2 • M or ni ng Jour nal • High School Football 2015 • Section I • Thur sday, August 27, 20 1 5
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M or ni ng J our nal • High School Football 2015 • Section I • Thur sday, August 27, 20 1 5 • 3
INTER-TRI COUNTY LEAGUE
INDEX S ECTION A
Morning Journal/Patti Schaeffer
Pictured on the cover of the Morning Journal’s 2015 Football Preview are seniors representing their teams in the newly-aligned Inter-Tri County League. The Red Division includes (top photo, from left) Springfield’s Cody Allen, East Palestine’s Josh Pickett, Crestview’s Jarred Jones, United’s Colton Antram and South Range’s Gred Dunham. The White Division includes (bottom photo, from left) Southern Local’s Jesse McClurg, Lisbon’s Frankie Morrell, Wellsville’s Eric Sullivan, Leetonia’s Connor Mellinger and Columbiana’s Dalton Miller. See page 7A for more on the new ITCL.
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Team Page Columbiana 4 New ITCL 7 Crestview 8 East Palestine 12 ITCL schedule 16 1995 state champs 17 Leetonia 18 Lisbon 20 Sebring 28 Leetonia coach 31 South Range 32 Southern Local 34 Springfield Local 36
United 38 United coach 50 Wellsville 42 Wellsville coach 44 S ECTION B Team Page Beaver Local 6 Buckeye 8 schedule 0 East Liverpool 10 Minerva 14 NBC schedule 16 Oak Glen 22 Salem 24 West Branch 30 Southern coach 34
COLUMBIANA CLIPPERS
4 • M or ni ng Jour nal • High School Football 2015 • Section I • Thur sday, August 27, 20 1 5
Morning Journal/Chris Rambo
Members of the 2015 Columbiana football team are (front, from left); Jake Ward, Tanner Smith, Dylan Davin, Crystal Stone, Nate Armstrong, Cooper Smith, Dalton Miller, Zane Atkins, Konstantin Hartmann; (second row from left) Mitch Davidson, Tanner Pearl, Brandon Johnston, Tucker Cope, Tim Davin, Matt Fay, Caleb Rupert, Sean Congemi, Keenan Green, Connor Stacey; (third row from left) coach Ryan Wolf, coach Jonathan Welsh, Jarrett Nemick, Zachary Phillips, Dustin Bennett, Frank Rupert, James Hum, Devin Covert, Kyle Ferraro, coach Michael DeLagarza, coach Paul Hostetter; (back from left) coach Brian Pearl, trainer Mandy Moreschi, Brant Virden, Burt Thurston, Jaden Graham, Eric Hopfenziz, Wayne Davis, trainer Cortland Stone, head coach Bob Spaite and coach Kris Reash.
Clippers can experience winning Classification
Division VI, Region 19
2015 SCHEDULE
All games start at 7 p.m. Aug. 27 Western Reserve Sept. 4 Crestview Sept. 11 at East Palestine Sept. 18 at Sebring Sept. 25 Mineral Ridge Oct. 2 at Southern Oct. 9 at Springfield Oct. 16 Lisbon Oct. 23 at Wellsville Oct. 30 Leetonia
2014 Record
4-6, including a 2-5 mark in the InterTri County League upper tier. The Clippers lost their last four games. They played six teams with at least seven wins (Western Reserve, United, Springfield, Lisbon, South Range and Crestview).
Head coach
Bob Spaite enters his 22nd season as head coach with a record of 141-82, three Tri-County League titles and nine state playoff appearances. He also was 13-334 in five seasons at Southern Local.
Assistant coaches
Kris Reash, co-offensive coordinator,
quarterbacks, outside linebackers Jonathan Welsh, offensive line, defensive line Brian Pearl, wide receivers, cornerbacks Ryan Wolf, co-defensive coordinator, safties, halfbacks Paul Hostetter, offensive-defensive line Randy Barker, special teams Chris Canale, offensive-defensive line
Offensive outlook
The Clippers return eight starters from an offense that scored an average of 30.3 points a game last season. Junior Mitch Davidson has 14 school records in just 19 starts at quarterback, while the returning starters offensive line Matt Fay, Devin Covert and Keenan Green are underclassmen. “We need some consistency, that’s Returning lettermen going to be the No. 1 theme across the board,” Spaite said. “We were very, very Twenty-one, including eight starters on explosive at times last year. Other times offense and six starters on defense. we laid an egg.”
Basic offensive formation Multiple formation spread.
See CLIPPERS, Page 5A
M or ni ng J our nal • High School Football 2015 • Section I • Thur sday, August 27, 20 1 5 • 5
CLIPPERS, Continued from Page 4A
Basic defensive formation 4-3.
Defensive outlook
Returning defensive backs
Dalton Miller (senior), Cooper Smith (senior), Connor Stacey (junior).
Incoming defensive backs
The Clippers gave up an average of 42.5 points per Dylan Davin (senior), Jacob Ward (senior), Tanner game in the six losses last season. Smith (senior), Mitch Davidson (junior), Zac Phillips “Defensively, we struggled to get off the field on third (sophomore). downs and were plagued by youth and lack of size,” Spaite said. “We will be changing our fundamental defensive alignment this year and, while we still may be 2014 Players honored young by most standards, we should see improvement.” Mitch Davidson, first-team All-Area. Dalton Miller, second-team All-Area.
Returning offensive backs
Mitch Davidson (junior sophomore quarterback), Rushing — Mitch Davidson, 906 yards and 11 touchDylan Davin (senior tailback-halfback), Dalton Miller downs on 187 carries (4.8); Dylan Davin, 379 yards on (senior halfback). 58 carries (6.5); Dalton Miller, 252 yards and two Incoming offensive backs touchdowns on 30 carries (8.4). Passing — Mitch Davison completed 171 of 297 Zane Adkins (senior halfback). passes (58 percent) for a school-record 2,180 yard and 26 touchdowns. Returning offensive ends Receiving — Jacob Ward, 49 catches for 565 yards Nate Armstrong (senior tight end), Jacob Ward (se- (11.8) and four touchdowns; Dalton Miller, 56 catches for 523 yards (11.4) and six touchdowns; Dylan Davin, nior receiver), Cooper Smith (senior receiver). 23 catches for 395 yards (17.2) and eight touchdowns. Scoring — Mitch Davidson 70 points; Dalton Miller Incoming offensive ends 56. Connor Stacy (sophomore receiver), Tanner Smith Tackles — Sean Congemi 124; Nate Armstron 95; (senior receiver), Zack Phillips (sophomore receiver), Tim Rankin 91; Tim Davin 60; Connor Stacey 60. Morning Journal/Chris Rambo Jerrett Nemick (sophomore receiver). Interceptions — Matt Weidner (graduated) 2, Cooper Columbiana senior Jacob Ward returns after totalSmith 2; Dalton Miller 2; Connor Stacey 2. ing 49 receptions for 565 yards last season. Returning offensive linemen Matt Fay (junior guard), Devin Covert (sophomore guard), Keenan Green (junior tackle).
2014 Leaders
2015 Outlook
The Clippers went through growing pains with consecutive losing seasons for the first time since 1995-96. Now they are ready to turn it around with 14 returning Incoming offensive linemen starters and 21 lettermen. Sean Congemi (junior guard), Tim Davin (junior “This should be a very interesting year for the Cliptackle), Konstintine Hartmann (senior tackle) pers,” Spaite said. “We return the school’s career record holder for most things passing, junior Mitch Davidson,
Returning defensive linemen
Keenan Green (junior end), Tim Davin (junior end), Tucker Cope (junior tackle-noseguard), James Hum (sophomore noseguard).
Incoming defensive linemen
Frank Rupert (tackle), Kyle Ferrero (tackle).
Returning linebackers
Nate Armstrong (senior inside), Sean Congemi (junior outside).
Incoming linebackers Kevin Fay (junior inside).
See CLIPPERS, Page 6A
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6 • M or ni ng Jour nal • High School Football 2015 • Section I • Thur sday, August 27, 20 1 5
Columbiana Clippers
28 Zane Adkins......................6-1.......161 ....Sr. 35 Jayden Graham ................5-8.......145 ....Fr. 45 Frank Rupert.....................5-10.....178 ....Fr. 54 James Hum.......................5-9.......170 ....Soph. 56 Tucker Cope .....................5-8.......153 ....Jr. 58 Devin Covert .....................5-6.......210 ....Soph. 60 Tim Davin..........................6-0.......230 ....Jr. 62 Matt Fay............................5-9.......190 ....Jr. 63 Eric Hopfenziz...................5-9.......162 ....Fr. 64 Konstantine Hartman........6-7.......250 ....Sr. 66 Wayne Davis.....................5-8.......162 ....Fr. 69 Caleb Rupert.....................6-0.......198 ....Jr. 71 Sean Congemi ..................5-10.....194 ....Jr. 72 Keenan Green ..................6-0.......180 ....Jr. 77 Kyle Ferraro ......................5-10.....180 ....Soph. 88 Connor Stacey ..................6-0.......131 ....Jr.
1 Brendt Virden....................5-5.......110.....Fr. 2 Mitch Davidson .................5-11.....185 ....Jr. 6 Jacob Ward.......................5-8.......155 ....Sr. 7 Tanner Smith.....................5-9.......157 ....Sr. 8 Jarrett Nemick...................5-6.......136 ....Soph. 10 Dylan Davin ......................6-1.......146 ....Sr. 11 Tanner Pearl......................5-8.......148 ....Jr. 12 Brandon Johnston.............5-8.......155 ....Jr. 13 Thurston Burt ....................5-9.......140 ....Fr. 14 Crystal Stone ....................5-3.......110.....Sr. 15 Zach Philips ......................5-10.....165 ....Soph. 16 Dejion Hudson ..................5-9.......130 ....Soph. 17 Dustin Bennett ..................5-5.......125 ....Soph. 18 Nate Armstrong.................6-0.......178 ....Sr. 24 Cooper Smith....................6-1.......160 ....Sr. 25 Dalton Miller......................6-0.......183 ....Sr.
CLIPPERS, Continued from Page 5A
Morning Journal/Chris Rambo
Columbiana junior quarterback Mitch Davidson holds 14 school records and counting.
along with 90 percent of his receiving corps.” “Our offensive line was unbelievably young last year, and while three of the five return, it still will be made up of almost all underclassmen.” The problem has been on the defensive side. The Clippers have given up more than 40 points in
seven of last 12 games (going 4-8 in that span). The Clippers have 26 players in grades 10-12 on the roster, so they must stay healthy. ‘This being the first year of the totally realigned ITCL, like everyone else, we are in uncharted water as far as how this will work out,” Spaite said. “What
we do now our schedule is challenging in that we play old foes.” The Clippers are in the new Inter-Tri County League White Division along with Leetonia, Lisbon, Southern Local and Wellsville. The favorite this year? “Lisbon hands down, going away,” Spaite said.
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M or ni ng J our nal • High School Football 2015 • Section I • Thur sday, August 27, 20 1 5 • 7
Inter-Tri County League lines up in new stance By RON FIRTH Sports Editor
The Inter-Tri County League is entering a new era this season. The 16-team league will play in three divisions, instead of two as had been done in the past nine seasons. “Our coach has been talking about it,” Springfield senior receiver Cody Allen said. “We just want to win them all.” “It doesn’t make a difference,” Leetonia senior lineman Connor Mellinger said. “Ten games, it doesn’t matter.” The Red and White Divisions will have four league games apiece, while the Blue Division has five. “It’s not much different,” Crestview senior lineman Jarred Jones said. “We’re still playing the same people. We’ve
GOOD LUCK!
“It kind of stinks not having Crestview in it, though. But we still get to play them.” DALTON MILLER, COLUMBIANA SENIOR RECEIVER
picked up a few different non-league games this year like Alliance and JFK. But other than that, it’s about the same.” The ITCL began play in 2006 after the merger of the Tri-County League and Inter-County League. The teams were divided into two tiers based on enrollment. League officials said the new alignment is based primarily on geography in an attempt to reduce travel and boost gate receipts. The league games will not start until the second half of the season. “I like it because it kind of splits it up,” Lisbon sen-
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9 Red Division matchup. “There’s a few tougher teams and a few weaker teams,” United senior fullback Colton Antram said. “It doesn’t matter to me. Either way, we’re playing football.” “It’s all the same,” South Range senior receiver Greg Dunham said. “You’ve still probably going to play everyone you used to play. Even if it doesn’t matter in your tier, you still need to win every game. We’re looking at it all the same.” The realignment also does away with longtime league rivalries Lisbon vs. United and Crestview vs. Columbiana. “It kind of stinks not having Crestview in it, though,” Columbiana senior receiver Dalton Miller said. “But we still get to play them.” Those rivals will still
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play, but earlier in the season and not with league consequences. Just look at this year. Lisbon will close out the regular season by hosting Crestview on Oct. 30 in a game that could have had huge league implications. Now it will be another non-league affair. Southern Local senior fullback Jesse McClurg said he doesn’t care what teams are in the Indians’ division. “I just want to go out there and play my best,” he said. ——— ITCL TIERS 2015 Red Division Crestview East Palestine South Range Springfield United White Division Columbiana Leetonia
Lisbon Southern Wellsville Blue Division Lowellville Jackson-Milton McDonald Mineral Ridge Sebring Western Reserve ——— ITCL TIERS 2014 Upper Tier Columbiana Crestview East Palestine Jackson-Milton Lisbon South Range Springfield United Lower Tier Leetonia Lowellville McDonald Mineral Ridge Sebring Southern Local Wellsville Western Reserve
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CRESTVIEW REBELS
8 • M or ni ng Jour nal • High School Football 2015 • Section I • Thur sday, August 27, 20 1 5
Photo courtey of Endia Wisser Photography
Members of the 2015 Crestview football team are (front, from left); Josh Batchelor, Brendan Mallo, Gino Collins, Mason Crawford, Jesse Hughes, Jarrod Jones, Tyler Phillips, Anthony DeSaro, Nick Finch; (second row, from left) Joel Fitzsimmons, Zack Hicks, Tyler Stratton, Spencer DeSalvo, Jared Hayden, Jacob Wick, Austin McIntosh, Nick Mattern; (third row, from left) Kade Meredith, Jordan Murphy, Hunter Cresanto, Tyler Fitzsimmons, Jacob Scheller, Jack Davis, Jacob Crawford, Brandon Sherrill, Dylan Baker; (fourth row, from left) Caleb Hill, Jacob Baker, Dakota Stratton, Caleb Dew, Andrew Hardenbrook, Jeff Feo, Dylan Schaeffer, Daniel Moore, Landon Talbert; (fifth row) Devin Turvey, Stephen Barr, Dylan Huff, James Fitzgerald, Jude Riffle, Austin Brodigan, Chase Patrone, Jayce Meredith, Conner Hughes; (sixth row, from left) Gabe Cusick, Spencer Tatta, Dominic Perry, Daniel Morgan, Josh Simmons, Chuck Lindsay, Justin Collins, Dante Pelino. (seventh row, from left) Alex Pecor, Andrew Yanssens, Chase Murray, Jason Hill, Wyatt Hoodring, Tyler Noday; (back, from left) coach Rich Ferris, coach Dom Perry, coach Jess Leon, coach Eric Potts, coach Matt Evans, coach Jed Campbell, head coach Paul Cusick, coach Ryan McCullough, coach Justin Boyd, coach Keith Drewnowski, coach Dan Hill and coach Lowell Bacon.
Rebels will be there in the end Classification
Division V, Region 15
2015 SCHEDULE
All games start at 7 p.m. Aug. 28 Beaver Local Sept. 4 at Columbiana Sept. 11 Alliance Sept. 19 at Warren JFK Sept. 25 Jackson-Milton Oct. 2 United Oct. 9 at East Palestine Oct. 16 South Range Oct. 23 at Springfield Oct. 30 at Lisbon
2014 Record
Assistant coaches
Lowell Bacon, defensive coordinator 7-5, including a share of the Inter-Tri Dom Perry, special teams coordinator, County League upper tier title with a 5-2 mark. The Rebels advanced to the state offensive line, defensive line Eric Potts, inside linebackers, running playoffs for the seventh straight year and 12th time in the last 15 years. The five back Jess Leon, defensive backs, freshmen losses were the most since their last losing Jed Campbell, defensive ends, reseason in 2003. Crestview has won 33 of ceivers its last 36 league games. Matt Evans, quarterbacks Rich Ferris, defensive line, offensive Head coach line, freshmen Paul Cusick enters his 17th season as Justin Boyd, outside linebackers, rehead coach with a record of 131-50 along ceivers with 10 league titles and 12 state playoff Ryan McCullough, defensive backs, reappearances. He has a career record of ceivers, freshman 139-72, which includes three seasons at Keith Drewnoski, running backs, outside linebackers, freshmen Leetonia.
Returning lettermen
Twenty-one, including six starters on offense and eight starters on defense.
Basic offensive formation Spread Zone Read.
Offensive outlook
The Rebels expect to get better as the season goes along as incoming players learn their roles. They will lean on the experience of 1,500-yard rusher Zach Hicks and returning starting linemen Jarred Jones, Jacob Scheller and Jacob Wick early on. See REBELS, Page 9A
M or ni ng J our nal • High School Football 2015 • Section I • Thur sday, August 27, 20 1 5 • 9 Andrew Hardenbrook (sophomore wingback), Devin Turvey (freshman quarterback-wingback), Daniel Morgan Continued from Page 8A (freshman wingback), Steven Barr (fresh“We will continue to run the spread, no man quarterback), Andrew Yanssens huddle, but our tempo will depend on how (freshman running back), Conner Hughes quickly we mature,” Cusick said. “We (freshman running back). should have great competition in camp for starting positions. We definitely have a lack of experience on the offense side of Returning offensive ends the ball and need to learn the system to be Tyler Fitzsimmons (junior flanker), competitive.” Joel Fizsimmons (senior split end), Jared Hayden (senior split end), Brendan Mallo Basic defensive formation (senior tight end), Gino Collins (senior tight end), Jesse Hughes (senior tight Multiple 4-4. end), Nick Mattern (senior tight end), Austin McIntosh (senior flanker), Jordan Defensive outlook Murphy (junior tight end). The Rebels return eight starters, including three linemen, on a defense that Incoming offensive ends has given up at least 20 points in 15 of Hunter Cresanto (junior split end), last 18 games. “We have most of our experience re- Jacob Baker (sophomore tight end), Caleb turning on the defensive side of the ball,” Dew (sophomore flanker), Jeff Feo Cusick said. “Our defense must lead the (sophomore split end), Dakota Stratton way until we grow up offensively. The (sophomore tight end), Dylan Huff (freshdefense looks to be more aggressive and man flanker), Jude Riffle (freshman split must make plays for us. We will have a end), Justin Collins (freshman tight end), great balance of experience throughout Jason Hill (freshman tight end), Spencer the defensive unit. We must have our de- Tatta (freshman split end), Austin Brodifense create turnovers and field position.” gan (freshman split end), Jayce Meredith (freshman flanker), James Fitzgerald (freshman split end), Chase Patrone Returning offensive backs (freshman tight end). Zach Hicks (senior runnning back), Tyler Stratton (senior wingback), Spencer Returning offensive linemen DeSalvo (senior quarterback), Brandon Jarred Jones (senior tackle), Jacob Sherrill (junior wingback), Danny Moore Scheller (junior tackle), Jacob Wick (se(sophomore running back). nior center), Mason Crawford (senior guard), Nick Finch (senior guard), Jake Incoming offensive backs Davis (junior tackle), Kade Meredith (juCaleb Hill (sophomore quarterback), nior center).
REBELS,
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Crestview Rebels
2 Jared Hayden ...................6-0.......180 ....Sr. 3 Spencer DeSalvo..............5-11.....159 ....Sr. 4 Tyler Stratton ....................5-11.....190 ....Sr. 6 Devin Turvey.....................5-9.......173 ....Fr. 7 Gabe Cusick .....................5-6.......115.....Fr. 8 Tyler Fitzsimmons.............5-10.....159 ....Jr. 9 Dylan Huff .........................5-9.......139 ....Fr. 10 Austin McIntosh ................5-6.......139 ....Sr. 11 Caleb Hill...........................6-0.......160 ....Soph. 12 Daniel Morgan ..................5-9.......164 ....Fr. 13 Jude Riffle.........................5-6.......110.....Fr. 14 Josh Batchelor ..................5-11.....170 ....Sr. 15 Steven Barr.......................5-6.......160 ....Fr. 16 Andrew Hardenbrook........5-6.......125 ....Soph. 18 Austin Brodigan.................5-7.......135 ....Fr. 20 Jordan Murphy..................6-3.......224 ....Jr. 22 Caleb Dew ........................5-11.....132 ....Soph. 23 Jacob Baker......................5-11.....157 ....Soph. 24 Jeff Feo.............................5-9.......138 ....Soph. 25 Danny Moore ....................5-7.......145 ....Soph. 26 Andrew Yanssens .............5-7.......163 ....Fr. 27 Brandon Sherrill ................5-10.....182 ....Jr. 28 Joel Fitzsimmons ..............5-11.....152 ....Sr. 30 Dakota Stratton.................5-10.....182 ....Soph. 31 Brendan Mallo...................5-9.......158 ....Sr. 34 Zach Hicks ........................5-8.......165 ....Sr. 36 Gino Collins ......................5-11.....169 ....Sr. 40 Chase Patrone..................5-5.......140 ....Fr. 41 Justin Collins.....................6-0.......165 ....Fr.
Incoming offensive linemen
Anthony DeSarro (senior tackle), Tyler Phillips (senior guard), Jacob Crawford (junior guard), Dylan Schaefer (sophomore tackle), Landon Talbert (sophomore tackle), Dylan Baker (sophomore guard), Dante Pelino (freshman guard), Josh Simmons (freshman center), Chucky Lindsay (freshman center), Chase Murray (freshman tackle), Wyatt Woodring (freshman guard), Dominic Perry (freshman guard),
42 Conner Hughes.................5-8.......145 ....Fr. 44 Jason Hill ..........................5-6.......155 ....Fr. 50 Kade Meredith ..................6-1.......210 ....Jr. 51 Jake Wick .........................5-9.......181 ....Sr. 52 Dante Pelino .....................6-0.......169 ....Fr. 53 Dylan Schaefer .................5-9.......153 ....Soph. 54 Jake Crawford...................5-11..... 185 ...Jr. 58 Jarred Jones .....................6-3.......268 ....Sr. 59 Nick Finch .........................6-0.......279 ....Sr. 61 Dylan Baker ......................5-9.......230 ....Soph. 63 Josh Simmons ..................5-10.....221 ....Fr. 64 Mason Crawford ...............5-11.....184 ....Sr. 66 Chucky Lindsay ................5-6.......179 ....Fr. 67 Chase Murray ...................5-11.....268 ....Fr. 68 Anthony DeSarro ..............5-11.....218 ....Sr. 70 Jack Davis ........................5-11.....249 ....Jr. 71 Jacob Scheller ..................6-6.......284 ....Jr. 72 Wyatt Woodring ................5-9.......191 ....Fr. 74 Dominic Perry ...................6-0.......255 ....Fr. 75 Alex Pecor.........................6-0.......245 ....Fr. 76 Landon Talbert ..................5-11.....210 ....Soph. 77 Tyler Phillips......................5-11.....240 ....Sr. 79 Tyler Noday.......................5-8.......178 ....Fr. 80 Nick Mattern......................5-11.....170 ....Sr. 81 Hunter Cresanto ...............6-0.......165 ....Jr. 82 Jesse Hughes ...................5-11.....187 ....Sr. 83 Spencer Tatta....................5-3.......90 ......Fr. 84 Jayce Meredith .................5-9.......127 ....Fr. 88 James Fitzgerald ..............5-9.......124 ....Fr.
Alex Pecor (freshman tackle), Tyler Noda (freshman tackle).
Returning defensive linemen
Jesse Hughes (senior end), Jack Davis (senior tackle), Jordan Murphy (junior tackle), Jarred Jones (senior end), Nick Finch (senior tackle), Kade Meredith (junior end), Jacob Scheller (junior tackle). See REBELS, Page 10A
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1 0 • M or ni ng Jour nal • High School Football 2015 • Section I • Thur sday, August 27, 20 1 5
REBELS, Continued from Page 9A
Incoming defensive linemen
Cresanto (junior outside), Jacob Baker (sophomore outside), Dakota Stratton (sophomore inside), Andrew Hardenbrook (sophomore outside), Devin Turvey (freshman outside), Daniel Morgan (freshman inside), Steven Barr (freshman outside), Chase Patrone (freshman inside), Conner Hughes (freshman inside), Chucky Lindsay (freshman inside), Wyatt Woodring (freshman inside).
Anthony DeSarro (senior tackle), Tyler Phillips (senior tackle), Landon Talbert (sophomore tackle), Dylan Schaefer (sophomore end), Dylan Baker (sophomore tackle), Dante Pelino (freshman end), Josh Simmons (freshman tackle), Returning defensive backs Chase Murray (freshman tackle), DoJared Hayden (senior cornerback), Joel minic Perry (freshman tackle), Alex Pecor (senior cornerback), (freshman tackle), Tyler Noday (freshman Fitzsimmons tackle), Jason Hill (freshman end), Justin Spencer DeSalvo (senior cornerback), Zach Hicks (senior cornerback), Austin Collins (freshman end). McIntosh (senior cornerback), Tyler Fitzsimmons (junior free safety), Danny Returning linebackers Moore (sophomore free safety). Mason Crawford (senior inside), Nick Mattern (senior outside), Brandon Sher- Incoming defensive backs rill (junior outside), Gino Collins (senior Caleb Dew (sophomore cornerback), inside), Brandan Mallo (senior outside), Jeff Feo (sophomore cornerback), Caleb Tyler Stratton (senior outside). Hill (sophomore cornerback), Gabe Cusick (freshman cornerback), Juide Riffle Incoming linebackers (freshman cornerback), Austin Brodigan Jacob Crawford (junior inside), Hunter (freshman cornerback), Andrew Yanssens
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(freshman free safety), Spencer Tatta yards. (freshman cornerback), Jayce Meredith Receiving — Evan Beachler (gradu(freshman cornerback), James Fitzgerals ated) a school-record 41 catches for 687 (freshman free safety). yards (16.8) and four touchdowns. Scoring — Zach Hicks 146 points; 2014 Players honored Jesse Best (graduated) 126; Dean Foster Jarred Jones, special mention Division (graduated) 45; Tyler Stratton 42. Tackles — Zach Marr (graduated) V All-Ohio and first-team All-Area. Jesse Best (graduated), first-team All- 113; Cody Mackall (graduated) 106; Area. Derek Kozlowski (graduated) 82; Mason Spencer DeSalvo, first-team All-Area. Crawford 73. Zach Hicks, special mention Division Interceptions — Jared Hayden 2. V All-Ohio and second-team All-Area. Jacob Henderson (graduated), second- 2015 Outlook team All-Area. No matter what the league looks like, Crestview always plans to be in con2014 Leaders tention — this time in the new Inter-Tri Rushing — Zach Hicks, 1,552 yards County League Red Division. and 19 touchdowns on 237 carries (6.5); The Rebels have hosted a first-round Jesse Best (graduated) 1,281 yards and playoff game seven straight years (win21 touchdowns on 188 carries (6.8); ning six) and won at least seven games in Tyler Stratton, 440 yards and six touch11 straight seasons. downs on 50 carries (8.8). Crestview can’t afford a slow start like Passing — Jesse Best (graduated) comlast season with games against Beaver pleted 73 of 171 passes (43 percent) for 1,073 yards and 10 touchdowns; Spencer Local, Columbiana, Alliance and Warren DeSalvo completed 4 of 10 passes for 33 JFK in the first four weeks this year.
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M or ni ng J our nal • High School Football 2015 • Section I • Thur sday, August 27, 20 1 5 • 1 1
Murphy committed to leading Crestview to a winning season By CHRIS RAMBO Staff Writer
COLUMBIANA — In recent years, the Crestview football team has drawn more attention for its offense than its defense. But that could change this season thanks to junior defensive end Jordan Murphy. Standing at 6-foot-3 and 225 pounds, Murphy won’t be sneaking up on anyone. After compiling 47 tackles and six sacks as a sophomore last season, he piqued the interest of several college scouts at the Ohio State summer camp in June. The University of Toledo thought enough of his size and quickness that the school offered him a scholarship. It was the first formal offer Murphy received, although he said Cincinnati and Kent State are among others have expressed interest. Murphy, who also attended Ohio State’s camp last season, was as surprised as anyone that he was able to land an offer so soon. “At this time last year, I didn’t think it was possible,” Murphy said. “Com-
“I don’t intend to commit anywhere yet. I want to ride it.” JORDAN MURPHY, CRESTVIEW JUNIOR DEFENSIVE END
ing into high school, a goal of mine was always to get a college scholarship offer, but I thought it would happen my senior year. I never expected anything this soon.” Murphy held off on committing to the Rockets and said he intends to keep exploring his options. “I don’t intend to commit anywhere yet, Murphy said. “I want to ride it. I’m really enjoying the process.” Two full seasons of his high school career remain, but Murphy is not worried about a major injury derailing his college chances. He is looking forward to helping improve a Crestview defense that allowed 20 points in 15 of its last 18 games. “I don’t really think about getting hurt at all,” Murphy said. “I think if you do that, you hold yourself back on the field and don’t play as well.” Murphy has started since he was a freshman
and has put in the necessary work to improve each season. “My technique has gotten a lot better,” Murphy said. “My hands are a lot better and I’m a lot quicker off the ball.” Now, when Crestview coach Paul Cusick watches film what he sees is a rangy, sideline-to-sideline player that he can build the defense around. “His speed is what jumps out more than anything,” Cusick said. “Jordan is someone who came in with some goals in mind and has really went out and
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worked hard for them. He deserves the attention he’s gotten.” As for this season, one of Murphy’s foremost goals is to improve at shedding double teams, which he faced with increasing frequency last fall. “I need to keep getting stronger,” Murphy said. “Teams started paying more attention to me last year. Hopefully I can keep improving. I’d love to make All-ITCL and help us win the conference title.”
