year for
the first time following eight straight
appearances.
The Bulldogs will look to senior
standout Blake Ansley (5-foot-10, 185
pounds) to lead them on both sides
of the ball. Ansley led the Bulldogs in
rushing and was second in receiving
last year. He will also be looking for his
fourth straight 100-plus tackle season
from his linebacker spot.
Back at quarterback will be sophomore Seth Conley (5-11, 175), who
gained valuable experience as a freshman, as second-year coach Bob Olwin
looks for continued improvement from
his signal caller.
Ada has a bevy of receivers and will
alternate up to eight different players
in an effort to keep fresh players on the
field. Owen Conley, Trent Jolliff and
Ansley will give quarterback Conley a
trio of experienced receivers.
“Ansley is a versatile kid, and we will
try to get him the ball. It’s not like he is
going to sneak up on anybody,” Olwin
said. “We also have other kids that
can hurt you and great depth at wide
receiver.”
The Bulldogs will rely on a pair of
returning linebackers – Ansley and Jordan Bailey – to anchor the defense.
The big area of improvement that
Ada needs to make to return to the playoffs is in its line play on both sides of
the ball. Olwin noted that blocking and
tackling are two key areas the Bulldogs
need to improve.
“The need to stay healthy and line
COACH: Bob Olwin
YEARS, RECORD AT SCHOOL: 2, 5-5
LAST YEAR’S RECORD: 5-5, 4-3 NWC
DIVISION: VII, Region 26
RETURNING STARTERS: Blake Ansley
(RB/WR/LB, Sr.), Jordan Bailey (WR/
LB, Jr.), Trent Jolliff (WR/DB, Jr.), Owen
Conley (Wr/DB, Jr.), Seth Conley (QB,
So.)
OFFENSE: Five-wide, empty spread
DEFENSE: 5-2
PLAYER TO WATCH: Blake Ansley
returns as a four-year starter. The
versatile senior led the Bulldogs in
rushing last season while also being the
second leading receiver. Ansley is a top
defender who led the Ada defense in
tackles.
TOP NEWCOMERS: The Bulldogs
will look to four sophomores to gain
experience and contribute this year.
Erryk Katayama, Ethan Swaney, Alex
Hurtig, and Mason Waugh look to gain
playing time quickly.
ADA SCHEDULE
Aug. 28..... at Upper Scioto Valley... 7 p.m.
Sept. 4...... at Arlington.................... 7 p.m.
Sept. 11..... Lima Central Catholic... 7 p.m.
Sept. 18.... at Spencerville............... 7 p.m.
Sept. 25.... Columbus Grove............ 7 p.m.
Oct. 2........ at Crestview................... 7 p.m.
Oct. 9........ Paulding......................... 7 p.m.
Oct. 16...... Bluffton.......................... 7 p.m.
Oct. 23...... at Delphos Jefferson..... 7 p.m.
Oct. 30..... Allen East....................... 7 p.m.
Ada’s Blake Ansley returns for his fourth season, after a 2014 campaign where he led the Bulldogs in
rushing and finished second in receiving.
Olwin said Ada is strong in all three
facets of the kicking game, with Jolliff
returning as the punter after averaging
32 yards per kick last season.
The Bulldogs open the season with
Upper Scioto Valley before facing nonleague foes Arlington and Lima Central
play improvement will be keys for us
this year.” Olwin said.
Catholic in weeks two and three before
beginning play in the always difficult
Northwest Conference.
“Each week is a project and we must
be really focused.” Olwin said. “We
must practice and work to improve
every day.”
2015 Allen East
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The Lima News
2015 guide to area football
By Tom Usher
1. Which teams have the
best chance at reaching the
state championship game in
Columbus?
It always starts with Marion
Local, which has won four
straight state titles, including
the Division VII crown last
year. The Flyers return seven
starters, including three-year
starters Hunter Wilker and
Aaron Nietfeld. They also
have three back on the offensive line.
Only three starters return
on defense, so if those holes
can be filled, look for the Flyers back in Columbus.
Coldwater has won three
straight state titles, all under
coach Chip Otten, who is
64-11 at Coldwater. The Cavaliers graduate all-everything
QB Brody Hoying, but return
seven starters on offense and
four on defense.
And don’t count out defending state champion Minster,
who returns quarterback Josh
Nixon.
Wapakoneta is again the
team to beat in the Western
Buckeye League. The Redskins return first team allWBL players defensive back
Cameron Lauck and defensive
end Corey Crawford, along
with second team all-WBL
linebacker Jared Cockerell.
2. Where does Lima
Senior go after its first
playoff trip since 1999?
The Spartans return their
quarterback, Darius Gordon,
and three quality receivers
in all-state Ruben Flowers,
Rico Stafford and Demontay
Liles. The key will be finding replacements for the five
graduated offensive linemen.
The defense also needs to
continue to make strides and
will be led by third team allstate back Jaden Walker.
3. How will Shawnee do
under first-year coach Jon
Carpenter?
Carpenter has grown up
around football, with his dad,
Rob, and his brother, Bobby,
both former NFL players. Jon
comes to Shawnee from being
a grad assistant at Ohio State.
The key will be surrounding
veteran quarterback Griffin
Hites with a few playmakers.
There are no magic wands,
but Carpenter will lasso, pull
and tug his team in the right
direction.
4. Can Delphos St. John’s
have a bounce-back season?
Delphos St. John’s reached
the playoffs but finished 4-7 a
Marion Local’s Jacy Goettemoeller rushes for yards during a state semifinal game last year. The Flyers soared to their fourth straight state title this year and
appear poised to have more success this year.
year ago. The Blue Jays have
six starters back on offense,
including three wide receivers. There will be a new quarterback and two new running
backs.
The Blue Jays will return
to the option game, but will
hope to blend the pass with
the run.
Five returning starters are
juniors, so things should be
heading in the right direction.
5. Which teams are
poised for a bounce-back
season?
St. Marys went from 0-10 to
5-5 last year with the return
of coach Doug Frye. This year
Frye has 14 returning starters,
including running back Eric
Spicer.
Celina was 5-5 but returns
10 starters, including quarterback Caleb Hoyng.
Leipsic (5-6) made the playoffs but lost in the first round.
The Vikings return 16 starters, including Ohio State commit Gavin Cupp, defensive
end Jordan Brown and wide
receiver turned running back
Nate Brecht.
6. Is this the year of the
quarterback?
A number of quality quar-
terbacks return, and quite a
few proved they could run as
well as throw.
Elida’s Logan Alexander
threw for 1,545 yards and 12
TDs. He also ran for 1,102
yards with 14 TDs and was
the Western Buckeye League’s
offensive back of the year.
Lima Senior’s Gordon
threw fro 2,749 yards with 34
TDs and only five interceptions.
Minster’s Josh Nixon threw
for 2,089 yards and 22 TDs
with only seven interceptions.
He threw for 417 yards and
four TDs in the Division VI
state title game.
Ethan O’Connor threw for
2,345 yards and 20 TDs with
six interceptions. He also ran
for 829 yards and 12 TDs.
Ottawa-Glandorf’s Zac
Unterbrink threw for 1,956
yards and 20 TDs with six
interceptions. The second
team all-WBL quarterback ran
for 508 yards.
first team all-NWC, first team
all-NWC and second team allstate.
There’s also Allen East
6-foot-1, 200-pound fullback
Logan Schick, who ran for
1,048 yards and 11 TDs.
Others to watch include
Delphos Jefferson’s Hunter
Binkley, Van Wert’s Justice
Tussing and St. Henry’s Jesse
Niekamp.
7. Who will be some of
the top running backs to
watch in the area?
Spencerville’s Zach Goecke
led the Northwest Conference in rushing with 1,407
yards and 26 TDs. He was
9. How will Lima Central
Catholic do after being hit
hard by graduation?
Ethan O’Connor returns at
quarterback, so that’s a good
start. They will have three
returnees on offensive line,
8. What is the new contact rule this season?
The rules limiting full contact started in the preseason,
limiting contact to one of the
two practices per day.
During the season, teams
are limited to 30 minutes of
full contact per practice and
60 minutes of full contact per
week. The new rule states an
athlete can be involved in full
contact a maximum of two
practices in a seven-day span.
The goal is to limit injuries
and concussions during practices.
along with wide receiver Nick
Taflinger.
It will be tough to replace
wide receivers and playmakers Dimitri Floyd and Cam
White. The top two linemen
Brad Stolly and Jack Huffman are also gone, along with
tailback Alex Krumel. The
T-Birds will be solid with
O’Connor, but how soon his
new weapons develop will be
the key.
10. Who are the big-name
players you need to see?
Lima Senior wide receiver
Ruben Flowers has committed
to Pittsburgh. He dominated
the Three Rivers Athletic
Conference with his speed,
athletic ability and hands last
year. He was first team alldistrict and first team all-state
with 61 receptions, 1,275
yards receiving and 13 TDs.
Leipsic offensive lineman
Gavin Cupp (6-foot-6, 280)
is committed to Ohio State.
He’s the driving force on
the Leipsic line. He was the
Blanchard Valley Conference’s
offensive lineman of the year
and was first team all-district
and second team all-state.
Lima_Usher.
Rule changes focus on ‘risk minimization’
LIMA — The National Federation
of State High School Associations is
proactively stressing player safety in
announcing six rule changes for this
season.
The actual term that the NFHS uses
is “risk minimization,” and it used
that term repeatedly when announcing the changes.
Rule change one reads that no
player shall make any contact with
an opponent, including a defenseless
player, which is deemed unnecessary
or excessive and which incites roughness.
For example, a player who trails a
play by 20 yards is not actively participating in the outcome of the play,
and hitting him would be deemed
unnecessary and excessive.
According to veteran official Jon
Derryberry, entering his 34th season
as a football official, the rule changes
have a No. 1 goal to minimize risk to
participants.
“The big points of emphasis will be
risk minimization and facilitating the
NFHS rules as stated,” Derryberry
said.
Derryberry also noted that approximately 60 to 70 officials recently
attended a four-hour clinic to review
the rules changes.
LOCAL SERVICE
that MAKES A
DIFFERENCE
Rule change two clarifies the difference between targeting and spearing.
Targeting is now defined as contact
to an opponent above the shoulders,
while spearing is defined as an act
by any player who initiates contact
against an opponent at the shoulders
or below with the crown (top portion)
of his helmet.
Rule change three refers to free-kick
formations. At least four players must
be on each side of the kicker when the
ball is kicked.
Rule change four states that a
5-yard incidental face mask penalty
against the passer will not automatically result in a first down.
Change five regards the enforce-
astside
E
Doug Stimmel’s
ment of dead-ball fouls. Equal numbers of dead ball penalties will cancel,
and any remaining penalties can be
enforced.
The final change related to a series
of downs and states that the referee
shall have the authority to correct the
number of the next down prior to a
new series of downs being awarded.
Spearing, targeting and personal
fouls all remain 15-yard penalties that
could result in an ejection based upon
the judgment of the official.
None of the changes should have
any effect on the flow of play, though.
Officials will hopefully further expand
the safety of the players representing
their schools and communities.
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By Mike Miller
Crestview looking to reload
By Mark Altstaetter
CONVOY – Crestview’s football program is in uncharted waters.
Crestview is coming off an 8-3 season (5-2, tied for second in the Northwest Conference) and will be looking
to fill several voids left from graduation.
With three starters back on offense
and three back on defense, Crestview
is searching for the right combination
on both sides of the football.
“We have a lot of inexperience,”
Crestview coach Jared Owens said.
“We only have three starters back on
both offense and defense. So, there’s
been a lot of competition at camp this
summer. For a coach, it’s been fun to
watch these kids compete for positions.”
Probably the most obvious void for
the Knights is at the quarterback position. Preston Zaleski (739 passing
yards with 7 touchdowns, 1,368 rushing yards with 19 TDs) led the Knights
last season behind center. Now with
Zaleski gone, the search is on at Crestview.
“Right now we have three guys battling for the quarterback position,”
Owens said. “It’s too early to tell right
now on who will start. We’ve even talked about the possibility of platooning if
Crestview’s Jordan Miller waits on a punt before
the runback during last year’s playoff loss to
Spencerville. The Knights will look to Miller and
a group of untested players to try to match last
year’s success.
there isn’t a clear-cut starter.”
The three athletes vying for time
at quarterback are Grant Schlagbaum
(6-0, 160, So.), Dylan Grandstaff (6-0,
165, Jr.) and Drew Kline (5-8, 140,
Fr.).
Offensively, the Knights’ philosophy
is the same as previous seasons.
“We’ll have pretty much the same
identity. We will run the triple option,”
Owens said. “We’ll try to run the football and pass when we get the chance.”
Defensively, the Knights will employ
a four-man front (4-2). Owens is hoping to use a lot of players on the defensive side of the football.
“We only have three starters back on
defense. We will try to use an eightman rotation on the front line,” he
said.
According to Owens, players to
keep a close eye on this season include
Emilio DeLeon (6-3, 310, Jr., OL/DL),
Alec Ingram (5-9, 180, Jr., OL/DL) and
Jordan Miller (5-5, 165, Sr., RB/LB).
“Miller has played a ton of football
for us,” Owens said. “He will play
at running back, and on defense we
moved him from defensive back to linebacker.”
With a great deal of inexperience,
Owens said his team will focus on the
fundamentals this season.
“Our identity will be in establishing
the run, tackling well, and blocking to
the whistle. We will need to be a highenergy team that plays as a unit,” he
said.
Owens feels that the NWC will once
again be a very competitive conference.
“Jefferson is going to be really competitive. Spencerville returns a lot of
players too. Top to bottom, it’s going
to be a good league. We have to be
ready to play every week,” he said.
