'14 Football Preview: Paint Valley Bearcats
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
The goal is simple for the 2014 Paint Valley Bearcats: getting back to the postseason for the second consecutive season.
The Bearcats have the talent for a return trip to the Division VII OHSAA Playoffs, but their conference – the Scioto Valley Conference – won't be easy. That was proven last season, when PV shared the title (5-2 in SVC) with Westfall and Zane Trace, with all three teams making the playoffs.
For 2014, the Bearcats, who were 8-3 last season, return eight offensive starters and seven players who started on defense. In all, the Bearcats return 18 lettermen and have a total of 11 seniors.
Returning on offense are Anthony McFadden (QB), Teagan McFadden (RB), Mason McCloy (WR), Clay Archer (RG), Austin Baker (C), Dalton Waugh (LG), Josh Crech (LT) and Caleb Johnson (TE).
Others who are going to start or have a big role on the PV offense this season are expected to be: Payton Adkins (TE), Gavin Carter (T), Chris Fellenstein (WR), Trevor Medley (WR), Tony Hatfield (RB), Jeremy Herald (TE) and Travis Burton (G).
"We lost some really good seniors, and I think it is tough to say we are going to replace a Nate Yoakum, Dakota Morgan or Mark Clifford … guys like that because they did so many things behind the scenes," Paint Valley head coach Pete Hollon said.
"Hopefully our seniors this year continue to step up and be good leaders. A lot of these kids have been two- or three-year starters now, so the expectations are pretty high."
In all for PV, the theme of this season will be team "speed" and "strength." Hollon described Teagan and Anthony McFadden as "lightning and lightning in the backfield."
"Both of those kids are extremely fast. Especially with Anthony (a junior) as a three-year starter back, it means everything," he said. "We are turning the offense over to him much, much more than we ever have in the past.
"Anthony and Teagan … they just complement each other so well. The thing about those two are their offseason workouts and their offseason leadership. It is really second to none."
The past two seasons, the Bearcats are 14-6-1 overall. Two years ago (2012), the Bearcats were one spot away from the postseason.
Another aspect of the Bearcats' offense is improving their pass-to-run ratio, as PV is known as a run-team first and foremost.
"We really have to be mindful that we got so run-oriented last year, and that's not what we really want now," Hollon said. "We still run the ball by committee. It's been a few years since we've focused on just one running back, even though Teagan did have almost 1,100 yards last season.
"Also, Mark Clifford (graduated) had 800, Anthony had 600 and Hatfield had 400 … so we are still looking at ball carrying by committee. Having Tony back, his play was dictated by our formations. We try to put the ball in his hands a minimum six to eight times a game, and we know with his speed, each time he touches the football, it is a chance for six points."
A big point of the PV offense is having four of five starting offensive linemen back this season, because every coach will tell you, everything starts with the players up front.
The starting five linemen for PV consists of two seniors and three juniors, with Hollon saying the current linemen got a lot of experience last season, with some being three-year starters.
"Having them back is huge … I would rather have that (linemen returning) than a starting running back each year," Hollon said. "The chemistry, timing and rhythm of the linemen up front is so crucial. We return four starters, but we also return two others who played significant minutes for us last year.
"In that regard, we feel really good about where we are at, and we also feel good about our depth. We aren't really physically big, but that is a theme with us … we really like our team speed, and that goes down to our linemen as well."
Also for the linemen, Hollon spoke about how some of the players could start at other positions for other teams.
"A few years ago, we felt we had an abundance of tight ends and fullbacks, so we moved Waugh and Crech … they started off as skill position kids, even Archer," Hollon said. "Talk about kids buying in, to ask of them and their role. That's three kids who could start for a lot of people at fullback or tight end, but those guys have relished going to the line and have enjoyed some success."
On defense, the returning starters are Waugh (DE), McCloy (DE), Teagan McFadden (LB), Johnson (LB), Corey Freeman (SS), Casey French (CB) and Hatfield (CB).
"Corey is a kid that is really playing his second year of high school football, and he was second team All-Ohio in his first year," Hollon said. "He came out of nowhere … and you talk about a kid that will run through a wall for you. He's just become so good fundamentally with his discipline."
Also on the defense this season will be: DeShawn Davis (NG), Crech (DT), Skyler Knisley (LB), Fellenstein (FS), Anthony McFadden (DB), Matt Mustard (DT) and Buster Trent (LB).
[[In-content Ad]]One challenge for the Bearcats' defense in '14 is replacing players on their inside defensive line.
"We lost Morgan and Clifford up front, and those two were as good as I've had in my 19 years here, so we've placed major emphasis on the defensive line this summer," Hollon said. "We do return a good bulk of our linebackers and defensive backs, but losing those two in the middle is really huge for us.
"Chris (Fellenstein) was unable to play last year, and when you have 6-2, 180 pounds as your free safety … he is a hitter, and he's one of the best DBs we've had in quite some time."
The summer for the Bearcats was described as "good" by Hollon.
"We took advantage of our 10 coaching days," he said. "We didn't put a lot of emphasis on 7-on-7s, but we did focus on repetitions and team chemistry. Attendance was excellent all summer.