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EAST PALESTINE BULLDOGS
1 2 • M or ni ng Jour nal • High School Football 2015 • Section I • Thur sday, August 27, 20 1 5
Morning Journal/Wayne Maris
Members of the 2015 East Palestine football team are (front, from left) Ryan Ross, Josh Pickett, Grant Wagner, David Weaver, head coach Tony Foster, Randy Fegert, Jarrod Figley, Reid Frye, Mike Doucette; (second row, from left) Tim Butler, Seth Dowd, Aaron Proakis, Michael Loyd, Preston Gum, Devan Pudder, Dominic Posey; (third row, from left) Branden Kemp, Parker Sherry, J.R. Davis, Alex Guy, Clayton Gingher, Brock Cheurco, Mike Frazier, Chandler Davis; (fourth row, from left) Robbie Hill, Dillan Waller, Zack Strickland, Erik Noel, Jon Thiry, David Lee Jr., Clayton Murray; (fifth row, from left) Trevor Kimmel, Vincent Deloroza, Cameron Walker, Adam Klein, Brandon Jackson, Shane Hamner, Jeffrey Rhodes; (sixth row, from left) Abel Figley, John McLaughlin, Glendon Dowd, Joey Monteleone, Tyler Kaufman, Zach Townsend; (back, from left) coaches Trey McKim, Jim Young, Zach Sherry, Will Franklin, John Jurjavcic and Eric Barone.
Bulldogs going on the offensive Classification
Division V, Region 15
2014 Record
using an ineligible player. The Bulldogs have lost 14 of their last 16 home games and 19 of the last 26 league games.
Head coach
points in 12 of their last 13 games. “We’re stressing attitude and effort, an Twenty, including eight starters on of- all-around more aggressive attitude,” Fosfense and nine starters on defense. ter said. “We’re trying to keep it simple — play fast and make plays.”
Returning lettermen
4-6, including a 3-4 mark in the InterTony Foster enters his third season as Spread Option. Tri County League upper tier. One of the head coach with a 4-16 record. He served wins was a forfeit due to South Range the previous three seasons at South Range as a varsity assistant and head coach of Offensive outlook the freshman team. He was an assistant at The Bulldogs haven’t had trouble scor2015 SCHEDULE Hilliard Darby from 1999-2005. ing points and expect to be able to gain yardage again this season. All games start at 7 p.m. Assistant coaches “We’re looking at last year’s experiAug. 28 at McDonald ence and success we had moving the Jim Young, defensive coordinator Sept. 4 Wellsville ball,” Foster said. Sept. 11 Columbiana Will Franklin, offensive coordinator Sept. 18 at Lisbon Eric Barone Sept. 25 Sebring Basic defensive formation Trey McKim Oct. 2 at Leetonia John Jurjavcic 4-4. Oct. 9 Crestview Travis Foster Oct. 16 Springfield Oct. 23 at United Zach Sherry Defensive outlook Oct. 30
at South Range
Basic offensive formation
The Bulldogs have given up at least 27
Returning offensive backs
Josh Pickett (senior running back), Grant Wagner (senior running back-quarterback).
Incoming offensive backs
Randy Fegert (senior running back), Mike Doucette (senior running back), Parker Sherry (freshman quarterback).
Returning offensive ends
Jarrod Figley (senior wide receiver), Ryan Ross (senior wide receiver). See BULLDOGS, Page 15A
M or ni ng J our nal • High School Football 2015 • Section I • Thur sday, August 27, 20 1 5 • 1 3
East Palestine Bulldogs
3 Dominic Posey....................6-0.......175 ....Fr. 5 Ryan Ross ..........................6-1.......180 ....Sr. 6 Josh Pickett ........................6-0.......170 ....Sr. 9 Branden Kemp....................6-3.......180 ....Soph. 10 Parker Sherry....................5-10.....180 ....Fr. 12 J.R. Davis .........................5-9.......160 ....Jr. 13 Grant Wagner ...................6-0.......190 ....Sr. 14 Alex Guy ...........................6-1.......205 ....Jr. 20 Josh Fristik........................5-5.......160 ....Sr. 21 David Weaver ...................6-0.......150 ....Sr. 22 Randy Fegert ....................5-8.......175 ....Sr. 25 Jarrod Figley .....................6-0.......140 ....Sr. 30 Clayton Gingher................5-10.....190 ....Jr. 31 Brock Cheurco ..................5-5.......140 ....Fr. 32 Reid Frye ..........................6-0.......195 ....Sr. 33 Mike Frazier ......................5-5.......135 ....Fr. 34 Chandler Davis .................6-0.......140 ....Soph. 35 Robbie Hill ........................6-0.......140 ....Soph. 36 Mike Doucette...................5-11.....195 ....Sr. 37 Dillan Waller......................5-11.....150 ....Jr. 40 Tim Butler..........................6-2.......155 ....Sr. 43 Seth Dowd ........................6-1.......155 ....Sr. 44 Erik Noel ...........................6-0.......190 ....Soph. 45 Jon Thiry ...........................6-0.......165 ....Fr.
“We’ve got a lot of people back and a nice senior class. ... They’ve put a lot of time into the weight room and it’s time for it to pay off. They have the strength and ability to do it. It’s just getting over the hump.”
46 David Lee Jr......................6-0.......165 ....Fr. 47 Clayton Murray .................6-4.......230 ....Soph. 50 Aaron Proakis ...................6-0.......260 ....Sr. 51 Michael Loyd.....................5-11.....195 ....Sr. 52 Trevor Kimmel...................6-2.......215 ....Jr. 54 Vincent Delaroza ..............5-10.....175 ....Soph. 55 Noah Brown ......................5-5.......170 ....Fr. 56 Cameron Walker...............6-0.......260 ....Fr. 58 Blaize Reynolds ................5-9.......210 ....Fr. 60 Adam Klein........................6-4.......240 ....Jr. 61 Preston Gum.....................6-4.......290 ....Sr. 62 Brandon Jackson..............5-9.......225 ....Soph. 63 Boone Feezle....................5-8.......280 ....Fr. 67 Shane Hamner..................5-9.......240 ....Jr. 68 Jeffrey Rhodes..................6-2.......310 ....Soph. 70 Abel Figley ........................5-10.....240 ....Fr. 75 Devan Pudder...................6-0.......301 ....Sr. 76 John McLaughlin...............6-2.......320 ....Soph. 80 Glendon Dowd ..................5-8.......140 ....Fr. 82 Joey Monteleone ..............6-1.......160 ....Soph. 83 Jakob Watkins ..................5-9.......145 ....Jr. 84 Tyler Kaufman...................5-6.......145 ....Jr. 85 Zach Townsend.................5-11.....160 ....Jr.
TONY FOSTER, EAST PALESTINE COACH
Morning Journal/Wayne Maris
Senior Aaron Proakis is the leader of East Palestine’s offensive line.
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1 4 • M or ni ng Jour nal • High School Football 2015 • Section I • Thur sday, August 27, 20 1 5
East Palestine’s Grant Wagner (left) hauls in a two-point conversion pass against McDonald’s Dylan Portolese last season. East Palestine’s J.R. Davis (right) gives chase to Columbiana’s Cooper Smith last season. Morning Journal/Ron Firth and Wayne Maris
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East Palestine defensive back Ryan Ross returns an interception against Crestview last season.
M or ni ng J our nal • High School Football 2015 • Section I • Thur sday, August 27, 20 1 5 • 1 5
BULLDOGS, Continued from Page 12A
Incoming offensive ends
Returning defensive backs
Ryan Ross (senior), Josh Pickett (seBranden Kemp (sophomore wide receiver), Reid Frye (senior tight end), Alex nior). Guy (junior tight end).
Incoming defensive backs
Returning offensive linemen
Branden Kemp (sophomore).
Aaron Proakis (senior guard), Trevor 2014 Players honored Kimmel (junior guard), Preston Gum (seNick Monteleone (graduated), firstnior tackle), Adam Klein (junior tackle), team All-Area. Jeffrey Rhodes (sophomore center). Aaron Proakis, second-team All-Area.
Incoming offensive linemen Devan Pudder (senior tackle).
Returning defensive linemen
Aaron Proakis (senior end), Trevor Kimmel (junior end-linebacker), Clayton Gingher (junior tackle), Mike Loyd (senior tackle), Devan Pudder (senior tackle).
2014 Leaders
Rushing — Nick Montelone (graduated) 744 yards and nine touchdowns on 134 carries (5.6); Josh Pickett, 601 yards and seven touchdowns on 82 carries (7.3); Luke Cope (graduated) 497 yards and seven touchdowns on 78 carries (6.4). Passing — Luke Cope (graduated) completed 79 of 172 passes (46 percent) for 1,100 yards and 11 touchdowns. Receiving — Nick Monteleone (graduated) 34 catches for 565 yards (16.6) and eight touchdowns; Jarrod Figley, 12 catches for 217 yards (18.1) and two touchdowns; Grant Wagner, 11 catches for 79 yards (7.2); Josh Pickett, 10 catches for 175 yards (17.5) and two touchdowns. Tackles — Grant Wagner 98.
Morning Journal/Wayne Maris
East Palestine senior Jarrod Figley returns after being the Bulldogs’ secondleading receiver last season.
and only eight wins the last four seasons, the Bulldogs biggest problem is developing a winning attitude. Alex Guy (junior end). “We’re excited about the season,” Foster said. “We’ve got a lot of people Returning linebackers back and a nice senior class. These guys were sophomores when I got the job. Grant Wagner (senior outside), Jarrod They bought into it. They’ve put a lot of Figley (senior outside), J.R. Davis (junior time into the weight room and it’s time outside), Vincent Delaroza (sophomore for it to pay off. They have the strength inside). and ability to do it. It’s just getting over the hump.” Incoming linebackers 2015 Outlook The Bulldogs have to be at their best Mike Doucette (senior inside) After one winning season in 12 years from the start as they open the season at
Incoming defensive linemen
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McDonald before taking on Wellsville, Columbiana and Lisbon. That has to be a concern for a team that has given up an average of more than 32 points a game in each in the last five seasons. East Palestine will not begin play in the new Inter-Tri County League Red Division until the seventh week of the season. “Its’ going to be pretty solid,” Foster said. “Until somebody takes Crestview off the leaderboard for several years in a row, they’re always in the mix. You have to consider everyone has a chance.”
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1 6 • M or ni ng Jour nal • High School Football 2015 • Section I • Thur sday, August 27, 20 1 5
2015 INTER-TRI COUNTY LEAGUE SCHEDULE WEEK ONE Thursday, Aug. 27 Western Reserve at Columbiana Wellsville vs. Toronto at Steubenville Harding Stadium Friday, Aug. 28 Beaver Local at Crestview East Palestine at McDonald Springfield at Brookfield Malvern at United Fairport Harding at Leetonia Paden City at Southern Lucas at Lowellville Southington at Jackson-Milton Mineral Ridge at Salem Sebring at Windham Saturday, Aug. 29 Lisbon vs. Tuscarawas Central Catholic at Dover Crater Stadium South Range at Warren JFK ——— WEEK TWO Friday, Sept. 4 Crestview at Columbiana Wellsville at East Palestine Campbell at South Range McDonald at Springfield United at Salem Leetonia at Matthews Mineral Ridge at Lisbon Conotton Valley at Southern Windham at Lowellville Jackson-Milton at Newton Falls Southington at Sebring Western Reserve at Malvern ——— WEEK THREE Friday, Sept. 11 Alliance at Crestview Columbiana at East Palestine South Range at Western Reserve Springfield at Cuyahoga Heights Lisbon at United
Morning Journal/Ron Firth
East Palestine linebacker Grant Wagner brings down Lisbon running back Danny Shultz last season. Collinwood at Leetonia Southern at Malvern Lowellville at Wellsville Jackson-Milton at Windham Grand Valley at McDonald Newton Falls at Mineral Ridge Sebring at Toronto ——— WEEK FOUR Friday, Sept. 18 East Palestine at Lisbon South Range at Mineral Ridge Springfield at Western Reserve United at Southern
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Springfield at South Range Columbiana at Southern Wellsville at Lisbon Lowellville at Western Reserve McDonald at Jackson-Milton Sebring at Mineral Ridge ——— WEEK SEVEN Friday, Oct. 9 Crestview at East Palestine South Range at United Columbiana at Springfield Wellsville at Leetonia Southern at Lisbon Mineral Ridge at Lowellville Jackson-Milton at Sebring Western Reserve at McDonald ——— WEEK EIGHT Friday, Oct. 16 South Range at Crestview Springfield at East Palestine United at Wellsville Columbiana at Lisbon Leetonia at Southern Lowellville at Sebring Jackson-Milton at Western Reserve McDonald at Mineral Ridge ——— WEEK NINE Friday, Oct. 23 Crestview at Springfield East Palestine at United Southern at South Range Columbiana at Wellsville Lisbon at Leetonia Jackson-Milton at Lowellville Sebring at McDonald Mineral Ridge at Western Reserve ——— WEEK TEN Friday, Oct. 30 Crestview at Lisbon East Palestine at South Range United at Springfield Leetonia at Columbiana Southern at Wellsville McDonald at Lowellville Jackson-Milton at Mineral Ridge Sebring at Western Reserve
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M or ni ng J our nal • High School Football 2015 • Section I • Thur sday, August 27, 20 1 5 • 1 7
LISBON’S 1995 STATE CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON
Blue Devils played like champions By CHRIS RAMBO Staff Writer
LISBON — In August of 1995, with the Lisbon Blue Devils hard at work preparing for the upcoming football season, senior lineman Ed Shuman took it upon himself to break the huddle at the end of each practice with the words “14-0.” It seemed innocent enough at the time. After all, while an undefeated season was fun to think about, it wasn’t exactly foremost on anyone’s mind. “I remember saying to myself, ‘Does Ed really think we have a shot?’” Lisbon senior lineman Ryan Belaney said. “It never really crossed my mind, but after he started breaking the huddle that way I started thinking ‘Maybe he sees something I don’t.’” Little did Belaney know how true those words would ring fourth months later. 1995 was simply a season in which everything possible went right for the Lisbon football team. Using a combination of depth, experience, poise and a little luck, the Blue Devils took their fans on a once-in-alifetime thrill ride all the way to the Division V state championship. The dream culminated with a thrilling 34-31 double-overtime victory over top-ranked Cincinnati Mariemont in the title game at Paul Brown Stadium in Massillon. But it could have easily been derailed at numerous points along the way. However, each time Lisbon’s season was in jeopardy, someone was right there to save the day. “Resilience was that team’s biggest characteristic,” Lisbon coach Jim Tsilimos said. “They just would not quit no matter the situation. They would never take no for an answer. Every week somebody different would step
“We had so many different ways we could beat people. Everybody knew their roles and didn’t complain.” RYAN BELANEY, 1995 LISBON LINEMAN
Morning Journal
Lisbon quarterback Zach Williams gets the play from head coach Jim Tsilimos during the Blue Devils’ 1995 Division V state championship season.
up. Nobody was selfish, the kids losses coming by six points or didn’t care who got the credit.” less. Across the board there wasn’t a glaring weakness. The offense High hopes revolved around athletic, multiLisbon entered 1995 as one of skilled senior quarterback Zach the favorites in a very good Tri- Williams. County League. The Blue Devils A smart, savvy passer and unreturned 12 seniors from a team derrated runner, Williams tossed that went 6-4 in 1994 with three 17 touchdowns and just two in-
terceptions before going on to start at Kent State University. “Zach was one of the best,” Tsilimos said. “He was a cerebral athlete and knew who to direct an offense. He was not a yeller, but was a disciplined kid and led by example.” “My main goal was to protect the football and let our athletes make plays,” Williams said. The vast majority of the Blue Devils’ starters played both offense and defense. The line consisted of tackles Ryan Belaney and Mike Tray, guards Ed Shuman and Dustin Peppel and center Dustin Tedrow. As a group they were not overly big, but were athletic. On defense, they formed a sturdy, tough front wall. Bruising fullbacks Damien Powell and Mike Stockman, along with shifty tailback Brian Davis provided a balanced backfield. Powell and Stockman also played inside linebacker and were the heart-and-soul of a defense that gave up just 6.5 points per game during the regular season. At tight end, Todd Sinsley emerged as a big receiving threat as the season went on, while Jeremy Lewton was a steady blocker. Receivers Sam Carpenter and Steve Rodgers brought sure hands to the offense and quickness to the defensive secondary. “We had so many different ways we could beat people,” Belaney said. “Everybody knew their roles and didn’t complain.”
The drive
The Blue Devils rolled to a 50 start, outscoring their opponents 144-24 in the process, but their mettle would be severely tested in a blockbuster week six matchup at unbeaten Crestview. The Rebels, led by star running
1995 season (14-0)
Regular Season South Range ...........................22-3 Mathews..................................35-6 Wellsville .................................20-6 United......................................33-9 Columbiana.............................34-0 Crestview ......................24-18 (OT) Southern .................................53-8 East Palestine ...........................8-3 Leetonia ................................41-12 Sebring....................................71-0 Playoffs Steubenville Central ..............21-12 Monroe Central .....................17-14 Waynedale ..............................33-7 Cin. Mariemont ...........34-31 (2OT)
back Chad Welsh, came in ranked fourth in the Division V state poll and had been just as impressive as the Blue Devils. “There was a lot of buildup to that game,” Williams said. “Everyone knew what was at stake. Whoever won that game would probably win the league title and go to the playoffs.” On a rainy night at Crestview High School, a rash of turnovers threatened to doom the Blue Devils, but Williams saved the day. Crestview led 18-12 when the Blue Devils took over at the Crestview 6-yard line with 2:56 remaining. Without batting an eye, Williams dinked and dunked his way downfield, eventually scoring on a 1-yard sneak to tie things up in the waning seconds. The conversion attempt failed sending the game to overtime. “Zach put us on his shoulders,” Belaney said. “He wasn’t See CHAMPIONS, Page 25A
LEETONIA BEARS
1 8 • M or ni ng Jour nal • High School Football 2015 • Section I • Thur sday, August 27, 20 1 5
Morning Journal/Patti Schaeffer
Members of the 2015 Leetonia football team are (front, from left) manager Brett Weikart, Cameron Hitchcock, Jacob Hupp, Brady Shepard, Connor Mellinger, Seth Whittemore, Tanner Tullis, Brandon Smith, Lucas Hebron; (second row, from left) Michael Buffone, Joey Suggett, Devon Champney, Danny McCool, Jake Henry, Gavin Liberty, Derek Bell, Adam Barkley; (third row, from left) Domanic Bosley, Tyler Hephner, Jake Wilson, Brandon Maltbie, Isaac Stecker, Denny Cornman, Brandon Roessler, Douglas Rhodes; (fourth row, from left) Xavier Bernhagen, Jonathan Cress, Roman Ferry, Brock Simpson, Alex Waterbeck, Eric Vanhorn; (back, from left) coach Joe Fagnano, coach Joe Simon, coach George Clark, head coach Hadi Hadi and coach Scott Husk.
Leetonia heads in new direction 2015 SCHEDULE
All games start at 7 p.m. Aug. 28 Fairport Harding Sept. 4 at Mathews Sept. 11 Collinwood Sept. 18 at Jackson-Milton Sept. 25 Lowellville Oct. 2 East Palestine Oct. 9 Wellsville Oct. 16 at Southern Oct. 23 Lisbon Oct. 30 at Columbiana
head coach. He served three seasons as sive line, special teams offensive coordinator at Youngstown Joe Fagnano, receivers, defensive Division VII, Region 23 Wilson and three seasons as an assistant backs at Georgia State University. He has been Justin Machamer, running back, inside 2014 Record Liberty’s head wrestling coach for four linebackers 1-9, including an 0-7 mark in the Inter- seasons after being an assistant at BoardReturning lettermen Tri County League lower tier. The Bears man, Hubbard and Austintown Fitch. have lost 16 straight league games, eight Thirteen, including seven offensive straight road games and 16 of their last Assistant coaches starters and six defensive starters. 17 games overall. Joe Simon, offensive coordinator Scott Husk, defensive coordinator, lineHead coach backers, running backs George Clarke, offensive line, defenSee LEETONIA, Page 19A Hadi Hadi enters his first season as a
Classification
M or ni ng J our nal • High School Football 2015 • Section I • Thur sday, August 27, 20 1 5 • 1 9
LEETONIA,
Leetonia Bears
Continued from Page 18A
Basic offensive linemen Multiple formations.
gett (junior).
Returning offensive linemen
Derek Bell (junior), Michael Buffone (junior), Seth Whittemore (senior), Con“A multiple-set offense with a well-bal- nor Mellinger (senior), Brandon Smith anced attack concentrating on ball control (senior), Cameron Hitchcock (senior). and clock management,” Hadi said. The Bears were run down by the end of Incoming offensive linemen the season last year, averaging 8.8 points Jake Henry (junior), Jake Wilson in their nine losses. (sophomore).
Offensive outlook
Basic defensive formation 4-4.
Defensive outlook
Returning defensive linemen
2 Roman Ferry.......................5-8.......145 ....Fr. 3 Douglas Rhodes .................5-7.......130 ....Jr. 4 Brock Simpson....................5-7.......135 ....Fr. 9 Isaac Stecker ......................6-3.......195 ....Jr. 13 Alex Waterbeck.................5-6.......125 ....Fr. 18 Brandon Maltbie................5-10.....170 ....Jr. 20 Danny McCool ..................5-10.....145 ....Jr. 21 Devon Champney .............6-1.......155 ....Jr. 23 Domanic Bosley................5-8.......190 ....Fr. 28 Brady Shepard..................5-11.....215 ....Sr. 31 Joey Suggett.....................6-0.......170 ....Jr. 33 Denny Cornman................5-8.......163 ....Fr. 36 Jake Hupp.........................6-0.......210 ....Sr. 43 Brandon Roessler .............5-9.......146 ....Jr. 44 Tanner Tullis......................5-9.......205 ....Sr. 51 Cameron Hitchcock ..........6-1.......200 ....Fr. 52 Connor Mellinger ..............5-11.....215 ....Sr.
Connor Mellinger (senior), Derek Bell (junior), Jake Henry (junior), Seth Whit- All-Area. temore (senior).
“We will have an aggressive attack2014 Leaders style defense,” Hadi said. Returning linebackers If the Bears can’t score more points, it Rushing — Colton Gudat (graduated) Brady Shepard (senior), Jake Hupp (se- 549 yards and three touchdowns on 107 will put a lot of pressure on their defense nior), Tanner Tullis (senior). to keep them in games. carries (5.1). Passing — Drew Turney (graduated) Incoming linebackers Returning offensive backs completed 41 of 107 passes (38 percent) Isaac Stecker (junior). for 456 yards and four touchdowns. Brady Shepard (senior), Danny McCool (junior), Tanner Tullis (senior), Jake Returning defensive backs 2015 Outlook Hupp (senior). Danny McCool (junior), Joey Suggett The Bears, whose last couple of seasons Incoming offensive backs (junior). were derailed due to injuries, haven’t had a winning season since 2008. They enter Roman Ferry (freshman). Incoming defensive backs the season with 24 players in grades 10Returning offensive ends Roman Ferry (freshman), Brock Simpson (freshman), Johnathan Cress (freshNone. See page 30A man).
Incoming offensive ends
Devon Champney (junior), Joey Sug-
2014 Players honored
Colton Gudat (graduated), second-team
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53 Adam Barkley....................6-3.......205 ....Jr. 54 Cameron Hitchcock ..........6-1.......200 ....Sr. 55 Michael Buffone ................5-11.....205 ....Jr. 57 Brandon Smith ..................5-10.....177 ....Sr. 61 Derek Bell .........................5-11.....325 ....Jr. 63 Jake Henrey......................6-3.......240 ....Jr. 65 Gavin Liberty.....................6-2.......210 ....Jr. 66 Xavier Bernhagen.............5-9.......175 ....Soph. 67 Michael Garlough .............5-6.......178 ....Fr. 71 Lucas Hebron ...................6-2.......245 ....Sr. 23 Domanic Bosley................5-8.......190 ....Fr. 75 Eric Vanhorn .....................5-6.......170 ....Fr. 76 Jake Wilson ......................6-0.......260 ....Soph. 77 Seth Whittemore ...............6-2.......220 ....Sr. 85 Jonathan Cress.................5-8.......140 ....Fr. 86 Tyler Hephner ...................5-9.......160 ....Soph.
12 on the roster, meaning the Bears will have a number of two-way players. “We’re going to take a positive outlook and try to be aggressive,” Hadi said. “We’ve had some guys coming back that have been out and haven’t played. We’re going to be competitive, but it mostly depends on the coaches’ planning. “We are about even on offense and defense with the offense a little bit ahead. We had a scrimmage against United where we did well with the running game getting 175 yards rushing and about 110 yards in the first 10 plays of a controlled scrimmage. So, it’s starting to come together.”
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LISBON BLUE DEVILS
20 • M or ni ng Jour nal • High School Football 2015 • Section I • Thur sday, August 27, 20 1 5
Morning Journal/Patti Schaeffer
Members of the 2015 Lisbon football team are (front, from left) Frankie Morrell, Austin Rutecki, Jared White, Josh Craig, Cody Freeland, Josh Liberati, Jaret Everett, Alex Barnes; (second row, from left) Bailey McCullough, Colin Sweeney, Danny Schultz, Austin Davis, Nate Cook, Tyler Howe, Jason Thompson, David Toot, Jake Liberati; (third row, from left) Seth Marriner, Zander Llewellyn, Dougie Minor, Dakota Robinson, Cameron Summers, Seth Davis, Damien Hawkins, Derrick Joy, Seth Stokes, Cade Zimmermann, Justin Larkins, Justus Rosenbach; (fourth row, from left) Justin Sweeney, Logan Bell, Cameron Smith, Michael Stover, Seth Donaldson, Bergan Weyand, Tyler Reynolds, Sean Preston, Brice Blackburn, Trevor Johnson and Noah Yanges; (back, from left) coach Charles Bell, coach Kyle Bing, coach Bill Meek, coach Joe Rankin, coach Mike Butream, head coach Jim Tsilimos, coach Rich Joy, coach Tom Thayer, coach Joe Chuck, coach Steve Tsilimos and coach Joe Wilson.
Blue Devils are loaded and ready
The Blue Devils lost to three seven-win line David Rankin, defensive coordinator, teams (South Range, United, Springfield). Division VI, Region 19 linebackers, running backs Rich Joy, wide receivers, defensive Head coach 2014 Record backs Jim Tsilimos enters his fifth consecuTom Thayer, offensive line, lineback7-3, including a 4-3 mark in the Inter- tive season and 23rd overall as Lisbon’s ers Tri County League upper tier. It was Lis- head coach. He was 110-79 at Lisbon Joe Wilson, running backs, defensive bon’s first winning season since 2005. from 1990-2007, including five Triline County League titles, five state playoff Todd Brammer, offensive line, lineappearances and the 1995 Division V backers 2015 SCHEDULE state championship, and 13-27 from Mike Butream, assistant 2011-14. He has a career head coaching Joey Chuck, wide receivers, linebackAll games start at 7 p.m. ers record of 148-131, including three years Aug. 29 vs. Tusky Central Steve Tsilimos, quarterbacks, defensive at Wilmington and two years at Benjamin at Dover Crater Stadium backs Logan. Sept. 4 Mineral Ridge
Classification
Sept. 11 Sept. 18 Sept. 25 Oct. 2 Oct. 9 Oct. 16 Oct. 23 Oct. 30
at United East Palestine at South Range Wellsville Southern at Columbiana at Leetonia Crestview
Assistant coaches
Returning lettermen
Offensive outlook
The Blue Devils return fourth-year starting quarterback Josh Liberati, 1,000yard rusher Jason Thompson and the skilled players who accounted for all of the Blue Devils’ 3,783 total yards last season. “We must be able to run our power plays plus be able to spread teams out,” Tsilimos said. “Throw when we want to throw.”
Basic defensive formation 4-4.
Defensive outlook
“We want to be physical,” Tsilimos Ninteen, including nine starters on of- said. Bill Meek, offensive coordinator, offense and nine starters on defense. fensive line, linebackers The Blue Devils gave up an average of Kyle Bing, offensive coordinator, quar17.1 points in their seven wins last seaBasic offensive formation terbacks, defensive backs See BLUE DEVILS, Page 23A Charles Bell, offensive line, defensive I formation.
M
Mor ni ng J our nal • High School Football 2015 • Section I • Thursday, August 27, 20 1 5 • 21
Morning Journal/Patti Schaeffer
Returning to lead the Lisbon offense are (from left) running back Austin Davis, tackle Josh Craig and quarterback Josh Liberati, all seniors.
