NORTH/SOUTH CLASSIC
When: Saturday.
Where: Welcome Stadium, Dayton.
Times: Noon Divisions IV-VII; 4 p.m. Divisions I-III.
Tickets: $10 at the gate (good for both games).
As the highly successful Coldwater High School football coach, Chip Otten has had more than his fair share of outstanding players. That’s to be expected after winning the last four Division V state championships. But that high level athletic ability that’s the norm for the Cavaliers has been trumped this week.
“When you get involved in something like this the coaching part is a lot of fun,” said Otten, the small-schools South head coach for Saturday’s Ohio North/South All-Star Football Classic at Welcome Stadium.
“You get to meet all the good kids. We’ve got guys from Van Wert to Steubenville to Ironton to Wheelersburg and everywhere in between south of Columbus for the most part. They’re the best of the best.”
There will be two games on Saturday, the Divisions IV-VII game is at noon and Divisions I-III at 4 p.m. The North swept both games last season.
Players, all seniors, arrived on Thursday and will have two practice sessions Thursday and Friday at the stadium.
Otten said his South team has had practice the last two Sundays at Grandview Heights in Columbus, close to a midway point for the 34-member team. He’ll have Cavaliers defensive lineman Mitch Clune and offensive lineman Brandon Forsthofel on his South team.
Other area players on the squad are running back Dave Tunon and offensive lineman Jake Garrison of Clinton-Massie and Northridge receiver Drew Ogletree.
Area players on the South big-schools team are offensive lineman Andrew Greenspan and linebacker Danny Holstein of Beavercreek, running back Darryl McCleskey and defensive lineman Mikal Tolliver from Wayne, Springboro teammates Justin Rigg (tight end) and Elijah Cunningham (quarterback), Piqua defensive back Alex Nees and Miamisburg linebacker Louie Wasonski.
Otten will coach the defensive line. He said the defense will be limited to four-man fronts, man pass coverage and no blitzing. It’s up to each offense to simplify terminology and rely on several basic plays.
The Classic is sponsored by the Ohio High School Football Coaches Association.
“It makes you realize when there’s 700-some high schools that play football, there are guys all over and a couple guys from each school who are outstanding at every position,” Otten said. “Something like this, you really just keep it as simple as you can.”
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