The Lima News
CRESTVIEW SCHEDULE
Aug. 28...... at Parkway..................7:30 p.m.
Sept. 4....... Hicksville......................... 7 p.m.
Sept. 11...... at Wayne Trace................ 7 p.m.
Sept. 18..... at Columbus Grove......... 7 p.m.
Sept. 25..... Spencerville.................... 7 p.m.
Oct. 2......... Ada.................................. 7 p.m.
Oct. 9......... at Allen East.................... 7 p.m.
Oct. 16....... Delphos Jefferson........... 7 p.m.
Oct. 23....... at Bluffton....................... 7 p.m.
Oct. 30...... Paulding.......................... 7 p.m.
CRESTVIEW OUTLOOK
COACH: Jared Owens
LAST YEAR’S RECORD: 8-3, 5-2
Northwest Conference, lost in first round of
playoffs to Spencerville
RETURNING STARTERS: Jordan Miller
(RB/LB, Sr.), Chase Clark (WR/DB, Jr.),
Dylan Grandstaff (QB/DB, Jr.), Alec Ingram
(OL/DL, Jr.), Emilio DeLeon (OL/DL, Jr.)
OFFENSE: Triple Option
DEFENSE: 4-2
PLAYER TO WATCH: Jordan Miller
will be an anchor in both the backfield
as a running back and on defense at a
linebacker position.
TOP NEWCOMERS: There are several
newcomers that could make an impact this
season for the Knights. Braden Van Cleave
(TE/LB) could make an impact at both
tight end and linebacker.
Ault back to help Bluffton turn the corner
By Ross Bishoff
BLUFFTON — You can choose
whichever description you’d like: Leader, sparkplug, heart of the team.
But Bluffton coach Kyle Cutnaw goes
with “linchpin” when talking about
senior Mitchell Ault. And it’s easy to
see why.
Ault is entering his third year as the
Pirates’ starting quarterback and is the
“Sam” linebacker in the heart of the
Bluffton defense.
In short, the senior is absolutely
crucial to Bluffton turning things in the
right direction after a 3-7 campaign (1-6
Northwest Conference) a year ago.
“He’s the leader for what we try to do
on both sides of the ball,” said Cutnaw,
entering his second season as coach.
“What I’ve done is tailor-fit the offense
to his strengths and focus on the things
he does well and what he likes, things
that put our kids in a position to be successful.”
Twice Ault’s been an all-NWC quarterback, and last year he passed for
2,208 yards, completing 143 of 256
passes (55.9 percent) with 25 touchdowns and seven interceptions for a
team that averaged 31.7 points per
game and 322.7 yards a game (225 ypg
passing, 97.7 rushing).
After quarterbacking Cutnaw’s multiple-look offense a year ago and working
diligently in the offseason, the senior
has a firm grasp on what the Pirates
want to get done.
“Last year you would give him a lot of
coaching and instruction,” Cutnaw said.
“This year when he makes a mistake he
knows it; he can self-correct. So now I
focus on things I see he can work on we
didn’t get a chance to address last year.
“It’s exciting to see him take that next
step and be the leader who keeps his
composure and makes good decisions.”
Ault will have some solid pieces to
work with on offense also. Senior Sam
Crisp, a member of the state champion
800-meter relay team in track, will
Senior Mitchell
Ault enters
his third year
as Bluffton’s
starting
quarterback
and also plays
linebacker in
the heart of
the Pirates’
defense,
making him
a “linchpin”
for coach Kyle
Cutnaw.
BLUFFTON OUTLOOK
Photo courtesy
of hudl.com
move from receiver to tight end and
give the offense a weapon who can
thrive in big moments.
While Bluffton will rotate a lot of
players at the receiver spots, seniors
Joel Siefker, Bret Rumer and Shawn
Justus along with junior Owen Bischoff
will be solid targets for Ault. Sophomore Dakota Bricker will play in the
slot position.
Because Bluffton lost its entire backfield, junior Dustin Falk and sophomore
Kaleb Jefferson will see time at tailback, while junior Brady Basinger and
freshman Gavin Devier will rotate at
fullback.
Senior Kyle Swank returns to anchor
the offensive line at the center spot,
while seniors Misha Groman and Blake
Sampson return to the offensive line.
Where the Pirates really look to
improve is on defense, where they gave
up 315 yards a game (211.3 rushing,
103.7 passing) and 24.7 points a game
last year.
“We return more to the defense, and
it looks a lot better,” Cutnaw said. “We
tried to look back and analyze how we
could play faster and be more aggressive, so we changed the defense around.
A lot is different; we tried to simplify
our pass coverages and reads. I feel it’s
a heck of a lot easier.”
Swank, Groman and Crisp are the
defensive ends, with Sampson and
senior Zach Little playing tackles. The
linebackers include Basinger at the
“Will” spot, Ault at the “Sam” and Jefferson at the “Mike.”
The secondary will feature a six- or
seven-man rotation with Bricker and
Rumer at the corners, while Bischoff
and Falk will be the main safeties.
Cutnaw’s belief that the defense
needs to be simpler so the team can
play faster isn’t just because things
were complicated last year, but it’s also
because the team isn’t all that big.
“We have to be physical,” Cutnaw
said. “I want our kids to play hard and
make up for that lack of size by flying
around the football. We want to create
turnovers and get stops because last
year, we had a hard time getting off the
field. We want to be able to close games
defensively.”
COACH: Kyle Cutnaw
YEARS AT SCHOOL, RECORD: Second,
3-7
LAST YEAR’S RECORD: 3-7 overall, 1-6
NWC
RETURNING STARTERS: Mitchell
Ault (QB/LB, Sr.), Sam Crisp (TE/DL,
Sr.), Kyle Swank (OL/DL, Sr.), Blake
Sampson (OL/DL, Sr.), Zach Little (OL/
DL, Sr.), Dustin Falk (HB/DB, Jr.), Kaleb
Jefferson (HB/LB, Soph.).
OFFENSE: Multiple Sets
DEFENSE: 4-3/4-4
PLAYER TO WATCH: Mitchell Ault
enters his third season as the starting
quarterback after throwing for 2,208
yards last year with 25 touchdowns and
seven interceptions. He’s also a key to
the defense as the Sam linebacker.
TOP NEWCOMER: Senior Bret Rumer
didn’t play last year but did as a
sophomore and should be a strong
addition to the receiving corps and
defensive backfield.
BLUFFTON SCHEDULE
Aug. 28..... Cory-Rawson.........7:30 p.m.
Sept. 4...... Van Buren..............7:30 p.m.
Sept. 11..... at Fort Loramie......7:30 p.m.
Sept. 18.... Paulding......................7 p.m.
Sept. 25.... at Allen East................7 p.m.
Oct. 2........ Delphos Jefferson......7 p.m.
Oct. 9........ at Spencerville............7 p.m.
Oct. 16...... at Ada..........................7 p.m.
Oct. 23...... Crestview....................7 p.m.
Oct. 30..... at Columbus Grove.....7 p.m.
Part of the reason the team struggled
overall last year was mental letdowns.
It’s something Cutnaw has worked hard
to address.
“We played well last year but we’d
make a big mistake in a critical time,”
Cutnaw said. “We’ve done a lot of
things to focus on mental toughness
and staying focused on the job.”
2015 Bluffton
PIRATES
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Bluffton!!!!
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The Lima News
Grove ready to build on 2014 playoff run
By Ross Bishoff
COLUMBUS GROVE –
In his previous three seasons coaching at Columbus Grove, it seemed like
Andy Schafer was always
behind the 8-ball.
In 2012, he got the job
in June and had to change
a Wing-T team into a
Spread offense. The team
finished 5-5.
In the ensuing offseason, Schafer lost his
defensive coordinator
and brought on an old
colleague from LibertyBenton who completely
changed the defense. The
team finished 2-8.
Last season, everything
appeared settled, and the
team won its first three
games. The Bulldogs
followed that with four
straight losses for a 3-4
record.
Then, something
clicked. Everything fell
into place.
Next thing you know,
Columbus Grove ripped
off six straight wins and
had reached the Division
VII state semifinals. The
Bulldogs finished their
epic run with a loss to
eventual state champion
Marion Local, but not
before recording a 9-5
Paulding
PAULDING OUTLOOK
COACH: Tyler Arend
YEARS AT SCHOOL, RECORD: first year, N/A
LAST YEAR’S RECORD: 1-9, 0-7 in the
Northwest Conference
DIVISION: V, Region 16
RETURNING STARTERS: Anthony Garcia (WR/
DB, So.), Austin Howell (QB/LB, So.), Aaron
Horstman (OL/DL, Jr.), James Mourey (QB/
SS, Jr.), Darion Rowe (TB/SS, Jr.), Cameron
Doster (OL/LB, Jr.), Preston Ingol (TB/DB, Jr.),
Preston Johanns (OL/DL, Jr.), Nathan Gee (WR/
LB, Sr.), Zach Buchman (FB/SS, Sr.), Branson
Minck (TB/CB, Sr.), Corbin Edwards (TB/FS, Sr.),
Jarrett Sitton (OL/DL, Sr.)
OFFENSE: Multiple formations
DEFENSE: Multiple fronts
PLAYER TO WATCH: Quarterback James
Mourey returns behind center for the Panthers.
Last season, Mourey passed for 1,196 yards and
11 touchdowns.
DEFIANCE SCHEDULE
Aug. 27............. Napoleon......................... 7 p.m.
Sept. 4.............. at Kenton......................... 7 p.m.
Sept. 11............. at Elida............................. 7 p.m.
Sept. 18............ Bath................................. 7 p.m.
Sept. 25............ at Celina........................... 7 p.m.
Oct. 2................ at Ottawa-Glandorf......... 7 p.m.
Oct. 9................ Wapakoneta..................... 7 p.m.
Oct. 16.............. at St. Marys..................... 7 p.m.
Oct. 23.............. Van Wert.......................... 7 p.m.
Oct. 30............. Shawnee.......................... 7 p.m.
record overall (5-2 in the
Northwest Conference).
“The program’s definitely come a long way,”
Schafer said. “There’s no
question our kids have a
confidence about them.
It’s nice to experience
that.”
Last year’s run built
confidence and showed
Grove’s players what was
possible if they take care
of the regular season.
“I don’t have to talk
about the playoffs this
year, whereas last year it’s
all we ever talked about:
Gotta get to Week 11,”
Schafer said. “This year
it’s: We gotta win the
NWC.
“Our conference really
helped us last year. Going
into the playoffs, people
questioned our record. We
kind of shocked people.”
The playoff run was also
very important because it
gave a fairly young team
an incredible amount of
extra practice time.
“We’re really ahead
of the game as far as Xs
and Os go,” Schafer said.
“We’re able to focus on
some technique stuff rather than teaching plays.”
And that’s key for a
team with 16 returning
letterwinners. However,
two starters who will be
sorely missed are second
team All-Ohio safety
Tanner From and alleverything player Joey
Warnecke.
Warnecke did it all
a year ago. He rushed
for 1,655 yards with 18
touchdowns, made 152
tackles and was a first
team All-Ohio linebacker.
He was also a special
teams standout, kicking
8 of 11 field goals with a
long of 37 yards.
“Everyone instantly
thinks about his production on offense, his production on defense, the
way he kicked the ball,”
Schafer said. “From my
perspective, it was his
leadership on and off the
field. I don’t really see
that right now, that one
guy who’s going to be the
leader.”
That doesn’t mean
Grove doesn’t have plenty
of possible leaders who
step up. The Bulldogs
return a very experienced
group with six starters
back on each side of the
ball.
Offensively, the spread
attack — which ran the
ball 70-80 percent of the
time last year — will be
more balanced. Junior
Reid Stechschulte (5-11,
160) is back at quarterback after rushing for 700
yards and seven touchdowns and passing for 15
touchdowns.
“His arm’s developed a
lot, and he understands
the offense better than
what he did early in the
season last year,” Schafer
said. “He’s really worked
on the mechanics of being
a quarterback.”
Grove won’t try to
replace Warnecke with
one back but a committee of Lachlan Clymer
(6-0, 165, junior), Isaac
Siefker (5-9, 160, Sr.)
and Joey’s brother Eric
Warnecke (5-9, 165, Jr.).
The top receiving targets
should be Baily Clement
(5-9, 165, Sr.) and Aiden
Fortman (5-10, 155, Sr.),
while Brandt Follas (6-4,
185) moves to tight end.
Rece Roney (6-3, 260,
Jr.), Adam Berkemeier
(6-1, 165, Jr.), Logan Ridenour (6-0, 205, Jr.), Jake
Utendorf (5-10, 175, Sr.),
Rayne Sharrits (5-7, 205,
So.) and T.J. Pardo (6-2,
235, Sr.) each earned letters on the offensive line a
year ago.
Defensively, Grove was
lights out a year ago and
could be even better this
year with a fierce front
seven.
Roney, a tackle, is being
looked at by the University of Toledo and Kent
State; defensive end Follas
registered 106 tackles
Columbus Grove’s
Jake Utendorf and
his fellow linemen
hope to improve on
last year’s up-anddown season,
which included a
six-game winning
streak that ended
at the hands of
eventual state
champion Marion
Local.
