Bearcats look to battle in tough SVC on Friday nights
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
BAINBRIDGE — After not reaching the expectation set for themselves last season, the Paint Valley Bearcats have made some changes on both sides of the ball in hopes of improving for a run at the Scioto Valley Conference championship in 2010.
The Bearcats struggled for a 2009 finish of 4-6, earning an SVC mark of 3-4, due to some factors that head coach Pete Hollon wants to fix before the start of the football year.
"We must improve our physical nature and survive the early schedule," Hollon said. "A fast start is critical, and we must avoid injuries because we lost numerous games to injuries last year."
One top point for Hollon, who is entering his 15th season as head coach of PV, is the run defense.
"We have to be able to stop our opponents' running game," he said. "All last season, we simply struggled with our run defense. We have to handle adversity well. Like last season we never really recovered after losing so many kids to injury. It took us until week six to see some changes."
On the defensive side, the Bearcats have five starters returning.
Junior nose guard Hayden Lambert (6-3, 285) returns to anchor a line that includes senior Nolan Taylor (6-3, 260), along with senior Colton Branscomb (6-1, 180) and junior defensive end Tyler Murray (5-10, 215).
Linebackers this season for PV are senior Brenan Dove (6-1, 195), senior Wes Hurley (5-8, 175) and sophomore Quentin Tesi (5-9, 165).
The defensive backfield for the Bearcats returns two in seniors in Garett Tyree (5-8, 160) and Nathan Barker (5-11, 155) with both playing cornerback. Strong safety will be occupied by junior Logan Ackley (5-11, 155) and free safety will be played by junior Eli Barker (5-11, 155). Other safeties who are high on the list are freshman strong safety Mark Clifford (5-8, 160) and freshman free safety Seth Grandstaff (5-11, 160).
With depth in most positions on both sides of the ball, the Bearcats may not run into some of the replacement problems like last year, as many Bearcat players gained the varsity experience last season, which some lacked at the start of '09.
"We are returning a total of 19 lettermen, and many of the underclassmen played a lot on Friday nights due to all of the injuries we suffered last season," Hollon said.
On offense, PV returns six players who were a part of the starting lineup last season, but only five will be back at those positions. Dove, who was the quarterback in '09, will be playing running back this year, and Eli Barker will take snaps under center.
With Barker at QB and Dove at running back, Tyree will be playing from the slot and Dylan Fewster, a 6-3, 230 pound junior returns at tight end. Three offensive lineman are back with Lambert (LT), Tyler Wagoner (285 RT) and right guard Wes Hurley (5-7, 155). Derrick Wagoner, a 6-1, 235 pound junior will play right guard and senior Jeremy Krech (5-10, 230) will be the center this season.
Tyree will also punt and kick for PV as he is a two-time SVC punter of the year.
Taylor will be the fullback to the 'Cats.
"I like the team strength we possess," Hollon said. "We do have an unproven quarterback at the varsity level to start the season, and Eli has a lot of good tools, but he must prove it at the varsity level.
"One thing I wish we had more of is depth on the interiors."
The non-league schedule of the Bearcats will consist of New Miami, who returns 16 starters from '09, and Williamsburg, who won their final three games last year and return 13 starters. McClain is also on the non-league slate of game for PV.
"Our early schedule should prepare us for our league games," Hollon said.
The Bearcats will start the season home at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 27, when they host New Miami.[[In-content Ad]]
The Bearcats struggled for a 2009 finish of 4-6, earning an SVC mark of 3-4, due to some factors that head coach Pete Hollon wants to fix before the start of the football year.
"We must improve our physical nature and survive the early schedule," Hollon said. "A fast start is critical, and we must avoid injuries because we lost numerous games to injuries last year."
One top point for Hollon, who is entering his 15th season as head coach of PV, is the run defense.
"We have to be able to stop our opponents' running game," he said. "All last season, we simply struggled with our run defense. We have to handle adversity well. Like last season we never really recovered after losing so many kids to injury. It took us until week six to see some changes."
On the defensive side, the Bearcats have five starters returning.
Junior nose guard Hayden Lambert (6-3, 285) returns to anchor a line that includes senior Nolan Taylor (6-3, 260), along with senior Colton Branscomb (6-1, 180) and junior defensive end Tyler Murray (5-10, 215).
Linebackers this season for PV are senior Brenan Dove (6-1, 195), senior Wes Hurley (5-8, 175) and sophomore Quentin Tesi (5-9, 165).
The defensive backfield for the Bearcats returns two in seniors in Garett Tyree (5-8, 160) and Nathan Barker (5-11, 155) with both playing cornerback. Strong safety will be occupied by junior Logan Ackley (5-11, 155) and free safety will be played by junior Eli Barker (5-11, 155). Other safeties who are high on the list are freshman strong safety Mark Clifford (5-8, 160) and freshman free safety Seth Grandstaff (5-11, 160).
With depth in most positions on both sides of the ball, the Bearcats may not run into some of the replacement problems like last year, as many Bearcat players gained the varsity experience last season, which some lacked at the start of '09.
"We are returning a total of 19 lettermen, and many of the underclassmen played a lot on Friday nights due to all of the injuries we suffered last season," Hollon said.
On offense, PV returns six players who were a part of the starting lineup last season, but only five will be back at those positions. Dove, who was the quarterback in '09, will be playing running back this year, and Eli Barker will take snaps under center.
With Barker at QB and Dove at running back, Tyree will be playing from the slot and Dylan Fewster, a 6-3, 230 pound junior returns at tight end. Three offensive lineman are back with Lambert (LT), Tyler Wagoner (285 RT) and right guard Wes Hurley (5-7, 155). Derrick Wagoner, a 6-1, 235 pound junior will play right guard and senior Jeremy Krech (5-10, 230) will be the center this season.
Tyree will also punt and kick for PV as he is a two-time SVC punter of the year.
Taylor will be the fullback to the 'Cats.
"I like the team strength we possess," Hollon said. "We do have an unproven quarterback at the varsity level to start the season, and Eli has a lot of good tools, but he must prove it at the varsity level.
"One thing I wish we had more of is depth on the interiors."
The non-league schedule of the Bearcats will consist of New Miami, who returns 16 starters from '09, and Williamsburg, who won their final three games last year and return 13 starters. McClain is also on the non-league slate of game for PV.
"Our early schedule should prepare us for our league games," Hollon said.
The Bearcats will start the season home at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 27, when they host New Miami.[[In-content Ad]]