Zanesville hopes to keep momentum

ZANESVILLE – With 22 wins and among the state's most explosive offenses the past two seasons, Zanesville coach Chad Grandstaff had a team he could trust.

With quarterback Thomas Wibbeler making decisions, good things usually happened. He could rely on four senior receivers, three of whom received college scholarships.

And Tristan Rock led an attacking defense that pitched a pair of shutouts in the Division II playoffs.

That's all over now.

Just five starters return from a 13-1 team that was a few inches from playing for a state championship.

Only two are back on offense and both are linemen in 6-5, 300-pound junior Coulter Wilson and classmate Mac Masterson.

Defensively, no unit has more than one starter returning, and one is senior Jeremiah Jones, who is still recovering a broken jaw and has yet to see action.

But Grandstaff, with a 59-18 record in his seven years at Zanesville and 70-20 overall, has no time to worry about the past.

The varsity roster features only 46 players, but he sees potential in a group that figures to learn on the fly with four playoff teams from 2013 on the schedule in the first six games

But there are plenty of loose ends to tie up. He lamented the lack of leadership and is waiting for someone to take charge.

"If they decide to accept responsibility and invite the challenge of Friday night football, we can have a pretty good football team," Grandstaff said. "But if they make excuses and become negative, then we won't have a very good football team.

"We know there is going to be some inconsistencies because of all the new players we have, but even with that if you don't make excuses and you are purpose driven, you always have a shot."

Success will depend largely on the development of junior quarterback Derek Grandstaff, a 6-4, 180-pound dual threat charged will replacing one of the best passers in school history.

He threw three touchdown passes in a scrimmage against defending Division IV state runner-up Columbus Hartley.

"We don't want him thinking that he has to fill Thomas Wibbeler's shoes, because he's one of the best ever at this school," Chad Grandstaff said. "We're just asking him to leave his own legacy. Just be Derek Grandstaff. Derek has a lot of tools and skill sets. With more hard work and maturity he can be a real good quarterback."

His receivers are unproven after four seniors graduated, including All-Ohioans Dar Stanford and J.T. McFarland, but they figure to make early impacts.

Seniors Austin Gillinger (5-9, 165) and Olajuwon Pettiford (5-7, 155) and juniors Alessio Amato (5-9, 175) and Ben Kaufman (5-9, 160). It also will gain the services of senior transfer Eli Chambers (5-10, 170), while senior Matt Howard (5-9, 140) provides depth.

All are the smallish, but quick and athletic types with whom the Blue Devils have made plenty of bacon in recent years.

"Alessio has some of the best hands I've been around," Chad Grandstaff said. "He just goes and snatches the ball."

There is depth at running back, with Jones (5-11, 185) and senior Lucas Fogle (5-9, 185) the top contributors, along with hard-running juniors Deaunte Goins (5-10, 195) and Leondre Crosby (6-0, 225).

All four will contribute as the offense figures to involve plenty of faces to keep two-way players fresh.

"We have a lot of unknowns," Grandstaff said. "In coaching, every year you get a new set of players. We're still trying to see what they can handle from a mental and physical standpoint."

The line, which lost three senior starters, returns a Division I prospect in Wilson at guard and Masterson at right tackle. New to the mix are junior left Tavian Butts (6-4, 235), junior right guard Parker Mason (6-3, 255) and senior center Colton Curry (6-0, 225).

Junior Drew Hoskinson (6-0, 265), junior guard Daylan Jackson (5-9, 270) and sophomore Jordan Stoneking (5-10, 282) are providing depth.

The defense, which could play more four-man fronts this season, returns a ball-hawking cornerback in Kaufman.

An active and aggressive line has been the strength of the defense in camp, led by returning starter Tristan Garnes (6-3, 195 sr.) and Goins, a returning letterman at nose guard. Seniors Clay Mason (6-0, 195), Phillip Cohen (5-9, 185) and Deion Debolt (5-8, 165) are also in the rotation.

The linebackers are mostly new, with Jones moving to strong safety after starting on the outside as a junior.

In Rock, Crosby will replace a first-team All-Ohioan who led the team in tackles and was a fixture in the middle. Fogle replaces Devon Green on the strong side, with senior Justin Murphy (5-10, 175) is on the weak side, with Jones as the backup.

Gillinger, a standout sprinter in track, mans the other cornerback spot, with Jones and Pettiford the outside safeties. Amato and the rangy Derek Grandstaff are in the middle.

Seniors Kolt Norris (5-11, 175) and Ace Shyrock (5-8, 155) provide depth on the outside, with junior Ja-Quan Mathews (5-8, 145) the backup at corner.

"I think we're fast, quick and aggressive," Grandstaff said. "We just have to play at 100 percent and make every play count in every phase of the game. That group last year, they understood that. These guys have to understand that every play counts."

The kicking and punting should be weapons, with senior Lucas Graham (6-3, 195) returning to handle the placekicking. Derek Grandstaff is the new punter and has been impressive so far.

"He might be the best punter we've had since I've been here," Chad Grandstaff said. "He's consistently averaged over 35 (yards) in practice."

Chad Grandstaff is assisted by Randy Buckley, Matt Heagen, Chad Jackson, Jason Lee, John Lucas, Mark Stallard and Jeff Tysinger.

sblackburn@zanesvilletimesrecorder.com

740-450-6723

Twitter: @SamBlackburnTR

Roster

Schedule

Aug. 29: @Fairfield Christian, 7 p.m.

Sept. 5: @Crooksville, 7 p.m.

Sept. 13: Tusc. Central Catholic, 7 p.m.

Sept. 19: Coshocton, 7 p.m.

Sept. 27: Claymont, 7 p.m.

Oct. 3: Hannibal River, 7 p.m.

Oct. 10: @Marietta, 7 p.m.

Oct. 17: @River View, 7 p.m.

Oct. 24: @Meadowbrook, 7 p.m.

Nov. 1: Fort Frye, 7 p.m.