22 • M or ni ng Jour nal • High School Football 2015 • Section I • Thur sday, August 27, 20 1 5 Catch all the high school football scores in Saturdayʟs Morning Journal
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Morning Journal/Patti Schaeffer
Lisbon senior Jared White returns after leading the Blue Devils in receiving last season.
M or ni ng J our nal • High School Football 2015 • Section I • Thur sday, August 27, 20 1 5 • 23
BLUE DEVILS, Continued from Page 20A
son.
Returning offensive backs
Josh Liberati (senior quarterback), Frankie Morrell (senior fullback), Austin Davis (senior tailback), Jason Thompson (junior tailback), Danny Shultz (senior tailback), Dougie Minor (sophomore tailback).
Incoming offensive backs
Cameron Summers (sophomore fullback), Logan Bell (freshman quarterback), Cameron Smith (freshman tailback).
Returning offensive ends
Austin Rutecki (senior receiver), Jared White (senior receiver), Colin Sweeney (junior receiver), Cody Freeland (senior tight end), David Toot (junior receiver), Seth Stokes (sophomore receiver).
Incoming offensive ends
Seth Davis (junior tight end-wide receiver), Cameron Summers (sophomore tight end), Justin Sweeney (freshman wide receiver), Brice Blackburn (fresh-
Austin Rutecki, first-team All-Area. Josh Liberati, first-team All-Area. Frankie Morrell (senior), Austin Frankie Morrell, second-team AllRutecki (senior), Josh Liberati (senior), Area. Returning offensive linemen Danny Shultz (senior), Jared White (seAlex Barnes (tackle), Josh Craig (se- nior). 2014 Leaders nior tackle), Jake Liberati (junior guard), Rushing — Jason Thompson, 1,023 Nate Cook (guard), Jarret Everett (senior Incoming linebackers yards and 11 touchdowns on 136 carries guard), Bailey McCullough (junior cenCameron Summers (sophomore), (7.5); Austin Davis, 406 yards and seven ter). Damien Hawkins (junior), Michael Stover touchdowns on 84 carries (4.8); Frankie (freshman), Sean Preston (freshman), Morrell, 313 yards and eight touchdowns Incoming offensive linemen Brice Blackburn (freshman). on carries (4.3); Danny Shultz, 268 yards and three touchdowns on 46 carries (5.8); Damien Hawkins (junior), Justin Returning defensive backs Josh Liberati, 264 yards and four touchLarkins (sophomore), Tyler Howe (seJason Thompson (junior), Colin downs on 70 carries (3.8). nior), Seth Marriner (sophomore), Seth Passing — Josh Liberati completed 91 Sweeney (junior), Seth Davis (junior), Donaldson (freshman). Cody Freeland (senior), Dougie Minor of 157 passes (58 percent) for 1,461 Returning defensive linemen sophomore), Seth Stokes (sophomore), yards and 13 touchdowns. Receiving — Jared White, 26 catches David Toot (junior). Alex Barnes (senior), Jake Liberati (jufor 445 yards (17.1) and four touchnior), Bailey McCullough (junior), Josh Incoming defensive backs downs; Josh Craig, 24 catches for 248 yards (10.3) and three touchdowns; Colin Craig (senior), Jared Everett (senior), Justin Rosenbach (sophomore), Dakota Austin Davis (senior), Nate Cook (se- Robinson (sophomore), Justin Sweeney Sweeney, 17 catches for 380 yards (22.4) and one touchdown; Frankie Mornior). (freshman). rell, 13 catches for 170 yards (13.1) and two touchdowns; Jason Thompson, seven Incoming defensive linemen 2014 Players honored catches for 196 yards (28.0) and two Tyler Howe (senior), Justin Larkins Danny Donohue (graduated), special touchdowns. (sophomore), Seth Marriner (senior), Seth mention Division VI All-Ohio and firstSee BLUE DEVILS, Page 24A Donaldson (freshman). team All-Area. man tight end), Dakota Robinson (sophomore wide receiver).
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24 • M or ni ng Jour nal • High School Football 2015 • Section I • Thur sday, August 27, 20 1 5
Lisbon Blue Devils
2 Frankie Morrell..................5-11.....240 ....Sr. 4 Zander Llewellyn...............5-8.......135 ....Soph. 5 Logan Bell.........................5-8.......140 ....Fr. 7 Danny Shultz ....................5-10.....170 ....Sr. 8 Seth Stokes ......................5-11.....160 ....Soph. 9 Justus Rosenbach ............6-1.......170 ....Soph. 11 Austin Rutecki ...................6-4.......210 ....Sr. 14 David Toot.........................5-10.....155 ....Jr. 19 Michael Stover ..................5-9.......145 ....Fr. 20 Brice Blackburn.................6-0.......185 ....Fr. 22 Jared White.......................6-3.......200 ....Sr. 23 Dougie Minor ....................5-9.......175 ....Soph. 24 Justin Sweeney.................5-9.......145 ....Fr. 25 Colin Sweeney..................5-10.....155 ....Jr. 33 Jason Thompson ..............5-10.....165 ....Jr. 41 Cade Zimmerman .............5-9.......145 ....Soph. 42 Cameron Summers...........5-10.....175 ....Soph. 48 Cameron Smith.................6-0.......185 ....Fr. 49 Austin Davis ......................5-7.......170 ....Sr. 50 Trevor Johnson.................6-0.......210 ....Fr.
The Blue Devils return fourthyear starting quarterback Josh Liberati, 1,000-yard rusher Jason Thompson and the skilled players who accounted for all of the Blue Devils’ 3,783 total yards last season.
52 Sean Preston ....................5-8.......155 ....Fr. 53 Noah Yanges ....................5-6.......200 ....Fr. 55 Seth Donaldson ................6-2.......215 ....Fr. 57 Nate Cook.........................5-10.....195 ....Sr. 58 Damien Hawkins...............5-10.....175 ....Jr. 61 Cody Rose ........................6-1.......200 ....Fr. 62 Bergan Weyand ................6-1.......195 ....Fr. 63 Josh Craig.........................6-4.......240 ....Jr. 65 Bailey McCullough ............6-1.......235 ....Jr. 66 Jake Liberati .....................6-1.......295 ....Jr. 67 Justin Larkins....................5-9.......205 ....Soph. 68 Alex Barnes.......................5-10.....250 ....Sr. 70 Jaret Everett .....................6-1.......220 ....Sr. 71 Tyler Reynolds ..................5-6.......190 ....Fr. 73 Tyler Howe........................5-10.....235 ....Sr. 75 Seth Marriner ....................5-9.......200 ....Soph. 79 Derrick Joy........................6-3.......325 ....Jr. 80 Cody Freeland ..................6-0.......180 ....Sr. 82 Dakota Robinson ..............5-8.......145 ....Soph. 85 Seth Davis ........................6-3.......180 ....Jr.
BLUE DEVILS, Continued from Page 23A
Tackles — Frankie Morrell 102; Josh Liberati 78; Austin Rutecki 77; Josh Craig 70. Interceptions — Austin Rutecki 5; Colin Sweeney 4. Lisbon junior running back Jason Thompson
2015 Outlook
This is the season the Blue Devils have been building for. “Goal for 2015 is to improve on our 73 record and compete for a middle tier title,” Tsilimos said. Not only are the Blue Devils favored to capture their first league title since 1999, they could be the best team in the area. Lisbon features seven three-year letter-
men and nine two-year lettermen. “Sixteen offensive players and 15 defensive players are back who started some time during the 2014 season,” Tsilimos said. “This year can be a breakout year for the Blue Devils if we can keep improving week by week. Experience will not be the concern, but staying focused for 10 weeks will be a key for success.” Lisbon won seven games last season, matching their total wins the previous six seasons. “Our seniors have done an outstanding job leading the team in the offseason,” Tsilimos said. “Their next challenge will be to lead the next four months. Also, we must stay healthy and develop backups.”
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M or ni ng J our nal • High School Football 2015 • Section I • Thur sday, August 27, 20 1 5 • 25
CHAMPIONS, Continued from Page 17A
With 4:05 left in the up against Woodsfield third quarter Bulldogs Monroe Central in a requarterback Anthony gional final matchup at St. Hogue dropped back to Clairsville High School. pass. He was swarmed immediately by Mike Tray Fourth-and-25 and Ed Shuman and flung The Seminoles,the best the ball up in desperation. team Lisbon had faced up Right there waiting for it to that point, were led by a was Belaney, who rumbled pair of 1,000-yard rushers 25 yards for his only career touchdown, giving the in Luke Schumacher (who Blue Devils a lead they went on to be a starting linebacker at Youngstown wouldn’t relinquish. “What can I say, I was in State University standout) the right place at the right and Dustin Robinson. “They would have had a time,” Belaney said. “The great chance to win the other guys did a great job state title if they beat us,” of applying pressure and Tsilimos said. forcing a bad throw.” Defensive stand Heavy rain during the After sidestepping The other TCL landmine Steubenville Catholic Cen- day turned the field into a Lisbon had to sidestep was tral, 21-12, in the first mud pit. The rain gave way East Palestine. round, the Blue Devils ran to snow showers as the The Bulldogs came to War Memorial Stadium in week eight in a secondGood Luck, Lisbon & United! place tie with Crestview, Fall Arrangements are now available at... one game back of Lisbon. Heavy rains turned the field into a quagmire and rendered both offenses useless. With East Palestine clinging to a 3-2 second half lead and sustained David & Susan Kiewall, Owners drives at a premium, it 10099 Main Street • Hanoverton, Ohio 124 S. Market Street • Lisbon, Ohio would be up to the Blue Devils defense. (330) 223-1620 or (330) 424-0854 going to let us lose. You couldn’t tell that the game was on the line because he was so calm.” Lisbon backup linebacker Barry Long intercepted Todd Duwe on the first overtime possession and Powell busted into the end zone from 2 yards out to give the Blue Devils a critical win. “Barry Long’s interception was a great example of our depth,” Tsilimos said. “It seemed like we had somebody new step up every week.”
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from their own 41 with 6:42 left. “There was some discussion whether we should go for it or punt,” Williams said. “The players all wanted to go for it, we knew we had a play that would work.” The Blue Devils surprised the Seminoles by having tight end Todd Sinsley run a wheel route. Sinsley popped open and Williams hit him with a perfect throw to extend the drive. A few minutes later, Williams worked his
fourth down magic again, hitting Steve Rodgers on a slant route on fourth-and-7 at the 14. Two plays later, Powell plowed into the end zone from two yards out, giving Lisbon a 17-14 lead with two minutes left. Monroe Central didn’t threaten on its final drive. “With Zach we never felt we were out of a game,” Rodgers said. “He made every clutch throw he needed to.” The state semifinal against Apple Creek
See CHAMPIONS, Page 47A
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temperature plunged into the 20s at gametime. The turf was in such bad shape that straw had to be applied to prevent further damage. “It was the worst field I’ve ever played on,” Williams said. “A lot of people couldn’t believe we had a playoff game on such a bad field, but each team had to deal with it,” Tsilimos said. The Seminoles asserted control in the second half and led 14-9 when the Blue Devils took possession halfway through the fourth quarter. After shooting themselves in the foot with multiple penalties, Lisbon faced a fourth-and-25
“I just remember getting in the huddle and just laughing. It was overwhelming realizing we were about to win.”
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M or ni ng J our nal • High School Football 2015 • Section I • Thur sday, August 27, 20 1 5 • 27
SEBRING TROJANS
28 • M or ni ng Jour nal • High School Football 2015 • Section I • Thur sday, August 27, 20 1 5
Morning Journal/Bill Dragomir
Members of the 2015 Sebring football team are (front, from left) Trevor Byers, Holden Bennett, Joshua Hammond, Nate Martin, Dante Zeruch, Jake Fullerton, Brandon French, Trevor Berlin; (second row, from left) coach Ward Smith, coach Brandon French, Rob Rouse, Colton Brown, Jacob Hunter, coach Josh Venables, Tristen Weekly, Seth Hamby, Dalton Smith, Zach Thomas, head coach Scott Springer and coach Bob Dierx.
Trojans small in numbers, not heart Classification
Division VII, Region 23
2014 Record
ning season in 1992. The Trojans have lost 20 of the their last 23 league games.
Head coach
Scott Springer enters his fifth season as 5-5, including a 2-5 mark in the Inter- head coach with a record of 12-28. He Tri County League lower tier. It was the was the defensive coordinator at Sebring Trojans’ most wins since their last win- for two years after being an assistant at Alliance for eight years.
2015 SCHEDULE
All games start at 7 p.m. Aug. 28 at Windham Sept. 4 Southington Sept. 11 at Toronto Sept. 18 Columbiana Sept. 25 at East Palestine Oct. 2 at Mineral Ridge Oct. 9 Jackson-Milton Oct. 16 Lowellville Oct. 23 at McDonald Oct. 30 at Western Reserve
We’re not real big, so the key is to swarm to the ball , but not overpursue. We Seven, including six starters on offense need to create turnovers. We are fast and and starters on defense. aggressive, but inexperienced.
Returning lettermen
Basic offensive formation Spread offense
Offensive outlook
Returning offensive backs
Jarod Hunter (running back), Nate Martin (junior running back), Rob Rouse (junior running back).
With our low numbers, we have stay as healthy as possible. We will try to spread Incoming offensive backs Wade Smith, offensive line, defensive out opposing defenses with short to midHolden Bennett (sophomore tailback), range passes and run some option. line Josh Zmuda (senior), Colton Brown (junior). T.J. Yost, offensive line, defensive line Brandon French, offensive coordinator, Basic defensive formation Returning offensive ends quarterbacks, linebackers 4-3 or 4-4. Josh Zmuda (senior). Josh Venables, wide receivers, defensive backs, special teams Defensive outlook Incoming offensive ends Robert Bierx, wide receivers, defensive The Trojans were fourth in the area in backs Colton Brown (junior), Trevor Byers scoring defense (22.1) last season, which explains their success. See TROJANS, Page 29A
Assistant coaches
M or ni ng J our nal • High School Football 2015 • Section I • Thur sday, August 27, 20 1 5 • 29
TROJANS,
Sebring Trojans
2 Chris Tewksbury ...............5-7.......140 ....Fr.
Continued from Page 28A
5 Holden Bennett.................5-8.......150 ....Soph. (senior), Jake Fullerton (freshman), Returning defensive backs 7 Rob Rouse........................6-1.......160 ....Jr. Holden Bennett (sophomore), Dante 11Colton Brown .....................6-2.......170 ....Jr. Josh Zmuda (senior), Rob Rouse (juSeruch (junior), Brandon French (sopho14 Brandon French ................5-10.....145 ....Soph. nior). more). 17 Trevor Byers .....................5-10.....150 ....Sr.
Returning offensive linemen
23 Josh Zmuda ......................5-8.......150 ....Sr. 24 Jarod Hunter .....................6-1.......180 ....Jr. Holden Bennett (sophomore), Jake 26 Nate Martin .......................5-7.......150 ....Jr. Fullerton (freshman), Trevor Byers (se- 28 Jake Fullerton ...................5-8.......145 ....Fr.
Incoming defensive backs
Zach Thomas (sophomore), Dalton Smith (junior), Tristen Weekly (junior).
30 Dante Seruch....................5-8.......145 ....Jr. 32 Seth Hamby ......................6-1.......165 ....Sr. 52 Gavin Lippely ....................6-1.......180 ....Fr. 53 Christian Phillips ...............5-7.......180 ....Jr. 55 Tristen Weekly ..................6-3.......280 ....Jr. 60 Zach Thomas....................5-11.....235 ....Soph. 62 Trevor Berlin .....................5-10.....170 ....Jr. 70 Josh Hammond.................5-7.......195 ....Fr. 71 Dalton Smith ....................5-10.....215 ....Jr. 77 Ashton Shuman ...............6-3.......305 ....Soph.
nior), Dante Seruch (junior), Brandon French (sophomore). (8.8); Nick Rine (graduated) 280 yards and five touchdowns on 56 carries (5.0); Rob Rouse, 197 yards and Ashton Shuman (sophomore). 2014 Players honored three touchdowns on 17 carries (11.6). Passing — Ty Breedlove (graduated) completed 22 of Cody Dennis (graduated) third-team Returning defensive linemen 83 passes (27 percent) for 290 yards and one touchDivision VII All-Ohio and second-team Tristen Weekly (junior tackle), Zach All-Area down. Thomas (sophomore end). Receiving —Rob Rouse, 14 catches for 267 yards Nick Rine (graduated), special mention (19.1) and one touchdown. Division VII All-Ohio and second-team Incoming defensive linemen Tackles — Nick Rine (graduated) 78. All-Area. Nate Martin, special mention Division Dalton Smith (junior noseguard), 2015 Outlook Austin Shuman (sophomore tackle), VII All-Ohio. Chris Clemens (graduated), secondComing off a 5-5 season — their best in 22 years — Colton Brown (junior end). team All-Area. the numbers are working against the Trojans.
Incoming offensive linemen
Returning linebackers
2014 Leaders
Nate Martin (junior outside), Seth Rushing — Nate Martin, 946 yards Hamby (senior outside), Jarod Hunter (juand eight touchdowns on 117 carries nior inside). (8.1); Cody Dennis (graduated) 310 yards and four touchdowns on 79 carries (3.9); Incoming linebackers Diamonte McMullen (graduated) 290 Holden Bennett (sophomore). yards and four touchdowns on 33 carries
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30 • M or ni ng Jour nal • High School Football 2015 • Section I • Thur sday, August 27, 20 1 5
“The first thing we have to realize is that these kids are students first and athletes second, not the other way around.” HADI HADI, LEETONIA HEAD COACH
Best records this century
The regular-season records of area football teams since the 2000 season:
Leetonia senior lineman Cameron Hitchcock
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Team Record 1. South Range .........................................119-30 2. Crestview ..............................................115-34 3. Columbiana...........................................100-48 4. Springfield...............................................87-63 5. Leetonia ..................................................79-70 6. West Branch ........................................78-71-1 7. United .....................................................79-71 7. Beaver Local...........................................78-72 9. Wellsville.................................................75-75 10. Minerva ...................................................72-78 11. East Liverpool .........................................60-90 12. Southern Local........................................58-91 13. Salem......................................................55-95 13. East Palestine .........................................55-95 15. Lisbon .....................................................54-95 16. Oak Glen.................................................51-98 17. Sebring .................................................21-128
Pct. .799 .772 .676 .580 .530 .523 .527 .520 .500 .480 .400 .387 .367 .367 .362 .342 .141
M or ni ng J our nal • High School Football 2015 • Section I • Thur sday, August 27, 20 1 5 • 31
Hadi brings changes to Leetonia By BILL DRAGOMIR Staff Writer
LEETONIA — The Leetonia Bears football program has had just three head coaches since 1976 through last season which were Artie Altomare, Paul Cusick, and Matt Altomare. Hadi Hadi steps in to his first season at the helm with the task of trying to improve on last season’s 1-9 record. “The community is very welcoming and the kids are very excited and buying into what we’re doing here,” Hadi said. “We have done a reimaging and restructuring of the program giving it a spark that was needed.” He stated what he would like to see in the future for the Bears. “We changed the helmets and uniforms and now we want to keep moving forward and have a program that’s consistent,” Hadi said. It’s about keeping the kids involved in an exciting atmosphere and also getting the community involved.” Hadi has 13 returning lettermen to help him. “He’s working us hard,” Leetonia senior lineman Connor Mellinger said. “There’s a lot of new things to learn.” Hadi has a lot of coaching experience with 25 years as a wrestling coach, the last five at Liberty High School. He laid out a four step plan for an all around development of his players. “The first thing we have to realize is that these kids are students first and athletes second, not the other way around, “ Hadi said. “So, the first goal is to make them a better individual and member of the community. Secondly, we try to make them better students in the classroom. To that end we have established a study table. After that we work on them becoming better general athletes by using fitness testing and then they can become better football players on the field. Putting that program in place will allow us to be successful in regards to winning.” That is the hope of coach Hadi and the Leetonia Bear community.
Morning Journal/Patti Schaeffer
New Leetonia head coach Hadi Hadi talks to athletic director John McIlduff (right) during the Bears’ team photo day recently.
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SOUTH RANGE RAIDERS
32 • M or ni ng Jour nal • High School Football 2015 • Section I • Thur sday, August 27, 20 1 5
Special to the Journal/Gary Leininger
Members of the 2015 South Range football team are (front, from left) Devan Cool, Brandon Standley, Jake Plunkett, Tyler Patterson, Sean Hennessey, Mario Buzzacco, Deven Fickes, Ryan Sympson, Mitch Dolak, Pierce Baird; (second row, from left) head coach Dan Yeagley, manager Dan Creed, David Pecchia, Joey Ickes, Nick Habeth, Christian Maust, Nick Stanton, Greg Dunham, JR Renforth, Blake Sitch, Ben Rivera, coach Ed Rankin; (third row, from left) coach Wayne Allegretto, Nathan Daniszewski, Austin Kely, Ray Janecko, Brendan Miller, Brennan Toy, Trent Harrold, A.J. Baytos, Peyton Remish, Levi Taylor, Jordan Lowery; (fourth row, from left) Mike Schneider, Darian Smith, Aniello Buzzacco, Taymer Graham, Ethan Dominguez, Hunter Solvesky, Josh Stear, Brian Robinson; (back, from left) coach Bart Dockry, coach Nick Haught, trainer Kara Noble, Chris Herubin, Matt Brooks, Seth Morrow, Alec Ballentine, Tyler Dolak, coach Don Allen, coach David Rach and coach Joe Brooks.
Raiders back for more Tri County League upper tier title Bart Dockry, offensive line, inside with a 5-2 mark. The Raiders for- linebackers Division V, Region 15 Ken Gabriel, offensive line, defeited a 49-7 win over East Palestine after using an ineligible transfer fensive line 2014 Record Nick Haught, split ends, defensive player. South Range won its last four backs 7-3, including a share of the Inter- game after that. David Rach, split ends, outside linebackers Head coach Ed Rankin, offensive line, defenDan Yeagley enters his 21st sea- sive line 2015 SCHEDULE son as head coach with a record of Ned Rudloff, offensive line, de170-56, including 13 state playoff fensive line All games start at 7 p.m. appearances and 10 league titles. Aug. 29 at Warren JFK Charlie Lengyel, receivers, lineSept. 4 Campbell backers
Classification
Sept. 11 Sept. 18 Sept. 25 Oct. 2 Oct. 9 Oct. 16 Oct. 23 Oct. 30
at Western Reserve at Mineral Ridge Lisbon Springfield at United at Crestview Southern East Palestine
Assistant coaches
Wayne Allegretto, quarterbacks, Returning lettermen defensive backs Twenty-two, including three Don Allen, tight ends, defensive starters on offense and nine starters backs on defense. Joe Brooks, offensive line, defensive line See RAIDERS, Page 33A
M or ni ng J our nal • High School Football 2015 • Section I • Thur sday, August 27, 20 1 5 • 33
RAIDERS,
South Range Raiders
Continued from Page 32A
Basic offensive linemen Pistol Wing-T.
Offensive outlook
“The season the Raiders have a lot of holes to fill on offense with only three returning starters,” Yeagley said. “The Raiders have to replace key offensive skill personnel from last year and all but one offensive lineman.” The Raiders lost their entire starting backfield, including Ohio Division VI Offensive Player of the Year Joe Alessi. “Offensively, the Raiders need to play as a team and execute every play properly to be successful,” Yeagley said. “With so much inexperience offensively, the scrimmages will be very important.”
Basic defensive formation 50.
Defensive outlook
receiver), Blake Sitch (junior receiver).
Returning offensive linemen Ryan Sympson (senior).
Incoming offensive linemen
Pierce Baird (senior), Mario Buzzacco (senior), Tyler Patterson (senior), Jake Plunkett (senior), Brandon Standley (senior), Chris Herubin (junior), Ray Janecko (junior).
Returning defensive linemen
Mario Buzzacco (senior), Pierce Baird (senior), Nathan Daniszewski (junior).
Incoming defensive linemen
None.
Incoming offensive backs
Deven Fickes (senior quarterback), Aniello Buzzacco (sophomore quarterback), Seth Morrow (junior quarterback), J.R. Renforth (senior running back), Ethan Dominquez (junior running back), Nathan Daniszewski (junior running back), David Pecchia (junior running back).
Returning offensive ends
Greg Dunham (senior receiver), Nick Stanton (senior receiver).
Incoming offensive ends
Austin Kelly (receiver), Taymer Graham (junior receiver), Mitch Dolak (senior tight end), Sean Hennessey (senior
36 Trent Harrold.....................5-7.......165 ....Fr. 42 Mitch Dolak .......................6-4.......230 ....Sr. 43 Nathan Millison .................6-0.......140 ....Fr. 44 Peyton Remish .................5-10.....185 ....Soph. 50 Brandon Standley .............6-2.......280 ....Sr. 51 Mario Buzzacco ................6-1.......210 ....Sr. 52 Levi Taylor.........................5-7.......200 ....Soph. 53 Chris Grahovic ..................5-5.......140 ....Fr. 55 Christian Maust.................5-7.......180 ....Fr. 56 Matt Brooks.......................6-0.......225 ....Soph. 58 Jordan Lowery ..................5-10.....205 ....Fr. 59 Ray Janecko .....................5-8.......175 ....Jr. 62 Pierce Baird ......................6-2.......245 ....Sr. 64 Tyler Patterson..................5-11.....240 ....Sr. 65 Ryan Sympson .................6-1.......250 ....Sr. 67 Mike Schneider .................6-0.......175 ....Fr. 68 Tyler Dolak........................6-1.......240 ....Fr. 70 Jake Plunkett ....................6-0.......220 ....Sr. 71 Chris Herubin....................6-0.......205 ....Jr. 78 Brian Robinson .................5-8.......190 ....Soph. 85 Blake Sitch........................5-9.......165 ....Jr. 87 Sean Hennessey ..............6-2.......200 ....Sr.
Ray Janecko (junior), Mitch Dolak (senior), Sean Hennessey (senior), Tyler Pat- sion VI All-Ohio and first-team All-Area. uated) 42. terson (senior), Jake Plunkett (senior), Greg Dunham, special mention DiviTackles — Taymer Graham 62 1/2, JR Brandon Standley (senior), Ryan Symp- sion VI All-Ohio and first-team All-Area. Renforth 53 1/2, David McCabe (graduson (junior), Chris Herubin (junior). Jonah Wilson (graduated), first-team ated) 51 1/2. All-Area. Interceptions — Nick Stanton 3.
Returning linebackers
The Raiders return most of their deJ.R. Renforth (senior), Taymer Graham fense, which held opponents to 28 points (junior), Peyton Remish (sophomore). or less in nine games last season. “Unlike the offensive side, the Raiders return nine starters on defense,” Yeagley Incoming linebackers said. “The defense needs to play well Deven Fickes (senior), Blake Sitch (juevery week for our team to be successful nior). and will be tested early with a very tough non-league schedule.” Returning defensive backs
Returning offensive backs
10 Greg Dunham ...................6-1.......200 ....Sr. 11 Austin Kelly .......................6-0.......160 ....Soph. 12 Deven Fickes ....................6-2.......170 ....Sr. 14 Aniello Buzzacco...............6-1.......170 ....Soph. 15 Seth Morrow .....................6-3.......215 ....Jr. 16 Alec Ballentine ..................6-2.......150 ....Fr. 17 Ben Rivera ........................5-6.......175 ....Fr. 18 A.J. Baytos........................5-9.......145 ....Soph. 19 Brendan Miller...................5-5.......125 ....Soph. 20 Josh Stear.........................5-9.......145 ....Fr. 21 J.R. Renforth.....................5-9.......170 ....Sr. 22 Ethan Dominguez .............5-10.....180 ....Jr. 23 David Pecchia...................5-9.......165 ....Jr. 24 Taymer Graham ................6-0.......185 ....Jr. 25 Nick Stanton .....................5-10.....180 ....Sr. 26 Brennan Toy......................5-7.......135 ....Soph. 28 Joey Ickes.........................5-8.......140 ....Fr. 29 Darian Smith .....................5-8.......155 ....Soph. 30 Nick Habeth ......................5-4.......130 ....Fr. 31 Dan Creed ........................5-9.......155 ....Jr. 32 Nathan Daniszewski .........6-0.......200 ....Jr. 33 Devan Cool .......................6-5.......260 ....Sr. 34 Hunter Solvesky................6-0.......165 ....Soph.
2014 Leaders
2015 Outlook
Rushing — Joe Alessi (graduated), a All South Range does is win. The school-record 2,507 yards and 38 touch- Raiders have won at least seven games in downs on 195 carries (12.9).; David Mc- 14 of the last 16 seasons. Cabe (graduated), 234 yards and five “Throughout the 2014 season, we touchdowns on 36 carries (6.5); Ryan played a lot of different players,” Yeagley Miller (graduated) 171 yards and four said. “The 2014 seniors showed great touchdowns on 171 carries (4.6). leadership and taught the younger classes Passing — Ryan Miller (graduated) what it takes to be successful. Even Greg Dunham (senior), Nick Stanton completed 61 of 114 passes (53.5 per- though we played a lot of players, the (senior), Ethan Dominquez (junior). cent) for 1,075 yards and 10 touchdowns. Raiders still have to mature quickly this Receiving — Greg Dunham, 26 season because of a very tough nonIncoming defensive backs catches for 625 yards (24.0) and seven l e a g u e “ Best of Luck South Austin Kelly (sophomore), David Pec- touchdowns; Nick Stanton, 12 catches for s c h e d u l e 123 yards (10.3) and one touchdown. and a very Range Rai ders” chia (junior). Scoring — Joe Alessi (graduated) 228 s t r o n g “ JO E” DICKEY ELECTRIC points, Jonah Wilson (graduated) 64, league.” 2014 Players honored Established 1957 Greg Dunham 48, David McCabe (gradOH Lic. 16778 Established 1957 Joe Alessi (graduated), Ohio Division VI OffenY our area’ s best er sident ial sive Player VICTOR STOFFER of the Year electrical contractor agent - owner and MornJustin Lewis • Jeff Sugar ing Journal Y ou have tri ed the rest, All-Area CALL US Hawkins now try the BEST! FOR YOUR We’re Here To Serve You! Player of the RESIDENTIAL, All Sizes & Makes of Tires, COMMERCIAL OR Insurance Year. INDUSTRIAL 57 Y EARS Minor Mechanical Work, NEEDS! D e r e k 11360 St. Rt. 9 PO Box 179 Oil Changes & Alignments 330-549-3976 11282 South Avenue • North Lima, OH Kensington, OH 44427 F i c k e s 330-482-2600 1-800-549-3976 Monday-Friday 8:00am-5:00pm (graduated), 330-223-2114 Saturday 8:00am-Noon 1-800-317-1223 special men180 W. South Range Rd. Fax: 330-223-2255 North Lima, OH 44452 Check Us Out At www.columbianatire.com tion Divi-
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34 • M or ni ng Jour nal • High School Football 2015 • Section I • Thur sday, August 27, 20 1 5
2015 SCHEDULE
All games start at 7 p.m. Aug. 28 Paden City Sept. 4 Conotton Valley Sept. 11 at Malvern Sept. 18 United Sept. 25 at Springfield Oct. 2 Columbiana Oct. 9 at Lisbon Oct. 16 Leetonia Oct. 23 at South Range Oct. 30 at Wellsville
Morning Journal/Joe Catullo
Members of the 2015 Southern Local football team are (front, from left) Alex Aderhold, Joe Sevek, Jesse McClurg, Gabe Richards, Jake Campbell, Alex Smith, Taylor Ballard; (second row, from left) Anthony Abraham, Anthony Vaughn, Jesse Harris, Joe Gibson, Nathan Rigby, Robert Frank, L.J. Baldwin, Austin Frischkorn; (third row, from left) Dominic Pugliano, Alec Smallridge, Paxton Cataldo, Devon Little, Jimmy Knepper, Joe Dickson, Zack Almy; (fourth row, from left) Dakota Wetzel, Trevor McCaffrey, Chris Short, Ian Smith, Brady Kellogg, Brendon Sullivan, Blake Branham; (back, from left) coach Brian Spahlinger, coach Bill Croxall, coach Dennis Bowers, head coach Rich Wright, coach Eric Nejus and coach Jim Malone. Not pictured are Kevin Dunning, Logan Westover and Jonathan Cogar.
See page 34B for more on Southern Local football
M or ni ng J our nal • High School Football 2015 • Section I • Thur sday, August 27, 20 1 5 • 35
Southern Local’s hard at work Classification
Division VI, Region 19
2014 Record
1-9, including a 1-6 mark in the InterTri County League lower tier. The Indians lost their last six games, scoring 24 total points, and have dropped nine of their last 10 road games.
Head coach
Rich Wright enters his first season as head coach. He has a career head coaching record of 99-73, including a 16-7 record and two playoff appearance at Wellsville from 2013-14 and a 83-66 record and six playoff appearance at Beaver Local from 1998-2011.
Returning defensive backs
Southern Local Indians
1 Jimmy Knepper.................6-0.......175 ....Jr. 2 Jesse McClurg ..................5-7.......160 ....Sr. 3 Taylor Ballard ....................5-10.....160 ....Sr. 5 Paxton Cataldo .................5-10.....160 ....Soph. 6 Jesse Harris......................5-9.......145 ....Jr. 7 Gabe Richards..................5-11.....150 ....Sr. 9 Austin Frischkorn ..............5-6.......160 ....Fr. 10 Dominic Pugliano..............5-9.......140 ....Soph. 13 Chris Short........................5-11.....160 ....Jr. 21 Kevin Denning ..................5-11.....155 ....Fr. 22 Joe Dickson ......................5-10.....160 ....Soph. 23 Anthony Vaughn................5-9.......140 ....Jr. 25 Logan Westover................5-8.......135 ....Fr. 26 Jonathan Cogar ................5-6.......130 ....Jr. 28 Trevor McCaffrey ..............5-9.......160 ....Soph. 33 Dakota Wetzel ..................5-7.......180 ....Jr. 44 Robert Frank.....................5-7.......180 ....Jr.
47 Joe Gibson........................6-2.......180 ....Sr. 50 Anthony Abraham .............5-7.......260 ....Soph. 51 Brendon Sullivan...............5-11.....250 ....Soph. 52 Alex Smith.........................5-9.......210 ....Sr. 55 Alec Smallridge .................5-10.....200 ....Jr. 61 Alex Aderhold....................6-0.......170 ....Sr. 63 L.J. Baldwin ......................5-4.......180 ....Soph. 64 Andrew Diegdio.................5-10.....225 ....Fr. 65 Brady Kellogg ...................5-11.....275 ....Soph. 68 Devon Little.......................5-10.....200 ....Jr. 71 Ian Smith...........................5-11.....175 ....Soph. 75 Nathan Rigby ....................6-2.......280 ....Sr. 76 Blake Branham .................6-0.......210 ....Soph. 79 Zack Almy .........................5-10.....250 ....Jr. 82 Joe Sevek .........................6-2.......210 ....Sr. 84 Jake Campbell ..................6-1.......145 ....Sr.
season when they gave up at least 26 (senior tackle), Ian Smith (sophomore points in each of their nine losses. guard), Nathan Rigby (senior guard). Dennis Bowers, running backs, line“That’s where most of my experience backers is,” Wright said. “We’re going to have to Returning defensive linemen Ron Busby, wide receivers, secondary be fundamentally sound and get to the Alex Aderhold (senior end). Jim Malone, offensive line, defensive football. (Joe) Gibson and (Jesse) Mcline Clurg are very good linebackers. The secEric Nejus, offensive line, defensive ondary has some potential and we have a Incoming defensive linemen line Zack Almy (junior noseguard), Alex lot of experience up front.” Brian Spallinger, quarterbacks, secondSmith (senior end), Nathan Rigby (senior ary Returning offensive backs noseguard), Joe Sevek (senior end), Ian Bill Croxall, equipment Smith (sophomore end). Gabe Richards (senior quarterback), Jesse McClurg (senior fullback), Dakota Returning linebackers Returning lettermen Wetzel (junior running back). Fourteen, including five starters on ofJesse McClurg (senior inside), Joe Gibfense and six on defense. Incoming offensive backs son (senior outside), Paxton Cataldo (sophomore inside), Alec Smallridge junPaxton Cataldo (sophomore wingback), ior outside). Basic offensive formation Taylor Ballard (senior fullback), Joe Wing-T. Dickson (sophomore quarterback).
Assistant coaches
Gabe Richards (senior safety), Chris Short (junior cornerback), Jesse Harris (junior cornerback), Dakota Wetzel (junior safety).
Incoming defensive backs
Dominic Pugliano (sophomore cornerback), Jake Campbell (senior safety), Logan Westover (freshman safety).
2014 Leaders
Rushing — Gabe Richards, 703 yards and five touchdowns on 139 carries (5.1). Receiving — Gabe Richards, 21 catches for 275 yards (13.1); Dakota Wetzel, 16 catches for 243 yards (15.2). Tackles — Jesse McClurg 131; Gabe Richards 103;
2015 Outlook
The Indians are looking to Wright to turn around a program that has won three of its last 21 games. “The key is to stay healthy and get better every week,” Wright said. There are 14 returning lettermen to build around. The Indians expect to be chasing Lisbon in the new Inter-Tri County League White Division. “It’s got to be Lisbon,” Wright said. “Columbiana is going to be good with their quarterback. Wellsville has eight starters back and has good numbers. I still don’t think anybody will get through unbeaten.”
Incoming linebackers
Returning offensive ends Taylor Ballard (senior outside), Joe Dickson (sophomore outside), Robert The Indians scored seven points or less Joe Gibson (senior tight end), Chris Frank (sophomore inside). in eight games last season. Short (junior split end). “It’s going to have to go through Gabe (Richards) and Jesse (McClurg) and look Incoming offensive ends “GOOD LUCK” for some options to open,” Wright said. VICTOR STOFFER Dominic Pugliano (sophomore split agent - owner “All of our backs catch the ball well. I don’t know if we’re going to have enough end), Joe Sevek (senior tight end). size to overpower anyone, but we have Returning offensive linemen some speed.” Hawkins Zack Almy (junior). Insurance Basic defensive formation 41582 St. Rt. 39 • 11360 St. Rt. 9 PO Box 179 Incoming offensive linemen 50. Wellsville, OH Kensington, OH 44427 Devon Little (junior tackle), Anthony 330-223-2114 Defensive outlook 1-800-317-1223 330-532-3223 Abraham (sophomore center), Alec Fax: 330-223-2255 The Indians must improve from last Smallridge (junior guard), Alex Smith Offensive outlook
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SPRINGFIELD TIGERS
36 • M or ni ng Jour nal • High School Football 2015 • Section I • Thur sday, August 27, 20 1 5
Morning Journal/Wayne Maris
Members of the 2015 Springfield football team are (front, from left) Nino Esposito, Jordan Capouellez, Graham Mincher, John Lyda, Zack Fellows, Dom Washburn, Chase Packard, Stevie Desmone, Hunter Troggio, Cody Allen, Austin Lawson; (second row, from left) Anthony Ugolini, Lindan Gardner, Max Seymour, Zack Stouffer, Luke Snyder, Ryan Thompson, Tyler Miletta, Dom Merilillo, Tim Chadwick, Austin Trebella; (third row, from left) JT Sandrock, Anthony Siciliano, Zach Renaldy, Zack Barber, Brannon Brungard, Frankie Centofanti, Jake Ford, Ryan DelSignore, John Socha; (fourth row, from left) Cole Smith, Daniel Polonus, Shane Eynon, Ryan Ohlin, Koby Fellows, Patrick Beight, Brandon Walters, Andy Lyda, Steven Cvetkovich, Chandler Kertesz; (back, from left) Anthony Stouffer, Austin Gebhart, Ben Chaszeyca, Gabe Barnard, Patrick Flara, Joey Santangelo, Russell Seymour, Ethan Nezbeth and Alex Morlan.
Tigers have a lot of holes to fill 2015 SCHEDULE
All games start at 7 p.m. Aug. 28 at Brookfield Sept. 4 McDonald Sept. 11 at Cuyahoga Heights Sept. 18 at Western Reserve Sept. 25 Southern Oct. 2 at South Range Oct. 9 Columbiana Oct. 16 at East Palestine Oct. 23 Crestview Oct. 30 United
Classification
Division VI, Region 19
2014 Record
as head coach with a record of 41-41 and Bill Miller, wide receivers, outside linetwo playoff appearances. He was an as- backers Ron Stallsmith, running backs, defensistant at Girard for four years and sive line Gilmour Academy one year.
Returning lettermen 7-4, including a share of the Inter-Tri Assistant coaches County League upper tier title with a 5-2 Eleven, including three starters on ofAdam Slopek, defensive coordinator, mark. It was the Tigers’ first league title inside linebackers, offensive line fense and four starters on defense. since 2000. They were 3-4 against teams Paul Butto, offensive-defensive lines with winning records. Bob Beam, wide receivers, defensive Basic offensive formation backs Power Spread. Head coach Joe Antonucci, running backs, inside See TIGERS, Page 37A Sean Guerriero enters his ninth season linebackers
M or ni ng J our nal • High School Football 2015 • Section I • Thur sday, August 27, 20 1 5 • 37
TIGERS,
Springfield Tigers
Continued from Page 36A
Offensive outlook
Incoming offensive linemen
Quarterback Graham Mincher, who Dom Washburn (senior), John Lyda passed for 1,205 yards last season, re- (senior), Ryan Thompson (sophomore). turns after leading the Tigers to at least 35 Returning defensive linemen points in seven of first nine games. “We have a returning QB who is comZack Fellows (senior). fortable with the offense,” Guerriero said. “We need some young guys to step up.” Incoming defensive linemen
Dom Washburn (senior), Russell Seymour (junior), Ryan DelSignore (junior), John Lyda (senior).
Basic defensive formation 4-4.
Defensive outlook
The Tigers return four starters from a defense that held opponents to 21 points or less in nine games last season.
Returning linebackers
Hunter Troggio (senior inside).
Incoming linebackers
Austin Lawson (senior inside), Joey Santangelo (junior inside), Gabe Bernard Graham Mincher (senior quarterback). (outside), Ethan Nezbeth (junior outside), Zack Barber (junior outside).
Returning offensive backs Incoming offensive backs
Frankie Centofanti (junior running back), Joey Santangelo (running back).
Returning offensive ends None.
Returning defensive backs
Graham Mincher (senior), Frank Centofanti (junior).
Incoming defensive backs
Incoming offensive ends
Cody Allen (senior), Jake Ford (junior), Brandon Walters (sophomore).
Jake Ford (junior receiver-quarterback), Cody Allen (senior receiver), 2014 Leaders Ethan Nezbeth (junior reciever), Brandon Rushing— Ryan Kohler (graduated) Walters (sophomore), Zack Barber (junior 1,667 yards and 29 touchdowns on 218 receiver), carries (7.6); Graham Mincher, 425 yards and eight touchdowns on 79 carries (5.4). Returning offensive linemen Passing—Graham Mincher completed Russell Seymour (junior), Zack Fellows (senior).
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1 JT Sandrock......................5-6.......132 ....Fr. 2 Brandon Walters ...............5-9.......150 ....Soph. 3 Tyler Miletta ......................5-4.......133 ....Jr. 4 Cody Allen.........................5-5.......122 ....Sr. 5 Ryan Ohlin ........................5-10.....158 ....Soph. 6 Nino Esposito....................5-5.......118.....Sr. 7 Jake Ford..........................5-9.......151 ....Jr. 8 Brannon Brungard ............5-11.....161 ....Fr. 9 Zack Barber ......................5-11.....169 ....Jr. 10 Graham Mincher ...............5-11.....150 ....Sr. 11 Frankie Centofanti.............5-9.......153 ....Jr. 12 Jordan Capouellez............5-10.....160 ....Sr. 14 Joey Santangelo...............5-7.......185 ....Jr. 15 Austin Trebella ..................5-5.......125 ....Soph. 19 Ethan Nezbeth..................5-10.....172 ....Jr. 20 Daniel Polonus..................5-7.......158 ....Fr. 21 Cole Smith ........................5-7.......132 ....Soph. 22 Jarrett Sugar .....................5-7.......145 ....Soph. 24 Zack Stouffer ....................5-7.......152 ....Fr. 25 Luke Snyder......................5-6.......110.....Fr. 30 Hunter Troggio..................5-7.......172 ....Sr. 32 Gabe Barnard ...................6-1.......189 ....Jr. 33 Max Seymour....................5-8.......138 ....Fr. 34 Koby Fellows ....................5-7.......145 ....Soph. 40 Anthony Ugolini.................5-8.......177 ....Jr.
49 Ryan DelSignore...............5-9.......177 ....Jr. 50 Alex Morlan .......................6-2.......220 ....Jr. 51 Chandler Kertesz ..............5-11.....201 ....Fr. 52 Anthony Stouffer ...............5-7.......216 ....Soph. 54 Dom Merlillo......................5-7.......218 ....Jr. 55 John Socha.......................5-10.....230 ....Jr. 58 Zach Renaldy....................5-7.......200 ....Jr. 59 Andy Lyda .........................5-11.....186 ....Fr. 60 Nick Guillard .....................5-11.....198 ....Fr. 61 Austin Gebhart..................5-10.....232 ....Jr. 63 Chase Packard .................5-8.......232 ....Sr. 64 Russell Seymour...............5-11.....254 ....Jr. 66 Tim Chadwick ...................5-6.......260 ....Soph. 68 Ryan Thompson ...............5-9.......236 ....Soph. 69 John Lyda .........................5-11.....282 ....Sr. 70 Zack Fellows.....................5-11.....214 ....Sr. 72 Ben Chaszeyca.................6-1.......208 ....Fr. 73 Dyllan Jordan....................5-8.......175 ....Soph. 75 Austin Lawson...................5-5.......205 ....Sr. 77 Stevie Desmone ...............5-8.......193 ....Sr. 78 Dom Washburn.................6-0.......243 ....Sr. 79 Anthony Siciliano ..............5-7.......294 ....Soph. 80 Patrick Flara......................6-5.......170 ....Jr. 81 Steven Cvetkovich ............5-11.....185 ....Soph. 85 Lindan Gardner.................5-8.......143 ....Fr.
96 of 139 passes (69.1 percent) for curve. With the seniors pushing the 1,205 yards and 10 touchdowns. younger kids, our team is progressing.” It should be a competitive season in the 2015 Outlook new Inter-Tri County League White DiThe Tigers lost a talented senior class vision. “Its a tossup,” Guerriero said. “I still of 14 players and have a lot of holes to think South Range and Crestview will be fill. up there. You hear different things ... I “We will be young this year, but are hear EP is doing well and United is doing looking to return to the top of the ITCL well.” Red Division and playoffs again this The Tigers will have time to get ready year,” Guerriero said. “We will need for league play. “We’re going to be tested some guys to step up and fill the shoes of our first four games (Brookfield, Mclast year’s seniors. “Right now our kids are coming to- Donald, Cuyahoga Heights, Western Regether. We have a little bit of a learning serve),” Guerriero said.
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UNITED GOLDEN EAGLES
38 • M or ni ng Jour nal • High School Football 2015 • Section I • Thur sday, August 27, 20 1 5
Morning Journal/Ron Firth
Members of the 2015 United football team are (front, from left) Colton Bowen, Cade Wood, Jordan Bailey, Bryce Reiter, Tyler Powers, Colton Antram, Josh Welcome, Thomas Combs, Colton Graham, Jake Clark; (second row, from left) Zach House, Kyle Bailey, Tyler Humphrey, Josh Good, TJ Vint, Jake Blake, Toby Richmond, Brent Dustman, Ryan Skiba, Jared Delvichio, Andrew Dulak; (third row, from left) Anthony DiBaggio, Landon Baker, Zach Himes, Nathan Mikell, Gary Eichler, Corey Hawk, Kiel Jones, Brian Lippiatt, Nathan Pytash, Brady Leyman; (fourth row, from left) Austin Keshock, Jesse Gross, Colton Schneider, Parker Hydrick, Brendan Rose, Tyler Richmond, Ethan Antram, Gunner McIntosh, Kody Vint, Nick Rhodes, Nick Runkle; (back, from left) head coach Michael Demster, coach Jake Kilroy, coach Dan Kibler, coach Jordan Phillips and coach Ryan Wells.
Young Eagles are starting over
2015 SCHEDULE
All games start at 7 p.m. Aug. 28 Malvern Sept. 4 at Salem Sept. 11 Lisbon Sept. 18 at Southern Sept. 25 McDonald Oct. 2 at Crestview Oct. 9 South Range Oct. 16 at Wellsville Oct. 23 East Palestine Oct. 30 at Springfield
Classification
Division VI, Region 19
2014 Record
7-4, including a 4-3 mark in the InterTri County League upper tier. The Eagles advanced to the state playoffs for the second time. They were 2-3 against teams that won at least seven games.
Head coach
Michael Demster enters his first season
as a head coach. He was the defensive co- ends, kickers Dan Kibler, offensive line, defensive ordinator at Oak Glen in West Virginia last season after nine years in North Car- tackles olina, including two years as defensive Returning lettermen coordinator at West Stanly. Ten, including three starters on offense Assistant coaches and two starters on defense. Jordan Phillips, offensive coordinator, Basic offensive formation running backs, outside linebackers Ryan Wells, defensive coordinator, inWing-T. side linebackers, wide receivers See EAGLES, Page 39A Jake Kilroy, offensive line, defensive
M or ni ng J our nal • High School Football 2015 • Section I • Thur sday, August 27, 20 1 5 • 39
EAGLES,
Incoming offensive ends
Jordan Bailey (senior wide receiver), Josh Welcome (senior wide receiver).
Continued from Page 38A
Offensive outlook
Returning offensive linemen
The Eagles lost their top seven linemen that paved the way for a school-record 3,082 yards rushing last season. “Offensively, if we are able to control the line of scrimmage and run the football effectively, we will be successful,” Demster said. “Although the offensive line is young, they are progressing nicely. They will need to gel and mature quickly this season.” Junior Colton Graham and sophomore Nathan Mikell are battling for the quarterback job. Whoever doesn’t get it, will get the ball in other ways. “We’ll find ways to get both of them the ball,” Demster said.
None.
Incoming offensive linemen
Basic defensive formation 4-4.
Morning Journal/Ron Firth
Defensive outlook
When the Eagles dig in defensively, the can play with anyone on their schedule. They gave up an average of 14.7 points in their seven wins last season, but 40.0 points in four losses. “We want to stop the run first and force teams to throw the football out of necessity,” Demster said.
Returning offensive backs
Colton Antram (senior fullback), Tyler Powers (senior halfback).
Daily Home Cooked Specials
Incoming defensive backs
Colton Graham (junior), Cade Wood (sophomore), Nathan Mikell (sophomore), Jake Clark (junior), Kyle Bailey (sophomore), Corey Hawk (sophomore).
2014 Leaders
Rushing — Caige Vincent (graduated) 1,135 yards yards and 10 touchdowns on 214 carries (5.3); Tyler Powers, 702 yards and 10 touchdowns on 85 carries Incoming offensive backs Incoming linebackers (8.2); Colton Antram, 669 yards and Colton Graham (junior quarterbackColton Bowen (junior inside), seven touchdowns on 137 carries (5.0); running back), Nathan Mikell (sophomore Humphrey (inside), Josh Good (sophoquarterback-running back), Cade Wood See EAGLES, Page 41A more inside). (sophomore halfback), Colton Bowen (senior fullback-tight end), Tyler Humphrey (sophomore fullback-tight end).
Returning offensive ends Jake Clark (wide receiver).
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Thomas Combs (senior), Bryce Reiter 2014 Players honored (senior), Jake Blake (junior), Brent Dustman (sophomore), Kyle Bailey (sophoLucas Cooper (graduated), Morning more), Toby Richmond (sophomore). Journal All-Area Lineman of the Year and special mention Division V All-Ohio. Returning defensive linemen Eric Blosser (graduated), special mention Division V All-Ohio and first-team None. All-Area. Bryan Weyant (graduated), special Incoming defensive linemen mention Division V All-Ohio and firstThomas Combs (senior), Bryce Reiter team All-Area. (senior), Jake Blake (junior), Brent DustRoger Knizat (graduated), second-team man (sophomore), Kyle Bailey (sopho- All-Area. more), Toby Richmond (sophomore), Joe Colton Antram, second-team All-Area. McCoy (junior).
United halfback Tyler Powers returns Returning linebackers after piling up more than 900 allColton Antram (senior outside), Tyler purpose yards last season. Powers (senior outside).
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40 • M or ni ng Jour nal • High School Football 2015 • Section I • Thur sday, August 27, 20 1 5
Demster feels right at home in charge of the Golden Eagles By RON FIRTH Sports Editor
HANOVERTON — After coaching nine years in North Carolina and another in West Virginia, Michael Demster has returned to his home state to lead the United High School football team. “Football is football. Kids for the most part are the same everywhere you go,” Demster said. “But there is something that makes each unique. At United, it is that blue-collar mentality. They love to win and have won in the past. They know what it takes.” Demster, a 1999 graduate of Fairless High School south of Massillon, is in his first season as a head coach. It has been a learning experience in the early going. “Things have been fantastic,” Demster said. “Being a head coach it’s all the things that aren’t football you have to handle.
The things that aren’t the Xs and Os ... the clerical aspect.” Demster was an assistant at three North Carolina schools and was defensive coordinator at Oak Glen in New Manchester, W.Va., last season after his family moved closer to home. He takes over for Mike Ward, who stepped down as United’s winningest coach with a 86-56 record in two stints covering 14 seasons. The Eagles are coming off their fourth winning season in five years and second playoff appearance, but were hit hard by graduation. The Eagles lost their top seven linemen who paved the way for a school-record 3,082 yards rushing last season. “Our weakness is our offensive and defensive line experience,” Demster said. “We have talent there, it’s just getting them to come together as a unit. That will be a good forecast as to how our season goes.
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“It’s cliche because it’s true. If your offensive and defensive lines are struggling, the team will be, too.” Senior two-way starters Colton Antram and Tyler Powers return, but there are only four other seniors and five juniors. “The other 33 are freshmen and sophomores,” Demster said. “They are a talented group. Their biggest weakness is a lack of experience on Friday nights.” They will be thrown into the mix out of necessity and a lot of the underclassmen will get a chance to prove themselves. “We’re going to have a lot of guys who are contributing this year,” Demster said. “Losing 12 seniors, we have a lot of holes to fill. We’re still working to where we want to be. It’s never as good or as bad as it seems to be.” The Eagles open the season against Malvern and top rivals Salem and Lis-
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bon, which will be good preparation for the new Inter-Tri County League Red Division. “Living in East Palestine I’m familiar with a lot of these schools,” Demster said. “It’s a tough 10 weeks. There is not a week you can let up or it will backfire on you.” Demster will try to pick up his first win as a head coach Friday against Malvern. “Malvern was where I got my first coaching job ever (in 2001),” Demster said. “I was a volunteer junior high school coach for Coach (Dave) Tucci. Two of my fraternity brothers were coaching at Malvern. I started tagging along. We had a real good team that year. We went undefeated and had a lot of fun.” Ironically, Tucci was recently named interim head coach as a last-second replacement. “I thought it was ironic we opened against them,” Demster said. “I’m sure he doesn’t remember me. I’m looking forward to reintroducing myself. That was where I got my feet wet.”
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M or ni ng J our nal • High School Football 2015 • Section I • Thur sday, August 27, 20 1 5 • 41
Morning Journal/Patti Schaeffer
The United High School football stadium, shown in November, was built in 1966. Before that, the Eagles played their games on the current practice field, shown on the right.
EAGLES, Continued from Page 39A
Bryan Weyant (graduated) 357 yards and one touchdown on 70 carries (5.1); Eric Blosser (graduated) 135 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries (8.4). Passing — Cody Dickens (graduated) completed 18 of 56 passses (32 percent) for 315 yards and four touchdowns. Receiving — Braden Davison (graduated) seven catches for 60 yards(8.6) and one touchdow; Eric Blosser (graduated) seven catches for 155 yards (22.1) and two touchdowns; Tyler Powers, five catches for 108 yards (21.6) and one touchdown. Tackle — Bryan Weyant (graduated) 108. Interceptions — Tyler Powers 4; Colton Antram 2; Jake Clark 2.
2015 Outlook
It will be a growing season for the Eagles with an almost entirely new lineup and new head coach. They will field only 11 upperclassmen, but 33 sophomores and freshmen. “Although we are young in some areas, this is a talented group,” Demster said. “We have had excellent senior leadership thus far, and the kids are working extremely hard. Our VICTOR STOFFER
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sophomore class will contribute in many key areas this year, and will need to mature quickly.” The Eagles have two returning weapons with the power of Colton Antram and speed of Tyler Powers. “Colton Antram and Tyler Powers are going to be the backbone of the season,” Demster said. “They have been in the preseason and we expect them to continue throughout the season.”
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1 Zach Himes........................5-6.......125 ....Soph. 2 Josh Welcome ..................5-10.....140 ....Sr. 3 Jake Clark.........................6-1.......160 ....Jr. 5 Tyler Powers .....................5-11.....170 ....Sr. 6 Nick Runkle.......................5-5.......110.....Fr. 7 Jared Delvichio .................5-9.......190 ....Soph. 8 Gunner McIntosh ..............5-10.....150 ....Fr. 9 Ethan Antram ....................5-10.....130 ....Fr. 10 Parker Hydrick ..................5-9.......130 ....Fr. 11 Colton Graham..................5-11.....165 ....Jr. 12 Nathan Mikell ....................5-8.......155 ....Soph. 19 Nick Rhodes .....................5-4.......115.....Fr. 20 Jordon Bailey ....................5-11.....155 ....Sr. 21 Corey Hawk ......................5-9.......150 ....Soph. 22 Kiel Jones .........................5-8.......140 ....Soph. 23 Drew Browne ....................5-10.....150 ....Soph. 32 Cade Wood.......................5-8.......170 ....Soph. 33 Tyler Humphrey ................6-1.......185 ....Soph. 40 Colton Antram ...................6-0.......215 ....Sr. 42 Brendan Rose...................5-10.....150 ....Fr. 45 Colton Bowen ...................5-10.....185 ....Jr. 48 Zach House ......................5-10.....130 ....Soph.
