TAAC football preview: Edon expected to take first title in faculty history
Aug. 15—The Edon Bombers bear the aerial attack on offense to kind a serious crawl at the college’s first Toledo Living Athletic Convention football title.
With senior quarterback Drew Gallehue back at the helm after throwing for almost 3,000 yards and 38 touchdowns, Edon is trip to impress aspects.
Edon, which joined the TAAC in 2005 as a football-finest faculty, has no longer but won a TAAC championship.
The Bombers earned four of six first-region votes in a preseason coaches poll. Three-time defending champion Northwood earned the other two votes. Ottawa Hills used to be picked to kind third followed by Cardinal Stritch, Montpelier, and Hilltop.
Edon coach Bob Olwin, who took over the Bombers program in 2020, has four a protracted time of instructing trip with stops at Ridgedale, Arlington, Fairview, Lake, and Ada.
Olwin said being named the preseason popular to take the league is high reward.
“It is miles a pleasant gesture. I love the votes of the coaches. Nevertheless, now we bear to advise it on the discipline,” Olwin said. “I regard this as a signal of respect. Nevertheless I develop no longer consider it’s any extra stress than now we bear completed successfully a week.”
Gallehue finished 215 of 373 passes for 2,900 yards. The 6-foot-4 and 220-pound QB has three of his top targets back, as successfully, in Hayden Dye, Henley Dye, and Ethan Steinke.
“Edon has never won the TAAC, so it’s positively a motivating ingredient to work moving and enhance,” Olwin said. “The keys shall be to enhance all of our systems: blocking, tackling, shedding blocks, waddle protections, etc.”
Northwood won a third consecutive TAAC title closing tumble, going undefeated. The Rangers bear won six of the previous 10 conference championships.
Northwood mild coach Ken James, who has a profession narrative of 210-149 in 36 seasons, had the stadium at the college named in his honor this summer.
The Rangers misplaced 9 All-TAAC first-workforce avid gamers to commencement.
“Since we’re breaking in new starters at several positions, getting out of the gate rapid shall be a priority for us,” James said.
Hilltop coach Nathan Massie said there ought to be stiff opponents every Friday throughout TAAC play.
“The conference this 300 and sixty five days is deep with Edon, Northwood, and Ottawa Hills all coming back with plenty from closing 300 and sixty five days’s workforce,” Massie said.
Here’s a belief at the six teams within the TAAC, listed in predicted advise of kind based on a preseason coaches poll:
EDON
—Coach: Bob Olwin, second season
—Final season: 6-4 overall, 4-1 TAAC
—Top avid gamers: Seniors Cassius Hulbert, 6-3, 290, OT/DT; Drew Gallehue, 6-4, 220, QB/FS/P; Gannon Ripke, 6-1, 199, WR/RB/LB; Hayden Dye, 5-11, 192, WR/DB; Henley Dye, 6-1, 200, RB/WR/LB/DE; Jayden Craven, 5-11, 237, OT/DT; Ethan Steinke, 5-11, 168, WR/LB.
—Outlook: The Bombers are experienced with 9 starters back on offense and eight on protection.
Olwin has 33 complete avid gamers with seven seniors and 13 letter winners.
Henley Dye caught 40 passes for 517 yards and eight TDs. Steinke (30 catches for 477 yards) and Hayden Dye (40 catches for 447 yards, 6 TDs) additionally return.
Gallehue earned second-workforce all-league honors and used to be the TAAC’s special teams participant of the 300 and sixty five days, while Hulbert earned All-TAAC first-workforce honors on offense and protection.
Henley Dye used to be named to the All-TAAC first-workforce protection and Hayden Dye used to be named to the second workforce.
The Bombers will crawl the unfold on offense and 4-3 protection.
Olwin said the workforce’s probable strengths are at quarterback, wide receiver, offensive line, and running back. The Bombers additionally bear trip and a solid kicking game.
Nevertheless, that you are going to be in a role to contemplate of grief areas are at linebacker, defensive back, and the workforce lacks overall depth.
“We bear 9 starters back on offense and eight starters back on protection, which offers us a spacious head commence,” Olwin said. “My avid gamers are extra cosy with our scheme this 300 and sixty five days. We ought so that you can compete at a high degree. Staying wholesome will allow us to kind so.”
NORTHWOOD
—Coach: Ken James, 36th season
—Final season: 7-1 overall, 5-0 TAAC
—Top avid gamers: Seniors Braden Alore, 5-9, 165, LB/SE; Mickey Asad, 5-9, 165, HB/DB; Dakota Hawkins, 5-11, 215, G/LB; Alex Westfall, 5-11, 200, OT/DE. Juniors Logan Collins, 6-0, 189, FS/SE; Jarel Dixon, 5-9, 191, OT/LB; Sean Kovacs, 6-2, 205, OT/DE.
—Outlook: The Rangers belief to proceed their fresh dominance of the TAAC with 13 returning letter winners and seven seniors among 40 complete avid gamers.
Kovacs used to be named to the all-conference second workforce on offense and protection, while Asad earned second-workforce honors on protection.
The Rangers will crawl the flexbone and 3-4 traditional protection.
James said this workforce will bear quickness, appropriate waddle, and a mountainous work ethic. Nevertheless he said the workforce lacks dimension and depth at most positions and trip at many ability positions.
“We are going to deserve to keep faraway from injuries and get meaningful contributions from several underclassmen in advise to be aggressive,” James said.
