The Stewart Street bridge
'Joined in Hope' quilt making
Victoria's Secret Fashion
Get latest headlines via RSS feeds
NewsVine
Del.icio.us
Digg
Facebook
Furl
Reddit
StumbleuponSouthwestern Buckeye League
Preview of SWBL for 2008
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Southwestern Division
1. Eaton: Eagles return a powerful offensive line that will usher running back Josh Slemker. Path-clearers include Ryan Locker, Jay Hood and 6-foot-4, 285-pound Clint Shepherd. Quarterback candidates include Austin Fudge (younger brother of former standout Jeremy) and Micah Hickman. Jonathan Simmons provides an added dimension as an outstanding kicker.
2. Valley View: Spartans will spike the potency of their run-and-shoot with Johnny Day at QB and a bevy of threats that include slot Travis Dalton and wide receiver Luke Donson. Two-way lineman Phil Worrell needs a breakout year. Michael Boyd is an effective kicker.
3. Bellbrook: The Golden Eagles are cranked up for a title run and playoff push and will be on good footing with a new synthetic turf. Strong-armed QB Jay Bucher will trigger an offense gutted by graduation. Ohio State recruit Sam Longo will be a hammer as an offensive/defensive lineman. Cody Fyffe is the team's anchor at middle linebacker. Six other returnees are on defense, including LB Zac Rogal and end Stephen Goehring.
4. Milton-Union: Bulldogs return skill, but are thin on experience from last season's D-IV regional semifinalist. Seven opponents were playoff teams in 2007. QB Jon Mason and receiver Nikko Johnson could provide matchup problems for smaller DBs. At 6-5, Mason has no trouble picking out the 6-4 Johnson.
5. Brookville: Coach of the year Mike Hetrick ushered the ascending Blue Devils to a 7-4 season and the playoffs in '07. A good returning nucleus of 13 starters return. QB Braden Kindell threw for more than 1,250 yards. Josh Doles provides big-play ability as a RB-DB and returner.
6. Oakwood: A daunting road schedule awaits the Lumberjacks (Cin. Wyoming, Valley View and Brookville). Must replace Chris Hardy (1,295 yards and 18 touchdowns, 3,659 career yards). Coach Paul Stone has 20 seniors who have experienced success.
7. Franklin: Blue-collar defense is stacked with eight returnees, including nose tackle Chris Saporito. Keep an eye on two-way lineman Kyle Wilson (6-5, 265). Offense features go-to back Quinton Jones. Quarterback is muddled with three candidates —Tyler Wulff, Justin Rickard and Dustin Martin.
Buckeye Division
1. Monroe: Change is in the air with Colerain offensive coordinator Ken Meibers replacing Jason Krause, who took the Middletown job. Meibers brings the triple-option offense. The team lost some of its sting with graduation of QB Tyler Osterman and RB Jared Ferguson. Key returnees are backs Jeremy Campbell (421 yards), Robby Childers, QB-DB Ben Leahy and WR Jason Osterman.
2. Waynesville: Program continues to elevate under coach Glen Burchfield. Spartans will have a dynamic duo in its spread offense with QB Cory Young and fleet RB Seth Millar. DB Brady Deters is a second-team All-Ohioan.
3. Mid. Madison: Mohawks return a lot of weapons on offense, including fullback Marcus Miller, QB Steve Johnson and WR Adam Lewis. Kolby Watkins (LB of the year) returns.
4. Carlisle: Indians will be much improved. Highlighting the run-and-shoot offense will be QB Kyle Gibson, WR Kyle England and WR James Bishop.
5. Northridge: Speed will be the Polar Bears' calling card. They will be carried by their skill-position players — Daniel Jewett (4.33 in the 40-yard dash), QB Kyle Lingg (1,130 yards rushing and 1,105 passing) and RB Marcus Coleman.
6. Dixie: Expect the Greyhounds to continue to make strides under second-year coach David Tarpley, who welcomed 42 players in camp. Spread offense will be potent with QB Nick Worley, RB Woody Earls and WR Eddie Bellman.
7. Preble Shawnee: First-year coach Greg Stacy has a daunting rebuilding task. He experienced success as the school's 15-year wrestling coach. The Arrows will lean on RB Tyler Begley.
Five things to know
1. Monroe has advanced to the state semifinals two of the last three years.
2. Madison has added former Valley View and Monroe head coach Brent Nance (37 years experience) to its staff.
3. Bellbrook kicker Nick Wiget has great range (40-plus yards) after honing his kicking in several camps and national competitions.
4. Valley View has won one divisional game in each of the last two years.
5. Dixie's second-year coach David Tarpley learned the spread offense from passing guru Mike Schneider (Wayne, Northmont and Miamisburg).
Five players to watch
1. Josh Slemker, RB, Eaton: One of the area's most productive backs. A workhorse with nearly 1,500 yards.
2. Seth Millar, RB, Waynesville: Will flash his fleet feet as a breakaway threat. "He's fun to watch," Spartans coach Glen Burchfield said. "You don't know if he'll give you six yards or six points."
3. Cody Fyffe, MLB, Bellbrook: Menace in the middle of the Golder Eagles defense.
4. Sean Figley, DB, Valley View: Ball-hawking defender with solid instincts and technique.
5. Daniel Jewett, WR, Northridge: Gamebreaker will be counted on heavily as a receiver-slot, DB and returner. Dynamic on special teams and has a knack of finding the end zone with his legit 4.33 speed in the 40-yard dash.
Five games to watch
1. Waynesville at Clinton-Massie, Aug. 29: Burgeoning border rivalry between playoff stalwart Massie and the ascending Spartans.
2. Bellbrook at Valley View, Sept. 26: An early game with huge divisional implications. The entertaining matchup will offer a clue if Valley View is ready to reassert its might in the league.
3. Waynesville at Monroe, Oct. 17: Monroe, reigning champ, meets its biggest challenger.
4. Eaton at Valley View, Oct. 17. Matching X's and O's are veteran coaches Ron Neanen (21 years) vs. View's Jay Niswonger (25 years).
5. Bellbrook at Milton-Union, Oct. 24. Regular-season finale.
By the numbers
5 Teams from the Southwestern Division made the playoffs (Franklin and Bellbrook were left out).
3 Valley View averaged three costy turnovers a game.
6.8 Waynesville's fleet-footed Seth Millar's average per carry.
8 Games that Valley View will play on synthetic turf.
8 All-time passing records set by Dixie's Nick Worley, who threw for 1,703 yards.
