Division I regional track finals
Fenwick graduation 2012
Ponitz graduation 2012
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Friday, August 6, 2010
Football preview: Franklin
This is another in a series of capsules previewing area high school football for the 2010 season:
FRANKLIN (D-III, Region 12)
League: SWBL Southwestern
Coach: Rodney Roberts (fifth season; 16th overall)
2009 record: 4-2, 7-3
Key returners:
D.J. Brewer, jr., OL
Cody Priest, jr., RB
Justin Salyers, sr., WR
Jacob Rinehart, sr., LB
Extra points:
Franklin finished second in the SWBL Southwestern, one game behind division winner Eaton. The Wildcats’ run almost netted a playoff appearance but fell two spots shy.
The team graduated 23 seniors off that 2009 squad, and this year’s team returns four starters on offense and two on defense.
“This is the youngest team in 15 years as a head coach that I’ve ever had. Those guys are talented, they’re just young. We’re pretty excited about it. There is some optimism on our side, more so in a typical year when you lose that many seniors,” Roberts said.
Since taking over the team in 2006, one that went 1-9 in 2004 and 3-7 in 2005, the Wildcats have gradually improved under Roberts. Starting with that 2005 team Franklin has gone 3-7, 6-4, 5-5, 6-4 and 7-3 last season. Those three losses last season came by 13 points to Carlisle, two points to Valley View and 10 to Eaton … all playoff teams.
“I know we’ve lost a lot, but we expect to compete and be right there,” Roberts said. “I’d say Valley View and Eaton. Eaton is still the king until someone knocks them off.”
Few positions are settled, including at quarterback where junior Kevin Stewart and sophomore Connor Stickelman are the front runners.
“We’re going to have one of those teams that we’re going to get better every week because of our young kids. That’s exciting. Next year we’re going to talk at this time and we’re going to return 17 or 18 starters,” Roberts said.
FRANKLIN
Fri., Aug. 27 Carlisle
Fri., Sept. 3 Western Brown
Fri., Sept. 10 Dixie
Fri., Sept. 17 Monroe
Fri., Sept. 24 at Bellbrook
Fri., Oct. 1 at Madison
Fri., Oct. 8 Valley View
Fri., Oct. 15 at Eaton
Fri., Oct. 22 at Brookville
Fri., Oct. 29 Oakwood
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TweetFootball preview: Belmont
This is another in a series of capsules previewing area high school football for the 2010 season:
BELMONT (D-II, Region 8)
League: Dayton City League
Coach: John Derr (10th season)
2009 record: 1-3, 3-7
Key returners:
Tyshawn Gordan, jr., RB/DB
Adam Flee, sr., WR/DB
Extra points:
Many coaches worry about getting their players healthy for the start of the season. In Belmont’s case, Derr is hoping he’s the one who is healthy.
This summer, Derr - who missed part of the year two seasons ago after hip surgery - had procedures to remove a cyst on his wrist and repair a hernia.
“I just got back to daily walking,” Derr laughed. “But I’m gonna be ready.”
Derr will lead a team that returns arguably its best player in Gordan, who rushed for more than 700 yards last season and, according to Derr, broke the school’s single-game rushing record with more than 240 yards against Northridge.
Gordan is expected to be a leader on a team that has little returning experience.
“He already understands that it could be tough for him, because he’s clearly the targeted guy,” Derr said. “After the season he had last year, he went out and got even faster by running track, so he’s physically ready.”
In fact, many of the Belmont players got involved in track last spring. That’s because Derr’s defensive coordinator is also the school’s track coach, so he convinced many of the players to work out in the spring and improve technique.
“That really helps, especially on the defensive side,” Derr said. “That gets those guys in good shape and ready to go.”
BELMONT
Sat., Aug. 28 Little Miami
Fri., Sept. 3 at Greenon
Fri., Sept. 10 at Northridge
Fri., Sept. 17 Dunbar
Fri., Sept. 24 Shroder
Fri., Oct. 1 at Ponitz Tech
Fri., Oct. 8 Meadowdale
Fri., Oct. 15 Marshall
Sat., Oct. 23 at Riverview East Academy
Fri., Oct. 29 at Jefferson
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TweetFootball preview: Sidney
This is another in a series of capsules previewing area high school football for the 2010 season:
SIDNEY (D-II, Region 8)
League: GWOC North
Coach: Dan Cairns (6 years, 13 overall, including 7 at Brookside, Ind.)
2009 record: 3-1, 5-5
Key returners:
Colin Beer, sr., QB/DB
Aaron Burns, sr., RB
TJ Golden, sr., RB
RJ Heins, sr., DB
Tyler Minix, sr., OL/DL
Cole Palmer, sr., WR/DB
Jared Sowders, sr., WR/DB
Devin Yost, sr., OL/DL
Extra points:
No matter what happens this fall, the Yellow Jackets are big-time winners. That’s because Sidney passed its school levy last spring by the slimmest of margins, just one vote. And that was determined on a recount.
What that meant is the pay-to-play price from the ‘09 season dropped from $450 to just $35. The difference was immediate. Last year the program had 60 players in grades 9-12; now there are 110.
Besides the levy win, Sidney finished last season strong, sweeping its final three games and knocking Troy out of the playoffs with a Week 10 OT defeat of the Trojans. Another win and the Jackets would have qualified for the (D-II) playoffs for only the second time in program history.
“Just by our play the last couple years, we’ve brought our level of competition up to the rest of the league,” Cairns said. “We want to compete year in and year out and every now and then get a special class that can make a run at things.”
Despite the graduation of super back Jack Foy, the Jackets are loaded in the backfield, featuring three-year starter Golden. Minix is a force on both lines and is being recruited by Big Ten and MAC programs.
However, the GWOC schedule rotation wasn’t kind. Gone is Miamisburg and Beavercreek, replaced by Northmont and Lebanon, both potential playoff teams. Longtime rivals St. Marys Memorial and Bellefontaine remain locked in Weeks 1-2.
“It really doesn’t matter who you play in the crossover games,” Cairns said. “Any given night we’re going to be undersized and undermanned.”
Perhaps, but no GWOC team is better than the Yellow Jackets in the classroom. For the first time in program history Sidney was anointed academic All-Ohio last season by the OHSAA. The team’s accumulative GPA is compared to other competing schools throughout the state to determine the lofty status, “which we’re extremely proud of,” Cairns said.
“Hopefully, we can continue that tradition and do it again.”
SIDNEY
Fri., Aug. 27 at St. Marys Memorial
Fri., Sept. 3 Bellefontaine
Fri., Sept. 10 Lebanon
Fri., Sept. 17 Northmont
Fri., Sept. 24 at Fairborn
Fri., Oct. 1 at Springboro
Fri., Oct. 8 Vandalia Butler
Fri., Oct. 15 Piqua
Fri., Oct. 22 at Trotwood-Madison
Fri., Oct. 29 at Troy
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