SPORTS

Gastin spices up wing-t in taking over Utica program

Dave Weidig

Reporter

Former Mid-Buckeye Conference foes Centerburg, East Knox and Fredericktown start things out
The key remains the play of a young offensive line that is battling some early-season injuries

UTICA – Brian Gastin was a Wing-T disciple in a ground-oriented, record-setting offense at Mount Vernon, but he’s added some wrinkles to it in his new job at Utica.

“It’s going to be about a 60-40 split (run vs. pass), and we’re going to go with the spread out of it,” said Gastin, who has 36 years coaching experience including 10 as head coach at Mount Vernon.

The reasons? He has two big targets at receiver in 6-foot-5 Mitchell Marston and 6-3 Cole Maxwell, and a quarterback in sophomore Brad Potes who is wise beyond his years.

“Potes has worked all summer, on his footwork, in the weightroom and with college coaches,” said Gastin, an assistant at Utica the last two seasons and Teacher of the Year at the school in 2014. “He’s mature for his age, and we love his leadership.”

The players seem to love the new offense, which includes seniors Pierce Piazza and Josh Dassylva at wingbacks and burly Brad Keener (6-1, 200) at fullback.

“The coaches have done a great job putting this together,” said Marston, who played quarterback for much of his first three seasons. “We have so many options now. They’ve opened up the passing game with the run.”

The key remains the play of a young offensive line that is battling some early-season injuries. But the group more than held its own in a scrimmage against Mount Vernon and Clear Fork.

“We were physical and had a lot of fight,” Gastin said. “We just need to work on technique.”

The unit has plenty of size, with junior Matt Moore (270) at center, and sophomores Gavin Posey (6-7, 240) and Gage Pack (230) at tackles. They’ll also get better when senior team leader Garett Robberts (230), who can play tackle and guard, returns midseason from a knee injury suffered in baseball. Sophomore Chad Vondoch (6-2, 310) will also return in Week 2 from a foot injury.

“It’s a new system, and we’re pretty down with it,” said Moore, whom Gastin calls one of the best centers he’s coached in 36 years. “We’re really good with it, and we’re going at it full force. It’s fun the way we go at it. We’re attacking people and not sitting back. It’s great! We have young kids, and we’re teaching them the right way.”

Marston will help lead the 4-2-5 defense from his end slot, where he was a standout last season, and is also one of the best punters Gastin has seen. Senior Brock Moran is a force at nose tackle, as is Keener at middle linebacker, while senior Peyton Snow leads the secondary from his safety spot.

“When someone makes a hit, everyone comes around and is screaming,” Marston said. “It makes it more fun.”

In anticipation of a rugged schedule, Utica has also loaded up on scrimmages, finishing up with a Caldwell team ranked among the best in the state in Division VII. They opened with senior-loaded Centerburg.

“You either run or face it, and we’re not running from it,” Gastin said. “There is no break in our schedule, and we need to be ready every week.”

Former Mid-Buckeye Conference foes Centerburg, East Knox and Fredericktown start things out before the LCL meatgrinder.

“We play some bigger schools, but it’s a chance to show we can make the playoffs,” Marston said. “We have a chance to become the first at Utica since 2000.”

dweidig@newarkadvocate.com

740-328-8557

Twitter: @noz75

At a glance

UTICA

Coach: Brian Gastin

State Classification: Division V, Region 16

League: Licking County League-Cardinal

In 2014: 2-8, 1-3

Offense: Wing-T

Defense: 4-2-5

What to expect: Gastin is a Wing-T disciple, but will incorporate the spread with it, taking advantage of 6-foot-5 Mitchell Marston and 6-3 Cole Maxwell at receiver along with improved quarterback Brad Potes. The first three games, against former Mid-Buckeye Conference foes Centerburg, East Knox and Fredericktown, could set the tone for LCL play.

Gastin says: “Everyone asks, ‘why play such tough scrimmages?’ Well, you can either run from it or face it, and we’re not running from it. There are no breaks in our (regular season) schedule.”

No.

Name

Yr.

Ht.

Wt.

Pos.

Brad Potes

So.

5-10

160

Stephen Green

Sr.

5-10

160

Hunter Adams

Sr.

5-8

150

S/WR

Noah Thompson

So.

5-9

165

DE/TE

Mason Bodle

So.

6-0

150

WR/C

Nate Bowman

Sr.

5-9

160

WR/C

Tristan Warthman

So.

6-2

180

WR/C

Cole Maxwell

Sr.

6-3

175

WR/C

Peyton Snow

Sr.

5-10

150

S/WR

Josh Dassylva

Sr.

6-0

175

C/WB

Tony Hoover

Jr.

6-0

170

DE/WB

Ian Cree

Jr.

5-10

160

WR/WB

Christian Roberts

Sr.

5-10

180

Paul Bebout

Jr.

5-9

135

DE/WB

Robby Lowe

Fr.

6-0

175

FB/DE

Mitchell Marston

Sr.

6-5

200

WR/DE

Trey Cummins

Jr.

5-10

170

LB/WB

Mason Mueller

Fr.

5-5

120

WR/C

Mack Marston

Fr.

5-11

170

FB/LB

Austin Cunningham

Fr.

5-6

110

C/WB

Dylan Wygle

So.

5-9

165

TE/DE

Brendan McLean

Fr.

5-7

135

QB/C

Jarrett Miller

So.

5-10

175

G/LB/K

Colton Dannison

So.

6-1

175

Josh Dickson

So.

5-9

155

S/WR

Brad Keener

Jr.

6-1

200

FB/LB

Pierce Piazza

Sr.

5-10

200

WB/LB

Crew Young

Sr.

5-10

175

WB/LB

Ryan Cree

Fr.

5-7

135

WR/LB

Brock Moran

Sr.

6-2

190

FB/DT

Tyler Wilson

So.

5-10

170

Britton Benedict

So.

6-1

250

C/DE

Gage Pack

So.

6-0

230

OT/DT

R.J. Snyder

So.

5-7

200

G/DT

Kamron Gleckler

Sr.

6-0

190

G/DT

Nate Godsell

So.

5-9

200

G/DT

T.J. Nelson

Jr.

5-10

230

Garett Robberts

Sr.

6-0

230

G/DT

Luke Sherman

Fr.

5-4

200

G/DE

Chase Williams

So.

5-10

180

G/DT

Josh Cotter

So.

6-0

325

OT/DT

Matt Moore

Jr.

6-0

270

C/DT

Gavin Posey

So.

6-7

240

OT/DT

Tanner Larue

Fr.

6-1

210

OT/DT

Donny Walsh

Fr.

5-10

170

G/DT

Jacob Johnson

So.

5-10

250

OT/DT

Chad Vandoch

So.

6-2

310

OT/DT

Carson Eskins

So.

6-1

220

OT/DT

Andrew Lewis

Sr.

6-2

210

Josh Dickson

So.

5-9

155

C/WR

Chase Smith

Jr.

5-8

140

C/WR

Aaron Dennis

So.

5-8

160

TE/DE