Brown County Football Preview - 2019

Friday Night Hype Western Brown

Fayetteville-Perry

Southern Buckeye

Georgetown

2019 Brown County Football Preview A special sports publication brought to you by The News Democrat and The Ripley Bee

PAGE 2 - 2019 F OOTBALL P REVIEW - B ROWN C OUNTY

Southern Buckeye Warriors in search of second SOIL Football Playoff crown with experienced crew on the return

Photo by Wade Linville

The Southern Buckeye Warriors hit the gridiron this season with the goal of repeating as the Southern Ohio Independent League Football Playoff champions.

BY Wade Linville

The Southern Buckeye Warriors are in search of their second straight Southern Ohio Independent League Football Playoff title as they hit the gridiron for the program's fourth season of varsity football, and expectations are once again high with the majority of last year's starters on the return.

"I feel good about the team, and I'm expecting much more out of them this season as I have in past seasons," said Southern Buckeye varsity head coach Chris Tomlin. "We have a good mixture of veterans and some young players,

and I'm excited about that."

The Warriors return all but one lineman on the Oline and a senior running back that's in his seventh year with the Southern Buckeye Youth Football Program based in eastern Brown County.

Dylan Lainhart has played a significant role in the Warriors' success over the years and with an experienced crew of offensive lineman to clear a path, you can expect it to be another big season for the senior running back.

"I feel great about this season," said Lainhart, whose individual goal for the season was to do whatever it takes to bring the

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Warriors another SOIL playoff championship.

Christian Manning returns for his senior season with the Warriors, a middle linebacker and offensive lineman. This is also Manning's seventh year with the Southern Buckeye Football program.

"I feel, since we won the (SOIL) championship last year, that we will be held up to a higher standard this year," said Manning. "We're going to get everybody's best, so we can't just overlook a team. We have to be ready for everybody."

"My individual goal is that I'm going to try and be a leader. I've got my little brothers on the team now and all of these younger kids, and I'm trying to teach them to be leaders; because when I'm gone next year, we're going to need somebody to step up," said Manning.

Blade Carrington is another talented player on the return for the Warriors and will be the starting quarterback this season. This marks Carrington's second year with the Southern

Buckeye program.

"I feel like we're going to work hard and do the job we need to do," Carrington said of the upcoming season. "I'd like to be a leader and be the best player I can for my team."

Senior Jansen McCord is back on the offensive line and defensive line in his sixth year with the Southern Buckeye program.

McCord said he's ready to lead as an experienced lineman and team captain for the Warriors, excited to have the majority of his fellow linemen back on the field for the upcoming season.

Senior Tony Brown is back as the Warriors’ middle linebacker and tight end in his sixth year with the Southern Buckeye Football program.

"I feel like we're going to win it all," Brown said of the upcoming season in the SOIL. "I want to be a leader (this season) and keep doing what I've been doing."

Brown felt the Warriors' preseason scrimmage against Green would be a challenging test for the var-

sity team heading into the season opener, and it was the Warriors coming away with the win.

Other key seniors taking the field for the Warriors include: Jonathan Hurley, Joseph Bucknell, Kana Stivers, and Trevor Stamper.

This season, Southern Buckeye football fans will get to witness the most experienced high school varsity team in the program's history.

As for the program as a whole, this marks the seventh season for SBYF. Tomlin has been with the program from the start, an independent program that is not sponsored by a high school.

With over 32 players on the Southern Buckeye varsity team this fall, the program is still running strong.

"To be honest, I'm feeling pretty good about the next three or four seasons for the high school team," said Tomlin.

This is the Warriors' third year of competing in the SOIL. The West Union Dragons claimed the SOIL

playoff title during the first two years Southern Buckeye competed in the league, but last year it was the Warriors defeating the Dragons in the playoff championship game to capture their first SOIL crown.

The Warriors ended the 2018 fall season with an overall record of 8-2, their two losses coming at the hands of the West Union Dragons during the regular season.

The Warriors were scheduled to kick off their season Aug. 23 against the Georgetown Titans.

Southern Buckeye Warriors Aug. 23 - vs. Georgetown Aug. 30 - vs. Georgetown Sept. 6 - at North Adams Sept. 13 - at Sciotoville Sept. 20 - vs. Peebles Oct. 4 - vs. West Union Oct. 11 - at Manchester Oct. 18 - vs. North Adams Oct. 26 - at Georgetown Nov. 2 - SOIL playoffs

2019 F OOTBALL P REVIEW - B ROWN C OUNTY - PAGE 3

Photo by Wade Linville

Rockets hit the gridiron under leadership of new head coach The Fayetteville-Perry Rockets hit the gridiron this season in search of the football program’s first SBAAC National Division title and state playoff appearance.