50 Brian Lippiatt.....................5-6.......175 ....Soph. 52 Jake Blake ........................5-10.....230 ....Jr. 53 Ryan Skiba .......................5-11.....165 ....Soph. 54 Andrew Dulak....................5-10.....185 ....Soph. 55 Josh Good ........................5-10.....175 ....Soph. 57 Gary Eichler ......................5-9.......155 ....Soph. 58 Joe McCoy........................5-8.......240 ....Jr. 62 Kyle Bailey ........................5-11.....200 ....Soph. 64 Bryce Reiter ......................5-10.....185 ....Sr. 65 Brent Dustman..................6-1.......250 ....Soph. 68 Tyler Richmond.................5-11.....155 ....Fr. 70 Toby Richmond .................6-1.......235 ....Soph. 71 Nathan Pytash ..................6-1.......240 ....Fr. 72 Brady Leyman...................5-11.....170 ....Fr. 73 Colton Schneider ..............5-8.......165 ....Fr. 74 Thomas Combs ................6-3.......275 ....Sr. 75 Kody Vint ..........................5-5.......140 ....Fr. 76 Chad Rose........................5-11.....240 ....Soph. 77 Anthony DiBaggio .............5-11.....175 ....Fr. 78 Jesse Gross......................5-5.......235 ....Fr. 81 Landon Baker ...................6-1.......135 ....Fr. 88 Austen Keshock................5-4.......90 ......Fr.
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WELLSVILLE TIGERS
42 • M or ni ng Jour nal • High School Football 2015 • Section I • Thur sday, August 27, 20 1 5
2015 SCHEDULE
Games start at 7 p.m., unless noted Aug. 27 vs. Toronto, 8 p.m. at Steubenville Harding Stadium Sept. 4 at East Palestine Sept. 11 Lowellville Sept. 18 at McDonald Sept. 25 Western Reserve Oct. 2 at Lisbon Oct. 9 at Leetonia Oct. 16 United Oct. 23 Columbiana Oct. 30 Southern
Morning Journal/Joe Catullo
Members of the 2015 Wellsville football team are (front, from left) Michael Shope, Bryce Allen, Justin Miller, Ishmeil Heard, Will Grodhaus, Andre Sloan, Derrick Suggs, Nick Eastham, Alik Bradford; (second row, from left) Hayden Dairymple, Ben Daniels, Brandon Bennett, Bradly Cline, Christian Steff, Collin Carlevale, Brandon Tate, Branzen Grodhaus; (third row, from left) Chase Alford, Austin Phillips, Alex Gunn, Kurt Rosenbaum, Gage Ramos, Austin Carter, Angelo Luckino, Hayden Jackson, Vinny Giordano; (fourth row, from left) Eric Sullivan, Colten Green, Ryan Miller, Charles Lockhart, Norman Rudder, Justin Thirtyacre, Skyler DeLauder, Austin Baker; (fifth row, from left) coach Jesse Jackson, Mike DeSarro, Xavier Washington, Matt Rawson, Kylie Cline, Brandon Patterson, Johnathan Huddleston, coach Rob Long, coach Jimmy Thirtyacre; (back, from left) coach Bruce Harris, coach Shane Reed, head coach Derrick Spann, coach Jon Carter and coach Richie Sloan.
M or ni ng J our nal • High School Football 2015 • Section I • Thur sday, August 27, 20 1 5 • 43
New faces in Wellsville’s lineup backing crew and athletic corners,” Spann said. “We’re Incoming offensive linemen not going to sit back and let the action come to us.” Division VII, Region 23 Gage Ramos (freshman guard), Johnathan Huddleston Wellsville features senior linebacker Vinnie Giordano, (freshman tackle). the team’s leading tackler the past three season. 2014 Record “He’s a coach on the field,” Spann said. “There’s Returning defensive linemen 7-4, including a third-place finish in the Inter-Tri nothing he hasn’t seen. He helps us out tremendously.” Kurt Rosenbaum (senior), Eric Sullivan (senior), NorCounty League lower tier with a 5-2 mark. The Tigers man Rudder (junior), Austin Baker (senior), Austin advanced to the state playoffs for a second straight sea- Returning offensive backs son and third time in four years. Their four losses were Alik Bradford (senior quarterback-running back), Vin- Carter (junior), Xavier Washington (sophomore). to Lisbon, Western Reserve, McDonald and Mapleton, nie Giordano (senior fullback). Incoming defensive linemen which had a combined record of 36-10.
Classification
Chase Alford (sophomore), Justin Thirtyacre (freshman), Charles Lockhart (freshman), Colten Green (freshJustin Miller (junior), Will Grodhaus (sophomore), Derrick Spann enters his first season as a head coach. Branzen Grodhaus (junior), Bradley Cline (junior), man), Johnathan Huddleston (freshman), Kylie Cline He was a varsity assistant at Wellsville the last two sea- Andre Sloan (sophomore), Collin Carlevale (senior), (freshman). sons and has been involved with the Junior Tigers for 20 Brandon Tate (freshman), Christian Steff (senior). Returning linebackers years.
Head coach
Assistant coaches
Shane Reed, offensive coordinator, quarterbacks, defensive backs Jon Carter, defensive coordinator, wide receivers, linebackers Richie Sloan, spectial teams, running backs, defensive backs Rob Long, offensive line, defensive line Mike DeSarro, offensive line, defensive line Dirk Hall, offensive line, defensive line
Returning lettermen
Fourteen, including six starters on offense and six starters on defense.
Basic offensive formation Spread.
Incoming offensive backs
Vinnie Giordano (senior), Bradley Cline (junior), Alik Bradford (senior), Hayden Jackson (junior), Austin Hayden Dalrymple (junior), Hayden Jackson (junior), Bryce Allen (sophomore), Ishmeil Heard (junior), Bran- Phillips (senior). don Bennett (sophomore), Brandon Patterson (sophoIncoming linebackers more), Matt Rawson (sophomore). Brandon Tate (freshman), Angelo Luckino (freshIncoming offensive ends man), Gage Ramos (freshman). Michael Shope (junior), Derrick Suggs (freshman), Returning defensive backs Nick Eastham (freshman), Ben Daniels (junior). Andre Sloan (sophomore), Ishmeil Heard (junior), Returning offensive linemen Bryce Allen (sophomore), Branzen Grodhaus (junior), Eric Sullivan (senior tackle-guard), Kurt Rosenbaum Collin Garlevale (senior). (senior guard), Norman Rudder (junior guard), Ryan Miller (junior center), Austin Baker (senior tackle), Incoming defensive backs Austin Phillips (senior guard), Skyler DeLauder (junior Michael Shope (junior), Nick Eastham (freshman), guard), Alex Gunn (senior tackle), Austin Carter (junior Derrick Suggs (freshman), Christian Steff (senior), Ben guard). See WELLSVILLE, Page 44A
Returning offensive ends
Offensive outlook
When the Tigers move the ball, they will win. Last season, they averaged 36.0 points in seven wins and 6.8 points in four losses. “We have good speed at the skill positions and will have a good balance between run and pass,” Spann said. “With our speed and athleticism, we expect some big plays. We’re working hard on not making mental mistakes.”
Basic defensive formation 4-4.
Defensive outlook
The Tigers return six starters from a defense that topped Columbiana County by holding opponents to an average of 15.4 points a game. “We’ll have an attacking defense with a solid line-
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44 • M or ni ng Jour nal • High School Football 2015 • Section I • Thur sday, August 27, 20 1 5
Spann is a Wellsville Tiger through and through By BILL DRAGOMIR Staff Writer
WELLSVILLE — Wellsville Tiger head football coach Derrick Spann is in his first year at the helm and is enjoying it immensely. Hired by the school district to take over the football program back in March, Spann has great familiarity with the Tigers’ program and knows his players very well. “It’s a different age and time, so it’s good to know everybody,” Spann said. “I have known most of these kids for a lot of years. We had a great turnout this year; the most that have come out for the team in a long time. That is great to see.” Spann is taking over for Rich Wright who left to take an administrative position along with the head football coach position at neighboring Southern. Spann was involved with the Junior Tigers program for 20 plus years including 12 or 13 years in which he was the president. He remains a vice president. Many of the current high school players were around Spann in their Junior Tiger
Derrick Spann
days. “It’s different with a different coach,” senior lineman Eric Sullivan said. “It’s more of a family. He’s a hometown guy. We’ve always known him. He’s always known us.” Spann said the team’s practices are going quite well so far. “There is nice enthusiasm here. We have had some minor injuries, But so far it’s going good. We scrimmaged Buckeye and looked pretty good, but we do have some things to work on, “ he said. Wright guided the Tigers to consecutive Division VII playoff appearances in 2013 and 2014 and Spann has a goal to continue that good run.
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“We want to continue the playoff streak, definitely,” Spann said. “We want to compete in every game in what is a very tough league. We have a lot of skill on this team and good all-around team speed. We have some guys that can play multiple positions.” A 1986 Wellsville High School graduate, Spann has compiled a coaching staff that consists of names that are very familiar to Tiger gridiron followers. His assistant varsity coaches are Jon Carter, Shane Reed, and Richie Sloan. Bruce Harris will head up the junior high program assisted by Jim Thirtyacre and Nick DeSarro. Spann talked about what he enjoys most about coaching. “It’s working with the kids and building relationships with them. Not just on the field, but off the field as well. It’s great to be able to build into their lives,” Spann said. Spann said he expects to be head coach of the Tigers for a long time. “This is definitely a long-term plan. I would not be anywhere else,” he said.
Wellsville Tigers
12 Alik Bradford .....................5-11.....175 ....Sr. 13 Nick Eastham....................5-11.....145 ....Fr. 14 Derrick Suggs ...................5-8.......140 ....Fr. 15 Andre Sloan ......................6-0.......160 ....Soph. 16 Will Grodhaus ...................5-10.....175 ....Soph. 17 Ishmeil Heard....................5-9.......145 ....Jr. 18 Justin Miller.......................6-3.......165 ....Jr. 19 Bryce Allen........................5-9.......140 ....Soph. 21 Michael Shope ..................5-11.....175 ....Jr. 22 Branzen Grodhaus............6-1.......190 ....Jr. 23 Brandon Tate ....................5-8.......150 ....Fr. 24 Collin Carlevale.................5-10.....145 ....Sr. 25 Christian Steff ...................5-10.....155 ....Sr. 27 Bradley Cline ....................5-9.......160 ....Jr. 30 Brandon Bennett...............6-0.......185 ....Soph. 31 Ben Daniels ......................5-5.......140 ....Jr. 35 Hayden Dalrymple ............5-10.....190 ....Jr. 41 Vinnie Giordano ................5-9.......205 ....Sr. 44 Hayden Jackson ...............6-0.......190 ....Jr. 45 Angelo Luckino .................5-6.......140 ....Fr.
52 Austin Carter .....................5-9.......180 ....Jr. 54 Gage Ramos.....................5-8.......175 ....Fr. 55 Kurt Rosenbaum...............5-11.....210 ....Sr. 56 Alex Gunn .........................5-11.....180 ....Sr. 58 Austin Phillips....................5-11.....200 ....Sr. 60 Chase Alford .....................5-11.....260 ....Soph. 61 Austin Baker......................6-0.......270 ....Sr. 67 Skyler DeLauder ...............6-0.......265 ....Jr. 68 Justin Thirtyacre ...............5-9.......190 ....Fr. 72 Norman Rudder ................6-0.......210 ....Jr. 73 Charles Lockhart...............5-8.......220 ....Fr. 74 Ryan Miller........................5-11.....218 ....Soph. 75 Colten Green ....................5-8.......190 ....Fr. 77 Eric Sullivan ......................6-0.......255 ....Sr. 78 Johnathan Huddleston......5-10.....190 ....Fr. 82 Brandon Patterson............5-11.....170 ....Soph. 83 Kylie Cline.........................5-6.......140 ....Fr. 85 Matt Rawson.....................6-1.......155 ....Soph. 86 Xavier Washington............6-3.......155 ....Soph.
WELLSVILLE,
Tackles — Vinnie Giordano 115; Frank Jackson (gradauted) 63.
Continued from Page 44A
Daniels (junior).
2015 Outlook
2014 Players honored
Zack Mellott (graduated), special mention Division VII All-Ohio, first-team All-Area and first-team All-OVAC. Vinnie Giordano, special mention Division VII All-Ohio and first-team AllArea. Seth Bloor (graduated), first-team AllArea and first-team All-OVAC. Travis Furbee (graduated), secondteam All-Area.
2014 Leaders
Rushing — Zack Mellott (graduated) 1,536 yards and 15 touchdowns on 199 carries (7.7); Alik Bradford, 359 yards and six touchdowns on 61 carries (5.9). Passing — Alik Braford completed 31 of 89 passes (35) percent for 641 yads and one touchdown.
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There may be a lot of young faces and a new head coach, but expecations are still high at Wellsville. “We are a relatively young team,” Spann said. “We will be an aggressive, fundamentally-sound team. Team speed is up from last year.” The Tigers’ 16 wins the last two seasons matches their most since 1995-96. Wellsville needs the youngsters to grow up fast because the middle of the season features a tough stretch against McDonald, Western Reserve and Lisbon. “Even though the schedule is tough, we plan on being competitive in each contest,” Spann said. Lisbon is the early favorite in the new Inter-Tri County League White Division, according to Spann. “Lisbon is a tough team this year. They have everyone coming back,” he said. “But don’t underestimate us.”
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M or ni ng J our nal • High School Football 2015 • Section I • Thur sday, August 27, 20 1 5 • 45
LISBON’S 1995 STATE CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON
Blue Devils had a little help in run By CHRIS RAMBO Staff Writer
LISBON — With the prevalence of open enrollment, it is not uncommon today to see a handful of players from outside the school district on many local high school football team’s roster. That was not the case in 1995. On their run to the Division V state championship that season, the Lisbon football team was aided considerably by a number of transfers from Southern Local — a perennially weak Tri-County League program. The Southern school district became enmeshed in an ugly teachers’ strike in the fall of 1993. During the next two school year, a number of students jumped to Lisbon, which, according to coach Jim Tsilimos, was the only school in Columbiana County to offer open enrollment at that time. In all, Tsilimos estimates that 10 to 12 players on the championship roster transferred to Lisbon from Southern at some point from 1993-95. Included in that group were three of Lisbon’s most important starters. Senior inside linebacker/fullback Damien Powell, junior center/defensive tackle Dustin Tedrow and junior wide receiver/defensive back Steve Rodgers. The fact that so many talented players wound up at Lisbon did not sit well with many people around the county according to Tsilimos. Many alleged
“We were the bad guys, and I was public enemy No. 1 for a while. They were mad down at Southern saying we recruited those guys. It caused an uproar. I would get all kinds of hate letters, both at school and at my house.” that he recruited the players to Lisbon. “We were the bad guys, and I was public enemy No. 1 for a while,” Tsilimos said. “They were mad down at Southern saying we recruited those guys. It caused an uproar. I would get all kinds of hate letters, both at school and at my house. But we were the only school offering open-enrollment at that time and they decided they would rather come here.” Regardless of how they arrived at Lisbon, there was no denying that the players made a huge impact. In addition to the three starters, valuable backups Jake and Luke Newbold and Harvey Price all came over from Southern. “There is no doubt those guys helped us out a lot,” Tslimos said. “It gave us a ton of depth. Powell was an absolute terror as a first-team AllOhio inside linebacker. On offense, he was a battering ram at fullback and led the Blue Devils in rushing. His game combined athletic ability with a rare kind of competitive rage, intimidating opponents and firing up teammates. After suiting up for the Indians as a sophomore, Powell transferred to Lisbon in time to join the Blue Devils for the 1994 season
JIM TSILIMOS, LISBON COACH
and immediately left his mark. “Damien was incredible,” Lisbon quarterback Zach Williams said. “I had never seen anybody run quite like him before. He was just a hard, tough football player whose motor never stopped. He added a new dimension to our team.” “Damien was a different breed, I’ll say that,”
Tedrow said. “On defense, he was crazy. He didn’t think twice about lowering his head and hitting guys. He did whatever it took to bring the ball carrier down. I think he was very intimidating to other teams.” Tedrow was Lisbon’s biggest lineman at 6-foot4 and 280 pounds. He anchored the offensive line as center and was an immovable object at defensive
tackle. He played for Southern as a sophomore in 1994 before transferring to Lisbon at the end of the school year. It didn’t take him long to notice a difference in the two programs. “It was a night and day difference between the Southern and Lisbon football programs back then,” Tedrow said. “At Southern in those days there was no structure to practices, there wasn’t a weight program. When I joined the team at Lisbon, Coach Tsilimos always had everything mapped out. You knew what you were supposed to be doing every minute of practice.” Rodgers transferred to Lisbon in time for his sophomore year in the fall of 1994, but elected to sit out football that season as he adjusted to his new surroundings. He came out for the team in 1995 and provided steadiness at both wide receiver and defensive back. He came up big when it mattered most that season, catching seven passes for 170 yards and two touchdowns in the state championship game to go along with an interception. “I played tight end as a freshman at Southern, but I decided to sit out at first at Lisbon so I could settle in and get comfortable,”
Rodgers said. “It was just a big family atmosphere at Lisbon. I really enjoyed hanging out with those guys.” The Blue Devils don’t remember much backlash due to the transfers. “Honestly, I don’t remember hearing too much about it,” Williams said. “I don’t remember it coming up when we played Southern I think coach Tsilimos did a good job of keeping the negative stuff from us. We were just focused on football.” There also wasn’t much in the way of resentment at the newcomers who were — in some cases encroaching on playing time of guys who had been there before. “I was really nervous at first, but the guys accepted me right away,” Tedrow said. “It was a great, fun group of guys. There was a real family atmosphere at Lisbon.” “Those Southern guys jelled with the rest of us very fast,” tackle Ryan Belaney said. “We all wanted to win really bad and we saw how good they were.” One thing is certain, none of the players had any idea of the magical ride they were about to be apart of when they came to Lisbon. “I knew Lisbon had a good program, but I never expected anything like what happened,” Tedrow said. “To go from only winning a couple of games at Southern to winning a state championship at Lisbon in just one year, there aren’t any words to describe that kind of feeling.”
46 • M or ni ng Jour nal • High School Football 2015 • Section I • Thur sday, August 27, 20 1 5
Members of Lisbon’s 1995 Division V state championship football team included (front, from left) Ryan Kulik, Steve Sinsley, K.C. Weikart, Matt Ramsey, Chuck Hatch, Matt Earl, Brian Smith, Kevin Richards, Chad Carpenter, Geoffrey Howell, Chris Davis, Dusty Rhodes, Matt Tuttle, Anthony Altomare, Chad Hammond, Gerold Altomare, Richie Steves, Neil Brown; (second row, from left) Jason Palmer, Jamie Wright, Jason Elliott, Shawn McCarty, Jeremy Shivers, Scott Henthorne, Jake Newbold, Jeremy Minor, Luke Newbold, Justin Almy, Adam Vidas, Matt Pickens, George Richardson, Elliott Darin, Brian Raye, Jim Foreman, Josh Brantly, Kenny Stockman, Lloyd Richards, Andrew Derby; (third row, from left) Justin Tsilimos, Terry Madison, Chris Swimm, Jon Pircher, Joe Lankford, Barry Long, Harvey Price, Brad Bucey, Steve Rodgers, Brian Davis, John Leyman, Todd Sinsley, Dustin Tedrow, J.D. Smith, Kevin Grimm, Jared Pritts, Jason Locke, Aaron Marshalek, Zach Crothers, coach John Wilson, coach Joe Siefke, coach Steve Bosel; (back, from left) coach Todd Brammer, coach Don Mook, Jason Neville, Mike Tray, Dustin Peppel, Damien Powell, Mike Stockman, Ed Shuman, head coach Jim Tsilimos, Ryan Belaney, Zach Williams, Jeremy Lewton, Danton Hutton, Sam Carpenter, Kevin Walters, coach Rich Washinko and coach Will Johnston. The team roster is on page 47A.
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M or ni ng J our nal • High School Football 2015 • Section I • Thur sday, August 27, 20 1 5 • 47
CHAMPIONS, Continued from Page 25A
Waynedale was no contest. The Blue Devils dominated the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball en route to a 33-7 win,
setting up the state title matchup against topranked Cincinnati Mariemont. The Warriors were far
bigger across the board than Lisbon and came in having allowed just 29 points all season, including seven shutouts.
After one half of football in Massillon, it looked like Lisbon would be Mariemont’s latest victim. The Blue Devils turned the ball over on downs at midfield on their first possession and ran out of time at the goal line right before halftime. The two teams went to the lockers with Mariemont in control 217. “The first half was humbling,” Rodgers said. “I think we were all a little taken aback.”
Final push
Still down 21-7 in the fourth quarter, the Blue Devils were forced to open things up. Once again Williams came through,
leading a 75-yard drive early in the fourth quarter to make it 21-14. The Blue Devils tied it on their next drive when Williams zipped a 16-yard touchdown pass to backup receiver Bubby Hutton on fourth-and-7 with 7:24 left. Hutton, who was rarely thrown to during the season, finished the game with four receptions for 57 yards and two touchdowns. “That was really impressive for Bubby to come through like that in the biggest game of the season,” Tsilimos said. “It felt like all the momentum was with us at that point.” Mariemont pushed across a touchdown in the first overtime to go up 2821, but there was no stop-
ping Williams and the Blue Devils at this point. Williams hit a twisting, leaping Rodgers for a 19yard touchdown to tie the knot the score at 28-28. Rodgers finished the game with seven catches for 170 yards. “I remember looking right into the sun to catch it, but I had no doubt Zach would get me the ball,” Rodgers said. “It was just pure adrenaline at that point.” In the second overtime, Lisbon held Mariemont to a field goal attempt. It was all the opening the Blue Devils needed. “We had all the momentum at that point,” See CHAMPIONS, Page 48A
48 • M or ni ng Jour nal • High School Football 2015 • Section I • Thur sday, August 27, 20 1 5
CHAMPIONS, Continued from Page 47A
Morning Journal/Patti Schaeffer
War Memorial Stadium has been the home of the Lisbon High School football team since 1947.
Williams said. “There was never a doubt we were going to score.” A 9-yard pass to Hutton and a 10-yard run by Powell set the Blue Devils up with a first and goal at the one. In the huddle, the weight of the moment began washing over everyone. “Lining up for that last play was like an out of body experience,” Belaney said. “We knew we were going to win, but it didn’t feel real to me. Everything was a blur.” Williams took his place behind center Dustin Tedrow and pushed right in from the 1-yard line, giving the Blue Devils the title. “I just remember getting in the huddle and just laughing,” Williams said. “It was overwhelming realizing we were about to win. When I snuck it in, I just let out a big yell. It was such a relief that it was all over.” Twenty years later, the memo-
ries are still fresh. “It seems like something random comes up every month that triggers a memory,” Williams said. “I remember a lot of little details from that season, things that happened off the field or at practice that I treasure just as much as winning the title.” “I think about it every day of my life,” Tsilimos said. “After the game, I told the kids they would take it to their grave, I know I will. For a community like Lisbon, it’s something that might never happen again.”
1995 notes
¯ The state title game just happened to coincide with Williams’ 18th birthday. “I don’t think I could have asked for a better present,” Williams said.
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¯ The Blue Devils progressed from 2-8 in 1993 to 6-4 in 1994 to 14-0 in 1995. “A lot of us took our lumps as sophomores, myself included,” Williams said. “By the time we were seniors, that experience was valuable.” ¯ John Parker, a 1963 graduate of East Palestine High School, was Mariemont’s defensive coordinator. His brother Jim was East Palestine’s head coach that season. ¯ While the Blue Devils were making their run in Division V, there was plenty of drama in Division I that year as well. Cincinnati Colerain had to forfeit its spot in the state title game after the Cardinals used an ineligible player in their 49-7 state semifinal defeat of Brunswick. St. Ignatius defeated Brunswick in the title game to claim its fifth straight state title.
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M or ni ng J our nal • High School Football 2015 • Section I • Thur sday, August 27, 20 1 5 • 49 Johnnie and Kevin are working at MAC TRAILER in Salem. Both earned $1,000 scholarships for their externship hours.
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50 • M or ni ng Jour nal • High School Football 2015 • Section I • Thur sday, August 27, 20 1 5
The Morning Journal’s 2015 Football Preview is dedicated to Lisbon’s 1995 Division V state championship team, the only Columbiana County football team to bring home the state title trophy. Although 20 years have passed, the memories haven’t. Head coach Jim Tsilimos raises the trophy on the front page of the Journal’s Dec. 2, 1995, edition (left). Today, Tsilimos is still guiding the Blue Devils and the trophy is proudly displayed at the high school (right). The 1995 team will be honored on Labor Day weekend. Players and cheerleaders will be introduced during halftime of the Sept. 4 game against Mineral Ridge. On Sunday, Sept. 6, there will be a get-together for players and fans beginning at 4 p.m. at the Guilford Lake Grille. Cost is $18 per person, which includes a meal. For reservations, call Tena at (330) 303-5344.
M or ni ng J our nal • High School Football 2015 • Section I • Thur sday, August 27, 20 1 5 • 51
52 • M or ni ng Jour nal • High School Football 2015 • Section I • Thur sday, August 27, 20 1 5
2 • M or ni ng Jour nal • High School Football 2015 • Section II • Thur sday, August 27, 20 1 5
CREDITS T HE M ORNING J OURNAL’ S 2015 F OOTBALL P REVIEW WAS COMPILED BY SPORTS
R ON F IRTH , M ICHAEL B URICH , C HRIS R AMBO , J OE C ATULLO AND B ILL D RAGOMIR AND PHOTOG RAPHERS PATTI S CHAEFFER AND WAYNE M ARIS .
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M or ni ng J our nal • High School Football 2015 • Section II • Thur sday, August 27, 20 1 5 • 3
Area senior standouts Pictured on the cover of the Morning Journal’s 2015 Football Preview are (from left) Oak Glen’s Cyle Perez, Wellsville’s Vinnie Giordano, Beaver Local’s Robbie Johnston and East Liverpool’s Austyn Dozier.
Morning Journal/Wayne Maris
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4 • M or ni ng Jour nal • High School Football 2015 • Section II • Thur sday, August 27, 20 1 5
One more time for area seniors By CHRIS RAMBO Staff Writer
EAST LIVERPOOL — August is a time when high school football players all across the state feel a surge of optimism. After a long offseason of work, everyone is anxious to see if it will all pay off. Four area seniors all have their own reasons for believing their last hurrah as high school players will be one to remember. For East Liverpool’s Austyn Dozier, the motivation is clear. The Potters collapsed last season with an 0-10 record. The last thing Dozier wants to do is end his career with consecutive winless seasons. However, what he wants even more is to know that he left nothing back on Friday nights. “Sure it would be great to wins some game, but wins are minimal compared to the memories that you make with your teammates. I just hope we can stick together as a team and play hard this year. If that happens, I’ll be happy.”
“We didn’t have any win total in mind last year, but things kind of fell in place. Everyone wants to see if we can get better this year.” ROBBIE JOHNSTON, BEAVER LOCAL SENIOR RUNNING BACK
Wellsville senior Vinnie Giordano is excited to play his final season in a Tigers uniform for a man who has been a part of his football experience from the very beginning. In March, Wellsville announced that Derrick Spann would succeed Rich Wright (who departed for rival Southern Local) as head coach. Spann has been involved with the Wellsville junior high program for 20 years, and spent the last two seasons on Wright’s varsity staff. Giordano says Spann helped him learn the game, but more importantly instilled in him a passion for football at a young age. On behalf of his teammates-many of
whom felt the same way-Giordano addressed the school board in March to encourage the hire of Spann. “Coach Spann is a great role model on and off the field,” Giordano said. “He’s been with all of us since we’ve grown up. I couldn’t be more excited to play for him as a senior.” Spann will be tasked with living up to Wright’s back-to-back state playoff appearances, but Giordano believes the Tigers are embracing the challenge. “Coach Spann has brought a lot of excitement to practice; he does a great job of getting everyone fired up to go out there and play He’s very in touch with all
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the players.” Giordano said the Tigers have no ill feelings toward Wright and respect his decision. “We always look forward to playing Southern because it’s a rivalry game,” Giordano said. “We don’t have any special motivation to beat Coach Wright. He made a business decision.” Beaver Local senior running back Robbie Johnston is coming off a stellar 2014 in which he rushed for 1,527 yards and 22 touchdowns. He helped propel the Beavers to a 6-4 record, their first winning season since 2006. “Last season has added a lot of excitement to two-a-days this year,” Johnston said. “We didn’t have any win total in mind last year, but things kind of fell in place. Everyone wants to see if we can get better this year.” Johnston is excited to get after See SENIORS, Page 34B
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M or ni ng J our nal • High School Football 2015 • Section II • Thur sday, August 27, 20 1 5 • 5
2015 STATE PLAYOFF SCHEDULE
Morning Journal/Patti Schaeffer
United running back Colton Antram meets Youngstown Ursuline defenders Anthony Protopapa and Spencer Warren (44) in a first-round playoff game at Stambaugh Stadium last season.
