'14 Football Preview: Piketon Redstreaks
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
This season, the Piketon Redstreaks want to be in the mix for the top spot in the Scioto Valley Conference, as they have a good group of players who can help achieve that goal.
PHS enters the season with nine seniors, and in terms of returning starters, they have nine back on offense and nine back on defense, giving them a lot of experience from a team that went 4-6 one year ago.
With 51 total players on the roster, it is easy to see why 12th-year head coach Tyler Guillion was pleased about this summer for his football program.
[[In-content Ad]]"Everything went well this summer," he said. "The kids are working really hard, and having over 50 kids is a good number for us. We are excited and are returning a lot of experience."
Though the Redstreaks lost some players from last season, they still have a very good number of talented players on the roster this season, including quarterback Devon Brewster, who started at QB last season as a sophomore.
In the backfield is Ethan Fremder, and they also have four of their five returning offensive linemen back for '14.
At wide receiver are Stefan Thacker and Aaron Southworth.
Guillion spoke about the returning offensive line, which includes Cameron Chitwood (C), Cody Jones (G), Austin Bumgardner (T) and Jacob Chester (T).
"It makes our job easier, and their summer has been good," he said of the o-line experience.
"They've picked up from where they left off, and we are able to throw more at them. It is hard to replace experience, so it has been good to see them work together, talk more and communicate more."
Using a spread offense where they are in shotgun "99 percent of the time," the offense of the Redstreaks must be able to move the football.
Last season, Piketon scored 239 points, while they allowed 299. They defeated Adena (42-8), Huntington (55-26), Zane Trace (36-35) and Southeastern (28-21). From Weeks 4-7 last season, PHS won three of four games.
"We have to run the ball, and we need to move people out with speed," Guillion said. "We didn't do that last year with the young team. We didn't control the line of scrimmage last year, but we still have to do it."
On defense, the entire front seven of the Redstreaks returns as they use a 4-3 look. Back on the defensive line are junior Gage Williams (DE) and Southworth.
"We have all three linebackers back, so that is huge," Guillion said. "Just like on offense, we have to control the line of scrimmage. We can't get pushed around."
Some of the returning defensive players are junior linebacker Matt Smith, senior linebacker Fremdner and junior linebacker Dylan Yoakem.
"We have to make plays and make sure we make adjustments," Guillion said. "We got better last year, and knowing the personnel, I expect even more improvement this season."
PHS did lose some of their defensive backfield.
"It is tough losing defensive backs, but it is a work in progress," Guillion said. "We are looking for guys to make plays and get tackles, and it is good that we do have two of our starting defensive backs back from last year."
It is about keeping a good pace with the PHS this season.
"We can't get ahead of ourselves … we keep preaching 'get better one day at a time,'" Guillion said. "We need to do things the right way, and if we do that, good things will happen."
PHS enters the season with nine seniors, and in terms of returning starters, they have nine back on offense and nine back on defense, giving them a lot of experience from a team that went 4-6 one year ago.
With 51 total players on the roster, it is easy to see why 12th-year head coach Tyler Guillion was pleased about this summer for his football program.
[[In-content Ad]]"Everything went well this summer," he said. "The kids are working really hard, and having over 50 kids is a good number for us. We are excited and are returning a lot of experience."
Though the Redstreaks lost some players from last season, they still have a very good number of talented players on the roster this season, including quarterback Devon Brewster, who started at QB last season as a sophomore.
In the backfield is Ethan Fremder, and they also have four of their five returning offensive linemen back for '14.
At wide receiver are Stefan Thacker and Aaron Southworth.
Guillion spoke about the returning offensive line, which includes Cameron Chitwood (C), Cody Jones (G), Austin Bumgardner (T) and Jacob Chester (T).
"It makes our job easier, and their summer has been good," he said of the o-line experience.
"They've picked up from where they left off, and we are able to throw more at them. It is hard to replace experience, so it has been good to see them work together, talk more and communicate more."
Using a spread offense where they are in shotgun "99 percent of the time," the offense of the Redstreaks must be able to move the football.
Last season, Piketon scored 239 points, while they allowed 299. They defeated Adena (42-8), Huntington (55-26), Zane Trace (36-35) and Southeastern (28-21). From Weeks 4-7 last season, PHS won three of four games.
"We have to run the ball, and we need to move people out with speed," Guillion said. "We didn't do that last year with the young team. We didn't control the line of scrimmage last year, but we still have to do it."
On defense, the entire front seven of the Redstreaks returns as they use a 4-3 look. Back on the defensive line are junior Gage Williams (DE) and Southworth.
"We have all three linebackers back, so that is huge," Guillion said. "Just like on offense, we have to control the line of scrimmage. We can't get pushed around."
Some of the returning defensive players are junior linebacker Matt Smith, senior linebacker Fremdner and junior linebacker Dylan Yoakem.
"We have to make plays and make sure we make adjustments," Guillion said. "We got better last year, and knowing the personnel, I expect even more improvement this season."
PHS did lose some of their defensive backfield.
"It is tough losing defensive backs, but it is a work in progress," Guillion said. "We are looking for guys to make plays and get tackles, and it is good that we do have two of our starting defensive backs back from last year."
It is about keeping a good pace with the PHS this season.
"We can't get ahead of ourselves … we keep preaching 'get better one day at a time,'" Guillion said. "We need to do things the right way, and if we do that, good things will happen."