BY Wade Linville

The Fayetteville-Perry Rockets hit the gridiron this fall under the leadership of a new head coach. Wayne Stacy may be the new head of the Rockets' coaching staff, but he's no newcomer to coaching football. Stacy brings with him many years of coaching experience at other schools, ranging from the high school to collegiate level in a coaching career that began in 1992.

In recent years he served as an assistant coach at Western Brown High School and prior to that was head football coach at Bethel-Tate High School.

Stacy took over for Kevin Finch, who stepped down as head coach to take a position as athletic director at another school district late this summer.

Being hired as the new head coach late in the summer, Stacy has had little time with the Rockets to

prepare for the upcoming fall season. “ W e still have a lot of work to do Wayne Stacy and a short time to get it done,” Stacy said with just over a week to go before he season opener. “But we have a good group and they've been working hard.”

“We really didn't install any offense until the last week of July,” Stacy added.

There are five seniors taking the field for the Rockets this season – Logan Stannus, Nathan Kingus, Kurtis Friedhof, Trevor Bailey, and Aiden Dye. Stannus will take over as quarterback this season after the Rockets lost last year's starting quarterback, CJ McCulley, to graduation.

“Our five seniors all start,

and they are all depended on to do a lot,” said Stacy.

Making up the bulk of this year's Rocket varsity football squad is a large group of juniors that include Hunter Jester, Michael Thackston, Micah Baggs, Gabe Naseer, Vincent Kleemeyer, Drew Hendrix, Austin Attinger, Timmy Allender, and William Cornett.

Jester is among the varsity team's key returners, a running back who earned Southern Buckeye Athletic/Academic Conference National Division Second Team honors although he missed part of last season due to an injury.

Described by Stacy as “a monster in the weight room”, Jester is equipped with strength, size, and speed at six-feet tall and 195 pounds.

Hendrix comes off a 2018 season in which he was named an SBAAC National Division Honorable Men-

tion.

Among the sophomores taking the field for the Rockets this season are Jayden Bladshaw, Blake Coffman, Tyler Tippis, Levi Wiederhold, Nathan Donahue, and Tanner Fleming.

Wiederhold is also expected to spend some time as the varsity quarterback this fall.

There are also some brave Fayetteville-Perry freshmen looking to make their high school football debuts this fall – Eann Distler, Josh Bailey, Thomas Wymer, Joey Mintkenbaugh, Cain Metcalfe Kayden Gherman, AJ Attinger, and Logan Kingus.

The Rockets will once again compete in the Southern Buckeye Athletic/Academic Conference National Division this season, and this year's FPHS football players have set the goal of making it the most successful season in the football program's history. This

year's Rockets hope to become the first football team in their school's history to earn a berth in the state playoffs.

As for Stacy and his coaching staff, the goal is continuous improvement.

“I think our division of the SBAAC will be very tough,” said Stacy. “I think that every team in our league will be better than they were last year. Bethel has good players back.

Williamsburg always has good size and they return a lot of good players. Blanchester is coming off a pretty good season. CNE (Clermont Northeastern) has a lot of guys back and East Clinton has a new coach, and I think they will be re-energized. So, every league opponent is going to be a battle.”

Last year's Rockets finished with an overall record of 5-5 with a 1-4 record in SBAAC National Division play.

Blanchester finished on top in 2018 SBAAC National Division standings with a perfect league record of 5-0, while CNE finished runner-up in the league with a record of 4-1.

The Rockets will face the Manchester Greyhounds while on the road for their season opener on Aug. 30.

Fayetteville-Perry Rockets

Aug. 30 - at Manchester Sept. 6 - vs. Jefferson

Township

Sept. 13 - vs. New Miami Sept. 20 - at Notre Dame Sept. 27 - vs. Batavia

Oct. 4 - at Williamsburg Oct. 11 - at East Clinton

Oct. 18 - at Clermont NE Oct. 25 - vs. Blanchester Nov. 1 - vs. Bethel-Tate

GT Titans back for second season in SOIL PAGE 4 - 2019 F OOTBALL P REVIEW - B ROWN C OUNTY

BY Wade Linville

It's that time of the year once again! The time of year when Georgetown football fans put on their black and gold spirit wear and head to the gridiron to show their support for this year's Titans.

