Wapakoneta’s Grant Jolly had 27 catches for 347 yards and three touchdowns last season.
Richard Parrish | The Lima News
WAPAKONETA — Reloading, working the offseason and senior leadership.
Those three components helped Wapakoneta to its second consecutive Western Buckeye League title last year and Redskin head coach Travis Moyer is banking on that simple, yet effective formula, to bring home a third title and possibly a state title.
Nothing much changes under Moyer and why should it as it has brought tremendous success for the program and this year is no exception as the primary goals are the same: win the WBL, make the playoffs and win a state title.
Coming off an 11-2 overall season, with losses to 2022 Division VI state champion Marion Local to open the year and a 16-9 defeat to Hamilton Badin in the regional semifinals to end the season, Wapakoneta returns 15 letter winners and while that is a high number the team faces a number of holes to fill on both sides of the ball.
“We were very fortunate to have a successful season last year,” Moyer said. “We played an extremely tough schedule, and I thought the team stuck together and worked extremely hard throughout the season, and we were fortunate to have a great year.”
The ball bounced in Wapakoneta’s favor last year as the Redskins pulled off an overtime win against St. Marys 29-22 in Week 3 and then followed it up with a 20-19 victory against Van Wert that will forever be known as “The block” game.
After those two close calls, the Redskins went unbeaten the rest of the regular season, outscoring opponents 178-37, of which 22 of those points were given up to Celina. The defense posted three shutouts in six of those contests.
Moyer is looking to see the same results from this year’s club that brings a wealth of experience with it but there is also a number of question marks.
“It is going to be our focus to be one game at a time, one play at a time, and hopefully, we continue to show that improvement,” Moyer said. “Every year here we are going to say goodbye to a great group of players and this year is no different, and we are going to have new guys stepping into new roles and, hopefully, they will align as quickly as they can and are able to compete at a high level on Friday nights.”
Moyer points to the team’s player development as to why Wapakoneta has had success despite losing top talent each year and that process begins in the offseason.
“Our kids understand the importance of the weight room and the importance of being here in January,” Moyer said. “Our kids do a good job understanding for us to be successful. They have to put in that time and fortunately for us they do that and, when they get better, we get better and that is kind of the mentality through the offseason, and it gives us an opportunity to compete at a high level on Friday nights and find a way to win football games.”
Pride is also a major contributor to Wapakoneta’s success and that begins with the seniors.
“It is always our goal for our seniors to win the WBL championship their senior year, and we have a good group of seniors who understand what it takes to be successful and all the hard work that goes into that.
“The one thing to understand about that is that just because you were successful last year doesn’t mean you are going to be successful this year, and so our kids have to understand to give ourselves the opportunity to compete and give ourselves the opportunity to compete for a championship … that they work hard each and every year.”
With the hard work done in the weight room, Moyer eyes an offense that returns a number of skilled players beginning with Caleb Moyer behind center. As a freshman signal caller, Moyer passed for 1,051 yards and 7 touchdowns and rushed for 227 yards and 3 touchdowns.
“Any time any one steps into that role regardless of age that it is a tough situation regardless of whether you are talking at the high school level, the collegiate level or the NFL,” Moyer said. “We have extremely high expectations at that position. We expect that position to play at a high level and get us in the right situations, and I thought he showed improvement throughout the season and that is what we want to see from all position groups.
“He just saw the game slow down for him, in terms of that, the more snaps you get on Friday night the game is going to slow down for you a little bit. That is not to say it was a little fast for him at the end but I think it got to a point where he said ‘OK I can do this,’ and having that confidence to go out and do it at such a young age.
Moyer added that traditionally at Wapakoneta a senior steps into the quarterback spot and is there for one year but now they have someone returning as the field general that allows the coaching staff to focus on other aspects of the offense.
Also back is leading rusher Jace Knous who ran for 1,410 yards on 239 carries while scoring 19 touchdowns. The senior tailback averaged 5.9 yards a carry and 107.6 yards a game. Also competing for playing time in the backfield will be Reece Schnarre, Jarrett Mullen, Noah Bishop, Grant Stauffer and Bryson Pack.
“We feel like we have some depth at those positions and one of the things we always want to do here is run the ball, and we feel we have the capabilities with those guys,” Moyer said.
Although not known for their passing game, the Redskins return a host of top receivers including, Grant Jolly, who hauled in 27 catches for 347 yards. Also part of the receiving corps are Stauffer, Kaden Page, Keaton Heft, Ryan Walter, Ryan Richardson and Nate Metzger.
