2013 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW

Northwood Rangers

Toledo Area Athletic Conference

2013 Northwood Rangers

Row 1: Steven Gutekunst, Dominik Bermejo, Kyle Corbitt, Luke laviolette, Jacob Davenport, Travis Whitmore, Antione Brown, Kyle Kirchner, Myles Habel, Aaron Howard

Row 2: Derek Florez, Jacob Zieroff, Justin Branstutter, Devon Dunbar, Jayden Parker, Travis Singlar, Dylan Napier, Jason Diaz, Chanlor Hayes, Seth Aldridge

Row 3: Ben Goins, Trevor Mack, Troy Schmitz, Jonny Wheeler, Jacob Vickers, Scott Slater, Mike Vallejo, Joey Woody, Collin Gutekunst, Dillan Cathers, Will Peart, Jacob Shephard

Row 4: Nick Bonette, Gavin Fritz, Christian Vickers, Austin Weatherholt, Micheal Lopinski, Austin, Krueger, Andrew Claus, Tyler Arman, Marco Kelly, Nate Brice

Row 5: Head coach Ken James, Chelsea James, Alontay Gould,Evan LaPlante, Eric Mellon, Ryder Howald, Athony Arzuaga, Tyler Baer, Leeza Bowers, Phylisity Wojcinski

Row 6: Coaches Todd Welch, Shawn Aiello, Chris Genson, Nate James, Jake Kohring, Matt Donegan, Jim Besgrove, Charles Gibbon

ABOUT THE TEAM

Coach: Ken James, 28th year

Last season: 10-1, 7-0 TAAC

Returning letter winners: 8

Returning starters: Offense 3, defense 4

Schemes: Wishbone/​4-3

Top players: Seniors Jacob Davenport, 5-9, 140, SE-FS; Kyle Corbitt, 6-2, 212, OT-DE; Travis Whitmore, 6-0, 225, OG-DE; Luke Laviolette, 6-4, 305. Juniors Myles Habel, 6-2, 261, OG-LB; Dominik Bermejo, 5-10, 164, RB-SS.

Outlook: The Rangers are 65-4 in TAAC play since joining the conference in 2001, and have won nine titles in those 12 seasons. Even though they suffered major losses to graduation, they are still the preseason pick to win a third straight crown.

Northwood will again feature good speed at the skill positions, and good size on both lines. What concerns James is his team’s overall lack of depth and experience.

Bermejo returns as the TAAC’s top point scorer (104), including 17 TDs. He rushed 57 times for 351 yards. Davenport caught 21 passes for 365 yards and nine TDs.

“We have several talented players, but many of them lack significant game experience,” James said. “We should improve as our young players acquire playing time, but we must stay healthy if we want to be competitive.

“Not many of them have been under much pressure yet. But, at some point, I think we’re going to be a pretty good football team.”

NORTHWOOD SCHEDULE

Aug. 30-at Ayersville

Sep. 6-Lake

Sep. 13-Woodward at Waite

Sep. 20-Edon

Sep. 27-at Gibsonburg

Oct. 4-Hilltop

Oct. 11-at Danbury

Oct. 18-Toledo Christian

Oct. 25-at Ottawa Hills

Nov. 1-Cardinal Stritch