WAPAKONETA – For the past two years, the Wapakoneta Redskins were one game away from making it to to the top four teams in the state in Division III.
But with only four starters returning on offense and three starters on defense, the Redskin returners will need to rely on what they have learned in the last two years of winning the Western Buckeye League title and going undefeated through the regular season and pass some of that winning mojo along to their inexperienced teammates if they want to reach the regional finals much less garner a third straight WBL title.
Even though Wapakoneta head coach Travis Moyer watched one of the most successful and talented Redskin senior classes graduate that included Corey Crawford, the WBL Offensive lineman of the year, Cameron Lauck, the WBL Offensive back of the year, and a host of WBL All-league selections, the Redskin mentor said this team’s goals have not change.
“We have been fortunate to have some great accomplishments in here the last two years,” Moyer said. “With that has come a lot of hard work and with that we got a group here that hopefully benefits from those experiences.”
Moyer said there are no guarantees of the team continuing the same success and it will take hard work, improvement and coming together as one squad with the same goal to continue what the Redskins have built.
Maintaining that potent offense will be tough to repeat. The Redskins led the league in rushing touchdowns with 36 and scoring average with 34.8 points per game in 2016.
Returning to the offense are first-team WBL selection and honorable mention Northwest District choice senior tight end Kais Chiles, known more for his blocking, had 10 receptions for 135 yards and one touchdown. Also back are two senior lineman Ryan Loudon (5-9, 225) and John Bourne (6-2, 235) and junior Tyler Jenkins (6-2, 225).
“We realistically have only return three starters from last year’s team and with that turnover comes,” Moyer said. “We will have new faces at new positions in terms of guys starting. We are going to need those guys to step up.
Moyer said their offensively philosophy has not changed and that is to do whatever takes to be successful. In the Redskins case you might see a more balanced attack instead of being heavyrelying primarily on the run.
Senior running back Landon Hall (6-2, 215) is a returning letterwinner who primarily made his mark on defense as a WBL first-team selection linebacker, appears to be the Redskins main man to carry the ball. Last year he recorded 274 yards and five touchdowns. Also back is running back Rob Gerstner (5-11, 185) and newcomers Lucas Shade (5-8, 155) at wide receiver and Adam Walter (5-11, 190) and Austin Birkmeier (6-0, 245) on the offensive line.
“It’s our goal to be balanced,” Moyer said. “We really want to be balanced. When we break it down at the end of the game we would love to be 60 percent run and40 percent pass if we could. If it means us throwing it 25 to 30 times a game to win a game then that is what we will do.”
Moyer adds that for them to throw the ball the players have to prove they can throw it, catch it and protect it.
With major changes facing the Redskin offense, significant changes will also be seen on the defensive side of the ball.
In 2015 the Redskins were No. 1 in team rushing touchdowns defense allowed, 6, team passing defense, 85.6 yards a game, team passing touchdowns allowed, 6, and scoring defense, 9.9 points scored.
The aforementioned Hall returns after a 2016 season of 76 tackles, two interceptions and nine tackles for loss. Also back to anchor the defense are senior defensive lineman Logan Ricker (5-8, 240) who had 16.5 tackles, two sacks and three tackles for loss, and linebacker Markus South who had 37.5 tackles, two sacks and 6.5 tackles for loss.
Senior returning letterwinners Tyler Copeland (5-8, 150), who had 16.4 tackles and two interceptions and Maddux Lyles (5-10, 175), who had 36.5 tackles and two interceptions will be in the defensive backfield. Junior defensive back and senior linebacker Cordell Newman (5-10, 175) returns after earning his first letters last year.
Players looking to get playing time idenified by Moyer are senior Jarrod Bly (6-0, 185), defensive back Gabby Dulebohn (5-5, 150) and linebacker Cal Miller (5-11, 170).
“It is kind of the same story we have offensively,” Moyer said. “We return only three starters on defense. We say good-bye to some very good football players. With those new faces in new spots, we need them to step up and rise up to the expectations of those positions. Our goal is always to create as many turnovers as we can and obviously limit the amount of points that we give up.
“I am a firm believer in that if you are going to win championships you have to play exceptional defense and I know our staff is putting the kids in the right positions to be successful and then it is our kids having the confidence to compete on a high level on the defensive side of the football field on a Friday night.”
One intangible that could be a game changing component for the Redskins is their senior kicker Tristen Meyer. The WBL kicking specialist of the year and special mention, All-Northwest District made six field goals last year and 47 point after attempts.
Early reports have Meyer consistently kicking long field goals of 45-plus.
“It really is a great luxury,” Moyer said. “Having a great kicker and a punter makes your special teams really look great at times. Fortunately we return Tristan Meyer who had kicked for us since his sophomore year. He is an all-ohio type caliber kicker that we have great confidence in because he works so hard.”
Moyer added that he gives the Redskins a chance to score every time they are in the red zone.
Even with the Redskins having plenty of holes to fill, teams will be gunning for the two-time WBL champions and Moyer said he understands this but at the same time reiterates the the league is always tough and putting together winning seasons is a challenge every year.
“We have high expectations every year,” Moyer said. “We have graduated two great senior classes back-to-back and our goals haven’t changed. We still expect to compete for a league championship. We expect to make the playoffs and hopefully one day win a state championship.
“When you have those type of goals. We have that expectation. We understand that. We understand we are going to get every teams best shot and with that comes a price.”