Richard Parrish | The
Lima News
COLUMBUS GROVE OUTLOOK
COACH: Andy Schafer
YEARS AT SCHOOL, RECORD: Fourth, 16-18
LAST YEAR’S RECORD: 9-5 overall, 5-2 NWC, Div. VII
State Semifinalist
RETURNING LETTERMEN: 16. Baily Clement (WR,
Sr.), Andrew Nichols (OLB, Sr.), Aiden Fortman (WR,
Sr.), Brandt Follas (TE/DE, Sr.), Reid Stechschulte (QB,
Jr.), Rece Roney (OL/DT, Jr.), Brandon Grigsby (LB, Jr.),
Adam Berkemeier (C/DE, Jr.), Logan Diller (WR/S, Sr.),
Logan Ridenour (OL, Jr.), Jake Utendorf (OL, Sr.), Enoch
Jones (DL, Soph.), Lachlan Clymer (RB/DB, Jr.), Rayne
Sharrits (OL/LB, Soph.), T.J. Pardo (OL/DL, Sr.), Isaac
Siefker (RB/LB, Sr.).
OFFENSE: Spread
DEFENSE: 4-3, Cover 2
PLAYER TO WATCH: Baily Clement, the 5-foot-9,
165-pound senior wide receiver reeled in 16 catches
for 346 yards last year but should play a larger role as
Grove looks to pass more this season.
TOP NEWCOMERS: Brandt Follas (6-4, 185) started
on defense last year and recorded 106 tackles, but this
season will also have an impact on offense as he’ll play
on both sides of the ball.
COLUMBUS GROVE SCHEDULE
Aug. 28................at Pandora-Gilboa.................. 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 4.................Leipsic..........................................7 p.m.
Sept. 11................at Patrick Henry...........................7 p.m.
Sept. 18...............Crestview.....................................7 p.m.
Sept. 25...............at Ada...........................................7 p.m.
Oct. 2...................Spencerville.................................7 p.m.
Oct. 9...................at Delphos Jefferson....................7 p.m.
Oct. 16.................Allen East.....................................7 p.m.
Oct. 23.................at Paulding...................................7 p.m.
Oct. 30................Bluffton........................................7 p.m.
and school-record tying
13 sacks a year ago, while
Enoch Jones (5-10, 195,
soph.) is a hard-nosed
player who had 77 tackles,
five sacks and 20 tackles
for loss a year ago. Outside linebacker Andrew
Nichols (6-0, 195, Sr.) is
another huge cog after
turning in 163 tackles, 23
tackles for loss and two
sacks with three fumble
recoveries in 2014.
“It might be the best
front seven in the conference,” Schafer said. “Our
struggle is the secondary.
We’ve had some injuries,
and we’re really young.
But with the speed we’ve
got on the defensive line
and our linebackers, we’ll
do all right.”
2015 Columbus
Grove BULLDOGS!
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The Lima News
Spencerville brings back 16 starters
Spencerville
center Evan
Barnett
hikes the ball
to Mason
Nourse
during last
year’s playoff
game against
Tinora. The
Bearcats
have 16
starters back
from last
year’s team
that went
9-3, with
expectations
they’ll
compete
for the
Northwest
Conference
title.
By Jim Naveau
SPENCERVILLE —
With starters back at
16 positions from a 9-3
football team, Spencerville is on everyone’s
short list of contenders
in the Northwest Conference.
But the Bearcats
know they still will
have to go a long way
to get where they want
to be.
“Our kids are very
driven. They have
goals. They have things
they want to achieve,”
Spencerville coach
John Zerbe said.
“You remember what
you have accomplished
and are thankful for
it. But you realize you
haven’t done anything
this year. You haven’t
won any games. The
big thing is that you
remember what it took
to get you there,” he
said.
Spencerville’s nine
wins were more than
any Bearcats’ team
since the 10-0 team
in 1963. Their 36-7
first-round playoff win
over Crestview was the
first playoff victory in
school history.
But they’re looking
for even more this season.
Senior linebacker
and offensive lineman
Evan Pugh said, “We
should forget the wins.
We should remember
what it took to get
there. We need to
up our performance
because we want every
year to be better than
the last.”
Senior running
back/linebacker Zach
Goecke, who was a
second-team All-Ohio
selection last season,
said, “It (last season)
definitely sets a standard for senior year. It
sets it high.”
How high is that
standard?
“I would have to say
10-0 and undefeated
conference champions,” Goecke said.
Richard
Parrish | The
Lima News
Goecke rushed for
1,641 yards last season
and led Spencerville in
tackles with 150.
The Bearcats’
ground-oriented WingT offense averaged
398 yards a game total
offense last year, with
331 of those yards coming from the running
game.
They had three of
the top eight individual
rushers in the NWC
last season, but only
Goecke is back out of
that group.
That doesn’t necessarily mean he will
carry a heavier load
this year, Zerbe said.
“The cupboard is not
bare. We always seem
to have kids who can
run the ball,” he said.
Calvin Wilson, who
was honorable mention All-NWC as a
defensive back a year
ago, and Keaton Lotz,
are among the other
options to carry the
“You remember what you have
accomplished and are thankful for it. But
you realize you haven’t done anything this
year. You haven’t won any games. The big
thing is that you remember what it took to
get you there.”
— Coach John Zerbe
ball.
Three-year starting
quarterback Mason
Nourse doesn’t pass
often, averaging only
seven passes a game,
but is effective when he
does. He completed 56
percent of his passes
for seven touchdowns
in 2014.
Spencerville has
returning starters
in nine positions on
offense and in seven
positions on defense.
Three of its offensive
linemen received AllNWC recognition
last season. Wyatt
Krouskop, Evan Barnett and Pugh all were
honorable mention on
offense, and Krouskop
(second team) and
Pugh (honorable mention) also were honored on defense.
“We’re very experienced. We have a lot
of kids back. We also
have a lot of kids who
maybe don’t have a letter and spent time on
the JV level, and now
they’re ready to play
on the varsity. Maybe
you haven’t heard their
names yet,” Zerbe said.
“We feel like for the
first time in a long time
we have some depth.”
Reach Jim Naveau at 567242-0414 or on Twitter at @
Lima_Naveau.
SPENCERVILLE OUTLOOK
COACH: John Zerbe
YEARS AT SCHOOL, RECORD: Seventh, 30-32
RETURNING STARTERS: Mason Nourse QB/DB; Zach
Goecke RB/LB; Calvin Wilson RB/DB; Damien Corso TE/DB;
Dakota Prichard QB/DL; Keaton Lotz RB/LB; Hunter French
TE/LB; Evan Pugh OL/LB; Wyatt Krouskop OL/DL; Evan
Barnett OL/DL
OFFENSE: Wing-T
DEFENSE: Desert Swarm
PLAYER TO WATCH: Running back/linebacker Zach Goecke
led the Bearcats in rushing and tackles last season and was
second-team All-Ohio.
TOP NEWCOMERS: Peyton Ford RB/DB; Cody Dickson
RB/DB; Daniel Corso TD/DB; Chris Picker RB/LB; Jacob
Settlemire RB/LB; Ben Dues TD/DL; Alex Vickers OL/DL;
Lucas Carpenter OL/LB
SPENCERVILLE SCHEDULE
Aug. 28............. at Leipsic............................................7 p.m.
Sept. 4.............. Parkway..............................................7 p.m.
Sept. 11............. at Holgate...........................................7 p.m.
Sept. 18............ Ada......................................................7 p.m.
Sept. 25............ at Crestview........................................7 p.m.
Oct. 2................ at Columbus Grove............................7 p.m.
Oct. 9................ Bluffton...............................................7 p.m.
Oct. 16.............. Paulding..............................................7 p.m.
Oct. 23.............. at Allen East........................................7 p.m.
Oct. 30............. Delphos Jefferson..............................7 p.m.
Northwest Conference forecast
By Ross Bishoff
1. DELPHOS JEFFERSON.
The two-time defending NWC
champs are loaded with 15
letterwinners and 14 returning starters, 10 of whom are
seniors. The defense led the
league a year ago and brings
back All-Ohio linebacker Dalton Hicks, while the offense
returns a highly productive
backfield with some talented
additions.
2. SPENCERVILLE: The
Bearcats’ punishing ground
attack and defense will feature
one of the top athletes around
in RB/LB Zach Goecke, who
finished with 1,641 yards
and 28 TDs to go with 150
tackles a year ago. A slew of
key returnees give coach John
Zerbe plenty to work with.
3. COLUMBUS GROVE:
State semifinalists a year ago,
the Bulldogs graduated a star
in Joey Warnecke but return
six starters on each side of the
ball. The offense will be more
balanced, and the defense’s
front seven is superb.
4. BLUFFTON: Mitchell
Ault threw for 2,208 yards and
25 TDs a year ago and will be
the team’s “Sam” linebacker.
In his second year at the helm,
coach Kyle Cutnaw feels the
pieces are in place for a big
turnaround from last year’s 3-7
season.
5. CRESTVIEW: QB Preston Zaleski is going to be
tough to replace, but coach
Jared Owens has built a trend
of success for the Knights.
Sixteen letterwinners, a strong
offensive line and plenty of
team speed will make Crestview a tough contender once
again.
6. ADA: Senior LB Blake
Ansley has recorded at least
100 tackles in three-straight
seasons and heads up a team
that isn’t deep but will be
skilled on offense and experienced on both sides of the
ball.
2015 Spencerville
7. ALLEN EAST: Coach
Mike Abbey has an experienced, stronger and overall
more physical team. A veteran,
talented backfield will make
the Wing-T offense dangerous
again. However, improving
defense and being consistent
will be keys for the Mustangs.
8. PAULDING: Thirteen
returning letterwinners and
new coach Tyler Arend give
Paulding reason to believe
they can improve on last year’s
1-9 record.
BEARCATS
Good Luck THOMAS E. BAYLIFF
Bearcats
FUNERAL HOME
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Spencerville • 419-647-4205
(Clock Tower Plaza)
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40785098
Minster
MINSTER OUTLOOK
COACH: Geron Stokes
YEARS AT SCHOOL: 3rd, 18-7
LAST YEAR’S RECORD: 12-3 (5-3 MAC),
Division VI state champions
RETURNING STARTERS: Josh Nixon (Sr.,
QB); Bryce Schmiesing (Jr., WR); Jacob
Dues (Sr., WB/DB); Peter Ranley (Sr., DE);
Josh Otting (Sr., OL/DL); Derek Grieshop
(Sr., OL); Jason Schultz (Sr., RB); Evan
Huelsman (Sr., RB/LB); Chad Stoner
(Sr., LB); Jared Thobe (Sr., DB); Jacob
Stechschulte (Sr., DB); Sam Dues; Joe
Trzaska.
PLAYER TO WATCH: Quarterback Josh
Nixon is back after leading the Wildcats to
a 46-42 victory over Kirtland in the Division
VI state championship game. He threw for
417 yards and four TDs in the title game. In
the regular season, he threw for 2,089 yards
and 22 TDs. Overall, in the last two years,
including the playoffs, he’s thrown for 5,706
Coldwater
COLDWATER OUTLOOK
COACH: Chip Otten
YEARS AT SCHOOL: 6th, 64-11
LAST YEAR’S RECORD: 14-1 (7-1 MAC)
(Division V state champions)
RETURNING STARTERS: Brandon
Forsthoefel (Sr., C); Mitch Clune (Sr.,
TE/OT/DE); Malave Bettinger (Sr., OT/
DT); Aaron Harlamert (Sr., WR/CB); Kyle
McKibben (WR); Kraig Schoenherr (WR);
Chris Post (RB); Collin Seitz (Sr., LB).
OFFENSE: Spread
DEFENSE: Multiple
PLAYER TO WATCH: Aaron Harlamert will
start at wide receiver and cornerback. He
was first team all-MAC at CB last year with
three interceptions and seven deflections.
He was also first team all-district and
second team all-state. He’ll be a big key to
the defense, as well as the offense.
TOP NEWCOMERS: Jack Hemmelgarn
(Sr., QB); Andrew Gillum (Sr., DE); Cory
Selhorst (Sr., DT); Tony Rammel (Sr., LB);
Neal Muhlenkamp (Jr., WR/S); Dylan Thobe
(Jr., UTIL).
OUTLOOK: Coldwater enters the year as
the three-time Division V state champion.
Marion Local
MARION LOCAL OUTLOOK
COACH: Tim Goodwin
(Division VII state champions)
RETURNING STARTERS: Hunter Wilker
(Sr., WR); Aaron Nietfeld (Sr.); John Dirksen
(So..); John Schwieterman (Sr., C); Cole
Griesdorn (Sr.); Nick Heckman (Jr.); Kyle
Homan (Sr.).
OFFENSE: Power running
DEFENSE: Multiple
PLAYER TO WATCH: WR/RB Hunter Wilker
has been a standout in state championship
games since his freshman year. He was first
team all-state last year, with 42 receptions
for 763 yards and 16 TDs. The Flyers will
have a new quarterback, but at least he will
have one of the top playmakers in the area
to either throw or hand the ball to.
OUTLOOK: Marion Local comes in as the
four-time defending state champion and
winners of 37 straight games. Their last loss
New Bremen
NEW BREMEN OUTLOOK
COACH: Chris Schmidt
YEARS AT SCHOOL: First year
RETURNING STARTERS: Mitchell Kramer
(Sr., OL/DL); Garrett Doherty (Jr., RB/LB);
Max Messick (Jr., OL/DL); Greg Parker (Sr.,
WR/DB).
PLAYER TO WATCH: Greg Parker, an
honorable mention all-MAC player, will be
counted on heavily, both at WR and DB.
TOP NEWCOMERS: Caleb Alig (So., RB/
DB); Levi Clem (So., RB/DB); Logan Dicke
(So., OL/DL); Cody Duncan (Sr., WR/DB);
Jake Hemmelgarn (Jr., RB/DB); Tanner
Hindall (Sr., WR/DB); Deion Hoehne (Sr.,
TE/LB); Avery Powers (Soph., QB/DB);
Brennan Topp (Sr., OL/LB).
OUTLOOK: New Bremen first-year coach
Chris Schmidt inherits a team that has
yards and 58 TDs.