FIRST ROUND Friday, November 6 7:30 p.m. Division II, III, V, VII Saturday, November 7 7 p.m. Division I, IV, VI ——— REGIONAL SEMIFINALS Friday, November 13 7:30 p.m. Division II, III, V, VII Saturday, November 14 70 p.m. Division I, IV, VI ——— REGIONAL FINALS Friday, November 20 7:30 p.m. Division II, III, V, VII Saturday, November 21 7 p.m. Division I, IV, VI ———
STATE SEMIFINALS Friday, November 27 7:30 p.m. Division II, III, V, VII Saturday, November 28 7 p.m. Division I, IV, VI ——— STATE FINALS At Ohio Stadium, Columbus (Game times to be announced morning after the state semifinals) Thursday, December 3 One of the divisions that play on Friday nights during the playoffs will have its state title game at 7:30 p.m. Thursday. Friday, December 4 10 a.m., TBA 3 p.m., TBA 8 p.m., TBA Saturday, December 5 10 a.m., TBA 3 p.m. TBA 8 p.m., TBA
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6 • M or ni ng Jour nal • High School Football 2015 • Section II • Thur sday, August 27, 20 1 5
Morning Journal/Joe Catullo
Members of the 2015 Beaver Local football team are (front, from left) coach T.J. Osbon, coach Aaron West, Bryce McKenzie, Dustin Martsolf, Jason Keyes, Justin Davis, Tyler Kelly, Robbie Johnston, Tristen Clendenning, Mike Woodburn, Trevore McLaughlin, Devan Zellers, Justin Flowers, coach Jeff Weidger, coach Ed Weidger; (second row, from left) Eddie Pennicuff, Garrett Morris, Hunter Saltsman, Austin Ferguson, Matt DeBacco, Kobi Ream, Nathan Rawson, Christian LeRussi, Cody Flowers, Beau Smith, Jared Wright, Steven Wukotich, Andrew Shultz, Alex Solansky; (third row, from left) Zach Smith, Luke Call, Isaac Ream, Cade O’Rourke, Jesse Timmons, Kevan Sullivan, Damien Emmert, Chris Yanni, Logan Hughes, Torey Calio, Colton Keyes, Darien Louk; (fourth row, from left) Alec Post, Parker Summers, Drew Theiss, Tim Wirth, Shane Wright, Noah West, Jacob Pancake, Wyatt Argabrite, Logan Bouscher, Michael Bock, Jason Johnston, Joshua Speelman, Jackson Lewis; (fifth row, from left) Donovan Garcia, Westley Simons, Andrew Gibson, Jacob Morgan, Zach Milhorn, Zach Thomas, Terry Adkins, Chad Mays, Michael Clendenning, Zak Kestner, Richard Bowen, Garrett Givens; (back, from left) coach Stephen Mercer, coach Charlie Dolnosich, coach Dick Shilling, head coach Jeremy McElroy, coach Dave Allen, coach Rich Wright and coach Jeff Dixon.
Beavers build on winning season 2015 SCHEDULE
All games start at 7 p.m. Aug. 28 at Crestview Sept. 4 West Branch Sept. 11 at Meadowbrook Sept. 18 Edison Sept. 25 East Liverpool Oct. 2 at Indian Valley Oct. 9 at Buckeye Local Oct. 16 at Indian Creek Oct. 23 Martins Ferry Oct. 30 Oak Glen
from 2008-10 and served as offensive Stephen Mercer, offensive coordinator, line coach at Beaver Local in 2011. He quarterbacks Division IV, Region 13 also was an assistant coach at Kettering Jeff Weidger, offensive line Fairmont High School from 2004-07, at Charlie Doinosich, running backs 2014 Record Piqua High School in 2004, at California Aaron West, wide receivers University (Pa.) in 2002-03 and at East 6-4, including a 4-1 mark on the road. Returning lettermen It was the Beavers’ first winning season Palestine High School in 2001. since 2006. The six wins came against Fourteen, including eight starters on ofteams that won a combined 11 games on Assistant coaches fense and six starters on defense. the field. Dave Allen, defensive coordinator, Basic offensive formation linebackers Head coach Rich Wright, defensive backs Multiple Pistol. Jeff Dixon, defensive backs Jeremy McElroy enters his fourth seaRich Shilling, defensive tackles son as head coach with a 10-20 record. T.J. Osbon, defensive ends He was 1-29 in three seasons at Lisbon See BEAVERS Page 8B
Classification
M or ni ng J our nal • High School Football 2015 • Section II • Thur sday, August 27, 20 1 5 • 7
Beaver Local Beavers
Morning Journal/Ron Firth
Beaver Local’s Terry Adkins (right) chases Indian Creeks’ Cody Sinsel last season.
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1 Shane Wright ....................5-10.....145 ......Soph. 2 Justin Davis ......................5-9.......155 ......Sr. 3 Drew Theiss......................5-9.......160 ......Soph. 4 Luke Call...........................5-9.......160 ......Soph. 5 Jason Keyes .....................5-9.......140 ......Sr. 6 Bryce McKenzie................5-8.......155 ......Sr. 7 Chris Yanni .......................5-6.......135 ......Soph. 8 Dustin Martsolf..................5-8.......160 ......Sr. 9 Joshua Speelman.............5-9.......155 ......Soph. 10 Colton Keyes ....................5-9.......170 ......Soph. 11 Logan Bouscher................6-0.......175 ......Jr. 12 Noah West ........................5-11.....195 ......Soph. 15 Isaac Ream.......................5-10.....160 ......Soph. 20 Michael Clendenning ........5-11.....200 ......Soph. 21 Robbie Johnston...............5-10.....175 ......Sr. 22 Trevore McLaughlin ..........5-10.....155 ......Sr. 23 Jesse Timmons.................5-8.......140 ......Soph. 24 Torey Calio........................5-8.......165 ......Soph. 25 Devon Zellers....................5-11.....195 ......Sr. 30 Chad Mays........................6-0.......185 ......Soph. 33 Justin Flowers...................5-9.......182 ......Sr. 34 Damien Emmert................5-7.......145 ......Soph. 50 Tyler Kelly .........................5-10.....210 ......Sr. 52 Zach Milhorn .....................6-2.......210 ......Jr. 53 Zak Kestner ......................6-2.......210 ......Jr. 54 Jason Johnston.................5-11.....230 ......Jr. 55 Terry Adkins ......................6-2.......255 ......Jr. 56 Jacob Morgan ...................6-1.......245 ......Soph. 59 Cade OáRourke................5-9.......210 ......Soph. 60 Logan Hughes ..................5-10.....170 ......Soph.
61 Michael Bock ....................6-0.......210 ......Soph. 62 Tristen Clendenning..........6-1.......250 ......Sr. 68 Wesley Simons .................5-10.....210 ......Soph. 70 Michael Woodburn............5-11 ....240 ......Sr. 72 Kevin Sullivan ...................5-8.......215 ......Soph. 75 Parker Sommers...............5-10.....230 ......Soph. 76 Richard Bowen .................6-1.......275 ......Jr. 77 Wyatt Orgabrite.................5-10.....215 ......Soph. 78 Andrew Gibson .................6-1.......285 ......Soph. 79 Zach Thomas....................6-3.......275 ......Soph. 82 Jacob Pancake .................5-10.....170 ......Jr. 83 Tim Wirth...........................6-1.......160 ......Soph. 2 Hunter Saltsman ...............5-8.......140 ......Fr. 4 Austin Ferguson................5-9.......140 ......Fr. 5 Garrett Morris....................5-8.......140 ......Fr. 7 Nathan Rawson ................5-7.......130 ......Fr. 9 Donovan Garcia................5-9.......135 ......Fr. 12 Andrew Shultz...................5-8.......135 ......Fr. 15 Christian Lerussi ...............5-8.......135 ......Fr. 21 Jared Wright .....................5-8.......150 ......Fr. 22 Beau Smith .......................5-8.......145 ......Fr. 24 Cody Flowers....................5-7.......125 ......Fr. 30 Zach Smith........................5-10.....165 ......Fr. 33 Garrett Givens ..................6-1.......220 ......Fr. 50 Steven Wukotich...............5-10.....185 ......Fr. 53 Alex Solansky ...................5-10.....190 ......Fr. 54 Darien Louk ......................5-8.......175 ......Fr. 60 Eddie Pennicuff.................5-10.....225 ......Fr. 70 Alec Post...........................5-9.......185 ......Fr. 76 Jackson Lewis ..................6-0.......210 ......Fr.
See 18B for more on Beaver Local football
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8 • M or ni ng Jour nal • High School Football 2015 • Section II • Thur sday, August 27, 20 1 5
BEAVERS, Continued from Page 6B
back), Chad Mays (sophomore fullback). (senior), Devon Zellers (senior).
Offensive outlook
The Beavers return eight offensive Returning offensive ends starters, including 1,500-yard rusher Bryce McKenzie (senior wide reRobbie Johnston. ceiver), Justin Davis (senior wide re“A large number of players returning ceiver). gives a great building block to establish offensive identity,” McElroy said. “The Incoming offensive ends experience will allow us to develop consistency in offensive schemes.” Isaac Ream (sophomore wide receiver), Shane Wright (wide receiver), Basic defensive formation Jacob Pancake (wide receiver). Multiple 50.
Defensive outlook
The Beavers gave up more than 20 points twice last season as they limited opponents to an average 15.5 points in the other eight games. “We will lean on our experience at linebacker and defensive back to develop our defensive identity,” McElroy said.
Returning offensive backs
Trevore McLaughlin (senior quarterback), Robbie Johnston (senior running back), Dustin Martsolf (running back), Jason Keyes (running back), Devon Zellers (senior fullback), Justin Flowers (senior fullback).
Incoming offensive backs
Luke Call (sophomore quarterback), Logan Bouscher (junior quarterback), Torey Calio (sophomore running back), Michael Clendenning (senior running
Chad Mays (sophomore), Garrett Givens (freshman), Damian Emmer 2014 Leaders (sophomore), Colton Keys (sophomore), Rushing — Robert Johnston, 1,540 Logan Hughes (sophomore), Beau yards and 22 touchdowns on 227 carries Smith (freshman). (6.8). Passing — Chase Hilliard (graduated) Returning defensive backs completed 18 of 31 passes (58 percent) Dustin Martsolf (senior), Justin Davis for 239 yards. 33 of 69 for 589 yards. Torey Calio (sophomore), six touchdowns and three interceptions. Returning offensive linemen (senior), Receiving — Hayden Grafton 18 Bryce McKenzie (senior), Robbie Johncatches for 167 yards and one intercepTyler Kelly (senior), Terry Adkins (ju- ston (senior). nior), Mike Woodburn (senior), Tristen tion. Clendenning (senior). Incoming defensive backs Scoring — Johnston 132 points. Tackles — Jason Keyes 85. Isaac Ream (sophomore), Jacob PanIncoming offensive linemen Interceptions — Chase Hilliard (gradcake (junior), Shane Wright (sophoJason Johnston (junior), Andrew Gib- more), Logan Bouscher (junior), Luke uated) 5. son (sophomore), Zach Thomas (sopho- Call (sophomore), Trevore McLaughlin 2015 Outlook more), Zach Milhorn (junior), Richard (senior). Bowen (junior), Michael Bock (sophoThe Beavers are optimistic, returning more), Logan Hughes (sophomore). 2014 Players honored 14 starters from a team that enjoyed its Chase Hilliard (graduated), special first winning season in eight years. They Returning defensive linemen mention Division IV All-Ohio and first- had totaled seven wins in the previous Terry Adkins (junior), Tristen Clenfive seasons. denning (senior), Mike Woodburn (se- team All-Area. “We’ll be competitive against every Austin Lawrence (graduated), firstnior), Tyler Kelly (senior). team All-Area and first-team All- team on our schedule,” McElroy said. Beaver Local averaged 36.8 points in OVAC. Incoming defensive linemen Jason Sims (graduated), first-team the six wins last season and 12.5 points Michael Clendenning (end), Zach Mel- All-Area and first-team All-OVAC. in four losses. horn (end), Jason Johnston (junior end). The Beavers will find out right away Robert Johnston, special mention Diwhere they stand as they play vision IV All-Ohio, first-team AllReturning linebackers Crestview and West Branch in the first OVAC and second-team All-Area. Jason Keyes (senior), Justin Flowers Colton Beckwith (graduated), second- two games.
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M or ni ng J our nal • High School Football 2015 • Section II • Thur sday, August 27, 20 1 5 • 9
2015 BUCKEYE 8 ATHLETIC LEAGUE SCHEDULE Buckeye 8 Football Schedule WEEK ONE Friday, August 28 Beaver Local at Crestview Buckeye Local at Martins Ferry Edison at East Liverpool Indian Creek at Cambridge Harrison Central at Claymont St. Clairsville at Carrollton Union Local at Monroe Central Saturday, August 29 Bellaire at Ridgewood ——— WEEK TWO Friday, September 4 West Branch at Beaver Local Union Local at Buckeye Local Indian Creek at East Liverpool Carrollton at Edison Harrison Central at Weir Wheeling Linsly at Martins Ferry Saturday, September 5 Bellaire at Wheeling Central Catholic St. Clairsville at Coshocton ——— WEEK THREE Friday, September 11 Beaver Local at Meadowbrook Buckeye Local at Edison Salem at East Liverpool Oak Glen at Indian Creek Bellaire at Harrison Central Martins Ferry at Union Local ——— WEEK FOUR Friday, September 18 Edison at Beaver Local
Special to the Journal/Jimmy Joe Savage
Beaver Local linebacker Devon Zellers (25) gets past East Liverpool blocker Kyle Walker (24) and gives chase to running back Kade Reynolds last season.
Buckeye Local at Indian Creek East Liverpool at Wilmington Area (Pa.) Bellaire at John Marshall Union Local at Harrison Central St. Clairsville at Martins Ferry ——— WEEK FIVE Friday, September 25 East Liverpool at Beaver Local Bellaire at Buckeye Local Union Local at Edison Indian Creek at St. Clairsville Harrison Central at Martins Ferry
WEEK SIX Friday, October 2 Beaver Local at Indian Valley Buckeye Local at John Marshall East Liverpool at Martins Ferry Edison at Oak Glen, WV Brooke at Indian Creek Harrison Central at St. Clairsville Weir at Union Local Saturday, October 3 Catholic Central at Bellaire ——— WEEK SEVEN Friday, October 9 Beaver Local at Buckeye Local
Oak Glen at East Liverpool Edison at Harrison Central Martins Ferry at Indian Creek Warren at Union Local Saturday, October 10 St. Clairsville at Bel-
laire
——— WEEK EIGHT Friday, October 16 Beaver Local at Indian Creek East Liverpool at Buckeye Local Edison at Weir
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Oak Glen at Harrison Central Reigning Sports Academy at Martins Ferry Union Local at St. Clairsville Saturday, October 17 Shadyside at Bellaire ——— WEEK NINE Friday, October 23 Martins Ferry at Beaver Local Buckeye Local at Oak Glen St. Clairsville at East Liverpool Toronto at Edison Indian Creek at Harrison Central Bellaire at Union Local ——— WEEK TEN Thursday, October 29 Steubenville at St. Clairsville Friday, October 30 Oak Glen at Beaver Local Harrison Central at Buckeye Local East Liverpool at Weir Indian Creek at Edison Barnesville at Union Local Saturday, October 31 Martins Ferry at Bellaire
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1 0 • M or ni ng Jour nal • High School Football 2015 • Section II • Thur sday, August 27, 20 1 5
2015 SCHEDULE
Games start at 7:30 p.m., unless noted Aug. 28 Edison Sept. 4 Indian Creek Sept. 11 Salem Sept. 18 at Wilmington Area Sept. 25 at Beaver Local, 7 Oct. 2 at Martins Ferry, 7 Oct. 9 Oak Glen Oct. 16 at Buckeye Local, 7 Oct. 23 St. Clairsville Oct. 30 at Weir, 7
Special to the Journal/Jimmy Joe Savage
Members of the 2015 East Liverpool football team are (front, from left) Aaron Bombich, Dylan Kidder, Jullian Cowart, Ryan Bombich, team historian Frank Dawson, Austin Mayfield, Payton Adkins, Tyler Milhoan, Austyn Dozier, Tim Veglia; (second row, from left) Michael Loy, Zach Gill, Peyton Reed, Noah Shaw, Jake Cornell, Gage Walker, Cory Cotter, Sobaan Razi; (third row, from left) Dakota Ice, Dillan Reynolds, Kyle Walker, Lane Kopras, Shaylon Brentley, Cory Weyand, Trent Troop, Aiden Watkins, David Locke; (fourth row, from left) Tyler Rawson, Jalen Moman, P.J. Morris, Adam Brooks, Ryan Lilly, Freddie Plumb, Tommy Thompson, Damian Wright; (fifth row, from left) Eric Glendenning, Austin Morris, Ryan Tanner, Joaquin Johnson, Caleb McHenry, Roger Lawson, Jason Todd, James Edgell, Chance Hannum; (sixth row, from left) Viszuani Williams, Danny Wells, Travis Kidder, Charles Iacobucci, Noah Wheaton, Justin Watkins; (back, from left) coach Bill Potts, coach Mike Crane, coach John Thompson, coach Alvan Thompson, head coach Josh Ludwig, coach Ricky Davis, coach Jeff Wright, coach Maurice Brown and coach Eric McMahon.
M or ni ng J our nal • High School Football 2015 • Section II • Thur sday, August 27, 20 1 5 • 1 1
Morning Journal/Wayne Maris
East Liverpool senior Austyn Dozier returns to lead the Potters at running back and linebacker this season.
Potters are ready to spread their wings
“We weren’t much of a team last year at all. People were worrying about their stats and playing for themselves instead of their teammates. That’s what hurt us the most.” AUSTYN DOZIER, EAST LIVERPOOL SENIOR
“GO POTTERS”
OUTDOOR ARMY STORE 112 E. 6th St. East Liverpool, OH
330-386-5143
By CHRIS RAMBO Staff Writer
EAST LIVERPOOL — By almost any measure, the 2014 season was a huge disappointment for the East Liverpool football team. Under first-year coach, and East Liverpool graduate, Josh Ludwig, the Potters hoped to build on a 5-5 record in 2013. Instead, things went wrong almost from the very beginning. The end result was a winless campaign in which the Potters lost eight games by 19 points or more. However, with a new season just around the corner, the Potters are exuding nothing but optimism.
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“When we take the field, I think people will see a totally different team this year,” Ludwig said. “The coaching staff and the players have a much better grasp on things than last season. Everybody is on the same page. There is a totally different feel around the team.” If the Potters are to put some wins on the board this season, a big piece of the equation will be senior linebacker/fullback Austyn Dozier, a four-year starter. “We’re all ready to put last season behind us,” Dozier said. “It was a tough learning experience, but I think we’re all stronger for going through it.” The Potters have enjoyed just one winning season in the last 10 years. By his
admission, Ludwig underestimated the task in front of him in his first season. “I came out of the gates thinking this could be done quickly,” Ludwig said. “I didn’t realize how much the job really involved. “After the season, the staff started meeting every day to try and figure out how to fix this thing.” The point where Ludwig knew the Potters could be in for a long season came when the Potters were easily handled 397 by three-win Salem in the third game. “I felt like we were as good as them last year,” Ludwig said. “But we did not game-plan or execute well. That night See WINGS, Page 38B
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1 2 • M or ni ng Jour nal • High School Football 2015 • Section II • Thur sday, August 27, 20 1 5
Potters line up in victory formation Classification
Division IV, Region 13
2014 Record
using a mix of run and pass. They must improve on last seson when they scored 12 touchdowns and were next-to-last in the area in scoring, averaging 8.2 points a game.
0-10, losing all six of their home games. The Potters scored seven points or less in seven games.
Basic defensive formation
Head coach
Defensive outlook
4-4.
Josh Ludwig enters his second season The Potters must improve defensively as head coach. He also served four sea- after giving up at least 39 points in seven sons as an East Liverpool assistant. games last season. “Play 11-1 swarm to the ball with reckAssistant coaches less abandonment,” Ludwig said. Alvan Thompson Returning offensive backs Ricky Davis Jr. Jeff Wright Austyn Dozier (senior fullback-tailAndy Vulgamore back), Austin Mayfield (junior quarterJohn Thompson back), Dillan Reynolds (senior halfback). Maurice Brown Eric McMahon Incoming offensive backs Bill Potts Kyle Walker (sophomore), Aaron Mike Crane Bombich (junior).
Returning lettermen
Twenty, including eight starters on offense and eight starters on defense.
Basic offensive formation
Returning offensive ends
Zach Gill (junior), Dakota Ice (junior), Jullian Cowart (senior).
East Liverpool Potters
1 Aaron Bombich ...................6-1.......180 ....Jr. 2 Dylan Kidder .......................5-10.....165 ....Jr. 3 Jullian Cowart .....................5-9.......165 ....Sr. 4 Ryan Bombich ....................5-11.....170 ....Sr. 5 Austin Mayfield....................6-2.......205 ....Jr. 6 Payton Adkins.....................5-10.....170 ....Soph. 7 Tyler Milhoan ......................6-0.......175 ....Soph. 8 Austyn Dozier......................6-1.......235 ....Soph. 9 Tim Veglia ...........................6-0.......140 ....Soph. 10 Michael Loy.......................5-9.......145 ....Soph. 11 Zach Gill............................6-3.......200 ....Jr. 12 Peyton Reed .....................5-8.......145 ....Fr. 13 Noah Shaw .......................6-0.......140 ....Jr. 15 Levi Turner........................5-11.....150 ....Fr. 16 Jake Cornell......................5-10.....185 ....Soph. 17 Gage Walker.....................5-9.......135 ....Fr. 18 Cory Cotter .......................6-2.......180 ....Jr. 19 Sobaan Razi .....................5-8.......105 ....Fr. 21 Dakota Ice.........................5-10.....135 ....Jr. 22 Dillan Reynolds.................6-1.......215 ....Sr. 24 Kyle Walker.......................6-2.......175 ....Soph. 25 Lane Kopras .....................5-7.......200 ....Fr. 26 Shaylon Brentley...............5-7.......140 ....Fr. 27 Cory Weyand ....................5-8.......135 ....Fr. 30 Trent Troop .......................6-1.......155 ....Soph.
Incoming offensive linemen Viszuani Williams (senior).
Returning defensive linemen
32 Aiden Watkins ...................5-9.......200 ....Fr. 44 David Locke ......................5-10.....220 ....Jr. 46 Tyler Rawson ....................5-9.......160 ....Soph. 47 Jalen Moman ....................5-11.....215 ....Fr. 52 P.J. Morris .........................5-9.......170 ....Fr. 53 Adam Brooks ....................5-8.......235 ....Fr. 54 Ryan Lilly ..........................6-1.......245 ....Sr. 56 Fred Plum .........................6-5.......245 ....Jr. 57 Tommy Thompson ............5-8.......270 ....Fr. 59 Damian Wright ..................5-8.......150 ....Fr. 60 Eric Glendenning ..............5-8.......150 ....Fr. 64 Austin Morris .....................5-10.....240 ....Sr. 66 Ryan Tanner .....................6-1.......290 ....Jr. 67 Joaguin Johnson...............6-1.......220 ....Fr. 70 Caleb McHenry .................5-10.....265 ....Fr. 71 Roger Lawson...................6-3.......310 ....Sr. 72 Jason Todd .......................6-3.......315 ....Jr. 73 James Edgell ....................5-11.....215 ....Soph. 74 Chance Hannum...............5-8.......160 ....Fr. 75 Viszuani Williams..............6-4.......225 ....Sr. 77 Danny Wells......................6-6.......270 ....Jr. 78 Travis Kidder.....................6-3.......315 ....Soph. 79 Charles Iacobucci .............6-1.......250 ....Sr. 84 Noah Wheaton..................5-8.......135 ....Fr. 88 Justin Watkins...................5-9.......175 ....Fr.
nior), Dillan Reynolds (senior), Austin Mayfield (junior).
Returning defensive backs
Aaron Bombich (junior), Ryan Fred Plum (junior), Charles Iacobucci Bombich (senior), Noah Shaw (junior). Charles Iacobucci (senior), Ryan Lilly (senior), Ryan Lilly (senior). (senior), Ryan Tanner (junior), Dan Wells Offensive outlook Incoming defensive backs (junior), Fred Plum (junior). Returning linebackers Expect the Potters to move the ball beMichael Loy (sophomore), Levi Turner hind a big and experienced offensive line, Austyn Dozier (senior), Zach Gill (ju- (freshman). Multiple formations/spread.
Returning offensive linemen
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2014 Players honored
Austyn Dozier, first-team All-Area. Kade Reynolds (graduated), first-team See POTTERS, Page 37B
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M or ni ng J our nal • High School Football 2015 • Section II • Thur sday, August 27, 20 1 5 • 1 3
2014 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL ROUNDUP 2014 Area standings
INTER-TRI COUNTY LEAGUE Upper Tier Team League Overall South Range ..............................5-2 7-3 • Springfield ................................5-2 7-4 • Crestview .................................5-2 7-5 • United.......................................4-3 7-4 Lisbon.........................................4-3 7-3 East Palestine ............................3-4 4-6 Columbiana ................................2-5 4-6 Jackson-Milton ...........................0-7 3-7 Lower Tier • McDonald .................................7-0 10-1 • Western Reserve .....................6-1 11-2 • Wellsville ..................................5-2 7-4 Lowellville ...................................4-3 5-5 Mineral Ridge .............................3-4 4-6 Sebring .......................................2-5 5-5 Southern Local ...........................1-6 1-9 Leetonia......................................0-7 1-9
NORTHEASTERN BUCKEYE CONFERENCE • Louisville ..................................7-0 9-2 West Branch...............................5-2 6-4 Marlington...................................5-2 5-5 Minerva.......................................4-3 4-6 Alliance.......................................3-4 5-5 Carrollton....................................2-5 5-5 Salem .........................................1-6 3-7 Canton South .............................1-6 1-9
ALL-AMERICAN CONFERENCE American Division • Hubbard ...................................5-0 12-1 • Poland ......................................4-1 10-2 Howland .....................................2-3 7-3 Canfield ......................................2-3 5-5 Struthers.....................................2-3 4-6 Niles ...........................................0-5 1-9 National Division • Liberty ......................................7-0 10-2 • Girard .......................................6-1 8-3 Lakeview ....................................5-2 6-4 Jefferson Area ............................4-3 7-3 LaBrae........................................3-4 6-4 Campbell ....................................2-5 2-8 Champion ...................................1-6 1-9 Newton Falls...............................0-7 1-9 OTHERS Beaver Local.................................... Oak Glen ......................................... East Liverpool.................................. • — playoff qualifier
6-4 2-8 0-10
MORNING JOURNAL
308 Maple St. Lisbon, Ohio 44432 Phone (330) 424-9541
Morning Journal/Patti Schaeffer
Crestview running back Zach Hicks breaks into the Canton Central Catholic secondary as Crusaders defenders Chris Harbison (51), Luke Stuffel (88) and Griffen Baumoel (24) give chase in a second-round playoff game at Minerva last season. Canton Central Catholic advanced to the Division V state championship game.
2014 Regular Season Team Leaders
SCORING OFFENSE Team Avg. 1. South Range ........................................45.0 2. Western Reserve..................................40.1 3. Crestview..............................................37.2 4. Springfield ............................................35.9 5. Lisbon...................................................31.8 6. Columbiana ..........................................30.3 7. Wellsville ..............................................27.2 8. Beaver Local ........................................27.1 9. East Palestine ......................................27.0 9. United ...................................................27.0 11. West Branch .........................................26.4 12. Minerva.................................................25.6 13. Sebring .................................................24.0 14. Salem ...................................................17.5 15. Oak Glen ..............................................13.3 16. Leetonia................................................12.7 17. East Liverpool.........................................8.2 18. Southern Local .......................................7.7
SCORING DEFENSE Team Avg. 1. Western Reserve..................................12.3 2. Wellsville ..............................................13.0 3. Springfield ............................................17.3 4. Sebring .................................................22.1 5. United ...................................................22.2 6. Beaver Local ........................................22.3 7. South Range ........................................24.5 8. Lisbon...................................................24.8 9. Minerva.................................................27.1 10. Crestview..............................................29.4 11. Salem ...................................................30.5 12. Leetonia................................................30.6 13. West Branch.........................................30.9 14. Oak Glen ..............................................31.2 15. East Liverpool.......................................35.0 16. Columbiana ..........................................36.2 17. East Palestine ......................................40.1 18. Southern Local .....................................40.2
SCORING MARGIN Team Avg. 1. Western Reserve................................+27.8 2. South Range ......................................+20.5 3. Springfield ..........................................+18.6 4. Wellsville ............................................+14.2 5. Crestview .............................................+7.8 6. Lisbon...................................................+7.0 7. Beaver Local ........................................+4.8 7. United...................................................+4.8 9. Sebring.................................................+1.9 10. Minerva .................................................-1.5 11. West Branch..........................................-4.5 12. Columbiana ...........................................-5.9 13. Salem ..................................................-13.0 14. East Palestine .....................................-13.1 15. Oak Glen .............................................-17.9 16. Leetonia ..............................................-18.6 17. East Liverpool .....................................-26.8 18. Southern Local ....................................-32.5
MINERVA LIONS
1 4 • M or ni ng Jour nal • High School Football 2015 • Section II • Thur sday, August 27, 20 1 5
Morning Journal/Bill Dragomir
Members of the 2015 Minerva football team are (front, from left) Anthony Canestraro, Mike Scott, Dominic Crowe, Tim Hoagland, Bryan Inscoe, Logan Fritz, Jake Preston, Luke Walter, Kyle Gulling, Shem Haas, Jon Quinones, Anthony Rocco; (second row, from left) Brant Allen, Josh Barnaby, Tyler Harris, Reggie Hancock, Tyler Norton, Dylan Ossler, Jason Campbell, Adam Gross, Brett Russell, Drew Soliday, Seth McGee; (third row, from left) Ryan Mozzochi, Al Vasilliu, Connor Fritz, Josh Brady, Travis Kuttler, Coy Mullins, Tony Berry, Dakota Romano, Broc Croston, Nate Lembke, Hunter Brewster, Andrew Mayle; (fourth row, from left) Dominic Slentz, Jason Williams, Bryson Becker, Nick DiDonato, Anthony Boord, Tey Carle, Shane Walters, Alex Kimble, Hunter Worstall, Isaiah Wright, Jason Freestone; (fifth row) Jon Lucas, Nick Perrin, Jeremiah Keaton, Zerick Banner, Andrew Jones, Pauk Wolick, Steven White, Camdon Givens, Rylee Walker, Evan Hertel, Eli Hein, Chad Willison, David Church; (back, from left) coach Lance Willison, coach Joe Watts, coach Jim Jenkins, coach Jason Lutz, head coach Mike Hall, coach Dale Soles, coach Brian Costea and coach Kris Nign.