Local sports history was made last year as the Georgetown Titans football program fielded its first team of varsity players with one player becoming the first college football signee of Georgetown High School, and the Titans are

back on the gridiron this fall to compete in their second year at the varsity level.

The Georgetown Titans football program rolled out last year thanks to a group of locals who made it their goal to bring a football program to their community.

Among those taking the lead to get the program started was the Titans' varsity head coach Dan Bolington.

Georgetown Jr./Sr. High School does not sponsor a football program, so getting the program up and running without school sponsorship was quite a challenge for

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Fortunately, many junior high and high school students from the area were eager to join, and a number of businesses and organizations from the Georgetown community provided their support. What had been a long-time dream for some in Georgetown was quickly becoming a reality, and when it came time for the Friday night lights, the Titans took to the field with great pride as members of the first varsity football team of their community with their home field located at Kathryn Hanlon Park in Georgetown.

In their first season in the fall of 2018, the Georgetown Titans finished third in the Southern Ohio Independent League with a respectable overall record of 4-4, a season in which their standout wide receiver and 2019 Georgetown High School graduate Alex Bolington would go on to sign with the College of Mount St. Joseph football team.

The Titans graduated a very skilled crew of athletes from last year's team that included running back Finn

Photo by Wade Linville

Georgetown’s Kolby Evans kicks off a new season for the Titans during the season opener on Aug. 23.

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Photo by Wade Linville

Georgetown head football coach Dan Bolington instructs his Titans during their season opener against the Southern Buckeye Warriors, Aug. 23.

Titans to rely heavily on young talent in second year of varsity

2019 F OOTBALL P REVIEW - B ROWN C OUNTY - PAGE 5

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4

Tomlin, quarterback Kyle Cornette, and Alex Bolington; but this year's Titan seniors are ready to step up and fill some big shoes.

Among the Titans' key returners this fall are seniors Kolby Evans (tight end, linebacker), Corey Bolington (offensive line, defensive line), Collin Sexton (quarterback), and Josh McKinzie.

“We finished 4-4 last season, and we're looking to improve on that,” said Dan Bolington.

According to Dan Bolington, numbers are good in the program's second year with around 30-35 players.

The program will once again only consist of a high school varsity and junior high team, with hopes of putting together younger teams in future years.

Last year's Titans started off their season by taking on the 2017 SOIL champions of West Union in week one, and this year they will kick off their season by taking on the 2018 SOIL champions of the Southern Buckeye Youth Football Program (Eastern Brown County) on Aug. 23 at Koehler Field on Hockman Road outside of Russellville.

“I'd rather play the best right off the rip anyway,” Dan Bolington said of the season opener.

The Titans suffered a loss (70-12) in their Aug. 23 season opener to the Warriors at Koehler Field, but there were some highlight moments for the varsity squad of Georgetown in their first game of 2019, including an 80-yard kick off return for a touchdown by Xavier Long, and a 65-yard touchdown pass from Collin Sexton to Logan White.

Expect much improvement out of this year's Titans as the season rolls along and they gain more experience at the varsity level.

Georgetown Titans

Photo by Wade Linville

Georgetown’s offensive line prepares for battle during the Aug. 23 season opener against the Southern Buckeye Warriors.

Photo by Wade Linville

Georgetown’s Logan Vaughn takes a carry for a nice gain in the Titans’ Aug. 23 season opener against the Southern Buckeye Warriors.

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Aug. 30 - at Southern Buckeye Sept. 7 - vs. Peebles Sept. 13 - at West Union Sept. 21 - at Western Latham Oct. 5 - vs. North Adams Oct. 12 - at Peebles Oct. 19 - vs. Western Latham Oct. 26 - vs. Southern Buckeye Nov. 2 - SOIL Playoffs

PAGE 6 - 2019 F OOTBALL P REVIEW - B ROWN C OUNTY

Broncos set sights on SBAAC American Division football crown, Div. III playoffs

Photo by Wade Linville

The Western Brown Broncos begin their quest for a Southern Buckeye Athletic/Academic Conference American Division football title in their second season under the leadership of head coach Tyler Evans.

BY Wade Linville

The Western Brown Broncos return a talented crew of upperclassmen as they begin their quest for Southern Buckeye Athletic/Academic

Conference American Division title and playoff berth.

The Broncos take the gridiron for their second year under the leadership of head coach Tyler Evans, a team looking to improve on

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last year's league record of 2-3 and overall record of 46.