OUTLOOK: Minster should again have a fun
offense to watch, with QB Nixon firing at
two of his favorite targets from last year, WR
Schmiesing and WR Dues. Gone is first team
all-state TE Eli Wolf, had had 925 receiving
yards and 11 TDs. Defensively, Minster
returns its top two tacklers in Sam Dues and
Joe Trzaska. The offense will power Minster
to another successful playoff run.
MINSTER SCHEDULE
Aug. 28...... Fort Loramie...............7:30 p.m.
Sept. 4....... at Lehman Catholic, 7 p.m.
Sept. 11...... at Coldwater...............7:30 p.m.
Sept. 18..... Marion Local...............7:30 p.m.
Sept. 25..... at Versailles................7:30 p.m.
Oct. 2......... Delphos St. John’s......7:30 p.m.
Oct. 9......... at Fort Recovery.........7:30 p.m.
Oct. 16....... St. Henry....................7:30 p.m.
Oct. 23....... at Anna.......................7:30 p.m.
Oct. 30...... Parkway......................7:30 p.m.
But the Cavaliers need to replace Division
V state offensive player of the year
quarterback Brody Hoying, who is playing
defensive back at Eastern Michigan. But the
Cavaliers return seven starters on offense,
including second team all-MAC linemen C
Forsthoefel and OT Bettinger. The defense
has four starters back, including second
team all-state DB Harlamert. Another
void to fill is first team all-state DL Mitch
Fullenkamp, the Division V state defensive
player of the year. The Cavs have enough of
the nucleus in place to keep their winning
tradition on track. In the last 20 years under
coaches John Reed and Chip Otten, the
Cavaliers have gone 232-42 with 10 state
finals appearances and five state titles.
COLDWATER SCHEDULE
Aug. 28...... Kenton........................7:30 p.m.
Sept. 4....... Delphos Jefferson......7:30 p.m.
Sept. 11...... Minster.......................7:30 p.m.
Sept. 18..... at St. Henry................7:30 p.m.
Sept. 25..... Anna...........................7:30 p.m.
Oct. 2......... at Parkway..................7:30 p.m.
Oct. 9......... Marion Local...............7:30 p.m.
Oct. 16....... at Versailles................7:30 p.m.
Oct. 23....... Delphos St. John’s......7:30 p.m.
Oct. 30...... at New Bremen..........7:30 p.m.
Midwest Athletic
Conference forecast
By Tom Usher
1. MARION LOCAL. Sure, Marion Local (15-0, 8-0 MAC) graduated
QB Dustin Rethman and TB Jacy
Goettemoeller. But the Flyers still
have seven starters to build around,
including first-team all-state WR
Hunter Wilker. The Flyers have won
37 straight games and four straight
state titles. Until they actually lose a
game, this is a no-brainker. The Flyers have earned this top spot.
2. COLDWATER. Imagine, a
three-time defending state champion
Coldwater (14-1, 7-1 MAC) not
picked as the league favorite, but
that’s what we have here. Coldwater
graduated first team all-state QB
Brody Hoying and first team all-state
DL Mitch Fullenkamp. But the Cavaliers return seven starters on offense
and four on defense, including DB
Aaron Harlamert. Just remember
over the last 20 years, the Cavs are
232-42 with five state titles.
3. MINSTER. The defending
Division VI state champion Minster
(12-3, 5-3 MAC) returns its QB Josh
Nixon and is picked third in the
league? This is the MAC, the owner
of three state champions last football
season. Nixon is the best QB in the
league, firing for 417 yards and five
TDs in the state title game. He also
has two of his top WRs back in Bryce
Schmiesing and Jacob Dues. Let the
offensive fireworks begin.
4. ST. HENRY. The Redskins (6-4,
4-4 MAC) return their QB Mitchel
Stammen and 1,000-yard rusher Jesse
Niekamp. If their offensive line jells,
the Redskins can return to the playoffs.
5. VERSAILLES. Versailles (7-5,
5-3 MAC) went to the playoffs last
year, and it returns 22 lettermen,
including 1,500-yard rusher Collin
Peters, who is being recruited by
Ivy League schools. The Tigers have
nine returning starters, which should
translate into another playoff appearance.
6. FORT RECOVERY. Fort
Recovery (7-5, 4-4 MAC) went to the
playoffs last year, and it returns QB
Caleb Martin and his top WR, Wes
Wenning. Look for another good season and playoff appearance from the
Indians.
7. DELPHOS ST. JOHN’S. The
Blue Jays (4-7, 2-6 MAC) reached
the playoffs again last year but ended
up 4-7. The Blue Jays return seven
starters. They’ll roll out a new QB
and a new tailback this year. They
do return three receivers back,
Aaron Reindel, Eric Vogt and Jordan
Mohler. This is a young team, with
only two seniors, Mohler and OL/DL
Trent Closson, among the returning
starters.
8. ANNA. Anna (5-5, 4-4 MAC)
has a new coach in Nick Marino, who
coached at Urbana last year. Marino
plans to roll out the spread offense.
He has five returning starters, who
will go both ways, including three
WRs. Sophomore Travis Meyer will
take over at QB.
9. PARKWAY. Parkway (1-9, 1-7
MAC) returns its QB Justin Barga
and TB Sage Dugan in its spread
offense. The key will be how quickly
the young line develops.
10. NEW BREMEN. New Bremen (0-10, 0-8 MAC) has a first-year
coach in Chris Schmidt who takes
over a program which has lost 24
in a row. Sophomore Avery Powers
will be the QB. The good news is 40
players are on the roster, which is up
from the last few years.
came against Coldwater 27-0 on Oct. 12,
2012, at Coldwater. The Flyers have seven
starters back, including first team all-state
WR Wilker and C Schwieterman. Three
starters return on the offensive line to build
around. Only three starters are back on
defense. Huge voids will be at quarterback
and running with the graduation of QB
Dustin Rethman and RB Jacy Goettemoeller.
In spite of those losses, look for the Flyers
to compete for another MAC title and make
another deep run in the playoffs.
MARION LOCAL SCHEDULE
Aug. 28...... at McComb...................... 7 p.m.
Sept. 4....... Beallsville...................7:30 p.m.
Sept. 11...... New Bremen...............7:30 p.m.
Sept. 18..... at Minster...................7:30 p.m.
Sept. 25..... St. Henry....................7:30 p.m.
Oct. 2......... at Anna.......................7:30 p.m.
Oct. 9......... at Coldwater...............7:30 p.m.
Oct. 16....... Fort Recovery.............7:30 p.m.
Oct. 23....... Versailles....................7:30 p.m.
Oct. 30...... at Delphos St. John’s. 7:30 p.m.
posted back-to-back 0-10 seasons and
is saddled with a 24-game losing streak.
Four starters return, and they’ll see action
both ways. Sophomore Powers will take
over at QB. New Bremen is young and
inexperienced, but the good news is there
are 40 players on the roster, which is up
from the last few years. Hopefully, that can
translate into victories.
NEW BREMEN SCHEDULE
Aug. 28...... Bradford.....................7:30 p.m.
Sept. 4....... at Holgate...................7:30 p.m.
Sept. 11...... at Marion Local..........7:30 p.m.
Sept. 18..... Versailles....................7:30 p.m.
Sept. 25..... at Delphos St. John’s. 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 2......... Fort Recovery.............7:30 p.m.
Oct. 9......... at St. Henry................7:30 p.m.
Oct. 16....... Anna...........................7:30 p.m.
Oct. 23....... at Parkway..................7:30 p.m.
Oct. 30...... Coldwater...................7:30 p.m.
40783959
The Lima News
Good Luck to all Area Football Teams!
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The Lima News
St. John’s option attack enters Year 2
By Tom Usher
DELPHOS – It was another playoff
season for Delphos St. John’s in 2014.
But, looking back, it wasn’t a year to
remember for the Blue Jays.
The Blue Jays finished 4-7 and lost
to Arlington 28-0 in the first round of
the playoffs.
“We don’t make excuses (with a
tough schedule) in that 4-7 is not
where we want to be,” St. John’s coach
Todd Schulte said, “and being shut out
three straight times to end the season,
with Coldwater, Marion and Arlington.
… That’s not where you want to be,
and it does leave a little bit of sour
taste in your mouth. Hopefully the kids
feel the same way.”
Last year the Blue Jays scrapped
their power running game and went
with an option attack.
“It’s the same stuff (this year),”
Schulte said. “We used to be the power
and option team; that’s who we were.
Just with our personnel, we’re not the
power team we used to be. We’re an
option team, and we’ll try to spread the
ball around the field a little more by
throwing it.”
Six starters return on offense, including three on the offensive line.
Returnees up front are guard Brett
Vonderwell, center Jaret Jackson and
Delphos St. John’s Aaron Reindel runs past
Arlington’s Logan Speyer during last year’s
playoff loss. Reindel returns for the Blue Jays
as a wide receiver and defensive back this
season.
tackle Trent Closson.
Three wide receivers are also back,
including the team’s leading receiver
from last year junior Eric Vogt (25
receptions, 234 yards). Also back are
Aaron Reindel (12 receptions, 153
yards, 3 TDs) and Jordan Mohler.
Another receiving option is 6-foot-7
junior tight end Tim Kreeger.
Gone is option quarterback Nick
Martz, who threw for 760 yards and
led the team in rushing with 744 yards
DELPHOS ST. JOHN’S
OUTLOOK
COACH: Todd Schulte
RETURNING STARTERS: Aaron Reindel
(Jr., WR/DB); Eric Vogt (Jr., WR); Brett
Vonderwell (Jr., G); Jaret Jackson (Jr., C);
Jordon Mohler (Sr., WR/DB); Trent Closson
(Sr., OT/DT); Tim Kreeger (Jr., DE).
OFFENSE: Option
DEFENSE: 3-3
PLAYER TO WATCH: WR/DB Jordon Mohler
will play rover on defense and be counted on
for being a key part of the offense.
TOP NEWCOMERS: Jacob Youngpeter (Jr.,
QB); Troy Schwinnen (So., RB).
with seven TDs.
The quarterback will be 6-2 junior
Jacob Youngpeter.
“He does that (run the option) very
well,” Schulte said. “… He also has a
nice arm. He’s accurate and throws the
ball well.”
Also gone is running back/wide
receiver/punt returner/kick returner/
defensive back Evan Hays.
Taking Hays’ spot at running back
will be senior Evan Mohler (5-9, 170)
and sophomore Troy Schwinnen (5-9,
170).
“We’ll do a little bit of running back
by committee,” Schulte said.
Defensive, the Blue Jays will continue to play the 3-3 they rolled out last
year.
Veteran Blue Jays on defense are
Reindel at defensive back, Kreeger at
end, Mohler at rover and Closson at
tackle.
All three linebackers need to be
replaced.
With close to eight players going
both ways, Schulte said the team must
stay healthy.
“And with only eight seniors, we’re
going to be young,” Schulte said. “It’s
going to boil down to how long does it
takes us to gain playing experience.”
DELPHOS ST. JOHN’S
schedule
Aug. 28..... at Bath................................ 7 p.m.
Sept. 4...... Lima Central Catholic...7:30 p.m.
Sept. 11..... at Versailles...................7:30 p.m.
Sept. 18.... Fort Recovery................7:30 p.m.
Sept. 25.... New Bremen..................7:30 p.m.
Oct. 2........ at Minster......................7:30 p.m.
Oct. 9........ at Anna..........................7:30 p.m.
Oct. 16...... Parkway.........................7:30 p.m.
Oct. 23...... at Coldwater..................7:30 p.m.
Oct. 30..... Marion Local..................7:30 p.m.
Reach Tom Usher at tusher@civitasmedia.com or on
Twitter at @Lima_Usher.
Strong senior class seeks third NWC title for Jefferson
By Ross Bishoff
DELPHOS — A year ago, Chris Sommers entered his first season as head
football coach at Delphos Jefferson with a
young, inexperienced group of players.
Those Wildcats did nothing less than
finish the regular season with a 21-0 victory over rival Spencerville to claim the
Northwest Conference title outright.
This season, Sommers and virtually the
same group of players are a year older, a
year more experienced and focused on
claiming a third-straight NWC title.
“We have a number of seniors who have
won a lot of football games with us,” Sommers said. “We were young last year, and
we knew that going into the season. We
played a lot of football players, so we got a
lot of experience, and that’s a great thing.
But I’ve been really happy with some of
our younger players really competing to
get a position. So it’s a good nucleus of
older guys and younger talented players
this year.
“The guys have been working really
hard, and I’ve been very happy with the
senior leadership.”
Jefferson returns 15 letterwinners from
last year and 14 starters from a team that
went 6-1 in the NWC and 8-3 overall with
a first-round playoff loss to Bucyrus Wynford.
And even with all that success came two
important lessons about what it takes to
win in a highly competitive conference
and then succeed in the playoffs.
“We want to be more of a physical
football team. That’s something the post-
Delphos Jefferson’s Dalton Hicks, left, wraps up
Ada’s Blake Ansley during a game last year. Dalton
leads a talented group of returners for the Wildcats’
defense, which led the Northwest Conference in
rushing defense, total team defense, scoring
defense and turnover ratio in 2014.
season taught us, and it’s something we’ve
emphasized in the offseason,” Sommers
said. “(The NWC schedule) taught our
guys it’s a grind, and you just have to keep
grinding away. Anything can happen in
a good football league, and the NWC is
a great football league. You put yourself
in the best position to compete for a title
and last year it worked out for us.”
A big reason it worked out was a punishing defense. The Wildcats led the NWC
in virtually every team defensive category:
Rushing defense (82.2 yards per game),
total team defense (217.6 ypg), scoring
defense (12.1 points allowed a game) and
turnover ratio (plus-9).
