2013 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW

Montpelier Locomotives

Northwest Ohio Athletic League

8/26/2013
2013 Montpelier Locomotives
2013 Montpelier Locomotives

Row 1: Chase Steffes, Hunter McKelvey, Jared Lyons, Devin Nemire, Tyler McDaniel, Keegan Hitzeman, Nate Buehrer, Levi Croft, Jake Dewire, Jared Shoup, Jared Sargent, Nate McCord, Cody Caudill

Row 2: Dallas Royer, Ivan Moor, Nolan Stratton, Max Hulbert, Gunnar Matson, Logan Hutchinson, Austin Cook, Wyatt Beck, Keaton Byers, Kyrin Schuman, Alex Zuver, Jordan Birdsall, