Freddies, Trojans lost a lot, return a lot

Teams which lose the stars of their respective squads to graduation usually aren’t counted among the league favorites the following season.

Such is not the case with squads from Fredericktown and Centerburg, which both qualified for the state playoffs a year ago.

In fact, Centerburg beat Fredericktown 27-21 in the Division VI Region 21 semifinals to hand the Freddies their lone loss of the season. Centerburg then dropped a 33-21 decision to Lucasville Valley in the regional championship game.

The Trojans and Freddies return a lot of talent from teams that dominated the Mid Ohio Athletic Conference’s Blue Division in 2014.

Fredericktown Freddies

The Freddies counted quarterback Austin Hathaway, the MOAC Blue Division Player of the Year, among their losses.

All Hathaway did was rush for 1,833 yards and 26 touchdowns and throw for 1,500 yards and 17 more scores.

Another big hit within the loss of 15 seniors was running back Tyler Ruhl. He gained 1,146 yards on the ground and tallied 14 TDs.

Will Hartley, a 13-year assistant, takes over as head coach after Brian Baum moved on to North Canton Hoover following an 11-1 season and an MOAC Blue Division championship.

Junior Dillon Smith is penciled in to take over the QB spot, and he will have two fine receivers to throw to in senior Braxton McQueen (26 receptions, four TDs) and senior tight end Jake Streby (19 catches, four TDs). Senior Brandon Reed looks to be the leader at running back after gaining 171 yards and scoring three touchdowns in 2014.

Defensively, the Freddies will probably be led by senior linebacker Austin Geiger. He made 83 tackles and had three QB sacks a year ago.

The other returning letter winners are seniors Tristen Cherryholmes (DL), Michael Cockrell (DL/OL), Dustin Palms (DL), Milam Pozderac (DL/OL) and Travis Smith (DL/OL); and juniors Cole Bebout (RB/DB), J.P. Weikle (OL/DL), Braden Morey (LB/RB) and Marshall McKinley (LB/RB).

Hartley is also looking for fine play out of first-timers Tyler Ohl (DB) and Kirk Manns (WR/DB), both seniors.

“The continued development of Smith at quarterback will be a key,” Hartley said. “We need to stay injury-free and get off to a good start.

“Our receiving corps is strong and our linebackers also look to be a good group, but we have inexperience at key positions, especially in the secondary.”

Centerburg Trojans

Sixth-year coach Jim Stoyle (36-18), who is 47-37 in nine overall seasons, lost two players to college football, one to baseball and another to lacrosse.

Michael Schmitt is at John Carroll while Brendan Mapes went to Oberlin. John Rings is at Ohio Wesleyan for baseball, and Jake Stewart took his talents to Muskingum for lacrosse.

Rings ran for 1,310 yards and 22 touchdowns last season and threw for 1,811 yards and 16 TDs while Stewart caught 43 passes for 573 yards and five scores. Mapes had 28 receptions for 348 yards and a touchdown, and Schmitt made 72.5 tackles, including 14 for losses.

Jeremy Sesma (33 receptions, 506 yards, six TDs) and Reece Craker (50 tackles) also graduated from a 10-3 team which was 6-1 in the Blue Division and a regional finalist.

Eleven letter winners, however, are back from Centerburg’s second straight playoff team.

Six starters return on offense in seniors Blake Bramer (WR), Nathan Grandstaff (OL), Trevor LeMaster (OL), Kyle Hogan (WR, 21 receptions) and Chris Schmitt (WR) along with junior Jacob Rings (RB, 434 yards, four TDs).

Schmitt (DB), Hogan (DE, team-high 76.5 tackles, 22 for losses), Rings (DB), Bramer (DE), LeMaster (DT), and senior Braxton Mead (LB, three interceptions) lead seven returnees on the defensive side.

Special teams look good as junior third-year kicker Sterling Armstrong (13-for-15 on field goals and 89-for-97 on PATS in his career), Hogan (punter) and junior Michael Collins (punt returner) are back.

Newcomers include seniors Tad Weldy (OL) and Anthony Puluso (OL/DL), and juniors Gunnar Gregory (QB, 11-for-19, 175 yards, 2 TDs) Andy Nuber (WR/LB), Sam Backiewicz (WR/DB), Logan Hays (OL), John LeChard (OL/DL), and C.J. Hardin (OL).

“We have a lot of experience on our roster, but we have some big holes to fill with the losses to graduation,” Stoyle said. “We are very deep at the skill positions and need some juniors and seniors to step up on the offensive line.

“Conditioning is very key for our kids as depth is an issue and we need to stay healthy. We have a very good core group back that has experience on both sides of the ball and very good skill kids who understand our offense. The seniors have been a part of the most successful run in school history, and they want to continue that tradition.”

Jonathan Alder Pioneers

It’s been a while since perennial playoff contender Jonathan Alder has reached the postseason.

The Pioneers last made the big show in 2011, which capped a run of 11 straight seasons they played in the playoffs.

Five key returnees boost the hopes of the Pioneers and second-year coach Brett Glass (6-4). Glass lost 15 seniors to graduation from last year’s team which was 5-2 in the MOAC’s Red Division.

Yet five who are back bring with them some success from last season’s squad.

Senior running back Sean Sullivan leads the way. He rushed for 1,250 yards in 2014 and scored 14 touchdowns.

Also back is junior wide receiver/defensive end Trey Pugh. He hauled in 30 receptions last year and tallied three touchdowns. On defense, he had nine sacks and 14 tackles for losses.

The other vets are junior fullback/linebacker Austin Fooce, junior wide receiver/free safety Andrew Koenig and senior lineman Zeke Thorpe.

Fooce scored six touchdowns last season while Koenig tallied four. Thorpe recorded 63 tackles.

“The keys to our season will be playing great defense and running the football well,” Glass said.

Fairbanks Panthers

Fairbanks has plans to leave the MOAC, but for the next two seasons the Panthers will remain as a conference entity.

Former Elgin coach Patrick Cotter has taken over as Panthers head coach. He has some work to do since lineman Curtis Quimby, probably the best Panther on last year’s 1-9 team which was 1-6 in the Red Division, has graduated.

Ten returning letter winners will help Fairbanks’ cause this fall.

Those veterans are seniors: wide receiver/outside linebacker Jacob DeRoads, lineman/defensive end Ross Gibson, wide receiver/cornerback Alex Cochrane, lineman/linebacker Tyson Sloan, lineman/linebacker Caleb Nicol, wide receiver/cornerback Cameron Dillow, lineman Danny Patrick; juniors quarterback/safety Kyle Warner, running back/safety Jack Iannarino, and junior wide receiver/cornerback Garrett Hutchins.

Warner completed 96-of-202 passes last season for 1,206 yards and six touchdowns while Iannarino caught 28 passes for 568 yards and three TDs. DeRoads recorded 85 tackles while Sloan counted 79 stops.

Two other key athletes will be junior lineman Dylan Griggs and junior running/linebacker Griffin Justus.

Fairbanks is hoping to turn the corner this season on its way back to the glory days of Panthers football which saw the program qualify for five playoff berths. The last one came in 2007.

“We want to get back to the tradition of Fairbanks football and bring our community together through a successful football season,” Cotter said. “We will need to become a cohesive unit with new coaches and a new system. We need to allow our senior class to lead by example and create a team atmosphere to bring our program back to success.

“Our skill positions are a point of strength, along with a veteran offensive line. We also have a strong, aggressive defense with athletes all through our front seven.”

Galion Tigers

Ninth-year coach Chris Hawkins (53-31) is trying to steer his Galion squad to a fourth straight playoff berth in 2015.

He’ll have some help on the field with the return of eight starters on offense, including one of the most dynamic players in the MOAC, and seven starters on defense from last year’s team which was 6-5 overall and 4-3 in the conference.

Senior Quarterback Jacob Fryer, an MOAC first teamer, rushed for 1,412 yards (second in the MOAC) and 18 touchdowns last season. He also completed 52-of-99 passes for 642 yards and six more TDs.

He will operate behind a very talented offensive line paced by senior Isaiah Davis, a 6-foot, 260-pound right tackle who also was an MOAC first-team member.

Also back on the line are MOAC honorable mention left tackle Zach Throckmorton, a senior, along with 6-foot-5, 330-pound senior Jacob Starger at left guard; senior Zach Deibig at center; and 275-pound senior right guard Paul Keller.

Senior Drake Barnett will be the running back while the wide receivers will be seniors Colten Moore and Tyler Castline, junior Caleb Ivy and sophomore Harrison Ivy.

“We have powerful and experienced offensive linemen, a talented backfield and great receivers with a mixture of speed, height and hands,” Hawkins said.

The Tigers’ defense will be led by MOAC first teamer Drake Barnett and Davis. Barnett a senior, notched 110 tackles last year while Davis sacked the opposing quarterback five times.

“We have players that will run to the football and hit,” Hawkins said. “We have good linebackers and an athletic secondary. The defensive line is talented but inexperienced.”

dmcphers@nncogannett.com

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Twitter: @starsportsdenny