"The seniors last year really raised the bar with the wins and losses, the league title and the playoff appearance. It certainly raised the expectations."
The Bearcats have the talent for a return trip to the Division VII OHSAA Playoffs, but their conference – the Scioto Valley Conference – won't be easy. That was proven last season, when PV shared the title (5-2 in SVC) with Westfall and Zane Trace, with all three teams making the playoffs.
For 2014, the Bearcats, who were 8-3 last season, return eight offensive starters and seven players who started on defense. In all, the Bearcats return 18 lettermen and have a total of 11 seniors.
Returning on offense are Anthony McFadden (QB), Teagan McFadden (RB), Mason McCloy (WR), Clay Archer (RG), Austin Baker (C), Dalton Waugh (LG), Josh Crech (LT) and Caleb Johnson (TE).
Others who are going to start or have a big role on the PV offense this season are expected to be: Payton Adkins (TE), Gavin Carter (T), Chris Fellenstein (WR), Trevor Medley (WR), Tony Hatfield (RB), Jeremy Herald (TE) and Travis Burton (G).
"We lost some really good seniors, and I think it is tough to say we are going to replace a Nate Yoakum, Dakota Morgan or Mark Clifford … guys like that because they did so many things behind the scenes," Paint Valley head coach Pete Hollon said.
"Hopefully our seniors this year continue to step up and be good leaders. A lot of these kids have been two- or three-year starters now, so the expectations are pretty high."
In all for PV, the theme of this season will be team "speed" and "strength." Hollon described Teagan and Anthony McFadden as "lightning and lightning in the backfield."
"Both of those kids are extremely fast. Especially with Anthony (a junior) as a three-year starter back, it means everything," he said. "We are turning the offense over to him much, much more than we ever have in the past.
"Anthony and Teagan … they just complement each other so well. The thing about those two are their offseason workouts and their offseason leadership. It is really second to none."
The past two seasons, the Bearcats are 14-6-1 overall. Two years ago (2012), the Bearcats were one spot away from the postseason.
Another aspect of the Bearcats' offense is improving their pass-to-run ratio, as PV is known as a run-team first and foremost.
"We really have to be mindful that we got so run-oriented last year, and that's not what we really want now," Hollon said. "We still run the ball by committee. It's been a few years since we've focused on just one running back, even though Teagan did have almost 1,100 yards last season.
"Also, Mark Clifford (graduated) had 800, Anthony had 600 and Hatfield had 400 … so we are still looking at ball carrying by committee. Having Tony back, his play was dictated by our formations. We try to put the ball in his hands a minimum six to eight times a game, and we know with his speed, each time he touches the football, it is a chance for six points."
A big point of the PV offense is having four of five starting offensive linemen back this season, because every coach will tell you, everything starts with the players up front.
The starting five linemen for PV consists of two seniors and three juniors, with Hollon saying the current linemen got a lot of experience last season, with some being three-year starters.
"Having them back is huge … I would rather have that (linemen returning) than a starting running back each year," Hollon said. "The chemistry, timing and rhythm of the linemen up front is so crucial. We return four starters, but we also return two others who played significant minutes for us last year.
"In that regard, we feel really good about where we are at, and we also feel good about our depth. We aren't really physically big, but that is a theme with us … we really like our team speed, and that goes down to our linemen as well."
Also for the linemen, Hollon spoke about how some of the players could start at other positions for other teams.
"A few years ago, we felt we had an abundance of tight ends and fullbacks, so we moved Waugh and Crech … they started off as skill position kids, even Archer," Hollon said. "Talk about kids buying in, to ask of them and their role. That's three kids who could start for a lot of people at fullback or tight end, but those guys have relished going to the line and have enjoyed some success."
On defense, the returning starters are Waugh (DE), McCloy (DE), Teagan McFadden (LB), Johnson (LB), Corey Freeman (SS), Casey French (CB) and Hatfield (CB).
"Corey is a kid that is really playing his second year of high school football, and he was second team All-Ohio in his first year," Hollon said. "He came out of nowhere … and you talk about a kid that will run through a wall for you. He's just become so good fundamentally with his discipline."
Also on the defense this season will be: DeShawn Davis (NG), Crech (DT), Skyler Knisley (LB), Fellenstein (FS), Anthony McFadden (DB), Matt Mustard (DT) and Buster Trent (LB).
[[In-content Ad]]One challenge for the Bearcats' defense in '14 is replacing players on their inside defensive line.
"We lost Morgan and Clifford up front, and those two were as good as I've had in my 19 years here, so we've placed major emphasis on the defensive line this summer," Hollon said. "We do return a good bulk of our linebackers and defensive backs, but losing those two in the middle is really huge for us.
"Chris (Fellenstein) was unable to play last year, and when you have 6-2, 180 pounds as your free safety … he is a hitter, and he's one of the best DBs we've had in quite some time."
The summer for the Bearcats was described as "good" by Hollon.
"We took advantage of our 10 coaching days," he said. "We didn't put a lot of emphasis on 7-on-7s, but we did focus on repetitions and team chemistry. Attendance was excellent all summer.
"The seniors last year really raised the bar with the wins and losses, the league title and the playoff appearance. It certainly raised the expectations."