Coach: Brian Cooper, first year
Last season: 4-6, 2-5 NBC
Returning letter winners: 16
Returning starters: Offense 5, defense 5
Schemes: Pistol, spread/3-5
Top players: Seniors Michael Chapman, 6-1, 175, WR/LB; Ben Williams, 5-8, 165, WR/DB; Zach Foster, 6-2, 175, QB/DB; Michael Baer, 5-7, 165, RB/DB; Michael Smith, 5-10, 180, RB/LB; Derick Mobus, 6-3, 180, RB/DB; Cody Eaken, 5-11, 190, OL/DL; Austin Hoiles, 6-2, 205, OL/DL; Michael Meeker, 6-0, 220, OL/DL; Taylor Meiring, 6-0, 180, RB/LB; Mica Robinson, 6-5, 210. Juniors Aaron Arnold, 6-4, 180, WR/DB; Nolan Keer, 5-10, 180, WR/LB; Jacob Wise, 5-10, 180, WR/LB; Justin Krouse, 6-3, 270, OL/DL; Sawyer Haines, 6-4, 230, OL/DL.
Outlook: Cooper enters his first year with nine years of assistant coaching experience with stops at Swanton (2007-08), the University of Toledo (2009), Rossford (2010), and Bryan (2011).
The leadership of his 11 seniors will be the Royals' strength. Foster returns at QB after throwing for 908 yards (63 of 184) and five touchdowns.
Arnold, who rushed for 355 yards (5.5 average), will play primarily at wide receiver. Smith finished with 274 rushing yards. The duo will look to replace the production of Luke Garner, the team's leading scorer and rusher last season.
Others to watch include Meiring at linebacker, and linemen Meeker, Eaken, and Krouse.
But a lack of depth could be a weakness, according to Cooper.
"Our team will go as far as our upperclassmen take us and buy into what we are doing as a program," Cooper said.
2012 ELMWOOD SCHEDULE
Aug. 24-at Gibsonburg
Aug. 31-Hopewell-Loudon
Sept. 7-at North Baltimore
Sept. 14-Woodmore
Sept. 21-at Eastwood
Sept. 28-at Lake
Oct. 5-Genoa
Oct. 12-Rossford
Oct. 19-at Fostoria
Oct. 26-Otsego