And this year that bruising D might be
even better with seven returnees.
“Defensively, we have a number of guys
back, it’s a veteran group,” Sommers said.
“We’re really excited about this defensive
group.”
Senior four-year starter Dalton Hicks
(6-1, 225) leads the 4-3 defense after
gaining honorable mention All-Ohio as a
linebacker last year when he recorded 104
total tackles (80 solo). Senior defensive
end Corbin Betz (5-7, 220) was another
All-NWC selection after recording 70 tackles while sophomore Brenen Auer (5-6,
165) started as a freshman at linebacker
and finished with 47 tackles.
Senior Josh Teman (6-1, 160, 61 tackles) and junior Jace Stockwell (5-11, 180)
are key returning defensive backs.
Offensively, Jefferson’s quick-paced
Wing-T is clicking even better heading
into the season after transitioning out of
the spread offense the team ran in 2013.
“Year 2 we’ve gotten further along with
it,” Sommers said. “We noticed right away
the guys had retained a lot, and it’s the
type of offense where there’s so much repetition. We’ve been able to finesse things
quicker than we were last year and add
DELPHOS
JEFFERSON
OUTLOOK
COACH: Chris Sommers
Second year, 8-3
LAST YEAR’S RECORD: 8-3
overall, 6-1 NWC Champions
RETURNING STARTERS:
Bryce Lindeman (OL/DL, Sr.),
Noah Illig (OL/DL, Sr.), Ryan
Goergens (TE/DB, Sr.), Grant
Wallace (WR/DB, Sr.), Dalton
Hicks (TE/LB, Sr.), Adam Rode
(QB/DL, Sr.), Mike Cline (RB/DB,
Sr.), Josh Teman (RB/DB, Sr.),
Corbin Betz (RB/DL, Sr.), Jace
Stockwell (QB/DB, Jr.), Hunter
Binkley (RB/LB, Jr.), Drew Reiss
(WR/DB, Jr.), Brenen Auer (RB/
LB, Soph.), Bobby Stevenson
(OL/DL, So.).
OFFENSE: Wing-T
DEFENSE: 4-3
PLAYER TO WATCH: Senior
Dalton Hicks (6-1, 225) has
started since his freshman
year and gained All-Ohio status
as a linebacker last year. The
three-time All-NWC selection is a
highly physical, tough player who
wreaks havoc on defense.
TOP NEWCOMER: Sophomore
Brenen Auer (5-6, 165) earned
a letter last year as a freshman
who made an impact in some
big key games. This year, he’ll
show off his skills as a talented
running back also.
See JEFFERSON | 9F
DELPHOS JEFFERSON
SCHEDULE
Aug. 28..... at Shawnee.................... 7 p.m.
Sept. 4...... at Coldwater.............7:30 p.m.
Sept. 11..... Fairview.......................... 7 p.m.
Sept. 19.... Allen East....................... 7 p.m.
Sept. 25.... at Paulding..................... 7 p.m.
Oct. 2........ at Bluffton...................... 7 p.m.
Oct. 9........ Columbus Grove............ 7 p.m.
Oct. 16...... at Crestview................... 7 p.m.
Oct. 23...... Ada................................. 7 p.m.
Oct. 30..... at Spencerville............... 7 p.m.
2015 Delphos St. John’s
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DELPHOS, OHIO 45833
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2015 Delphos Jefferson
WILDCATS
The Lima News
Youthful Upper Scioto Valley aims to compete
By Mike Miller
McGUFFEY — Josh Spencer enters
his fourth season as the head coach at
Upper Scioto Valley with hopes of a successful season.
The Rams have only four seniors on
the roster, so how quickly some of the
younger players develop and fit in will
be a key to success.
Spencer points to very good overall
team speed and an athletic offensive line
as strengths for the Rams this season.
USV does return a standout running
back in junior Austin Sloan, who totaled
1,812 all-purpose yards for the Rams
as a sophomore. Spencer expects big
things from him this season.
Quarterback duties will be handled by
sophomore Jason Moots, who will run
the offense out of the flex bone attack.
Moots will be counted to utilize playaction with Sloan and also find junior
wide receiver Chase Rose, who presents
UPPER SCIOTO VALLEY
SCHEDULE
UPPER SCIOTO VALLEY OUTLOOK
Aug. 28..... Ada................................. 7 p.m.
Sept. 4...... at Cory-Rawson............. 7 p.m.
Sept. 11..... at Indian Lake...........7:30 p.m.
Sept. 18.... Lehman Catholic........... 7 p.m.
Sept. 25.... at Waynesfield-Goshen. 7 p.m.
Oct. 2........ Perry.............................. 7 p.m.
Oct. 9........ at Riverside.................... 7 p.m.
Oct. 16...... at Hardin Northern........ 7 p.m.
Oct. 23...... Fort Loramie.................. 7 p.m.
Oct. 30..... at Ridgemont................. 7 p.m.
COACH: Josh Spencer
LAST YEAR’S RECORD: 4-6, 3-4 NWCC
RETURNING STARTERS: Blake
Stephens (RB/S, Sr.), Austin Sloan (RB/
CB, Jr.), Dakota Cornell (RB/S, Jr.),
Peyton Dyer (C/DT, Jr.), Chase Rose
(WR/CB, Jr.), Trey Freytag (FB/LB, Jr.),
Kolton Keith (FB/LB, So.)
OFFENSE: Flex Bone
an outstanding target at 6-foot-3.
“He is a real weapon,” Spencer says of
Rose. “He is a really nice receiver with
good hands.”
The Rams lost seven starters on the
defensive side of the ball, so developing
depth there will be a big key and point
of concern.
Blake Stephens, a 5-10 senior safety,
will anchor the defensive backfield for
the Rams. Sophomore Kolton Keith will
be counted on to stop the run from his
line-backer position.
“We will operate defensively out of a
base 5-2,” Spencer said. “We also can
mix that up when we have to.”
The Rams’ No. 1 goal for this season
is to compete for the Northwest Central
Conference title. Spencer knows they
DEFENSE: 5-2
PLAYER TO WATCH: Austin Sloan, a
5-foot-10, 161 pound junior running back,
totaled over 1,800 all- purpose yards for
the Rams last season, and they expect
big things from him this year.
TOP NEWCOMERS: The Rams have only
four seniors on the roster, so youngsters
like sophomores Jason Moots and
Draven Roberts along with freshman
Wayne Lowery will have an opportunity to
make an impact this year.
must be able to compete against the top
echelon teams in the NWCC to accomplish that goal.
“I look for Riverside, Lehman Catholic
and Fort Loramie to be at the top of the
NWCC again this year,” Spencer said.
“We look to improve on last years’ 4-6
record with a good combination of size
and speed on both sides of the ball.”
Perry optimistic with experience, size
By Mike Miller
PERRY SCHEDULE
PERRY TOWNSHIP – Perry coach
Jesse Kill goes into his fifth season at the
helm of the Commodores with a sense of
realistic optimism.
“Last year we only had five starters
back, and this year we have 18.” Kill
said. “Two years ago, our lines averaged
165 pounds, and this year they average
260.”
Throw in the fact that Perry has junior
quarterback Plummie Gardner returning
for his third season as the starter with
senior wide receiver Brandon Neal to
throw to, and the Commodores feel they
can not only compete but win week in
and week out.
“Last year we were in every game until
the second half, when our youth and
inexperience showed.” Kill said. “We
hope to be in a position to win games at
the end this year.”
The Commodores have four starters
back on the offensive line, and Kill says
they are bigger and stronger than in the
past. Kill also credit new line coach Luke
Taviano with doing wonders with both
Aug. 28..... at Troy Christian.......7:30 p.m.
Sept. 4...... at Allen East................... 7 p.m.
Sept. 11..... Ayersville....................... 7 p.m.
Sept. 18.... at Ridgemont................. 7 p.m.
Sept. 25.... Lehman Catholic........... 7 p.m.
Oct. 2........ at Upper Scioto Valley... 7 p.m.
Oct. 9........ Waynesfield-Goshen..... 7 p.m.
Oct. 16...... Riverside........................ 7 p.m.
Oct. 23...... at Hardin Northern........ 7 p.m.
Oct. 30..... Fort Loramie.................. 7 p.m.
the offensive and defensive lines.
Defensively, the Commodores will
operate out the 4-3 set, and Kill hopes
to be able to count on his linebackers to
solidify the defense.
Senior Dustin Lauck returns at middle
linebacker and will be flanked by seniors
Sam Sanders and Robby Mulcahy as the
outside linebackers.
“That’s a lot of experience and senior
leadership at linebacker.” Kill said.
“Those three bring a lot to the defensive
side of the ball.”
Kill looks for the Northwest Central
Conference to be a toss-up this season,
Plummie Gardner lets go of the ball during last
year’s game against Waynesfield-Goshen. Gardner
is in his third year as starting quarterback for
the Commodores, who are bigger and more
experienced that in recent years.
with Lehman Catholic and Fort Loramie
on top, with Riveside, Upper Scioto Valley and Perry all looking to break into
the upper tier of the league.
The Commodores face three early
tests, as they open the season with
games against Troy Christian, Allen East
and Ayersville.
PERRY OUTLOOK
COACH: Jesse Kill
4, 12-28
LAST YEAR’S RECORD: 2-8,
1-5 NWCC
RETURNING STARTERS:
Dillon Maxwell (WR/DB, So.),
Plummie Gardner (QB/DB,
Jr.), John Hairston (WR/DB,
Sr.), Brandon Neal (WR/DB,
Sr.), Maleek Cole (RB/DB,
Sr.), LaMonte Nichols (WR/
DB, Jr.), Amondre Knuckles
(WR/DL, Jr.), Luke Floyd (RB/
LB, So.), Don Jordan (TE/DE,
Jr.), Steven Overly (WR/DB,
Sr.), Aaron Rush (TE/LB, So.),
Wayna Smith (RB/DB, Jr.), R. J.
Patton (OL/DL, So.), Kevin Allen
(OL/DL, Sr.), Dustin Lauck (OL/
LB, Sr.), Sam Sanders (OL/LB,
Sr.), Matthew Satterfield (OL/
DL, Sr.), Robby Mulcahy (TE/
LB, Sr.)
OFFENSE: Pistol Spread Option
DEFENSE: 4-3
PLAYER TO WATCH:
Quarterback Plummie Gardner
is a dual threat with a strong
arm and has Brandon Neal, who
has great speed and hands at
wide reeiver.
TOP NEWCOMERS: For the
Commodores it is a coach, line
coach Luke Taviano, who is
doing wonders with both lines,
according to head coach Jesse
Kill.
Jefferson
From page 8F
things to it as well.”
The squad scored 30.7
points per game and averaged 246.2 rushing yards
per game. And most of that
offense returns in tact.
Junior Hunter Binkley
(5-8, 175, first team AllNWC) is back after rushing for 1,024 yards and 11
touchdowns a year ago,
senior Mike Cline (5-11,
165) ran for 615 yards and
five TDs, while Auer (33
carries, 239 yards) looks to
be a very talented addition
at running back. Oh by the
way, Stockwell returns as the
quarterback after completing
40-of-84 passes with seven
touchdowns, four interceptions and rushing for 93
yards.
The offensive line returns
two major cogs in senior
Bryce Lindeman (6-0, 310,
second team All-NWC) and
senior Noah Illig (5-11, 180,
first team All-NWC).
“Noah has started since
his sophomore year. He’s a
very tough guy, and that’s
the thing that really sticks
out to us as a coaching
staff,” Sommers said. “He’s
extremely tough and brings
a lot of heart and soul to the
team. Last year he was the
lone returning starter to the
offense and really solidified
himself as the leader of the
offense.”
Northwest Central Conference forecast
By Mike Miller
1. PERRY. Perry looks
to make the jump into
the upper echelon of the
league on the strength
of 18 returning starters. Junior quarterback
Plummie Gardner will
begin his third season
leading the Commodores’ offense, and much
improved line play on
both sides of the ball
give Perry optimism that
they can make that break
through. A league title
should give the Commodores their first ever
playoff appearance.
2. FORT LORAMIE.
Fort Loramie finished
second in the NWCC last
year and went 7-4 overall
to make the playoffs for
the sixth year in a row.
The Redskins will be
under the tutelage of a
new coach this season, so
it remains to be seen how
they adjust to the new
system.
3. SIDNEY LEHMAN
CATHOLIC. The Cavaliers have gone 5-0 in
league play the last two
years and have made the
playoffs eight times in
the last 10 years. However, they graduated their
quarterback, their top
four running backs and
their top two receivers.
4. UPPER SCIOTO
VALLEY. Upper Scioto
Valley needs to replace
seven defensive starters,
but good team speed
should help on the offensive side of the ball. The
Rams went 4-6 overall and
3-4 in the league last season and have high hopes
to improve those marks.
5. RIVERSIDE. A
much improved Riverside
squad went 6-4 last year
and looks to continue
that improvement into a
new season.
6. WAYNESFIELDGOSHEN. The Tigers
only have 25 players on
the roster this year.
7. RIDGEMONT. A
young Gophers team has
work to do to get into the
mix for a league title.
8. HARDIN NORTHERN. Hardin Northern
enters the league for its
inaugural season, and
the Polar Bears are an
unknown factor at this
time after dropping out
of the Blanchard Valley
Conference.
2015 Perry
COMMODORES
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THE COMPUTER GUY
The Lima News
Leipsic aiming for another trip to playoffs
By Jim Naveau
receiver.
Or they could share time again at QB,
where Mangas is more of a drop-back
passer and Lomeli is more of a dual
threat to mix in some running plays
with passing in Leipsic’s spread offense.