These Lions aren’t backing down Classification
Division IV, Region 11
2015 SCHEDULE
All games start at 7 p.m. Aug. 28 at Field Sept. 4 at St. Thomas Sept. 11 Canton Central Sept. 18 at West Branch Sept. 25 Louisville Oct. 2 Canton South Oct. 9 at Salem Oct. 16 Marlington Oct. 23 at Alliance Oct. 30 Carrollton
2014 Record
4-6, including a 4-3 mark in the Northeastern Buckeye Conference. The Lions were 1-3 in games decided by seven points or less. They played only two teams with losing records (Salem, Canton South).
Head coach
coach, and one season at Howland in 2004.
Basic offensive formation
Assistant coaches
Offensive outlook
Jason Lutz, defensive coordinator Jim Jenkins Joe Watts Lance Willison Dale Soles Brian Costea Kris Nign
Mike Hall enters his third season as head coach with a 10-10 record. He was offensive coordinator at Division I MasReturning lettermen sillon Perry the previous eight seasons. Eleven, including five starters on ofHe also served at Wickliffe from 19922003, serving the last five years as head fense and five starters on defense.
Pistol Wing-T.
The Lions lost first-team All-Ohio running back Dalton Hartshorn, who ran for 3,024 yards and 36 touchdowns last two seasons, to graduation. “We’re very inexperienced,” Hall said. “We want our skill to get caught up with our front.” The strength will be up front with four returning starting linemen. See LIONS, Page 15B
M or ni ng J our nal • High School Football 2015 • Section II • Thur sday, August 27, 20 1 5 • 1 5
LIONS,
Minerva Lions
Continued from Page 14B
“We want to continue what we have Incoming offensive linemen built the last few years with the Pistol Tim Hoagland (senior), Anthony Wing-T,” Hall said. “It gives us a chance Rocco (senior), Dylan Ossler (senior). to execute really well. If we execute well, we can be explosive.”
Returning defensive linemen
Basic defensive formation 3-3 Stack.
Defensive outlook
The Lions gave up an average of 11.5 points in their four wins and 37.5 points in their six losses last season. “We need to grow up quickly in the back end of the defense,” Hall said.
Returning offensive backs
Bryan Inscoe (senior), Jake Preston (senior), Dominic Crowe (senior), Logan Fritz (senior).
Incoming defensive linemen Tim Hoagland (senior).
Returning linebackers
Luke Walter (senior), Dakota Romano (junior).
Adam Gross (junior running back), Incoming linebackers Brett Russell (junior quarterback), Coy Jason Campbell (senior), John Mullins (junior running back), Dakota Quinones (senior), Anthony Rocco (seRomano (junior running back). nior), Dylan Ossler (senior), A.J. Vasilliu (sophomore).
Incoming offensive backs
Jason Campbell (senior running back), Returning defensive backs Tyler Norton (senior running back), ConKyle Gulling (senior), Shem Haas (senor Fritz (sophomore running back), A.J. nior), Adam Gross (junior), Brett Russell Vasilliu (sophomore running back). (junior), Coy Mullins (junior).
Returning offensive ends
Incoming defensive backs
Kyle Gulling (senior split end) Shem Tyler Norton (senior), Anthony CanesHaas (senior split end). traro (senior), Broc Croston (sophomore), Connor Fritz (sophomore).
Incoming offensive ends
Anthony Canestraro (senior split end), 2014 Players honored John Quinones (senior tight end), Broc Dalton Hartshorn (graduated), firstCroston (sophomore split end). team Division IV All-Ohio. Lucas Van Meter (graduated), thirdReturning offensive linemen team Division IV All-Ohio. Wylie Brown (graduated), special menBryan Inscoe (senior), Luke Walter (senior), Jake Preston (senior), Dominic tion Division IV All-Ohio. Crowe (senior), Logan Fritz (senior).
2 Adam Gross ........................6-1.......170 ....Jr. 3 Seth McGee........................6-1.......160 ....Jr. 5 Broc Croston.......................6-2.......175 ....Soph. 6 Alex Kimble .........................6-1.......155 ....Fr. 7 Connor Fritz ........................6-1.......165 ....Soph. 8 Chad Willison......................5-7.......110.....Fr. 9 Kyle Gulling.........................6-1.......180 ....Sr. 10 Shem Haas .......................5-10.....155 ....Sr. 12 Rylee Walker ....................5-10.....150 ....Fr. 14 A.J. Vasilliu........................5-9.......170 ....Soph. 15 Reggie Hancock ...............6-2.......175 ....Jr. 16 Brett Russell .....................6-2.......165 ....Jr. 18 Mike Scott .........................6-0.......170 ....Sr. 19 Shane Walters ..................5-7.......140 ....Soph. 21 Coy Mullins .......................5-8.......165 ....Jr. 22 Ryan Mozzochi .................5-8.......150 ....Soph. 24 Jason Campbell ................5-10.....180 ....Sr. 25 Hunter Brewster................6-1.......185 ....Soph. 28 Evan Hertel .......................5-10.....150 ....Fr. 30 Jon Quinones....................6-3.......185 ....Sr. 32 Tyler Norton ......................5-8.......160 ....Sr. 33 Jason Williams..................5-10.....150 ....Fr. 34 Dominic Slentz..................5-10.....170 ....Fr. 35 Tony Berry.........................5-10.....160 ....Jr. 36 Brant Allen ........................5-10.....175 ....Jr. 40 Dakota Romano................5-9.......210 ....Jr. 42 David Church ....................5-6.......110.....Fr. 43 Camdon Givens ................6-0.......150 ....Fr. 44 Nick Perrin ........................5-10.....145 ....Fr.
2014 Leaders
Rushing — Dalton Hartshorn (graduated), 1,903 yards and 24 touchdowns on 209 carries (9.1). Passing — Storm Angione completed 68 of 150 passes (45 percent) for 1,005 yards. Receiving — Billy Eyer (graduated) 32 caches for 552 yards (17.3). Scoring — Dalton Harshorn (graduated) 168 points. Tackles — Lucas Van Meter (graduated).
2015 Outlook
The Lions have a lot of returnees up front, but are young and inexperienced at
47 Zerick Banner ...................5-10.....145 ....Fr. 49 Hunter Worstall .................6-0.......150 ....Fr. 50 Drew Soliday.....................6-0.......180 ....Jr. 51 Bryan Inscoe.....................5-10.....225 ....Sr. 52 Tim Hoagland....................6-3.......190 ....Sr. 53 Josh Barnaby....................6-1.......185 ....Jr. 54 Dylan Ossler .....................5-10.....185 ....Sr. 55 Luke Walter.......................6-1.......210 ....Sr. 56 Trey Carle .........................5-9.......220 ....Soph. 57 Tyler Harris .......................6-2.......210 ....Jr. 58 Jake Preston.....................6-2.......210 ....Sr. 60 Anthony Rocco..................5-9.......180 ....Sr. 61 Jason Freestone ...............5-8.......160 ....Fr. 64 Isaiah Wright.....................6-1.......180 ....Fr. 65 Andrew Mayle ...................5-9.......210 ....Soph. 66 Anthony Boord ..................6-2.......180 ....Fr. 68 Josh Brady........................6-2.......250 ....Soph. 72 Nate Lembke ....................6-1.......420 ....Soph. 73 Nick DiDonato...................6-0.......175 ....Fr. 74 Travis Kuttler.....................6-3.......260 ....Soph. 75 Jeremiah Keaton...............5-10.....210 ....Fr. 76 Dominic Crowe .................6-2.......260 ....Sr. 77 Eli Hein .............................5-10.....200 ....Fr. 78 Logan Fritz........................6-4.......230 ....Sr. 80 Bryson Becker ..................6-1.......160 ....Fr. 83 Andrew Jones ...................5-9.......150 ....Fr. 84 Paul Wolick .......................5-10.....120 ....Fr. 86 Anthony Canestraro..........5-7.......145 ....Sr. 88 Steven White ....................5-9.......145 ....Fr.
the skill positions. “We have a lot of guys who can play,” Hall said. “They just haven’t on Friday night.” The Lions are planning on working a lot of players into the lineup. “We have most of our offensive line and defensive line intact from last season,” Hall said. “Our skill level is very inexperienced, but they are very good athletes and they have worked very well together during our summer camps and in doubles. “We have 62 players on our roster, which gives us some depth and the potential to have several one-way players.”
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1 6 • M or ni ng Jour nal • High School Football 2015 • Section II • Thur sday, August 27, 20 1 5
2015 NORTHEASTERN BUCKEYE CONFERENCE SCHEDULE WEEK ONE Thursday, Aug. 27 Marlington at Poland Friday, Aug. 28 Mineral Ridge at Salem West Branch at Crestwood Minerva at Mogadore Field Barberton at Alliance Canfield at Louisville Coventry at Canton South St. Clairsville at Carrollton ——— WEEK TWO Friday, Sept. 4 United at Salem West Branch at Beaver Local Minerva at St. Thomas Alliance at Canfield Crestwood at Marlington North Canton Hoover at Louisville Northwest at Canton South Carrollton at Edison ——— WEEK THREE Friday, Sept. 11 Salem at East Liverpool West Branch at Southeast Canton Central Catholic at Minerva Alliance at Crestview St. Thomas Aquinas at Marlington Louisville at Austintown Fitch Canton South at Cambridge Carrollton at Claymont ———
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Special to the Journal/Gary Leininger
Minerva linebacker Luke Walter (right) helps bring down Salem running back Kade Byland during the Lions’ 37-0 win last season.
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LIONS, Continued from Page 15B
The Lions scored more than 20 points in five of their six losses last season. “We want to develop depth with our increased numbers and we always want to execute better on both sides of the football with each rep,” Hall said.
“We must finish everything. We need to finish plays, practices and games, always.” Minerva played only two teams with losing records last season. “We don’t play a weak schedule,” Hall said.
M or ni ng J our nal • High School Football 2015 • Section II • Thur sday, August 27, 20 1 5 • 1 7
2015 OHSAA FOOTBALL REGIONS
DIVISION IV Region 11 Brookside Cardinal Mooney Clearview Cleveland Central Catholic Conneaut Crestwood Cuy. Valley Christ. Aca. Edgewood Fairview Mogadore Field Oberlin Firelands Girard Parma Heights Holy Name Hubbard Jefferson Area La Grange Keystone Lakeview Notre Dame-Cathedtral Latin Pepper Pike Orange Perry Ravenna Southeast Streetsboro Struthers Ursuline West Branch Woodridge Region 13 Amanda-Clearcreek Beaver Local Bloom-Carroll Buckeye Local Cambridge Canton South Claymont East Liverpool Fairfield Union Heath Indian Creek Indian Valley John Glenn Johnstown-Monroe Hebron Lakewood Licking Valley Maysville Meadowbrook Minerva
New Lexington Canal Fulton Northwest Ontario Philo River View Salem Shelby St. Clairsville Steubenville ——— DIVISION V Region 15 Beachwood Berkshire Sullivan Black River Brooklyn Canton Central Catholic Middlefield Cardinal Warren Champion Crestview East Palestine Fairless Garrettsville Garfield Grand Valley Gates Mills Hawken LaBrae Youngstown Liberty Luthern West Akron Manchester Pymatuning Valley Rootstown Sandy Valley South Range Tuslaw Cleveland Villa Angela-St. Joseph Warrensville Heights Wickliffe ——— DIVISION VI Region 19 Brookfield Columbia Station Columbia Columbiana Ashland Crestview Cuyahoga Heights Dalton Lisbon
Independence Kirtland Loudonville McDonald Campbell Memorial Mineral Ridge Newton Falls Oberlin Richmond Heights Rittman Smithville Southern Local Springfield Local St. Thomas Aquinas Garfield Heights Trinity United Local Waterloo Western Reserve ——— DIVISION VII Region 23 Southington Conotton Valley East Canton Fairport Harding Jackson-Milton Warren JFK Leetonia Lowellville Lutheran East Malvern Ashland Mapleton Mathews Sebring Mogadore Monroeville Newbury Open Door Christian Greenwich South Central St. Mary Central Catholic Norwalk St. Paul Strasburg-Franklin Toronto Tuscarawas Central Catholic Wellsville Whitney M. Young Windham Youngstown Christian
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2014 HIGH SCHOOL PLAYOFFS WEEK 15 STATE FINALS at Ohio Stadium, Columbus DIVISION I No. 6 Lakewood St. Edward 31, No. 7 Huber Heights Wayne 21 ——— DIVISION II No. 3 Cincinnati LaSalle 55, No. 5 Macedonia Nordonia 20 ——— DIVISION III No. 8 Toledo Central Catholic 56, No. 2 Athens 52 ——— DIVISION IV No. 4 Cleveland Benedictine 21, No. 1 Kettering Alter 14 ——— DIVISION V No. 2 Coldwater 62, No. 1 Canton Central Catholic 21 ——— DIVISION V No. 9 Minster 46, No. 1 Kirtland 42 ——— DIVISION VII No. 1 Maria Stein Marion Local 41, No. 5 Norwalk St. Paul 9 ——— WEEK 14 STATE SEMIFINALS DIVISION I Huber Hts. Wayne 29, Cin. Moeller 22 Lakewood St. Edward 42, Hudson 14 DIVISION II Cin. La Salle 48, Lewis Center Olentangy 13 Macedonia Nordonia 52, Mayfield 14 DIVISION III Athens 34, Akron St. V-M 31 Tol. Cent. Cath. 17, Trotwood-Madison 14 DIVISION IV Cle. Benedictine 40, Steubenville 12 Kettering Alter 25, Kenton 22 DIVISION V Can. Cent. Cath. 34, Cols. Hartley 24 Coldwater 34, Cin. Hills Christian Academy 3
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DIVISION VI Kirtland 28, Lucasville Valley 7 Minster 14, Defiance Tinora 13 DIVISION VII Maria Stein Marion Local 55, Columbus Grove 7 Norwalk St. Paul 41, Glouster Trimble 13 ——— WEEK 13 REGIONAL FINALS DIVISION I Cin. Moeller 21, Cin. St. Xavier 0 Huber Hts. Wayne 38, W. Chester Lakota W. 3 Hudson 41, Mentor 20 Lakewood St. Edward 41, Westerville Cent. 0 DIVISION II Cin. La Salle 38, Cin. Mt. Healthy 6 Lewis Center Olentangy 41, Dublin Scioto 29 Macedonia Nordonia 52, Grafton Midview 14 Mayfield 34, Bedford 32 DIVISION III Akron St. S-M 26, Hubbard 23 Athens 52, Cols. DeSales 20 Tol. Cent. Cath. 35, Clyde 3 Trotwood-Madison 34, Wapakoneta 28, 4OT DIVISION IV Cle. Benedictine 35, Bay Village Bay 7 Kenton 38, Wauseon 14 Kettering Alter 35, Clarksville Clinton-Massie 7 Steubenville 29, Cols. Beechcroft 21 DIVISION V Can. Cent. Cath. 20, Youngs. Ursuline 6 Cin. Hills Christian Academy 31, W. Jefferson 23 Coldwater 28, Findlay Liberty-Benton 7 Cols. Hartley 45, Wheelersburg 38, OT DIVISION VI Defiance Tinora 17, Bucyrus Wynford 0 Kirtland 31, Loudonville 14 Lucasville Valley 34, Centerburg 20 Minster 35, W. Liberty-Salem 0 DIVISION VII Columbus Grove 19, Arlington 7 Glouster Trimble 31, Shadyside 21 Maria Stein Marion Local 49, Sidney Lehman 7 Norwalk St. Paul 18, Berlin Center Western Reserve 14
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1 8 • M or ni ng Jour nal • High School Football 2015 • Section II • Thur sday, August 27, 20 1 5
Morning Journal/Patti Schaeffer
Fighting Beaver Stadium (left), where Beaver Local has played its home football games since the inaugural season in 1958, will continue to be the home of the Beavers. The old high school is now demolished as students get ready to move into the new school, shown at the right when it was under construction in November.
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M or ni ng J our nal • High School Football 2015 • Section II • Thur sday, August 27, 20 1 5 • 1 9
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M or ni ng J our nal • High School Football 2015 • Section II • Thur sday, August 27, 20 1 5 • 21
OAK GLEN GOLDEN BEARS
22 • M or ni ng Jour nal • High School Football 2015 • Section II • Thur sday, August 27, 20 1 5
Morning Journal/Wayne Maris
Members of the 2015 Oak Glen football team are (front, from left) Michael Cambell, David Devaux, Justin Cambell, Chase Crago, Hunter Skeeles, Chayce Lemley, Mason Headley, Jayden Glen; (second row, from left) trainer Maryssa Durante, Mac Enriquez, Colin Williams, Aaron Gray, Lance Collins, Jake McCoy, Dakota Price, Stevie Cool, Devon Chadwick, trainer Emma Smith; (third row, from left) trainer Alyssa Creese, Bradly Hitt, Cyle Perez, Shawn Moore, Ryan Cunningham, Cameron Oulds, Noah Toomey, Draven Burton, Blake Almo, trainer Sierra Dulaney; (fourth row, from left) trainer Megan Campbell, Cole English, Ron Moore, Logan Kranis, Joe Duranti, Tony Minnis, Isaac Roshohoc, Solan Mueller, Gus Weekly, trainer Hannah Jacobs; (fifth row, from left) Nic Rowland, Ethan Travis, Brandon Skeeles, Austin Andrews, Williams Straight, Zane Cook, trainer Mollie Williams; (back, from left) coach Ted Arneault, coach Patrick McGillian, coach Frank Crain, head coach Ian Whittington, coach Justin Lipps, coach Chris Hill and manager Max Van Fossen.
Oak Glen returns key starters Classification
West Virginia Class AA.
2015 SCHEDULE
All games start at 7 p.m., unless noted Aug. 28 Weir Sept. 5 at Steubenville Central Sept. 11 at Indian Creek Sept. 18 Weirton Madonna Oct. 2 Edison Oct. 9 at East Liverpool, 7:30 Oct. 16 at Harrison Central Oct. 23 Buckeye Local Oct. 30 at Beaver Local Nov. 6 Tyler Consolidated
2014 Record
2-8. The Golden Bears were 1-2 in games decided by eight points or less. They have lost 13 of their last 14 home games and 21 of their last 23 games overall.
Head coach
Patrick McGillian, offensive line, defensive line Chris Hill, tight ends, defensive ends Frank Crain, running backs, linebackers Justin Lipps, wide receivers
than 22 points in any game last season. “We are returning starters at key positions (QB, RB, WR, TE and three OL),” Whittington said. “We are planning to be a well-balanced offense with playmakers in the run and pass game.”
Returning lettermen
Basic defensive formation
4-2-5. Eighteen, including seven starters on Ian Whittington enters his fourth seaoffense and seven starters on defense. son as head coach with a record of 6-24. Defensive outlook He served the previous three years as an Basic offensive linemen The Golden Bears gave up an average assistant at Oak Glen. of 37.0 points in their eight losses last Pro. season. Assistant coaches “With most of the front seven returnOffensive outlook Ted Arneault, offensive coordinator, See OAK GLEN, Page 23B The Golden Bears didn’t score more quarterbacks, outside linebackers
M or ni ng J our nal • High School Football 2015 • Section II • Thur sday, August 27, 20 1 5 • 23
Oak Glen Golden Bears
2 Michael Cambell ...............6-2.......190 ....Sr. 3 David Devaux ...................5-9.......180 ....Jr. 4 Justin Cambell ..................5-11.....165 ....Sr. 5 Chase Crago.....................6-1.......165 ....Jr. 6 Hunter Skeeles .................5-6.......130 ....Fr. 7 Chayce Lemley .................6-2.......165 ....Soph. 8 Mason Headley.................5-9.......160 ....Soph. 9 Jayden Glen......................5-8.......145 ....Soph. 10 Mac Enriquez....................5-6.......130 ....Soph. 13 Colin Williams ...................5-9.......175 ....Soph. 14 Aaron Gray........................6-3.......205 ....Sr. 15 Lance Collins ....................5-10.....175 ....Jr. 20 Jake McCoy ......................5-9.......165 ....Fr. 22 Dakota Price .....................6-1.......225 ....Jr. 23 Stevie Cool .......................5-8.......180 ....Jr. 24 Devon Chadwick...............5-10.....190 ....Sr. 27 Blake Almo........................5-8.......140 ....Fr. 32 Nic Rowland......................5-8.......180 ....Soph. 36 Bradly Hitt .........................5-8.......200 ....Sr. 43 Cyle Perez ........................6-1.......190 ....Sr.
47 Shawn Moore....................5-6.......120 ....Fr. 54 Ryan Cunningham ............5-10.....205 ....Sr. 59 Noah Flowers....................5-11.....230 ....Sr. 60 Cameron Oulds.................5-9.......220 ....Fr. 62 Noah Toomey....................5-11.....230 ....Soph. 64 Draven Burton...................5-8.......270 ....Soph. 66 Ty Beila .............................5-9.......205 ....Soph. 68 Mathias Cook....................5-10.....235 ....Soph. 70 Cole English......................6-3.......280 ....Fr. 71 Ron Moore ........................5-11.....250 ....Sr. 74 Logan Kranis.....................6-3.......280 ....Jr. 76 Joe Duranti .......................5-8.......180 ....Soph. 77 Tony Minnis.......................5-8.......250 ....Soph. 78 Isaac Roshohac ................6-3.......270 ....Jr. 80 Solan Mueller....................5-6.......125 ....Jr. 81 Gus Weekly ......................5-8.......170 ....Soph. 83 Ethan Travis......................6-2.......180 ....Fr. 84 Brandon Skeeles ..............5-9.......145 ....Sr. 86 Austin Andrews .................5-10.....160 ....Jr. 88 William Straight.................5-9.......180 ....Soph.
OAK GLEN,
Oak Glen junior quarterback Lance Collins
Continued from Page 22B
ing, we plan of focusing on stopping the run and making offenses one dimensional,” Whittington said.
Returning offensive backs
Lance Collins (junior quarterback), Dakota Price (junior running back).
Returning offensive linemen
Isaac Rohosac (junior guard), Noah Flowers (senior center), Ryan Cunningham (senior guard).
Incoming offensive linemen
(senior inside).
Incoming linebackers
Devon Chadwick (inside), Nic Rowland (inside).
Passing — Lance Collins. Receiving — Cyle Perez. Tackles — Ryan Cunningham. Interceptions — Lance Collins.
2015 Outlook
The Golden Bears return eighteen lettermen, including seven starters on each Lance Collins (junior). Incoming offensive backs side of the ball. They return most of their skilled playBradly Hitt (senior running back). Returning defensive linemen Incoming defensive backs ers and will try to use their team speed to Dakota Price (junior end), Isaac RoCyle Perez (senior), Justin Cambell (se- stretch the field. Returning offensive ends Oak Glen will try to snap a three-game hosac junior (tackle), Logan Kranis (ju- nior), Solan Mueller (junior). Cyle Perez (senior wide receiver), nior tackle). losing streak as they open the season by Michael Cambell (senior tight end), hosting rival Weir on Friday. 2014 Players honored Devon Chadwick (senior tight end). Incoming defensive linemen Micah Swiger (graduated), first-team Noah Flowers (senior end). All-OVAC. Incoming offensive ends Dakota Price, first-team All-OVAC. Chase Crago (junior wide receiver). Returning linebackers Ron Moore (senior tackle), Logan Kranis (junior tackle).
Returning defensive backs
Michael Cambell (senior outside), Stevie Cools (outside), Ryan Cunningham
2014 Leaders
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SALEM QUAKERS
24 • M or ni ng Jour nal • High School Football 2015 • Section II • Thur sday, August 27, 20 1 5
Morning Journal/Wayne Maris
Members of the 2015 Salem football team are (front, from left) D.J. Pullie, Cooper Bezeredi, Levi Maenz, Jake Maenz, Eli Rothwell, Chase Ackerman, Zain Rogers, Matt Weingart, Jerod Carner; (second row, from left) Mitch Davidson, Zach Bezon, Ethan Bailey, Kade Byland, Jason Shultz, Andre Irwin, Anthony Wynyard; (third row, from left) Jake Thomas, Ross Armeni, Josh Campbell, Tony Maniscalco, Tyler McCoy, Lex Murray, Davonne Bailey, Kobe Leininger, Zach Cusick; (fourth row, from left) Drew Wilson, Billy Robinson, Josh Davis, Jake O’Dell, Logan Foor, James Monigold, Trevor Smith; (fifth row, from left) Joe Dotson, Keaton Turney, Matt Ferugson, Austin Adams, Kaleb Messersmith, Nick Blackburn, Chase Conzett, Jake Humeniuk, Max Righetti; (back) Braydon Gibson.
Don’t count out the Quakers 2015 SCHEDULE
Games start at 7 p.m., unless noted Aug. 28 Mineral Ridge Sept. 4 United Sept. 11 at East Liverpool, 7:30 Sept. 18 Canton South Sept. 25 at Marlington Oct. 2 at Carrollton Oct. 9 Minerva Oct. 16 at Alliance Oct. 23 at Louisville Oct. 30 West Branch
Classification
Division IV, Region 11
2014 Record
3-7, including a 1-6 mark in the Northeastern Buckeye Conference. The three wins came against teams that won five games last season (Mineral Ridge, East Liverpool, Canton South). The Quakers have lost 16 of their last 18 road games and 19 of their last 21 league games.
Head coach
Ron Johnson enters his fourth season as head coach with a record of 6-24. He was head coach at Canton McKinley the previous four seasons, going 31-16 and making the playoffs all four ears. He also was head coach at Yellow Springs (13-17), Westlake (16-24) and Middletown (1317). From 1991-2000, he was a running backs coach and assistant head coach at Miami (Ohio) University.
Assistant coaches Charlie Ellington Jason Swiger Jason Lude Cory Wonner Mike Maietta Mike DeBarr Steve Miller
Returning lettermen
Thirty-one, including nine starters on See QUAKERS, Page 27B
M or ni ng J our nal • High School Football 2015 • Section II • Thur sday, August 27, 20 1 5 • 25
Salem Quakers
1 D.J. Pullie..........................5-9.......165 ....Sr. 2 Cooper Bezeredi...............6-1.......182 ....Jr. 3 Levi Maenz .......................5-8.......162 ....Jr. 4 Jake Maenz ......................5-6.......137 ....Soph. 5 Eli Rothwell .......................5-8.......164 ....Soph. 6 Chase Ackerman ..............6-2.......168 ....Soph. 7 Zain Rogers ......................5-8.......152 ....Jr. 8 Ross Barnett .....................6-1.......184 ....Jr. 9 Chase Graham .................5-7.......132 ....Jr. 10 Matt Weingart ...................5-10.....164 ....Sr. 12 Jerod Carner.....................5-8.......152 ....Jr. 14 Mitch Davidson .................5-8.......125 ....Soph. 17 Zach Bezon.......................5-8.......125 ....Soph. 20 Ethan Bailey......................6-2.......198 ....Jr. 21 Kade Byland .....................6-0.......170 ....Sr. 22 Jason Shultz .....................6-1.......148 ....Soph. 23 Dylan Spencer ..................5-6.......137 ....Sr. 24 Andrew Irwin .....................5-11.....190 ....Jr. 25 Anthony Wynyard..............6-3.......236 ....Jr. 26 Jake Thomas ....................5-8.......146 ....Soph. 30 Ross Armeni .....................5-8.......164 ....Sr. 32 Josh Campbell ..................6-0.......241 ....Sr. 34 Tony Maniscalco ...............5-11.....201 ....Sr. 35 Tyler McCoy......................5-10.....181 ....Sr.
“We expect to compete every week with a multitude of players making an impact. We have adapted the program to our league and are excited to meet the challenge.”
See page 35B for more on the Salem Quakers
RON JOHNSON, SALEM HEAD COACH
Morning Journal/Wayne Maris
Salem senior Kade Byland is a returning starting running back.
