2013 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW

Elmwood Royals

Northern Buckeye Conference

2013 Elmwood Royals

Team photo from left:

Row 1: Brik Dauterman, Sebastian Baxter, Sawyer Haines, Aaron Arnold, Justin Krouse, Jacob Firsdon, Nolan Kerr, Jordan Sweet, Aaron West

Row 2: Ryan Aufdencamp, Dylan Benschoter, Austin Issacs, Nick Gillett, Devin Uzelac, Thomas Wagler, Keith Keeton, Brandon Palmer, Austin Jasso, Dylan Hall

Row 3: Josh Lorenzen, Kieran Adamski, Rob Bentley, Noah Smith, Brett Jones, Zach Baker, Keyon Camden, Philip Buckingham, Jordan Andrich, Tayte Lentz, Ryan Krouse

Row 4: Gage Rayle, Nate Uzelac, Branden Mercer, Josh Firsdon, Noah Baker, Jace Grossman, Calvin Thatcher, Andrew Arnold, Griffin Sperry, Luke Hagemyer, Jordan Thrash

Row 5: Noah Fouty, Nick Wiseman, Kyle Dibling, Levi Christiansan Dalton Merrit

Row 6: Coaches Dale Bernard, Adam Holcombe, Jason Shirkey, head coach Brian Cooper, Ryan Miser, Justin Schafer, Randy Lambert

ABOUT THE TEAM:

Coach: Brian Cooper, second year

Last season: 4-6, 2-5 NBC

Returning letter winners: 11

Returning starters: Offense 4, defense 4

Schemes: Pistol, Wing-T/​Under

Top players: Seniors Aaron Arnold, 6-4, 180, WR-​DB; Nolan Kerr. 5-10, 180, OL-​DL; Justin Krouse, 6-3, 270, OL-​DL; Sawyer Haines, 6-4, 230, TE-​DL.

Outlook: Cooper is a former assistant at the University of Toledo (2009), along with stops at Swanton, Rossford, and Bryan.

He expects the Royals to make a big jump after posting back-to-back 4-6 seasons, including 2-5 marks in league play.

Cooper has 30 players, and looks for strong leadership from his nine seniors.

Haines earned All-NBC honorable mention at defensive end.

But Elmwood has inexperience at key positions, including the loss of the top two rushers and its quarterback from last season.

The last time the Royals won a league title was 2006 when they shared the Suburban Lakes League crown with Eastwood. Elmwood had won or shared three of four SLL titles from 2003-06.

“We had a great summer of learning the game and buying into our program,” Cooper said. “Our kids have a confidence that hasn’t been seen surrounding Elmwood football in a long time and they have set very attainable goals that probably were not even in the realm of conversation the last few years.”

ELMWOOD SCHEDULE

Aug. 30-Gibsonburg

Sep. 6-at Hopewell-Loudon

Sep. 13-North Baltimore

Sep. 20-Fostoria

Sep. 27-at Otsego

Oct. 4-at Woodmore

Oct. 11-Eastwood

Oct. 18-Lake

Oct. 25-at Genoa

Nov. 1-at Rossford