Gavin Cupp, a 6-foot, 5-inch, 290pound guard/defensive lineman who
has verbally committed to Ohio State,
leads the offensive and defensive lines
and defensive end Jordan Brown was
first-team All-Blanchard Valley Conference. Cupp was first-team All-BVC and
second-team All-Ohio.
Cupp (OL/DL), Brown (TE/DL),
Lomeli (QB/DB), Brecht (RB/DB),
Mangas (QB/DB) and Jordan Berger
(OL/DL) are returning two-way starters. Linebackers Keith Scheckelhoff and
Richard Parrish | The Lima News Austin Chamberlin are also returning
Leipsic’s Gavin Cupp has committed to play starters.
“Things are looking good,” said Mancollege football at The Ohio State University.
First, he and the Vikings hope to continue their gas, in his second year as the Vikings’
streak of playoff appearances.
coach. “I think you can tell it’s Year 2
of the system. The kids look a lot more
plays a lot bigger than he is. The bigcomfortable. We need more consistency
gest reason, though, is we need to get
on the lines on both sides of the ball.
him the ball a lot more.”
We need to get our running game going
There also could be a change at
and need to be more mentally and
quarterback, where Ross Mangas (998
physically tough on defense. We’re big
yards, 8 TDs) and Isaiah Lomeli (497
and athletic and need our linebackers to
yards, 10 TDs) shared the job last year,
step up.”
with Mangas taking more snaps. This
season, Lomeli could spend more time
Reach Jim Naveau at 567-242-0414 or on Twitter at @
Lima_Naveau.
at quarterback, with Mangas playing
LEIPSIC — It’s not all about the
streak. But the streak is important.
Leipsic’s football team will be trying to reach the state playoffs for the
seventh year in a row this season. And
with starters back at 14 positions, a big
senior class and an Ohio State recruit
in the lineup, another playoff trip is a
realistic goal.
“It’s important to us as a program.
Each class wants to keep that streak
going,” Leipsic coach Andy Mangas
said. “This senior class doesn’t want to
be the one to break the streak. We want
to keep it rolling.”
Leipsic is coming off a 5-6 season
where it got into the playoffs with only
one win over a team with a winning
record. So, even though the Vikings had
some success last season, they aren’t
afraid to shake things up a little.
One priority is getting more production from the running game. It’s
enough of a priority that first-team
All-Blanchard Valley wide receiver Nate
Brecht, who caught 46 passes last season, will be moving to running back.
“I look at it this way — he had about
50 catches, and he should get 150 carries. He’s got to get the ball more, and
that’s the easiest way to do it,” Mangas
said. “He’s not the biggest kid, but he
LEIPSIC OUTLOOK
COACH: Andy Mangas
Second, 5-6
RETURNING STARTERS: Nate Brecht
RB/DB; Jordan BrownTE/DL; Austin
Chamberlin RB/LB; Gavin Cupp OL/
DL; Isaiah Lomeli QB/DB; Ross Mangas
QB/WR/DL; Keith Scheckelhoff WR/
LB; Jordan Berger OL/DL
OFFENSE: Spread
DEFENSE: 4-3
PLAYER TO WATCH: Nate Brecht
caught 46 passes as a wide receiver
last year but will be switching to
running back to get the ball more often
this season.
TOP NEWCOMERS: Sualin Balcarcel
OL/DL; Hunter Morman WR/DB; Cole
Rieman WR/DB
LEIPSIC SCHEDULE
Aug. 28..... Spencerville................... 7 p.m.
Sept. 4...... at Columbus Grove........ 7 p.m.
Sept. 11..... North Baltimore............ 7 p.m.
Sept. 18.... Liberty-Benton.............. 7 p.m.
Sept. 25.... at Pandora-Gilboa......... 7 p.m.
Oct. 2........ at McComb.................... 7 p.m.
Oct. 9........ at Van Buren.................. 7 p.m.
Oct. 16...... Arlington........................ 7 p.m.
Oct. 23...... Vanlue............................ 7 p.m.
Oct. 30..... at Hopewell-Loudon...... 7 p.m.
Numbers a concern for Waynesfield-Goshen
By Mike Miller
at running back. Throw in sophomore
track standout Ty Eller, and the Tigers
should be able to move the ball out of
their spread Wing-T formation.
Defensively, the Tigers will operate
out of 4-2-5 and count on standout
defensive end Drew Lament and linebackers Crumrine and Dustin Klenke
to lead the way while the new players
develop.
“We expect big things from those
linebackers this season.” Turner said.
The offensive line will be anchored
by Shawn Shick, Chandler Little,
Klenke and Justin Agnew. They will
need to provide leadership while new
players are being added to the mix.
The new players need repetitions,
but all bring athleticism, Turner said.
Team speed is a plus for the Tigers,
plus a great work ethic has been shown
by the entire roster. The potential for
success is there, and Turner hopes the
players will continue to put forth the
effort to learn the game.
Turner sees the Northwest Central
WAYNESFIELD — Like many small
school football programs, WaynesfieldGoshen is faced with a numbers
crunch.
The Tigers have only 25 players on
their roster and only seven starters
back from last season’s 3-7 team (2-4
Northwest Central Conference).
Some of those 25 players have never
played football before, so the job in
front of second year coach Tyler Turner is obvious.
Teaching the new players the proper
techniques will be a key for the Tigers.
Thankfully, there is also some real talent returning.
“Our goal right now is to get better
day by day,” Turner said. “We hope to
get better week to week as the season
goes on.”
Trey Crumrine returns at quarterback for the Tigers, who have juniors
Cheyne Tate and Josh Searson back
WAYNESFIELDGOSHEN SCHEDULE
WAYNESFIELDGOSHEN OUTLOOK
Aug. 28.....Hilltop......................... 7 p.m.
Sept. 4......Troy Christian............. 7 p.m.
Sept. 11.....at Allen East............... 7 p.m.
Sept. 18....Hardin Northern........ 7 p.m.
Sept. 25....Upper Scioto Valley.... 7 p.m.
Oct. 2........Fort Loramie............... 7 p.m.
Oct. 9........at Perry...................... 7 p.m.
Oct. 16......Ridgemont................. 7 p.m.
Oct. 23......at Riverside................ 7 p.m.
Oct. 30.....at Lehman Catholic... 7 p.m.
COACH: Tyler Turner
YEARS, RECORD AT SCHOOL: 2, 3-7
LAST YEAR’S RECORD: 3-7, 2-4 NWCC
RETURNING LETTERWINNERS: 9
RETURNING STARTERS: Drew Lament
(TE/DE, Sr.), Craig Green (G/DT, Sr.), Trey
Crumrine (QB/MLB, Sr.), Cheyne Tate (FB/
LB, Jr.), Josh Searson (SB/DB, Jr.), Chandler
Little (OT/DE), Dustin Klenke (G/FB/LB),
OFFENSE: Spread Wing-T
DEFENSE: 4-2-5
PLAYER TO WATCH: Drew Lament is a
tight end on offense and a defensive end
on defense. He is hard to cover and bring
tremendous athleticism to the field on both
sides of the ball.
TOP NEWCOMERS: Tyler Eller, Cam Perry,
Kurt Bowersock, Quintin Werner, Zane
Wicker, Jordan McKinney and Brady Barnes
will all be counted on to contribute as they
develop the techniques of successful players.
Conference as a challenge his team is
ready to meet.
“Lehman Catholic lost some starters, and Fort Loramie has a new head
coach, but both those programs reload
rather than rebuild,” Turner said.
“Everyone else is trying to close tha
gap on those two, and we hope to be in
the league conversation at the end of
the season.”
Parkway
St. Henry
PARKWAY OUTLOOK
COACH: Dan Cairns
YEARS AT SCHOOL: Fifth, 7-33
RETURNING LETTERMEN: Justin Barna (Jr.,
QB/DL); Clayton Bollenbacher (Sr., WR/DB);
Caleb Carlson (Sr., WR/DL); Sage Dugan (Sr.,
RB/LB); Jeremy Feldes (So., OL/DL); Kevin
Flaugher (Sr., WR/DB); Peyton Hamrick (Sr.,
RB/LB); Cody Kuhn (Jr., RB/LB); Tanner
Matthews (Sr., OL/DL); Caden May (So., WR/
DB); Shay Pond (Jr., OL/LB); Joshua Puthoff
(Jr., OL/DL); Bailey Rodriguez (Sr., WR/DB);
Alec Schoenleben (Jr., WR/DB); Logan Sutter
(Sr., OL/DL); Tysun Thatcher (Jr., OL/D).
OFFENSE: Spread
DEFENSE: 4-3
PLAYER TO WATCH: Quarterback Justin
Barna is a three-year starter. If Parkway can
establish a running game with RB Dugan, it
will help give Barna time to find his receivers.
OUTLOOK: Three-year starters are QB
Barna and RB Dugan. That’s a good place
to build around. The line has depth, but not
a lot of experience. The key on offense will
be establishing a running game to aid the
passing attack.
PARKWAY SCHEDULE
Aug. 28........Crestview.................... 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 4.........at Spencerville..................7 p.m.
Sept. 11........St. Henry..................... 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 18.......at Anna....................... 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 25.......at Fort Recovery......... 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 2...........Coldwater................... 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 9...........Versailles.................... 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 16.........at Delphos St. John’s.. 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 23.........New Bremen............... 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 30........at Minster................... 7:30 p.m.
ST. HENRY OUTLOOK
COACH: Brad Luthman
YEARS AT SCHOOL: 3rd (10-10)
LAST YEAR’S RECORD: 6-4 (4-4
MAC)
RETURNING STARTERS: Mitchel
Stammen (Sr., QB/DB); Jesse Niekamp
(Sr., RB/DB); Paul Stammen (Sr., RB/
LB); Justin Rindler (Sr., OL/DL).
PLAYER TO WATCH: Jesse Niekamp
ran for 1,311 yards and 17 TDs and
was first team all-MAC, first team alldistrict and special mention all-state.
The 6-2, 185-pounder also had 13
receptions for 93 yards and one TD.
TOP NEWCOMERS: Mitch
Schwieterman (Jr., TE/LB), Blake
Hoyng (Jr., WR/LB).
OUTLOOK: Coach Brad Luthman is
coming off back-to-back 6-4 seasons.
With his top two offensive players
back from last year, RB Niekamp and
QB Stammen, he hopes the team
can move up in the MAC standings.
The key will be the play of both lines,
where only one starter (OL/DL Rindler)
returns.
ST. HENRY SCHEDULE
Aug. 28....Covington.............7:30 p.m.
Sept. 4.....at Eaton...................... 7 p.m.
Sept. 11....at Parkway............7:30 p.m.
Sept. 18...Coldwater.............7:30 p.m.
Sept. 25...at Marion Local.....7:30 p.m.
Oct. 2.......Versailles...............7:30 p.m.
Oct. 9.......New Bremen.........7:30 p.m.
Oct. 16.....at Minster..............7:30 p.m.
Oct. 23.....at Fort Recovery....7:30 p.m.
Oct. 30....Anna......................7:30 p.m.
2015 Leipsic
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The Lima News
Rockets hope to fill voids quickly
By Mark Altstaetter
“We will rely heavily on our three seniors for leadership
at practices and during games. We expect to be
competitive at all times, regardless of how many young
guys we have starting on the field for us.”
PANDORA — With just six
returning letterwinners back,
Pandora-Gilboa second-year
coach Chris Myers will be relying heavily on the younger players to step up in a hurry.
Last season, P-G went 6-5
overall (6-2 Blanchard Valley
Conference) and lost to Route
12 rival Columbus Grove in the
first round of the Division VII
postseason playoffs, 21-6.
“As a very young team, twoa-days and all summer practices
will be vital to learning not
only the offensive and defensive
schemes but also proper technique and fundamentals,” Myers
said. “We will rely heavily on
our three seniors for leadership
at practices and during games.
We expect to be competitive
at all times, regardless of how
many young guys we have starting on the field for us.”
— Coach Chris Myers
The three seniors for the
Rockets include Josiah Basinger
(5-10, 180, RB/LB), Hunter
Hovest (5-6, 165, WR/DB) and
T.J. Koepplinger (5-9, 210, OL/
LB).
Basinger rushed for 329 yards
on 56 carries (5.9 yards per
carry) with four touchdowns
during the 2014 regular season.
Gone from last season’s playoff squad is Jacob Basinger, who
rushed for 1,570 yards and 22
TDs.
Myers expects Hovest to be a
target on offense and also provide stability in the secondary
on defense. He expects Koepplinger to be the anchor on the
offensive line and the signalcaller on defense at his middle
linebacker position.
Last season as a team, P-G
scored 32.5 points per game.
The Rockets allowed 19.1
points per game.
According to Myers, a couple
newcomers to keep an eye on
this season are Joey Luttfring
(5-11, 190, So., OL/DL) and
Ethan Steiner (6-2, 185, So.,
OL/DL). Both players are
expected to be two-way starters
this season.
Offensively, P-G will run the
spread. On the defensive side
of the football, the Rockets will
line up in a 4-3 formation.
Indian Lake
INDIAN LAKE OVERVIEW
COACH: Dave Coburn
YEARS AT SCHOOL: 18
LAST YEAR’S RECORD: 5-5 (4-1 in
Central Buckeye Conference)
RETURNING STARTERS: Alex Jacobs
(QB, Jr.), Nate Kaffenbarger (RB, DB, P,
Jr.), Cole Merritt (TB, Sr.), Andrew Hulbert
(TB, Jr.), Joey Davidson (RB, LB, Sr.), Tyler
Reprogle (SE, Jr.), Trenton Butterfield (T,
Sr.), Steven Major (T, DT, Sr.), Connor Even
(C, Sr.), Connor Davis (K, Sr.), Brandon
Henderson (LB, Jr.).
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Davidson was the
2014 Central Buckeye Conference Player
of the Year with 107 tackles. Jacobs had
1,265 yards passing and ran for 663 yards
to be named All-CBC first team. Major and
Merrit, who scored nine touchdowns, also
made first team All-CBC. A big year is also
expected out of Kaffenbarger.
TOP NEWCOMER: Curt Crockett (LB, Sr.)
OUTLOOK: Coburn says a fast start and
remaining healthy may result in a good
season. Four of the Lakers’ first five games
will be against 2014 playoff teams.
INDIAN LAKE SCHEDULE
Aug. 28.....Triad............................7:30 p.m.
Sept. 4......at Kenton Ridge............... 7 p.m.
Sept. 11.....Upper Scioto Valley.....7:30 p.m.
Sept. 18....at Bellefontaine...........7:30 p.m.
Sept. 25....Tippecanoe.................7:30 p.m.
Oct. 2........at Graham Local..........7:30 p.m.
Oct. 9........Northwestern..............7:30 p.m.
Oct. 16......at Greenon..................7:30 p.m.
Oct. 23......Urbana........................7:30 p.m.
Oct. 30.....at Benjamin Logan......7:30 p.m.
COACH: Adam Miller
YEARS AT SCHOOL: Fourth year
RETURNING STARTERS: Jared Niekamp
(Sr.), Sam Barga (Jr.), Collin Peters (Sr.),
Corey Dieringer (Sr.), Adam Lyons (Jr.),
Gavin Mills (Sr.), Kyle Gigandet (Sr.), Jacob
Heitkamp (Jr.), Brent Sherman (Sr.).
RETURNING LETTERMEN: Kyle Subler
(Jr.), Seth Barga (Sr.), Aaron Mangen (Jr.),
Kyle Marchal (Sr.), Jonny Moorman (Jr.),
Tanner Bey (Jr.), Mitchell Paulus (Jr.),
Andrew Schmitt (Sr.), Grant Keller (Jr.),
Eric Knapke (Jr.), Harrison Detrick (Sr.),
Brett Giandet (Sr.), Denver Toner (Sr.).
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Peters ran for
1,500 yards last season and is getting
attention from Ivy League and MidAmerican Conference schools. With their
experience, Dieringer and Gigandet are
expected to be key contributors this
COACH: Chris Myers
LAST YEAR’S RECORD: 6-5, 6-4 in the Blanchard Valley
Conference
RETURNING STARTERS: Josiah Basinger (RB/LB, Sr.), Hunter
Hovest (WR/DB, Sr.), T.J. Koepplinger (OL/LB, Sr.), Kyle Verhoff
(OL/DL, Jr.), Jason Walther (WR/DB. Jr.), Ryan Lee (WR/DB,
So.)
OFFENSE: Spread
DEFENSE: 4-3
PLAYER TO WATCH: Josiah Basinger should get the bulk of
carries out of the backfield. Last season, Basinger rushed for
329 yards and four touchdowns.
TOP NEWCOMERS: Sophomores Joey Luttfring and Ethan
Steiner are expected to step up on the line this season for the
Rockets.
PANDORA-GILBOA SCHEDULE
Aug. 28...................Columbus Grove.............................7:30 p.m.
Sept. 4....................at McComb.......................................... 7 p.m.
Sept. 11...................at Riverdale.......................................... 7 p.m.
Sept. 18..................Cory-Rawson....................................... 7 p.m.
Sept. 25..................Leipsic.................................................. 7 p.m.
Oct. 2......................at Hopewell-Loudon............................ 7 p.m.
Oct. 9......................Vanlue.................................................. 7 p.m.
Oct. 16....................North Baltimore................................... 7 p.m.
Oct. 23....................at Arcadia............................................. 7 p.m.
Oct. 30...................at Van Buren........................................ 7 p.m.
Anna
ANNA OUTLOOK
COACH: Nick Marino
YEARS AT SCHOOL: First season
LAST YEAR’S RECORD: 5-5
RETURNING STARTERS: Nate Stiefel
(OL, DL, Sr.), Kain Luthman (WR, LB, Sr.),
Carter Huelskamp (WR, LB, Sr.), Nike Bulle
(OL, Sr.), Blake Stephens (WR, DB, Sr.).
TOP NEWCOMERS: Travis Meyer (QB,
So.).
OUTLOOK: “Overall I think we’re a very
talented football team,” Marino said. “But
we have a lot ot learn about finishing. I
think the key is growth, how they develop
as a group and how they come together.”
ANNA SCHEDULE
Aug. 28.....Arlington.....................7:30 p.m.
Sept. 4......at Brookville .................... 7 p.m.
Sept. 11.....at Fort Recovery..........7:30 p.m.
Sept. 18....Parkway.......................7:30 p.m.
Sept. 25....at Coldwater...............7:30 p.m.
Oct. 2........Marion Local...............7:30 p.m.
Oct. 9........Delphos St. John’s......7:30 p.m.
Oct. 16......at New Bremen...........7:30 p.m.
Oct. 23......Minster........................7:30 p.m.
Oct. 30.....at St. Henry.................7:30 p.m.
Fort Recovery
Versailles
VERSAILLES OUTLOOK
PANDORA-GILBOA OUTLOOK
season.
TOP NEWCOMERS: Kyle Subler (Jr.),
Grant Keller (Jr.), Eric Knapke (Jr.), AJ
Abrens (So.).
OUTLOOK: Miller said the Tigers pride
themselves on their running game and
defense. “The seniors from last season left
some big shoes to fill, so we are looking for
the guys taking those positions to shorten
the learning curve as much as possible.
VERSAILLES SCHEDULE
Aug. 28.....Celina..........................7:30 p.m.
Sept. 4......at Valley View................... 7 p.m.
Sept. 11.....Delphos St. John’s......7:30 p.m.
Sept. 18....at New Bremen...........7:30 p.m.
Sept. 25....Minster........................7:30 p.m.
Oct. 2........at St. Henry.................7:30 p.m.
Oct. 9........at Parkway..................7:30 p.m.
Oct. 16......Coldwater....................7:30 p.m.
Oct. 23......at Marion Local...........7:30 p.m.
Oct. 30.....Fort Recovery..............7:30 p.m.
FORT RECOVERY
OUTLOOK
COACH: Brent Niekamp
YEARS AT SCHOOL, RECORD: 10, 32-70)
RETURNING STARTERS: Kyle Schoer
(Sr.); Darien Sheffer (Sr.); Tanner Koch
(Sr.); Wes Wenning (Sr., WR); Adam
LeFevre (Sr.); Caylen Rockwood (Sr.); Nate
Ontrop (Jr.); Caleb Martin (Jr., QB); Chris
Link (Jr.).
OFFENSE: Spread
DEFENSE: Multiple
PLAYER TO WATCH: Junior quarterback
Caleb Martin threw for 1,500 yards as a
sophomore last year in the Indians’ highpowered offense. It will help that his top
receiver, Wes Wenning, is also back.
TOP NEWCOMERS: Hunter Vogel (Jr.);
Cole Dues (Jr.); Will Homan (Soph.); Matt
Kuess (So.).
OUTLOOK: Fort Recovery got a taste
of success last year by reaching the
second round of the playoffs before losing
to Marion Local. The offense should
continue rolling with QB Martin and WR
Wenning back to lead the way. A key will
be replacing four starters on the offensive
line. The core is back on defense, but
three linebackers need to be replaced. The
Indians have enough returnees to battle
for a spot in the playoffs.
FORT RECOVERY
SCHEDULE
Aug. 28.....Lehman Catholic.........7:30 p.m.
Sept. 4......at Fort Loramie...........7:30 p.m.
Sept. 11.....Anna............................7:30 p.m.
Sept. 18....at Delphos St. John’s..7:30 p.m.
Sept. 25....Parkway.......................7:30 p.m.
Oct. 2........at New Bremen...........7:30 p.m.
Oct. 9........Minster........................7:30 p.m.
Oct. 16......at Marion Local...........7:30 p.m.
Oct. 23......St. Henry.....................7:30 p.m.
Oct. 30.....at Versailles.................7:30 p.m.
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The Lima News
2015 Lima area high school football schedules
Perry
(Subject to change)
Ada
Aug. 28........at Troy Christian......... 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 4.........at Allen East......................7 p.m.
Sept. 11........Ayersville..........................7 p.m.
Sept. 18.......at Ridgemont....................7 p.m.
Sept. 25.......Lehman Catholic..............7 p.m.
Oct. 2...........at Upper Scioto Valley......7 p.m.
Oct. 9...........Waynesfield-Goshen........7 p.m.
Oct. 16.........Riverside...........................7 p.m.
Oct. 23.........at Hardin Northern...........7 p.m.
Oct. 30........Fort Loramie.....................7 p.m.
Aug. 28........ at Upper Scioto Valley......7 p.m.
Sept. 4......... at Arlington.......................7 p.m.
Sept. 11........ Lima Central Catholic......7 p.m.
Sept. 18....... at Spencerville..................7 p.m.
Sept. 25....... Columbus Grove...............7 p.m.
Oct. 2........... at Crestview......................7 p.m.
Oct. 9........... Paulding............................7 p.m.
Oct. 16......... Bluffton.............................7 p.m.
Oct. 23......... at Delphos Jefferson........7 p.m.
Oct. 30........ Allen East..........................7 p.m.
Ridgemont
Aug. 28........ at Van Buren.....................7 p.m.
Sept. 4......... Perry.................................7 p.m.
Sept. 11........ Waynesfield-Goshen........7 p.m.
Sept. 19....... at Delphos Jefferson........7 p.m.
Sept. 25....... Bluffton.............................7 p.m.
Oct. 2........... at Paulding........................7 p.m.
Oct. 9........... Crestview..........................7 p.m.
Oct. 16......... at Columbus Grove...........7 p.m.
Oct. 23......... Spencerville......................7 p.m.
Oct. 30........ at Ada................................7 p.m.
Bath
Aug. 28........ Delphos St. John’s............7 p.m.
Sept. 4......... at Ottawa-Glandorf..........7 p.m.
Sept. 11........ Celina................................7 p.m.
Sept. 18....... at Defiance.......................7 p.m.
Sept. 25....... Wapakoneta......................7 p.m.
Oct. 2........... at St. Marys......................7 p.m.
Oct. 9........... at Van Wert.......................7 p.m.
Oct. 16......... Shawnee...........................7 p.m.
Oct. 23......... at Kenton..........................7 p.m.
Oct. 30........ Elida..................................7 p.m.
Bluffton
Aug. 28........ Cory-Rawson.............. 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 4......... Van Buren................... 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 11........ at Fort Loramie........... 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 18....... Paulding............................7 p.m.
Sept. 25....... at Allen East......................7 p.m.
Oct. 2........... Delphos Jefferson............7 p.m.
Oct. 9........... at Spencerville..................7 p.m.
Oct. 16......... at Ada................................7 p.m.
Oct. 23......... Crestview..........................7 p.m.
Oct. 30........ at Columbus Grove...........7 p.m.
Celina
Aug. 28........ at Versailles................ 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 4......... Elida..................................7 p.m.
Sept. 11........ at Bath..............................7 p.m.
Sept. 18....... Ottawa-Glandorf...............7 p.m.
Sept. 25....... Defiance............................7 p.m.
Oct. 2........... at Wapakoneta..................7 p.m.
Oct. 9........... St. Marys...........................7 p.m.
Oct. 16......... at Van Wert.......................7 p.m.
Oct. 23......... at Shawnee.......................7 p.m.
Oct. 30........ Kenton..............................7 p.m.
Coldwater
Delphos St. John’s
Aug. 28........at Bath..............................7 p.m.
Sept. 4.........Lima Central Catholic.7:30 p.m.
Sept. 11........at Versailles................ 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 18.......Fort Recovery............. 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 25.......New Bremen............... 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 2...........at Minster................... 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 9...........at Anna....................... 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 16.........Parkway...................... 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 23.........at Coldwater............... 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 30........Marion Local............... 7:30 p.m.
Elida
Aug. 28........Lima Central Catholic......7 p.m.
Sept. 4.........at Celina............................7 p.m.
Sept. 11........Defiance............................7 p.m.
Sept. 18.......at Wapakoneta..................7 p.m.
Sept. 25.......at St. Marys......................7 p.m.
Oct. 2...........Van Wert...........................7 p.m.
Oct. 9...........at Shawnee.......................7 p.m.
Oct. 16.........Kenton..............................7 p.m.
Oct. 23.........Ottawa-Glandorf...............7 p.m.
Oct. 30........at Bath..............................7 p.m.
Fort Recovery
Aug. 28........Lehman Catholic........ 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 4.........at Fort Loramie........... 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 11........Anna............................ 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 18.......at Delphos St. John’s.. 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 25.......Parkway...................... 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 2...........at New Bremen........... 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 9...........Minster....................... 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 16.........at Marion Local........... 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 23.........St. Henry..................... 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 30........at Versailles................ 7:30 p.m.
Hardin Northern
Lima Senior
Aug. 29........at Middletown...................7 p.m.
Sept. 4.........Marion Harding.................7 p.m.
Sept. 11........at Piqua............................7 p.m.
Sept. 18.......Toledo Whitmer................7 p.m.
Sept. 25.......Fremont Ross...................7 p.m.
Oct. 2...........Toledo St. Francis.............7 p.m.
Oct. 9...........at Findlay..........................7 p.m.
Oct. 16.........Toledo St. John’s..............7 p.m.
Oct. 23.........at Oregon Clay..................7 p.m.
Oct. 30........at Toledo Central Catholic........7
p.m.
Marion Local
Aug. 28........at McComb.......................7 p.m.