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36 Lex Murray........................6-0.......146 ....Jr. 43 Davonne Bailey.................5-8.......225 ....Soph. 52 Kobe Leininger..................5-9.......169 ....Jr. 53 Zach Cusick ......................5-7.......228 ....Sr. 54 Drew Wilson......................5-11.....193 ....Sr. 55 Billy Robinson ...................5-2.......115.....Soph. 58 Josh Davis ........................6-2.......198 ....Soph. 59 Jake OáDell ......................5-10.....254 ....Soph. 61 Logan Foor .......................5-10.....356 ....Jr. 62 James Monigold................6-0.......238 ....Jr. 63 Willie Wilson .....................5-9.......243 ....Sr. 66 Trevor Smith .....................5-8.......233 ....Soph. 67 Joe Dotson........................6-1.......279 ....Jr. 71 Keaton Turney ..................6-2.......232 ....Sr. 72 Matt Ferguson...................6-6.......272 ....Sr. 73 Austin Adams....................5-9.......173 ....Jr. 76 Kaleb Messersmith ...........6-2.......269 ....Soph. 78 Nick Blackburn..................5-11.....263 ....Sr. 79 Chase Conzett ..................5-10.....189 ....Sr. 81 Jake Humeniuk .................6-3.......191 ....Jr. 82 Zach Joy ...........................6-0.......174 ....Soph. 88 Max Righetti......................6-0.......173 ....Sr. 89 Braydon Gibson ................5-7.......128 ....Soph. ...............................................
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26 • M or ni ng Jour nal • High School Football 2015 • Section II • Thur sday, August 27, 20 1 5
Quakers expecting more of themselves By BILL DRAGOMIR
“I think this is going to be our best year with Coach Johnson. I think we’re going to do very well this year.”
Staff Writer
SALEM —The Salem Quakers football team is poised and ready for the 2015 season with a veteran group returning to the field. The Quakers were 3-7 last season, but look to improve on that mark having already defeated the Crestview Rebels in an earlier scrimmage. Three of the returning starters under head coach Ron Johnson are Kade Byland, Keaton Turney, and Matt Weingart. Byland is a third-year starter who plays at multiple positions, including running back, wide receiver, cornerback, and safety. “I think this is going to be our best year with Coach Johnson. I think we’re going to do very well this year, “ Byland said. “We’re going to have the best record we’ve had. That’s my opinion. We’ll be very good.” Byland said the offense should be more of a balanced attack. “This year I think we’re going to split it up pretty even. We have a great quarterback and we have two good running backs that are going to run the ball, “ said Byland. He expressed confidence about competing in the Northeastern Buckeye Conference, particularly against the Louisville Leopards. “That’s definitely going to be our toughest matchup, but you never know,” Byland said. “I
KADE BYLAND, SALEM SENIOR
Morning Journal/Wayne Maris
Salem seniors Keaton Turney (71) and Matt Weingart (10) are multi-year starters for the Quakers, who open the season Friday against Mineral Ridge.
think we could definitely give them a run for their money this year. We’ve been preparing very well.” Turney is a four-year starter who plays offensive tackle. He also expressed an optimistic outlook for the upcoming season. “We’re all looking up,” he said. “We’re putting in a lot of work; just coming out of the gates quick, full speed, ready to get anyone we can get our hands on.”
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He said the Quakers played well against the Rebels and in their second scrimmage against the Springfield Tigers. “We had a pretty good night against Crestview, looking to have a good night against Springfield as well,” Turney said. “They are good preseason games to measure out to where we’ve got to be, see what we have to work on.” Weingart is returning for his third season at quarterback di-
recting the Quaker offense. He says the first two years have been a learning experience for him. “We’ve been trying to get better every year, just taking it day by day,” he said. “Having the experience of starting for three years, I think it’s really going to help me with my decision making and just being able to play faster and getting everyone set and being ready to go for Friday nights.” Weingart is one of the team’s
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captains who takes his leadership role seriously. “I just work hard and lead through example and show all the younger guys what it means to work hard and show up every day hungry and ready to practice.” He also had a positive evaluation of the scrimmage against Crestview. “We scrimmaged Crestview and it was really good for us,” Weingart said. “We played fast and were striking hard on defense, flying to the ball. The offense looked pretty sharp at times.” Head coach Ron Johnson is appreciative of the experienced team that he has. “It’s just our guys with every game, everything that we do they get more experience on how to handle it,” he said. “They’re now seasoned players. We’ve been together for four years and those things now, you start to get close
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M or ni ng J our nal • High School Football 2015 • Section II • Thur sday, August 27, 20 1 5 • 27
QUAKERS,
EXPECTING,
Continued from Page 24B
Continued from Page 26B
offense and nine starters on defense.
Basic offensive formation Multiple spread.
Offensive outlook
The Quakers averaged 34.7 points in their three wins and 10.1 points in the seven losses last season. They return nine starters, including quarterback Matt Weingart, who has thrown for 2,828 yards and 30 touchdowns in his 17 career starts. He will be surrounded by skill players with good speed. “We expect to be explosive with a lot of weapons at our disposal,” Johnson said.
nior), Jerod Carner (junior).
Returning offensive linemen
Keaton Turney (senior), Josh Campbell (senior), Zach Cusick (senior), James Monigold (junior).
Incoming defensive linemen
Joe Dotson (junior), Anthony Wynyard (junior).
Defensive outlook
Returning linebackers
Josh Campbell (senior), Tony Manis“A high pressure attack from a lot of calco (senior), Tyler McCoy (senior), different angles,” Johnson said. Kobe Leininger (junior), Andrew Irwin The Quakers allowed more than 30 (junior). points in seven games last season.
Returning offensive backs
Returning defensive backs
Lex Murray (junior), Kade Byland (seKade Byland (senior running back), nior), Ross Armeni (senior), Cooper BezCooper Bezeredi (junior running back), eredi (junior). Matt Weingart (senior quarterback).
Returning offensive ends
Incoming defensive backs
Incoming offensive ends
2014 Players honored
D.J. Pullie (senior), Jake Humeniuk (juJake Humeniuk (junior), Tony Manisnior), Jerod Carner (junior). calco (senior). D.J. Pullie (senior), Ross Armeni (se-
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After six wins in the last three seasons, Salem is optimistic about the season because of a large number of returnees. The Quakers play Mineral Ridge, United and East Liverpool before starting play in the Northeastern Buckeye Conference. They were outscored by an average of 11.7 to 36.7 in the seven NBC games last season. “We expect to compete every week with a multitude of players making an impact,” Johnson said. “We have adapted the program to our league and are excited to meet the challenge.” The Quakers lost their last four home games and and six of their last seven overall.
Jake Bezon (graduated), first-team All-
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2014 Leaders
Rushing — Cooper Bezeredi, Kade Byland. Passing — Matt Weingart, completed Incoming offensive linemen 46 percent of his passes for 1,256 yards Nick Blackburn (senior), Joe Dotson and 12 touchdowns. (junior), Willie Wilson (senior). Receiving — Blake Hochadel (graduated) an area-high 61 catches for 656 Returning defensive linemen yards (10.8) and seven touchdowns. Tackles — Jake Bezon (graduated) Zach Cusick (senior), Ethan Bailey (junior), Nick Blackburn (senior), Keaton 134. Interceptions —Jake Bezon (graduTurney (senior). ated) 3.
Basic defensive formation 3-4
Area. Blake Hochadel (graduated), first-team All-Area.
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and playing close games now this year you get over the hump. You start to win those close games. It’s because of the experience they have and they’ve been in the fray before, so I think that will help us get over the hump.” He said the team is making good progress on both sides of the ball. “We still need to continue to work on our timing on offense; getting the front and back end to work together, but defensively we’re flying around really well and our opportunities that we’ve had to hit and run to the ball, we’ve done that very well. ... to this point we’ve progressed very well and we’re happy with where we are,” said Johnson. The Quakers begin the season hosting Mineral Ridge at Reilly Stadium at 7 p.m. Friday.
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28 • M or ni ng Jour nal • High School Football 2015 • Section II • Thur sday, August 27, 20 1 5
Salem quarterback Matt Weingart (10) is on the receiving end of a pass while defended by East Liverpool’s Austin Mayfield last season.
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M or ni ng J our nal • High School Football 2015 • Section II • Thur sday, August 27, 20 1 5 • 29
1,000-1,000 club
Players in Columbiana County history to rush and pass for 1,000 yards each in a season: Year Player (School).................................Games 2014 Jesse Best (Crestview).............................12 2013 Collin Gilbert (Crestview).........................13 2013 Garrett Beech (United) ...........................10 2012 Collin Gilbert (Crestview)..........................12 2012 Garrett Beech (United) ..............................10 2011 Adam Coppock (Crestview) .......................13 2011 Austin Barbato (Columbiana) .....................11 2010 Austin Barbato (Columbiana).....................10 2010 Marky Thompkins (East Liverpool) ............11 2010 Trent Toothman (Salem) ............................11 2010 Carter Hill (Crestview)................................11 2010 Josh McLaughlin (United) ..........................11 2009 Trent Toothman (Salem) ............................12 2009 Carter Hill (Crestview)................................12 2009 Shane Peterson (East Palestine)...............10 2008 Shane Peterson (East Palestine) ................9 2007 Tony Britton (Crestview).............................10 2007 Ryan Williams (Columbiana)......................11 2005 Mike Welce (Columbiana)..........................13 2004 Drew Wagner (Columbiana) ......................10 2003 Jay Yorty (Lisbon) ......................................13 2002 Smitty Kendrew (East Palestine) ...............12 1994 Michael Winters (Columbiana) ..................12
Rush 1,281 1,904 1,049 1,098 1,427 1,016 1,335 1,098 1,018 1,407 1,104 1,065 1,091 1,116 1,058 1,124 1,156 1,256 1,066 1,008 1,159 1,031 1,276
Pass 1,073 1,522 1,097 1,006 1,017 1,192 1,014 1,046 1,276 1,595 1,665 2,627 2,026 1,547 1,097 1,207 1,063 1,001 1,365 1,114 1,029 1,039 1,004
Special to the Journal/Gary Leininger
Salem’s Ethan Bailey (right) causes Alliance’s Josh Hammerton to fumble the ball last season.
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30 • M or ni ng Jour nal • High School Football 2015 • Section II • Thur sday, August 27, 20 1 5
Morning Journal/Wayne Maris
Members of the 2015 West Branch football team are (front, from left) Shawn Dickson, Colton Ruggles, Tyler Goode, Michael Page, Austin Smith, Hunter Steele, Trae Hillyer, Matt Manley; (second row, from left) Jacob Ice, Aaron Mohr, Jake Knoeval, Mickey Ormison, Jeremy Gorby, Justin Stowe, Jeff Butcher, Logan Berger, Ian Sharp; (third row, from left) Matt Steer, Brett Butcher, Ethan Griffith, Robert Lozier, Mitch Craig, Marshall Ney, Carl Bates, Marcus Hoopes, Tyler Vlaiku, Cameron Thorn; (fourth row, from left) Kelly Ginnetti, Ben Castellucci, Kyle Linhart, Kyler Strotz, Anthony Ginnetti, Ryan Timpe, Cole Pittman, Mike Williams, T.J. DeShields; (back, from left) head coach D.J. Dota, coach Chris Tucker, coach Frank Edie, coach Shawn Alazaus, coach Chad Butcher, coach Scott Manusakis, coach Mike Sigler and coach Ken Harris.
Road Warriors at start of season 2015 SCHEDULE
All games start at 7 p.m. Aug. 28 at Crestwood Sept. 4 at Beaver Local Sept. 11 at Southeast Sept. 18 Minerva Sept. 25 Carrollton Oct. 2 at Alliance Oct. 9 Louisville Oct. 16 at Canton South Oct. 23 Marlington Oct. 30 at Salem
Classification
Division IV, Region 11
2014 Record
6-4, including a second-place finish in the Northeastern Buckeye Conference with a 5-2 mark. The Warriors won their last four games and were 3-1 in games decided by six points or less.
Head coach
D.J. Dota, enters his fifth season as head coach with a record of 17-23. He was head coach at Warren Harding the previous four seasons with a record of 2317-1 and a Division I state playoff appearance in 2010. He was a defensive coordinator at Warren Harding four years and at Struthers two years.
Assistant coaches
Mike Sigler, offensive coordinator,
quarterbacks Chris Tucker, tight ends, defensive backs Scott Manusakis, wide receivers, defensive line Kenny Harris, offensive line, defensive line Shawn Alazaus, running backs, linebackers Frank Edie, freshmen Chad Butcher, freshmen See WARRIORS, Page 32B
M or ni ng J our nal • High School Football 2015 • Section II • Thur sday, August 27, 20 1 5 • 31
West Branch running back Rob Lozier (20) gets away from Crestview’s Cody Mackall last season.
Morning Journal/ Patti Schaeffer
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West Branch senior Trae Hillyer is battling for playing time at quarterback heading into Friday’s season opener at Crestwood.
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32 • M or ni ng Jour nal • High School Football 2015 • Section II • Thur sday, August 27, 20 1 5
WARRIORS,
West Branch Warriors
2 Brett Butcher .......................5-9 .......160.....Jr. 4 Matt Manley ........................5-4 .......155.....Sr. 5 Trae Hillyer..........................5-9 .......182.....Sr. 6 Jacob Ice.............................6-1 .......160.....Jr. 7 Cameron Thorn...................5-9 .......160.....Jr. 8 Hunter Steele ......................5-9 .......155.....Sr. 9 Ethan Griffith .......................5-10 .....151.....Jr. 10 Kyle Linhart .........................6-0 .......160.....Soph. 12 T.J. DeShields .....................6-3 .......170.....Soph. 13 Shawn Dickson ...................5-4 .......138.....Sr. 14 Austin Smith ........................6-2 .......165.....Sr. 16 Marcus Hoopes...................5-9 .......215.....Jr. 20 Robert Lozier ......................5-11......165.....Jr. 21 Michael Edie .......................6-1 .......160.....Sr. 22 Ryan Timpe.........................5-9 .......175.....Soph. 24 Logan Berger ......................5-7 .......168.....Sr. 28 Kelly Ginnetti.......................5-3 .......105.....Soph. 29 Jeff Butcher.........................5-7 .......155.....Sr. 30 Cole Pittman .......................5-10 .....160.....Soph.
Continued from Page 30B
Returning lettermen
Sixteen, including six starters on offense and seven starters on defense.
Basic offensive formation Multiple formations.
Offensive outlook
The Warriors lost leading rusher, passer and scorer, Corey Snyder to graduation, who accounted for 2,199 total yards on 356 offensive plays. “Right now we’re still working on the quarterback between Trae Hillyer and T.J. DeShields,” Dota said. “I think once that’s established, it will define what to do want to do more. It depends on who wins that job. We have high expectations for the offensive line with four of them back and the tight end back.”
Basic defensive formation Multiple 4-3.
Defensive outlook
The Warriors gave up an average of 30.9 points a game last season, but got three wins in games they gave up 27 points or more. “Defensively in our first scrimmage, I felt really good against stopping the run,” Dota said. “Against the pass we were OK, but that is expected at that time. If you can force people to pass the football who don’t want to, that is a good thing.”
33 Marshall Ney .......................6-0 .......175.....Jr. 34 Justin Stowe........................6-2 .......200.....Sr. 40 Tyler Goode ........................5-6 .......170.....Sr. 43 Aaron Mohr .........................5-8 .......200.....Sr. 44 Matt Steer ...........................5-6 .......155.....Jr. 51 Mickey Ormiston .................6-2 .......183.....Sr. 52 Michael Page ......................5-9 .......230.....Sr. 53 Colton Ruggles ...................6-0 .......270.....Sr. 55 Mitch Craig..........................6-0 .......245.....Jr. 56 Anthony Ginnetti..................5-7 .......175.....Jr. 58 Carl Bates ...........................5-10 .....183.....Jr. 63 Jake Koneval ......................5-10 .....190.....Sr. 70 Kyler Strotz .........................5-11......242.....Soph. 71 Nathan Shubert...................6-0 .......215.....Soph. 74 Ian Sharp ............................6-6 .......275.....Jr. 75 Mike Williams ......................6-0 .......270.....Soph. 81 Ben Castellucci ...................5-11......180.....Soph. 84 Jeremy Gorby .....................6-4 .......220.....Sr. 88 Tyler Vlaiku .........................5-9 .......155.....Jr.
(senior), Ian Sharp (junior), Carl Bates (junior), Brett Butcher (junior). (junior).
2014 Players honored
Morning Journal/Wayne Maris
West Branch senior linebacker Aaron Mohr returns after being the Warriors’ second-leading tackler last season.
Lozier (junior running back), Justin Stowe (senior running back), T.J. DeShields (sophomore quarterback).
Returning offensive ends
Austin Smith (junior wide receiver), Jeremy Gorby (senior tight end).
Jake Zinni (graduated), special mention Division IV All-Ohio and first-team AllMitch Craig (junior), Michael Page (seArea. nior), Kyler Strotz (sophomore). Trae Hillyer, first-team All-Area. Corey Snyder (graduated), special Returning defensive linemen mention Division IV All-Ohio and secMichael Page (senior), Jeremy Gorby ond-team All-Area. Kip DeShield (graduated), special men(senior), Colton Ruggles (senior). tion Division IV All-Ohio and secondIncoming defensive linemen team All-Area. Jerian Thomas, second-team All-Area. Mitch Craig (junior), Justin Stowe (senior). 2014 Leaders
Incoming offensive linemen
Rushing — Corey Snyder (graduated) 680 yards and 11 touchdowns on 117 Incoming offensive ends Aaron Mohr (senior), Jacob Ice (secarries (5.8); Logan Nagy (graduated) Brett Butcher (junior wide receiver), nior). 376 yards and two touchdowns on 76 Returning offensive backs Hunter Steele (senior wide receiver), carries (4.9); Mason Hughes (graduated) Incoming linebackers Jacob Ice (junior tight end). 310 yards and four touchdowns on 93 None. Cole Pittman (sophomore), Matt Steer carries (3.3); Rob Lozier, 201 yards and Returning offensive linemen (junior), Ethan Griffith (junior). two touchdowns on 32 carries (6.3); Incoming offensive backs Justin Stowe, 131 yards and one touchColton Ruggles (senior), Jake Koneval Trae Hillyer (senior quarterback), Rob Returning defensive backs downs on 46 carries (2.8). Passing — Corey Snyder (graduated) Austin Smith (senior), Trae Hillyer (secompleted 123 of 239 passes (51.5 per“HAVE A GREAT SEASON” nior), Logan Berger (senior). cent) for 1,519 yards and 15 touchdowns. Receiving — Kip DeShields (graduIncoming defensive backs
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M or ni ng J our nal • High School Football 2015 • Section II • Thur sday, August 27, 20 1 5 • 33
Morning Journal/Wayne Maris
West Branch senior standouts (from left) Jeremy Gorby, Colton Ruggles and Austin Smith guide the Warriors into the 2015 season.
WARRIORS, Continued from Page 32B
ated) 51 catches for 642 yards (12.6) and six touchdowns; Bryce Butcher (graduated) 23 catches for 329 yards (14.3) and two touchdowns; Jerian Thomas (graduated) 23 catches for 284 yards (12.3) and three touchdowns; Austin Smith, 18 catches for 197 yards (10.9) and three touchdowns. Scoring — Corey Snyder (graduated) 68 points; Kip DeShields (graduated) 36; Mason Hughes (graduated) 36; Jerian Thomas (graduated) 28. Tackles — Trae Hillyer 94; Aaron
Mohr 85; Mason Hughes (graduated) 68. last year to this year ... do our guys know Interceptions — Jerian Thomas (grad- how to play in games. How we develop from the scrimmages to week three will uated) 7. define how we do.” The 15 seniors will have to lead the 2015 Outlook way. Coming off their second winning sea“There’s leadership they have to take son in seven years and a surprising sec- on,” Dota said. “We can’t do it all as ond-place finish in the Northeastern coaches. Buckeye Conference, the Warriors are The Warriors open the first three weeks ready to go at it again this season. on the road as they travel to Crestwood, “I hope it is a successful one,” Dota Beaver Local and Ravenna Southeast. “We need a good start to the season and said. “It depends on how we develop from
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focus on getting better each week,” Dota said. “This is a team that can really run to the football.” The Warriors will enter Northeastern Buckeye Conference with a four-game league winning streak in a chase to catch defending champion Louisville. “I’m guessing Louisville because they have a lot of guys coming back,” Dota said. “I think after that it is a up in the air. Alliance, Marlington and us are right in the mix there. After Louisville, it could be anyone depending on how they progress.”
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34 • M or ni ng Jour nal • High School Football 2015 • Section II • Thur sday, August 27, 20 1 5
“Getting a full year of starting experience under my belt is huge. The game is so much faster on Friday nights.” CYLE PEREZ, OAK GLEN SENIOR
SENIORS,
By RON FIRTH Sports Editor
Continued from Page 4B
Crestview in week one. After a string of lopsided losses to the Rebels, Beaver Local took them right down to the wire in last season’s opener, falling 14-7 on a goal-line stand in the waning seconds. Johnston was tackled from behind at the Crestview 3 following a 64 yard pass with one minute left. “That one is getting a lot of attention,” Johnston said. “It’s definitely a big one for us early in the season.” Oak Glen senior receiver Cyle Perez still has a bad taste in his mouth after the Golden Bears went 2-8 last season. However, with seven returning starters on offense and 10 on defense, better things could be on the horizon. “We’re going to be a lot
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better this year,” Perez said. “We’re so much more of a team this year. Last season, we had a bunch of inexperienced players.” Perez led the team in receiving yards, catches and touchdowns a season ago, and will once again be a big part of Oak Glen’s plans. “Getting a full year of starting experience under my belt is huge,” Perez said. “The game is so much faster on Friday nights.” One early litmus test will come in the team’s season opener at home against Weir, which trounced the Golden Bears 42-3 last season. “We’ll be ready, we want to show people we’re much better,” Perez said.
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SALINEVILLE — Southern Local has a new head football coach, but he is not new to the area. Rich Wright takes over the Indians after two seasons at Wellsville and 14 at Beaver Local. “I don’t feel like a new coach,” Wright said. “I’m just wearing new colors.” Wright made the move to Southern Local in February to become the assistant principal at the high school. “I’ve been there long enough, through the winter,” Wright said. “I know the kids.” Long enough to know he has a lot of work to do. “The kids are in their fourth offense in four years,” Wright said. “It makes it a little difficult. “I don’t feel like a new coach. We do what we do. The first job I was there for a I’m just wearing new colors.” long, long time. This time RICH WRIGHT, it is a little different.” SOUTHERN LOCAL HEAD COACH He was 83-66 with six Now he takes over a said. “That’s scary.” playoff appearances at Actually, the Indians Beaver Local from 1998- program that has won three of its last 21 games. scored 11 touchdowns 2011 and 16-7 with two “They scored 11 touch- each of the last two seaplayoff appearances at Wellsville from 2013-14. downs last season,” Wright sons when they finished last in the area in scoring offense. “Every time you start, it’s football,” Wright said. “That part is OK. Getting a new system in is the challenge. You have a system that you run and you don’t want to put too much in.” The players have been 1040 S. Webb Ave. • Alliance, OH 44601 adjusting to the new coach. 1115 N. Market St. “They have different One Call Does It All! Minerva, OH 44657 methods,” Southern Local senior Jesse McClurg said.
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“We just have to get used to what he’s saying and how things go. He’s a good guy. He knows what he’s talking about.” Wright will make his Southern Local debut when the Indians open the season by hosting Paden City (W.Va.) on Friday. Paden City, the smallest school in the Ohio Valley Athletic Conference, has an enrollment of about 158 students in grades 7-12. “We’ve got to be able to throw the ball and be balanced,” Wright said. “We’re going to have to try to develop some depth.” The Indians will need it when they start play in the new Inter-Tri County League White Division against Columbiana on Oct. 2 and Lisbon on Oct. 9. One of Wright’s goals is to win the home games. The Indians put in artificial turf two years ago, but have gone 2-8 on it, losing their last seven home games. “They did a really nice job (with the field),” Wright said. “It’s kind of weird practicing where you play. I don’t think anybody is used to having a fulllength field to practice on. “I like a grass field better, but you don’t have to bother with maintenance. We practice every day with lines. That part of it is a lot better for practice. And we had the stretch of rain and it didn’t affect us.” He has had the Indians working between the lines. “I think we’re getting better,” Wright said.
M or ni ng J our nal • High School Football 2015 • Section II • Thur sday, August 27, 20 1 5 • 35
Salem’s Cooper Bezeredi tries to get around East Liverpool’s Ryan Bombich (4) during last season’s game at Reilly Stadium.
Special to the Journal/ Gary Leininger
Special to the Journal/Gary Leininger
Salem receiver Jake Humeniuk is upended by West Branch’s Austin Smith as teammate Aaron Mohr (43) helps out last season.
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Seniors Zach Cusick (44) and Tony Maniscalco (34) return to lead the Salem defense this season.
Have a Safe and Successful Season
36 • M or ni ng Jour nal • High School Football 2015 • Section II • Thur sday, August 27, 20 1 5
Morning Journal/Patti Schaeffer
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M or ni ng J our nal • High School Football 2015 • Section II • Thur sday, August 27, 20 1 5 • 37
POTTERS, Continued from Page 12B
All-OVAC and second-team All-Area. ated) 21 catches for 253 yards (12.0); Dalton Cornman (graduated), second- Jason Kutzner (graduated) 10 catches for team All-Area. 100 yards (10.0). Fred Plum, second-team All-Area. Scoring — Kade Reynolds (graduated) 42 points; Austyn Dozier 18. 2014 Leaders Tackles — Austyn Dozier 93. Rushing — Kade Reynolds (graduated) 479 yards on 111 carries (4.3); Austyn Dozier, 277 yards and three touchdowns on 59 carries (4.7). Passing — Austin Mayfield completed 66 of 173 passes (38 percent) for 599 yards and three touchdowns. Receiving — Kade Reynolds (gradu-
2015 Outlook
The Potters plan on putting an 0-10 season behind them. The strength of the team is a big offensive line that will be a building block for East Liverpool, which has had one winning season in 10 years.
Special to the Journal/Jimmy Joe Savage
East Liverpool quarterback Austin Mayfield tries to get Special awayto from the Journal/Jimmy Joe Savage Oak Glen linebacker Ryan Cunningham (46) last season. East Liverpool quarterback Austin Mayfield tries to get away from Oak Glen linebacker Ryan Cunningham (46) last season.
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38 • M or ni ng Jour nal • High School Football 2015 • Section II • Thur sday, August 27, 20 1 5
WINGS, Continued from Page 11B
Special to the Journal/Jimmy Joe Savage
East Liverpool defenders Zach Gill (53), Freddie Plum (87) and Dillan Reynolds (22) swarm Wheeling Park last season.
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they were way better than us. We didn’t come to play.” With each passing week, the likelihood increased that the Potters would end the season winless and it became tougher to take the field on Friday nights. “It started getting tough to go out there in the second half of the season knowing there is a chance you weren’t going to win any more games that year,” Dozier said. “We just kept trying to push through.” “It was tough to keep the kids’ attitudes positive the more we lost,” Ludwig said. What kept Dozier going was the desire to set a positive example in the face of adversity for the younger players. “I was just trying to be a good role model for my younger brother or for the younger guys in the middle school coming up,” Dozier said. “They look up to us so you always want to try and have a positive attitude and show them that you have to keep working hard even when things are tough. Life’s not always going to be easy.” At season’s end, Ludwig brought each player in for interview and heard a handful of concerns about players caring more about themselves than the team. An observation Dozier echoed. “We weren’t much of a team last year at all,” Dozier said. “People were worrying about their stats and playing for themselves instead of their teammates. That’s what hurt us the most. It was hard to play games when we weren’t out there as a unit.” Dozier said that was a problem the Pot-
ters are aggressively trying to rectify. “We did a lot more stuff together as a team this offseason,” Dozier said. “Last year we would all go our separate ways a lot. Now we’re trying to do all of our workouts together as much as possible so everyone is aware what everyone else is doing. We’ve tried to build each other up whenever we can.” Ludwig gave up his role as defensive coordinator during his first season as head coach, but has since taken that role back. “Defense is my true passion that’s where I have the most knowledge,” Ludwig said. “I didn’t want to take too much on my first year, but I realized that defense is something I have to run.” Ludwig has also tried to make practices more loose and fun. As a Mount Union alum, he has enlisted advice from the vast network of coaches that school has produced. “I talked to a lot of guys to see what we could do differently,” Ludwig said. “We’re starting to crank a lot of music during individual practice. We also planned a surprise trip to the pool recently instead of a second practice. I’ve never done anything like that before. The kids seem to be responding.” Whether the Potters new approach pays off in the win column is yet to be seen, but for right now, spirits are high. “We’re ready to show people we’re not the same team anymore,” Dozier said. “We’ve worked really hard in the offseason and we’re ready to play football again.”
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M or ni ng J our nal • High School Football 2015 • Section II • Thur sday, August 27, 20 1 5 • 39 Johnnie and Kevin are working at MAC TRAILER in Salem. Both earned $1,000 scholarships for their externship hours.
Congratulations to two of our outstanding Welding Graduates.
Congratulations to Sherilyn Horst graduate of the medical program. She will start her career as a phlebotomist in the lab at Salem Regional Medical Center.
Dylan Feezle at Dearing Compressor Pump Company Welder
Shawna received a job at Salem Hospital in the Radiology Department prior to graduation! Shawna said she is glad she chose CCCTC and truly enjoyed her classes and instructors!
Nikole is rocking the Welding World at Dearing Compressor & Pump in Youngstown, OH
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40 • M or ni ng Jour nal • High School Football 2015 • Section II • Thur sday, August 27, 20 1 5