Columbus Grove’s Trenton Barraza is expected to take over as the featured back for the Bulldogs.
COLUMBUS GROVE— Four straight Northwest Conference titles. One big target on its back.
Columbus Grove will be searching for an unprecedented fifth straight championship this year but Andy Schafer understands it will take another outstanding outing from his team to accomplish this rare feat.
A number of people might have doubted the Bulldogs making it four straight after losing a talented class, however, an outstanding defense, excellent special teams and ground-driven offense went 10-0 in the regular season before bowing out in the playoffs.
The Bulldogs finished 11-1.
“We have definitely set the bar here pretty high and we have consistently been at the top, which is great but we talk about this as a staff and with the players that the target gets bigger,” Schafer said. “Teams really want to knock you off when you have success.
“It’s a challenge. We thought we got everybody’s best game last year and we are expecting the same thing this year.”
Schafer added that a culture of winning has been set and last year’s team, who Schafer referred to as “no-namers” prior to the season, showed that the tradition of excellence had been passed down to this group of players. After the season plenty of people knew the Bulldogs by name.
“They had never heard of Jackson Schroeder or Luke Kauffman before,” Schafer said. “We knew who they were but they didn’t make the big plays because other people did. It is a next-man-up philosophy and you are going to see some different names this year, but those guys were supporting last year so from a coach’s perspective we are not going to be surprised. Some of the other people might be.”
The Bulldog defense excelled last year and some familiar names back are A.J. Schafer, who was an All-Ohio selection and All-Northwest District defensive player of the year.
In its 10 regular season games last year, the Bulldogs gave up an average of 7.6 points a contest and allowed teams only an average of 83.4 yards on the ground and 114.3 yards passing a game.
Even though the defense was stellar, the Bulldog offense showed they could move the ball and led the NWC in scoring, averaging 36.4 points a contest.
But Schafer is looking to replace the NWC co-offensive player of the year Colin Metzger in the running game. Metzger rushed for 1,278 yards last year and 24 touchdowns. In those 10 games, he averaged 127.9 yards a game.
“We lost Colin Metzger, who was third all-time rusher at Columbus Grove,” Schafer said. “When you lose somebody like that what are you going to do? We knew that a lot of people were going to ask that question but I think we have some guys that we can put in and be dangerous in different ways.”
Trent Barraza, who Schafer said is almost the opposite of Metzger, is the frontrunner as the featured back and brings with him more speed.
“He is not built like Colin at all, so we are not going to ask him to do Colin things,” Schafer said. “He is more of a speed guy. He is a tall, skinning guy and not a short, stocky guy that can bench the world. He is different and so might change some schemes to fit him.”
Also expected to get carries are AJ Schafer, who came in for some short yardage situations last season, along with Landon Schroeder.
Back behind center is Brenton Renner, who was the starter for the majority of last year, often being replaced by Jackson Schroeder in certain down situations to give the Bulldogs a more diverse approach.
Renner passed for 861 yards and seven touchdowns last year.
Zach Reynolds, a junior, has also been getting some reps.
Even though Renner was a key in the Bulldogs winning 11 games, Schafer said he challenged Renner at the end of last year and told him he was thinking of going with someone else at quarterback.
“I kind of used that as a little bit of motivation and you know some kids kind of fold and some kids kind of step it up and he completely changed his game and I think we are going to be able to do some things with Brenton we weren’t able to do last year which I am excited to see.”
Schafer adds that Renner’s arm strength has improved since last year and the Bulldogs will be able to go stretch teams more vertical with the passing game.
“But what I am more proud of is his speed,” Schafer said. “He was not a fast kid at all and I am not going to say he is fast at all but he has definitely increased his running capabilities.”
Up front, the Bulldogs rotated eight guys last year. They have three starters back and it begins with Ted Koch, a second team, All-NWC choice last year, who Schafer adds has really dedicated himself to getting better as an offensive lineman this year.
“He has really come a long way on the offensive line,” Schafer said.
Also returning is Dillon Bryan, who began at center last season and was moved to guard. At center will be Kylan Mayes, who played half the year at that position. The other guard position will be manned by Kyle Lathrop, who played defensive tackle last season and a little offensive line, and Ethan Johnson is expected to start as well.
Defensively, the Bulldogs will be hard pressed to replicate what they did last season but with all three linebackers back, AJ Schafer, Koch and Schroeder, they may be able to match it.
