TAAC

Northwood Rangers

FROM LEFT: Row 1: Dustin Fullenlove, Nick Russell, Justin Rohrs, Stephen Fuller, John Segura, David Bogart, Trey Odenweller, Nick Whitmore, Michael Tonti, Louie Woyame. Row 2: Dustin Bolton, Kevin Baker, Brandon Kretz, Evan Perkins, Tyler Shepard, Brandon Mahoney, Brandon Hoffman, Dallas Florez, Jordan Schell. Row 3: Anthony Keefer, Adam Wilson, Luke Laviolette, Jake Davenport, Anthony Prothero, Travis Whitmore, Antonio Espinoza, Devin Banda-Meyers, Kyle Corbitt, Travis Singlar. Row 4: Chanlor Hayes, Stephen Sutton, Dylan Napier, Derek Florez, Devon Dunbar, Jacob Zieroff, Dominik Bermejo, Jason Diaz, Justin Branstutter, Myles Habel, Aaron Howard. Row 5: Manager Taylor Cruz, Will Pert, Collin Gutekunst, Scott Slater, Jonny Wheeler, Joey Woody, Jacob Vickers, Sean Whitmore, Michael Vallejo, Joshua Meach, Troy Schmitz, Paul Stevens, Jacob Shephard, Manager Philysity Wojcinski. Row 6: Manager Chelsea James, assistant coach Todd Welch, assistant coach Chris Genson, assistant coach Shawn Aiello, assistant coach Dave Russell, assistant coach Ben Brown, head coach Ken James, assistant coach Nate James, assistant coach Jim Besgrove, assistant coach Matt Donegan, assistant coach Beau Santus, assistant coach Alex Williams, assistant coach Charles Gibbon, manager Leeza Bowers.

Coach: Ken James, 27th year

Last season: 9-2, 7-0 TAAC

Returning letter winners: 20

Returning starters: Offense 10, defense 7

Schemes: Wishbone/4-3

Top players: Seniors Nick Whitmore, 6-0, 240, FB-LB; Justin Rohrs, 6-2, 256, C-DT; Nick Russell, 5-11, 163, QB; David Bogart, 6-3, 227, OT-DE; John Segura, 6-1, 239, G-DE; Evan Perkins, 5-9, 173, RB-LB; Stephen Fuller, 5-10, 145, RB-CB.

Outlook: The Rangers have dominated play in the TAAC since becoming a member in 2001. They have posted a 58-4 conference record in 11 seasons and produced seven outright titles. In four seasons, Northwood's lone TAAC loss cost it the conference title. Coming off a 7-0 run in the TAAC last year, the Rangers are a solid threat to duplicate that feat this year with starters back at 17 of 22 positions, including three players (Whitmore, Bogart and Russell) who are fourth-year starters. Five others (Segura, Rohrs, Perkins, Dustin Fullenlove, and Mike Tonti) are third-year starters. Whitmore was the TAAC defensive player of the year in 2011, and Russell (1,227 passing yards, 702 rushing), Segura, Rohrs, Bogart and Perkins were each All-TAAC players.

Experience, depth and team speed will all be pluses, while James' main concern is inexperience in the secondary in a pass-heavy conference.

"We have a large senior class [18 total] that has experienced much success," said James, who is 142-127 with the Rangers, including 82-26 since 2001. "Our big challenge will be battling complacency and focusing on the task at hand as we move through the season."

2012 NORTHWOOD SCHEDULE

Aug. 24-Ayersville

Aug. 31-at Lake

Sep. 7-Hopewell-Loudon

Sep. 14-at Edon

Sep. 21-Gibsonburg

Sep. 28-at Hilltop

Oct. 5-Danbury

Oct. 12-Toledo Christian at Perrysburg

Oct. 19-Ottawa Hills

Oct. 26-Cardinal Stritch at Clay