OTTAWA HILLS
—Coach: Chris Hardman, 20th season
—Final season: 5-4 overall, 3-2 TAAC
—Top avid gamers: Seniors Blake Gnepper, 5-11, 165, RB/LB; Matthew Radlinski, 6-0, 240, OL/DL; Issac Tautigian, 5-9, 150, RB/DB. Juniors A.J. George, 6-2, 190, TE/LB; Sam McCaffery, 6-1, 160, RB/DB; Emilio Duran, 6-0, 175, K/P.
—Outlook: Six starters return on offense and seven are back on protection for Hardman. Amongst 35 complete avid gamers are 11 seniors.
The Green Bears will crawl a double-wing on offense and 3-5-3 protection.
McCaffery and Radlinski every earned All-TAAC first-workforce honors, while George and Gnepper were named to the all-conference first workforce on protection. George used to be named to the all-league second workforce on offense as successfully.
McCaffery finished with 112 carries for 579 and eight TDs, while Gnepper had 84 carries for 390 yards. George posted 27 catches for 492 yards and 6 scores.
Hardman said his kicking game is solid, however depth and inexperience at some key spots are areas of advise.
“We bear mountainous childhood, who are very shiny and interested,” Hardman said. “It’d be moderately loads of fun to belief how they respond the many questions concerning this football workforce.”
CARDINAL STRITCH
—Coach: Gene Rucker, second season
—Final season: 3-5 overall, 2-3 TAAC
—Top avid gamers: Seniors Thomas Foust, 6-3, 180, QB/DB; Clarence Brown, 5-10, 175, WR/DB; Jaden Moss, 5-10, 175, WR/DB; Gage Vitality, 6-2, 205, TE/LB; Leo Hayden 5-11, 180, RB/LB; Marquan Valentine, 5-10, 250, OL/DL; John Parks, 6-3, 240, OL/DL.
—Outlook: Rucker believes he has an athletic workforce with 10 seniors among 30 complete avid gamers. Eleven letter winners are back with seven starters returning on both side of the ball.
The Cardinals will crawl the unfold offense with Foust, who finished 68 of 129 passes for 742 and four scores, back at the back of the wheel. Foust additionally carried 95 instances for 771 yards and 9 scores.
Moss earned All-TAAC first-workforce honors at defensive back, while Valentine used to be named to the all-conference second workforce on the line of defense.
Rucker said the Cardinals shall be experienced and solid at QB, WR, and defensive back. Nevertheless overall depth is a advise.
“I will keep our athletes up towards anybody within the league,” Rucker said. “If every person buys in and continues to kind, now we bear the doubtless to be a appropriate workforce.”
MONTPELIER
—Coach: Joe Brigle, 10th season
—Final season: 1-7 overall, 1-4 TAAC
—Top avid gamers: Seniors Monte Treesh, 5-10, 190, OL/DL; Landon Brigle, 6-0, 165, QB/DB. Juniors Jacob Lamontagne, 6-1, 170, RB/DB; Jamison Grime, 6-2, 215, OL/DE; Ashtyn Mason, 5-11, 240, OL/DL; Gavin Zyjewski, 6-2, 180, OL/DL. Sophomores Brennen Buddy, 5-9, 155, RB/DB; Garret Girrell, 6-3, 160, OL/DL; Eli Fackler, 6-2, 195, OL/LB; Ash Walz, 5-8, 160, RB/LB.
—Outlook: The Locomotives’ offensive strengths shall be its workforce waddle and appropriate depth on the line, in accordance with Brigle. Many on the protection additionally completed plenty closing season.
Brigle finished 29 of 76 passes for 380 yards and 3 TDs. Lamontagne had 57 carries for 152 yards and a TD. Grime earned All-TAAC first-workforce honors.
The Locomotives will crawl the Flit-T on offense.
“We struggled to get consistency in our play closing season,” Brigle said. “We had too many first-300 and sixty five days avid gamers at the varsity degree. The workforce labored moving each day.”
The workforce is procuring for new playmakers on the brink and the passing game must enhance. The protection additionally must kind out larger.
“Our workforce must snatch into the recipe of solid complicated protection, efficient offense, and fixed special teams,” Brigle said. “Our avid gamers bear if truth be told labored moving this off-season getting stronger.”
HILLTOP
—Coach: Nathan Massie, fifth season
—Final season: 0-8 overall, 0-5 TAAC
—Top avid gamers: Seniors Andyn Haynes, 5-9, 160, S/RB/QB; Alex Richmond, 5-11, 185, S/RB; Hunter Leupp, 5-10, 195, OL/LB; Ty Creamer, 5-10, 195, OL/DL; Wyatt Beltz, 5-10, 165, RB/LB. Junior Tyzon Pelfrey, 6-3, 200, DE. Sophomores Anthony Eckenrode, 6-0, 170, WR/DB; Dalton Bauer, 5-11, 180, FB/LB.
—Outlook: Massie said an hurt to their starting quarterback within the second game and an absence of depth made for a complicated season. Nevertheless his offense used to be modified and first-300 and sixty five days starters grew, he said.
Massie said the Cadets’ offensive strengths shall be at the ability positions and workforce waddle. On protection, the front seven has depth and trip led by Pelfrey (30 tackles, 4 Sacks, 6 TFLs), Haynes (28 tackles, 3 TFLs), Richmond (20 tackles), Bauer (22 Tackles, 2 TFLs), Beltz (55 tackles, 1 sack, 2 TFLs), and Leupp (21 tackles).
Haynes additionally rushed for extra than 100 yards and had 100 receiving yards. Creamer, a three-300 and sixty five days letter winner, earned honorable mention All-TAAC honors.
Nevertheless an absence of depth on the offensive line, alongside with inexperience at QB and defensive backs, are concerns.
“Bringing younger avid gamers as much as the mark at key positions rapid and having mountainous execution on both side of the ball shall be keys,” Massie said.