Evans is pleased with the way the team has progressed since his first year as head coach.

The Broncos possess a great deal of talent at skill positions with players such as senior Keegan Collins (62, 160) taking over as starting quarterback and SBAAC

American Division First Team all-star wide receiver Yani Williams (6-1, 180) who racked up over 1,000 receiving yards last season.

Other key players back on offense for the Broncos are senior running back/wide receiver Isaac Trevino and junior running back/wide receiver Gary Powell.

How well the offensive line performs will play a sig-

nificant role in determining the Broncos' success on the gridiron this season.

“I am cautiously optimistic about the front seven and we know we have great skill guys, so I feel pretty good,” Evans said of this year's Broncos.

“Keegan (Collins) was a reciever last year, but he will be quarterback for us this year. He's been at that (quar-

terback) position before. He was actually injured playing quarterback for us last year, so he has some experience with it,” said Evans.

Collins also gained some experience at quarterback during his freshman year when he played for the Southern Buckeye Football League at the varsity level

CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

Talented crew on return for Broncos

2019 F OOTBALL P REVIEW - B ROWN C OUNTY - PAGE 7

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6

before joining the Western Brown High School football team as a sophomore.

The Broncos also return

some key players on defense including seniors Ezra Marlow (SS) and Christian Whisner (FS). Whisner was among those to earn SBAAC American Division

Photo by Wade Linville

Senior Keegan Collins takes over as the starting quarterback for the Western Brown Broncos this season.

Second Team honors last fall.

Others taking the field as seniors on defense include: William Lucas (OLB), Austin Harrison (FS), Zach Carter (T/NG), Ty Lucas (T/G), and Colton Townley (OLB).

This year's Broncos also possess a great deal of talent on the junior level. This year's juniors include: thirdyear varsity player Wil Sizer (OLB/TE), Powell, Bryar Cornett (MLB/C/DE), Cade Chisman (QB,OLB, WR), Gage Duncan (C), Jake Segrist (WR/DB), Tyler Burson (SS/DB), Steven Blankenship (C/WR), Andre Lajoye (MLB/OLB), Hunter Stutz (DL), Brian Newberry (DT/T), and Taylor Hayes (T).

Sizer has also taken some carries for the Bronco offense during the preseason as a power running back.

Among the skilled underclassmen who could see some varsity playing time this season is Dylan Novak (WR/QB), while freshman Drew Novak will serve as the varsity team's back-up quarterback.

According to Evans, the Broncos' most significant improvement from last season is their coachability.

“They have grasped onto everything we've said and ran with it. That's been their biggest improvement,” said Evans.

The Broncos dropped from a OHSAA Division II team to Division III this season, which could help in ratings that determine who makes the playoffs if they can pull out some victories while making their way through what is once again a tough regular season schedule.

The Broncos kick off their new season Aug. 30 at Hillsboro High School, and they are at home in week two on Sept. 6 to host Little Miami.

The Broncos will then face Ross and Jackson at home before going on the road Sept. 27 to take on Miami Trace.

The Broncos start league play Oct. 4 with an away game against New Richmond, and they are on the road again Oct. 11 for a league game against Clinton-Massie, the defending SBAAC American Division champs that finished 5-0 in league play last fall.

“We have no easy weeks,” said Evans. “We have to bring our ‘A’ game all 10 weeks.”

Photo by Wade Linville

Yani Williams is back for his senior season as a Bronco wide receiver after racking up over 1,000 receiving yards to earn SBAAC American Division First Team honors as a junior last fall.

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Western Brown Broncos

Aug. 30 - at Hillsboro

Sept. 6 - vs. Little Miami Sept. 13 - vs. Ross

Sept. 20 - vs. Jackson

Sept. 27 - at Miami Trace

Oct. 4 - at New Richmond

Oct. 11 - at Clinton

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Oct. 18 - vs. Goshen

Oct. 25 - at Wilmington Nov. 1 - vs. Batavia

PAGE 8 - 2019 F OOTBALL P REVIEW - B ROWN C OUNTY

The Georgetown Titans and the Southern Buckeye Warriors go to battle in the Aug. 23 SOIL season opener at Koehler Field.

Photo by Wade Linville

Gary Powell is back for his junior season with the Western Brown Broncos.

Photo by Wade Linville

Photo by Wade Linville

Hunter Jester (No. 82) is back on the field as the Rockets’ running back. Above, Jester takes a carry for a big gain while getting a nice block from Nathan Kingus last fall.