“I know it had a lot to do with our linebacking corps and the best news is that we have all three back,” Schafer said. “Those three are very physical and very good.”
Up front, Schafer said they are going to mix in several players to join starters Maag and Lathrop, who were starters last year, with Johnson and Dillon Bryan at the defensive end spot. Mayes is also expected to see plenty of action.
“We probably have more guys, at least when you hear starters, going both ways than I have had in many, many years and hopefully bring guys along throughout the year. We think we have a special team.”
Schafer admits that if they have a hole in the defense, it is the secondary and doesn’t know who is going to start there as two-a-days are set to begin. He scheduled a number of 7-on-7 events to help get a better understanding of who might see time in the defensive backfield.
Early on, some of Barraza, Reynolds, Antonio Gray, Zane Stechschulte and Mitch Caudill are names Schafer said are looking to earn spots.
“I couldn’t tell you if they were a corner or a safety and to me you can’t tell me who is a defensive back are until you put the pads on and the most physical backs are the ones that need to play,” Schafer said.
Because the front seven is comprised of talent and experience, Schafer is looking for them to pressure the quarterback and stop the run to let the defensive backfield grow throughout the season. One thing Schafer wants to avoid is the big play, something that has hounded the Bulldogs the past several seasons.
“Field position was huge and a lot of field position success was credited to our special teams so defensively it is a lot more important and not flipping the field on a big play because our special teams will look completely different this year.
The main reason, and arguably the biggest loss from this team, will be Rece Verhoff, an All-Ohio punter and kicker who was a big weapon for the Bulldogs the last couple of seasons in terms of field goals and field position.
“One thing Rece brought to the team was how important special teams are so they take it extremely seriously and we don’t have that big boom,” Schafer said. “They know what it has done offensively and defensively.”
Schafer adds that people are going to be shocked by the kicking of Shep Halker.
“He has got a foot on him,” Schafer said. “He actually kicked a few times last year. He is a senior and has really good range with field goals and can almost get it to the end zone on kickoffs.
As far as punting, Schafer said the search continues for someone to handle those duties.
Schafer remains confident that despite the target and the changes on offense and defense in terms of personnel that a fifth NWC title is attainable.
“We have one of the strongest teams I have ever had and one of the hardest hitting teams I have had,” Schafer said. “I think that physical domination — that has to be our go-to, and how do I get our skill guys to buy into that because we have been balanced and I want to keep it as balanced as we can. But the past seven or eight years we have stretched the ball vertically and I think that mentality has to change this year and we have to get down to more of a grind it out and let our defense carry us because our defense is going to be special this year.”
COLUMBUS GROVE
Coach: Andy Schafer
Years at School, record: 11
Division: VI
Returning Letterwinners: Brenton Renner, AJ Schafer, Trent Barraza, Landon Schroeder, Lawson Maag, Tadd Koch, Ethan Johnson, Gavin Langhals, Conner Douglas, Zach Smith, Dillan Bryan, Kyle Lathrop, Kylan Mayes, Loudon Auchmuty, Zach Reynolds, Shep Halker, Zane Stechschulte, Mitch Caudill, Antonio Gray, Layton Blankemeyer, Hunter Sudlow, Landen Huston, Riley Sautter, Kyle Hopkins, Brenton Renner
Season Outlook: After the graduation of the class of 2020 there were a lot of questions as to how the class of 2021 would repond. The 2021 seniors came in proving they were just as good going on an 11-1 run of the 2021 season. Exceeding many expectations from the area on the 2021 group, the 2021 team won their fourth straight NWC title doing with an undefeated regular season. After last year’s second half momentum swing in the Leipsic game we look for Leipsic to push us to the hardest for the top spot in the league. Not only do they have the skill, ability, size, speed to do it, they also have extra motivation. Allen East continues to push to the top of the conference as well as they have played toe to toe with us the past few seasons. Other contenders could be Crestview and Spencerville.
SCHEDULE
August 18 – at Pandora-Gilboa
August 26 – at Liberty-Benton
September 2 – Patrick Henry
September 9 – at Delphos Jefferson
September 16 – at Allen East
September 23 –Leipsic
September 30 – at Crestview
October 7 – Ada
October 14 – at Spencerville
October 21 – at Bluffton
All games start at 7 p.m.