“We really feel like we might have some of the best receivers that we have had since I have been here,” Moyer said. “We have some depth there.”
Back at the tight end position is Grant Houser, who had 6 receptions for 115 yards and a touchdown. Joey Truesdale and Ryan Sadler will be seeing time on the gridiron as well.
It is in the trenches and offensive line where Wapakoneta finds itself filling some holes.
“It all starts there,” Moyer said. “We truly believe the difference for us to be successful on Friday is the play up front offensively and defensively.”
Anchoring the tackle spot is senior Austin Brown with Ryan Price and Alex Hageman vying for playing time. Those working out at the guard spots include Spencer Hurley, Logan Hook, Kaden Ware, Alex Hageman and Landen Micco, and at the center spot Mason Ludwig, Mikey Davis and Brayden Opperman are all seeking time on the field.
“The big key for us to be successful is finding that right offensive line configuration for us and then making sure we develop some depth there in terms of our players,” Moyer said. “That will be a big challenge for us.”
Similar challenges face Moyer and his staff defensively as they said goodbye to a number of key starters such as Mikey Lee, Tyler Houser, Connor Meckstroth, Corbin Mitchell, Will Campbell and Jordan Schneider.
Six starters are back on the defense and they include Kaden Ware and Jayden Rampulla on the defensive line, along with linebackers Joey Truesdale and Reece Schnarre. Returning in the secondary are Nate Metzger, Jarrett Mullen and Grant Jolly.
Knous will see time at linebacker, along with Ryan Walter, Bryson Pack and Brody Presar, all jockeying for playing time.
Moyer said the secondary was a concern for the Redskins last year but turned out to be one of the team’s strengths and said last year they came in untested but now come in as veterans and it should be another major plus for Wapakoneta.
Players looking to play in the secondary as well are Noah Bishop, Kaden Page and Ryan Richardson and Stauffer.
“We have high expectations for the defense and expect to compete at a high level defensively and for us to compete well we have to play well defensively especially early on.”
The special teams always play an important role and none more so than last year for the Redskins and Kyle Beach headlines that area as one of the top kickers and punters in the area. The senior kicker was 10 of 15 on field goals and 13 of 13 on extra points.
“Whenever you have the quality of a kicker in Kyle Beach, it is going to help our special teams tremendously,” Moyer said. “He has worked extremely hard to get to the level that he is at. He is a very special player for us. He has the ability to do a lot of special things for us.”
Moyer understands these players will be tested early in the season as they open the year with Marion Local followed by two straight road games at Defiance and Ottawa-Glandorf and then a home game against rival St. Marys. Then it is back on the road to face Van Wert.
“We have just to continue to improve each and every day, and we have to make sure we can continue to do the right things,” Moyer said. “We just have to be successful in terms of competing at a high level each and every Friday night and that starts with us practicing each and every day and improving and developing some of our players because we will have a lot of players on the field for the first time on Friday night.
“How quickly can we develop those players and get ready to go out and compete at a high level, especially with our schedule.”
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TEAM PROFILE
Coach: Travis Moyer (10th season)
Division: III
Last year’s record: 11-2 (9-0 WBL)
Ticket information: wapak.org/page/tickets
Returning 2022 varsity letter winners include: Austin Brown (Sr.. OL/DL), Jace Knous (Sr., RB/LB), Spencer Hurley (Sr., OL), Kaden Ware (Sr., OL/DE), Jayden Rampulla (Sr., DL), Kyle Beach (Sr., K), Joey Truesdale (Sr., RB/LB), Ryan Price (Sr., OL), Reece Schnarre (Sr., RB/LB), Nate Metzger (Sr., WR/DB), Ryan Sadler (Sr., TE), Grant Jolly (Jr., WR/DB), Grant Houser (Jr., TE/DE), Jarrett Mullen (Soph., RB/DB), Caleb Moyer (Soph., QB/DB)
Promising newcomers include: Alex Hageman (Sr., OL), Keaton Heft (Sr., WR), Kyle Huelskamp (Sr., DE)
2023 schedule
(Kickoffs scheduled for 7 p.m.; subject to change)
Aug. 18 — Marion Local
Aug. 25 — at Defiance
Sept. 1 — at Ottawa-Glandorf
Sept. 8 — St. Marys
Sept. 15 — at Van Wert
Sept. 22 — at Shawnee
Sept. 29 — Kenton
Oct. 6 — Elida
Oct. 13 — at Bath
Oct. 20 — Celina
