Springboro shoots for first D-I playoff berth


3 Player to Watch

Antoin Campbell — RB

Senior ranked second in entire GWOC last season in total yards

Jake Dwyer— LB

Senior will anchor the Panthers eight-man front

Michael Tepe — WR/DB

Versatile senior will play offense and defense

Projected Lineup

Defense

Player — Position, Class

Austin Plenzler — DL, Sr.

Cody Markham— DL, Sr.

Ryan Jackson — DL, Jr.

Tony Cacciolfi — DL, Sr.

Jake Dwyer — LB, Sr.

Ben Kuczek — LB, Sr.

Kyle King — LB, Jr.

Blake McCoy — LB, Sr.

Cody Shivener — DB, Jr.

Michael Tepe — DB, Sr.

Ryan Alvey — DB, Jr.

Brian Upton — P, Jr.

Projected Lineup

Offense

Player — Position, Class

Jason Stinebaugh — QB, Sr.

Antoin Campbell — HB, Sr.

Taylor Franz — FB, Sr.

Max Webb — WR, Jr.

Max Couch — WR, Sr.

David Fleming — TE, Sr.

Ben Runchey — OL, Sr.

Erik Stickelmaier — OL, Sr.

Jake Rigg — OL, Jr.

Tyler Damian — OL, Jr.

Josh Mayberry — OL, Jr.

Brian Upton — K, Jr.

2009 Schedule

Date — Opponent

Aug. 28 — Fairfield

Sept. 4 — at Sycamore

Sept. 11 — at Piqua

Sept. 18 — Vandalia Butler

Sept. 25 — at Sidney

Oct. 2 — Lebanon

Oct. 9 — at Miamisburg

Oct. 16 — at Xenia

Oct. 23 — Trotwood-Madison

Oct. 30 — Fairborn

NOTE: All games start at 7:30 p.m. unless noted.

SCHOOL INFO

Coach: Ryan Whilhite (fourth year)

Conference: Greater Western Ohio Conference, South Division

Stadium: Careflight Field

Phone: (937) 748-3950

Web site: www.springborofootball.com

2008 RESULTS

Opponent, Score

Kings, L, 37-14

Sycamore, L, 49-17

Piqua, L, 19-16 OT

Butler, W, 28-13

Sidney, W, 28-7

Lebanon W, 14-0

Miamisburg W, 35-14

Xenia, W, 34-7

Trotwood, W, 14-13

Fairborn, W, 42-0

Overall: 7-3 (4-0 GWOC South)

SPRINGBORO — Can Springboro three-peat in the Greater Western Ohio Conference South Division?

That’s what fourth-year coach Ryan Wilhite hopes will happen.

But the Panthers, who won their last seven games of the season last year to finish 7-3 (4-0 GWOC South), have loftier goals this year.

“This team hopes to be the first in program history to qualify for the Division I playoffs,” Wilhite said. “They know there will be a first team to do it, and they have set their minds to being that team.”

Springboro moved up to Division I in 2007 after qualifying for the D-II playoffs in 2004 and 2005.

“We understand how hard it will be to three-peat in our league,” Wilhite said. “We have a target on our backs and we’re going to get peoples best shots.

“We would like to think we’re carrying over that momentum from last seasons winning streak,” he continued. “But this is a different team than last year. They have to find their own way to get things done.”

One of the new faces will be under center. Jason Stinebaugh, a 6-foot-2, 180-pound senior, takes over the quarterbacking duties.

“He brings mobility to our offense,” Wilhite said. “He has good arm strength and is excited about the opportunity to run the show.”

He’ll have one of the top offensive threats in the GWOC on his side in senior Antoin Campbell.

Campbell had 1,600 all-purpose yards as a junior, which ranked him second in the entire conference.

“Antoin is a very skilled and talented player,” Wilhite said.

Wilhite also was quick to point out his defense, led by 6-2, 215-pound linebacker Jake Dwyer.

“Each year in these offensive and defensive schemes, we seem to start off ahead of the previous season,” Wilhite said. “We had a JV team that was 9-0 last year and a freshmen team that was 9-0-1, so we are coming in with a group of guys that expect to win.

“They come in every day with a standard of winning and that’s what they want to build on,” he added.

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