08-13-2011, 06:45 AM
(Teams listed in coachesâ predicted order of finish)
Beechwood
Coach: Noel Rash (55-15)
Last year: 10-4 (lost 38-14 to Mayfield in the Class A semifinals).
Players to watch: Senior RB/DB Cameron Vocke; senior WR/DB Alex Brennen; senior WR Corey Cruse; junior FB/LB Max Nussbam; junior WR/S Gage Erdman; senior LB Joe Staten; senior OL Brett Eyckmans; senior OL Sean Flannery; senior OL Zach Greenweller; senior TE Dane Everett; senior DE Darrick Brilz
Outlook: The Tigers will have a great deal of experience on the team with nine players with starting experience returning on offense and 10 on defense. There is some good size on both the offensive and defensive lines â if they can be a dominant force, Beechwood should be one of the top teams in the state again.
Bellevue
Coach: Mike Croley (first season at Bellevue)
Last year: 5-7 (lost 63-7 to Beechwood in the second round of the Class A playoffs).
Players to watch: Senior QB Jake Sparks; senior OL/DL Shawn Schwienzger; junior OL/DL Justin Babb; senior OL/DL Jordan McIntyre; senior RB/LB Jordan Fogelman; junior TE/LB Tyler Howe; sophomore RB Dylan Huff; junior RB/DB Cody Corman
Outlook: After being the head coach at Owen County and Grant County before spending time as an assistant at Scott County, Croley begins his first season as head coach of the Tigers. The transition might be eased by Sparksâ return as quarterback. , so the transition might be eased with a veteran signal caller. Croley also will bring his patented wing-T offense, so look for the Tigers to run the ball more.
Ludlow
Coach: Rick Hornsby (12-21)
Last year: 2-8 (missed playoffs).
Players to watch: Senior WR/DB Chris Yates; senior TE/DE Doug Wright; senior RB/DB Jake Kleier; senior OL/LB Josh Martin; senior OL/DL Casey Perry; senior OL/DL Chandler Powell; senior WR/DB Josh Steffen; junior RB/LB Jake Banks; sophomore WR/DB Zach Cole; sophomore QB/LB Mitchell Cody; senior OL/DE Logan Boatright
Outlook: Five starters â including three offensive linemen â return on offense, and three return on defense. The experience on the offensive line should help as the Panthers break in a new quarterback as well as new running backs. Plenty of young players got experience playing varsity last season. , which will give Ludlow some backup at important positions.
Dayton
Coach: Chad Montgomery (first season)
Last year: 0-10 (missed playoffs).
Players to watch: Junior RB/LB Thomas Rogg; senior RB/LB Henry Horsley; senior OL/DL Jay Nellis; junior OL/DL Connor Cadle; senior WR/DB T.R. Smith; freshman RB/LB Logan Brewer
Outlook: Montgomery takes over as head coach of the Greendevils following four seasons as an assistant and will try to break a string of three straight losing seasons. Many of this yearâs upperclassmen on this yearâs team had experience on those losing teams, but Montgomery is hoping that playing time will pay off.
Beechwood
Coach: Noel Rash (55-15)
Last year: 10-4 (lost 38-14 to Mayfield in the Class A semifinals).
Players to watch: Senior RB/DB Cameron Vocke; senior WR/DB Alex Brennen; senior WR Corey Cruse; junior FB/LB Max Nussbam; junior WR/S Gage Erdman; senior LB Joe Staten; senior OL Brett Eyckmans; senior OL Sean Flannery; senior OL Zach Greenweller; senior TE Dane Everett; senior DE Darrick Brilz
Outlook: The Tigers will have a great deal of experience on the team with nine players with starting experience returning on offense and 10 on defense. There is some good size on both the offensive and defensive lines â if they can be a dominant force, Beechwood should be one of the top teams in the state again.
Bellevue
Coach: Mike Croley (first season at Bellevue)
Last year: 5-7 (lost 63-7 to Beechwood in the second round of the Class A playoffs).
Players to watch: Senior QB Jake Sparks; senior OL/DL Shawn Schwienzger; junior OL/DL Justin Babb; senior OL/DL Jordan McIntyre; senior RB/LB Jordan Fogelman; junior TE/LB Tyler Howe; sophomore RB Dylan Huff; junior RB/DB Cody Corman
Outlook: After being the head coach at Owen County and Grant County before spending time as an assistant at Scott County, Croley begins his first season as head coach of the Tigers. The transition might be eased by Sparksâ return as quarterback. , so the transition might be eased with a veteran signal caller. Croley also will bring his patented wing-T offense, so look for the Tigers to run the ball more.
Ludlow
Coach: Rick Hornsby (12-21)
Last year: 2-8 (missed playoffs).
Players to watch: Senior WR/DB Chris Yates; senior TE/DE Doug Wright; senior RB/DB Jake Kleier; senior OL/LB Josh Martin; senior OL/DL Casey Perry; senior OL/DL Chandler Powell; senior WR/DB Josh Steffen; junior RB/LB Jake Banks; sophomore WR/DB Zach Cole; sophomore QB/LB Mitchell Cody; senior OL/DE Logan Boatright
Outlook: Five starters â including three offensive linemen â return on offense, and three return on defense. The experience on the offensive line should help as the Panthers break in a new quarterback as well as new running backs. Plenty of young players got experience playing varsity last season. , which will give Ludlow some backup at important positions.
Dayton
Coach: Chad Montgomery (first season)
Last year: 0-10 (missed playoffs).
Players to watch: Junior RB/LB Thomas Rogg; senior RB/LB Henry Horsley; senior OL/DL Jay Nellis; junior OL/DL Connor Cadle; senior WR/DB T.R. Smith; freshman RB/LB Logan Brewer
Outlook: Montgomery takes over as head coach of the Greendevils following four seasons as an assistant and will try to break a string of three straight losing seasons. Many of this yearâs upperclassmen on this yearâs team had experience on those losing teams, but Montgomery is hoping that playing time will pay off.