McGUFFEY – Upper Scioto Valley had one of its most successful seasons last year after capturing an outright Northwest Central Conference title and winning a playoff game and finishing the season at 10-2.
The goal this year is to accomplish another first in the school’s history and post back-to-back conference titles, but Rams head coach Dustin Price understands to replicate this feat they will need to fill some holes and keep improving as a team.
“Last season was the best season in school history and I told them back in 2016 when we first won the conference and the first time making playoffs that we did not follow that up with a good year in 2017,” Price said. “I told them ‘listen, the last time you did not follow it up with a good year and you guys can be the first back-to-back playoff berth and last year was last year. You guys haven’t earned anything.’
“We are going to have a huge target on our back. We are going to get everybody’s best week in and week out so we have to prepare for that. I am making a big deal to our guys that this year we want to be the first back-to-back conference winners and see what happens.
Price admits he doesn’t know that this team can reach the same heights as last season.
“I don’t know yet,” Price said. “To be honest I haven’t got a feeling what their confidence level is one way or another or what they think they can accomplish.”
Despite losing top talent like Jackson Rohrs and Connor Sanders, who were both forces on offense and defense, the Rams return seven starters on both offense and defense and Price said he feels there is plenty of talent to build on but they will have to work to fill those holes.
It is made a little easier with the Rams returning the bulk of their offensive line that features senior Blaine Castle and Kevin Smith who both earned All-Ohio honorable mention accolades last season.
“We feel like they are the two best linemen and when we need a few yards we are going to run behind those two,” Price said. “Also returning is Abe Decker at left tackle. We did move our center from last year from Tommy Carl to fullback and I think he is capable of making that transition. He is an athletic kid who played outside linebacker for us last year.
Maddox Underwood, a sophomore, is back at quarterback and will add some stability to the backfield as the Rams must replace Rohrs and Sanders.
Another Sanders, Alex, is looking to fill some of that void. Rohrs and Connor Sanders accounted for 40 touchdowns and more than 2,000 yards.
“He (Alex) had a great offseason and he is going to be our featured guy,” Price said. “He is ready to step in that role here as a junior and take the bulk of the carries. In the backfield, Alex has gained a lot of speed but I am not sure we have someone with Jackson’s breakaway speed, but they could prove me wrong. They are showing a lot of promise.
“I told Alex, ‘I don’t need you to be Connor. I don’t need you to be Jackson.’”
Price said the philosophy remains the same on offense with a ground-and-pound approach. “I need you to be the best of your ability and that is our job as coaches, to figure out these guys’ strengths and use them to the best of our ability.”
“Our strength on offense is going to be the offensive line,” Price said. “There is one offensive line position that a couple of guys are battling for but I think Underwood is very good under center and he really impressed me last year as far as controlling the team and the tempo that we wanted.”
Defensively, Price said the focus is shoring up the defensive line after losing both defensive ends and replacing two players in the secondary. The Rams return their linebacking corps.
After losing both defensive ends, including Connor Sanders, who was an All-Ohio selection at that spot, Price said they will be trying a few new things on the line.
It doesn’t hurt to have Castle and Smith manning the interior portion of the line.
Price added the secondary is a work in progress in the preseason but was encouraged by the play shown in 7-on-7 competitions over the summer.
“I always stress to them defensively that we have to have 11 hats flying to the ball and be aggressive,” Price said. “I think defensively, this year we have better over team speed on defense and that is something that we are focusing on.”
UPPER SCIOTO VALLEY
Coach: Dustin Price
Years at school, Record: 6th (25-27)
Last year’s record: 10-2
Division: VII
Returning Letterwinners: Mason Thompson (Soph.), Maddox Underwood (Soph.), Jason Helton (Sr.), Alex Sanders (Jr.), Connor Scott (Jr.), Tommy Carl (Sr.), Kevin Smith (Sr.), Abraham Decker (Sr.), Drew Sanders (Jr.)
Promising Newcomer: Ryan Roberts (Fr.)
Season Outlook: Coming off our best season in school history we need some players to step up into leadership roles. We are not looking to fill anybody’s shoes that graduated, we just need to be the best version of ourselves.
SCHEDULE
August 19 – at Allen East
August 26 – Cory-Rawson
September 2 – at North Baltimore
September 9 – Waynesfield-Goshen
September 16 – Crestline
September 23 – at Perry
September 30 – at Hardin Northern
October 7 – at Ridgedale
October 14 – Elgin
October 21 – at Ridgemont
All games start at 7 p.m.