Sept. 4.........Beallsville.................... 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 11........New Bremen............... 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 18.......at Minster................... 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 25.......St. Henry..................... 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 2...........at Anna....................... 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 9...........at Coldwater............... 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 16.........Fort Recovery............. 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 23.........Versailles.................... 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 30........at Delphos St. John’s.. 7:30 p.m.
Minster
Aug. 28........Fort Loramie............... 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 4.........at Lehman Catholic, 7 p.m.
Sept. 11........at Coldwater............... 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 18.......Marion Local............... 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 25.......at Versailles................ 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 2...........Delphos St. John’s...... 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 9...........at Fort Recovery......... 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 16.........St. Henry..................... 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 23.........at Anna....................... 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 30........Parkway...................... 7:30 p.m.
New Bremen
Aug. 28........ Kenton........................ 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 4......... Delphos Jefferson...... 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 11........ Minster....................... 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 18....... at St. Henry................. 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 25....... Anna............................ 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 2........... at Parkway.................. 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 9........... Marion Local............... 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 16......... at Versailles................ 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 23......... Delphos St. John’s...... 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 30........ at New Bremen........... 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 28........at St. Wendelin..................7 p.m.
Sept. 4.........Fairfield Christian.............7 p.m.
Sept. 11........Horizon Science Academy.......7
p.m.
Sept. 18.......at Waynesfield-Goshen....7 p.m.
Sept. 25.......at Fort Loramie.................7 p.m.
Oct. 2...........Ridgemont........................7 p.m.
Oct. 9...........at Lehman Catholic..........7 p.m.
Oct. 16.........Upper Scioto Valley..........7 p.m.
Oct. 23.........Perry.................................7 p.m.
Oct. 30........at Riverside.......................7 p.m.
Aug. 28........Bradford..................... 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 4.........at Holgate................... 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 11........at Marion Local........... 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 18.......Versailles.................... 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 25.......at Delphos St. John’s.. 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 2...........Fort Recovery............. 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 9...........at St. Henry................. 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 16.........Anna............................ 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 23.........at Parkway.................. 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 30........Coldwater................... 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 28........ at Pandora-Gilboa...... 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 4......... Leipsic...............................7 p.m.
Sept. 11........ at Patrick Henry...............7 p.m.
Sept. 18....... Crestview..........................7 p.m.
Sept. 25....... at Ada................................7 p.m.
Oct. 2........... Spencerville......................7 p.m.
Oct. 9........... at Delphos Jefferson........7 p.m.
Oct. 16......... Allen East..........................7 p.m.
Oct. 23......... at Paulding........................7 p.m.
Oct. 30........ Bluffton.............................7 p.m.
Aug. 28........Triad............................ 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 4.........at Kenton Ridge................7 p.m.
Sept. 11........Upper Scioto Valley.... 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 18.......at Bellefontaine.......... 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 25.......Tippecanoe................. 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 2...........at Graham Local......... 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 9...........Northwestern............. 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 16.........at Greenon.................. 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 23.........Urbana........................ 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 30........at Benjamin Logan..... 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 28........Oak Harbor.......................7 p.m.
Sept. 4.........Bath..................................7 p.m.
Sept. 11........at Van Wert.......................7 p.m.
Sept. 18.......at Celina............................7 p.m.
Sept. 25.......Shawnee...........................7 p.m.
Oct. 2...........Defiance............................7 p.m.
Oct. 9...........at Kenton..........................7 p.m.
Oct. 16.........Wapakoneta......................7 p.m.
Oct. 23.........at Elida..............................7 p.m.
Oct. 30........St. Marys...........................7 p.m.
Aug. 28........ at Bluffton................... 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 4......... Upper Scioto Valley..........7 p.m.
Sept. 11........ at Liberty-Benton.............7 p.m.
Sept. 18....... at Pandora-Gilboa............7 p.m.
Sept. 25....... Vanlue...............................7 p.m.
Oct. 2........... Arcadia.............................7 p.m.
Oct. 9........... at North Baltimore...........7 p.m.
Oct. 16......... McComb...........................7 p.m.
Oct. 23......... Riverdale...........................7 p.m.
Oct. 30........ at Arlington.......................7 p.m.
Aug. 28........at Coldwater............... 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 4.........Defiance............................7 p.m.
Sept. 11........at Wapakoneta..................7 p.m.
Sept. 18.......St. Marys...........................7 p.m.
Sept. 25.......at Van Wert.......................7 p.m.
Oct. 2...........Shawnee...........................7 p.m.
Oct. 9...........Ottawa-Glandorf...............7 p.m.
Oct. 16.........at Elida..............................7 p.m.
Oct. 23.........Bath..................................7 p.m.
Oct. 30........at Celina............................7 p.m.
Aug. 28........Columbus Grove......... 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 4.........at McComb.......................7 p.m.
Sept. 11........at Riverdale.......................7 p.m.
Sept. 18.......Cory-Rawson....................7 p.m.
Sept. 25.......Leipsic...............................7 p.m.
Oct. 2...........at Hopewell-Loudon.........7 p.m.
Oct. 9...........Vanlue...............................7 p.m.
Oct. 16.........North Baltimore...............7 p.m.
Oct. 23.........at Arcadia.........................7 p.m.
Oct. 30........at Van Buren.....................7 p.m.
Aug. 28........ at Parkway.................. 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 4......... Hicksville..........................7 p.m.
Sept. 11........ at Wayne Trace.................7 p.m.
Sept. 18....... at Columbus Grove...........7 p.m.
Sept. 25....... Spencerville......................7 p.m.
Oct. 2........... Ada....................................7 p.m.
Oct. 9........... at Allen East......................7 p.m.
Oct. 16......... Delphos Jefferson............7 p.m.
Oct. 23......... at Bluffton.........................7 p.m.
Oct. 30........ Paulding............................7 p.m.
Aug. 28........Spencerville......................7 p.m.
Sept. 4.........at Columbus Grove...........7 p.m.
Sept. 11........North Baltimore...............7 p.m.
Sept. 18.......Liberty-Benton.................7 p.m.
Sept. 25.......at Pandora-Gilboa............7 p.m.
Oct. 2...........at McComb.......................7 p.m.
Oct. 9...........at Van Buren.....................7 p.m.
Oct. 16.........Arlington...........................7 p.m.
Oct. 23.........Vanlue...............................7 p.m.
Oct. 30........at Hopewell-Loudon.........7 p.m.
Aug. 28........Crestview.................... 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 4.........at Spencerville..................7 p.m.
Sept. 11........St. Henry..................... 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 18.......at Anna....................... 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 25.......at Fort Recovery......... 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 2...........Coldwater................... 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 16.........at Delphos St. John’s.. 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 23.........New Bremen............... 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 30........at Minster................... 7:30 p.m.
Columbus Grove
Cory-Rawson
Indian Lake
Kenton
Ottawa-Glandorf
Pandora-Gilboa
Crestview
Leipsic
Delphos Jefferson
Lima Central Catholic* Paulding
Aug. 28........ at Shawnee.......................7 p.m.
Sept. 4......... at Coldwater............... 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 11........ Fairview.............................7 p.m.
Sept. 19....... Allen East..........................7 p.m.
Sept. 25....... at Paulding........................7 p.m.
Oct. 2........... at Bluffton.........................7 p.m.
Oct. 9........... Columbus Grove...............7 p.m.
Oct. 16......... at Crestview......................7 p.m.
Oct. 23......... Ada....................................7 p.m.
Oct. 30........ at Spencerville..................7 p.m.
Aug. 28........at Elida..............................7 p.m.
Sept. 4.........at Delphos St. John’s.. 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 11........at Ada................................7 p.m.
Sept. 19.......Edgewood.........................7 p.m.
Sept. 26.......Toledo Rogers...................7 p.m.
Oct. 3...........Woodlan (Indiana)............7 p.m.
Oct. 9...........at Bishop Ready...............7 p.m.
Oct. 16.........at Bluffton (Indiana).........7 p.m.
Oct. 23.........at Bishop Hartley..............7 p.m.
Oct. 30........Wayne Trace.....................7 p.m.
*Home games played at Spartan Stadium
Parkway
Aug. 28........Wayne Trace.....................7 p.m.
Sept. 4.........at Fairview.........................7 p.m.
Sept. 11........Montpelier........................7 p.m.
Sept. 18.......at Bluffton.........................7 p.m.
Sept. 25.......Delphos Jefferson............7 p.m.
Oct. 2...........Allen East..........................7 p.m.
Oct. 9...........at Ada................................7 p.m.
Oct. 16.........at Spencerville..................7 p.m.
Oct. 23.........Columbus Grove...............7 p.m.
Oct. 30........at Crestview......................7 p.m.
Aug. 28........Vanlue...............................7 p.m.
Sept. 4.........at Mount Gilead................7 p.m.
Sept. 11........at Buckeye Central...........7 p.m.
Sept. 18.......Perry.................................7 p.m.
Sept. 25.......Riverside...........................7 p.m.
Oct. 2...........at Hardin Northern...........7 p.m.
Oct. 9...........Fort Loramie.....................7 p.m.
Oct. 16.........at Waynesfield-Goshen....7 p.m.
Oct. 23.........at Lehman Catholic..........7 p.m.
Oct. 30........Upper Scioto Valley..........7 p.m.
Shawnee
Aug. 28........Delphos Jefferson............7 p.m.
Sept. 4.........Wapakoneta......................7 p.m.
Sept. 11........at St. Marys......................7 p.m.
Sept. 18.......Van Wert...........................7 p.m.
Sept. 25.......at Ottawa-Glandorf..........7 p.m.
Oct. 2...........at Kenton..........................7 p.m.
Oct. 9...........Elida..................................7 p.m.
Oct. 16.........at Bath..............................7 p.m.
Oct. 23.........Celina................................7 p.m.
Oct. 30........at Defiance.......................7 p.m.
Spencerville
Aug. 28........at Leipsic..........................7 p.m.
Sept. 4.........Parkway............................7 p.m.
Sept. 11........at Holgate.........................7 p.m.
Sept. 18.......Ada....................................7 p.m.
Sept. 25.......at Crestview......................7 p.m.
Oct. 2...........at Columbus Grove...........7 p.m.
Oct. 9...........Bluffton.............................7 p.m.
Oct. 16.........Paulding............................7 p.m.
Oct. 23.........at Allen East......................7 p.m.
Oct. 30........Delphos Jefferson............7 p.m.
St. Henry
Aug. 28........Covington................... 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 4.........at Eaton............................7 p.m.
Sept. 11........at Parkway.................. 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 18.......Coldwater................... 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 25.......at Marion Local........... 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 9...........New Bremen............... 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 16.........at Minster................... 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 23.........at Fort Recovery......... 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 30........Anna............................ 7:30 p.m.
St. Marys
Aug. 28........at Sidney...........................7 p.m.
Sept. 4.........Van Wert...........................7 p.m.
Sept. 11........Shawnee...........................7 p.m.
Sept. 18.......at Kenton..........................7 p.m.
Sept. 25.......Elida..................................7 p.m.
Oct. 2...........Bath..................................7 p.m.
Oct. 9...........at Celina............................7 p.m.
Oct. 16.........Defiance............................7 p.m.
Oct. 23.........at Wapakoneta..................7 p.m.
Oct. 30........at Ottawa-Glandorf..........7 p.m.
Upper Scioto Valley
Aug. 28........Ada....................................7 p.m.
Sept. 4.........at Cory-Rawson................7 p.m.
Sept. 11........at Indian Lake............. 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 18.......Lehman Catholic..............7 p.m.
Sept. 25.......at Waynesfield-Goshen....7 p.m.
Oct. 2...........Perry.................................7 p.m.
Oct. 9...........at Riverside.......................7 p.m.
Oct. 16.........at Hardin Northern...........7 p.m.
Oct. 23.........Fort Loramie.....................7 p.m.
Oct. 30........at Ridgemont....................7 p.m.
Van Wert
Aug. 28........at Bryan............................7 p.m.
Sept. 4.........at St. Marys......................7 p.m.
Sept. 11........Ottawa-Glandorf...............7 p.m.
Sept. 18.......at Shawnee.......................7 p.m.
Sept. 25.......Kenton..............................7 p.m.
Oct. 2...........at Elida..............................7 p.m.
Oct. 9...........Bath..................................7 p.m.
Oct. 16.........Celina................................7 p.m.
Oct. 23.........at Defiance.......................7 p.m.
Oct. 30........Wapakoneta......................7 p.m.
Wapakoneta
Aug. 28........Bellefontaine....................7 p.m.
Sept. 4.........at Shawnee.......................7 p.m.
Sept. 11........Kenton..............................7 p.m.
Sept. 18.......Elida..................................7 p.m.
Sept. 25.......at Bath..............................7 p.m.
Oct. 2...........Celina................................7 p.m.
Oct. 9...........at Defiance.......................7 p.m.
Oct. 16.........at Ottawa-Glandorf..........7 p.m.
Oct. 23.........St. Marys...........................7 p.m.
Oct. 30........at Van Wert.......................7 p.m.
Waynesfield-Goshen
Aug. 28........Hilltop...............................7 p.m.
Sept. 4.........Troy Christian...................7 p.m.
Sept. 11........at Allen East......................7 p.m.
Sept. 18.......Hardin Northern...............7 p.m.
Sept. 25.......Upper Scioto Valley..........7 p.m.
Oct. 2...........Fort Loramie.....................7 p.m.
Oct. 9...........at Perry.............................7 p.m.
Oct. 16.........Ridgemont........................7 p.m.
Oct. 23.........at Riverside.......................7 p.m.
Oct. 30........at Lehman Catholic..........7 p.m.
40784209
Allen East

Good Luck - The Lima News

Transcription

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