2013 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW

Eastwood Eagles

Northern Buckeye Conference

2013 Eastwood Eagles

Team photo from left:

Row 1: Brent Schlumbohm, Jacob Rahe, Ryan Mang, Jordon Faykosh, Shane VanVorce, Grant Peters, Jake Schmeltz, Michael Flipse, Joey Salinas, Michael Glaze, Andrew Blair, Enrique Miranda

Row 2: Devin Snowden, Tyler McCrory, Grant Geiser, Brennan Seifert, Jack Heckman, Jason Fertig, Zach Ross, Zach Linhart, Lucas Friess, Jacob Radabaugh, Jon Hegemier

Row 3: Hunter Sutton, Mitchell Davidson, Ben Haas, Zach Thompson, Lucas McCullough, Chris Orcutt, Brandon Vollmar, Eli Brown, Noah Zatko, Abram Reyes, Caleb Tussing

Row 4: Cameron Niswander, Dylan Blair, Jonathen Bowlus, Preston Link, Tommy Mann, Trevor Shultz, CJ Burridge, Tylor Tudor, Joey Trabbic, Brandon Siek, Michael Burket

Row 5: Bradon Bejarano, Nate Kinart, Nick Radabaugh, John Williams, Kenneth Cassaubon, Tim Oakly, Tyler Brenot, Zach Radcliff, Jason Ernsthausen, Logan Avalos

Row 6: Coaches Joe Wyant, Nick Schmeltz, head coach Jerry Rutherford, Craig Rutherford, Glen Owens. Steve Aungst, Andy Friess, Eric Rutherford, Jeffrey Rutherford

Not in photo: Zach Featherson, Austin Meece, Zane Zientek

ABOUT THE TEAM:

Coach: Jerry Rutherford, 32nd season

Last season: 5-5, 5-2 NBC

Returning letter winners: 14

Returning starters: Offense 6, defense 6

Schemes: Wing-T/​5-2

Top players: Seniors Jake Schmeltz, 6-0, 176, QB; Ryan Mang, 6-0, 171, LB; Michael Flipse, 5-7, 163, SE-​SS; Brent Schlumbohm, 5-11, 150, RB-​DB; Shane VanVorce, 6-1, 146, G; Jacob Rahe, 5-10, 226, C-​DT.

Outlook: Eastwood looks to get back to the top with 40 players including 12 seniors.

The Eagles ended Genoa's 48-game regular season win streak in 2011 and went undefeated to win the inaugural NBC title that year.

After starting out last season 0-3 in the nonleague schedule, Eastwood reeled off five straight conference wins. But the Eagles dropped their final two games to Woodmore (27-20) and Genoa (21-10).

Schmeltz completed 34 of 60 passes for 652 yards and six touchdowns. He has started 22 games, and averaged 21.7 yards per rush last season.

Schlumbohm carried 117 times for 678 yards (5.8 per carry) and eight scores.

Punter Brennan Seifert, a junior, earned All-NBC first team. Mang and VanVorce are back after being named all-league second team.

But Eastwood lost its leading receiver and rusher, Isaiah Conkle, to graduation.

Rutherford also is concerned about the experience along both lines.

“We've had a great offseason and we're really excited about the season,” Rutherford said.

EASTWOOD SCHEDULE

Aug. 30-at Patrick Henry

Sep. 6-Clyde

Sep. 13-Oak Harbor

Sep. 20-Woodmore

Sep. 27-at Genoa

Oct. 4-Lake

Oct. 11-at Elmwood

Oct. 18-Rossford

Oct. 25-at Fostoria

Nov. 1-at Otsego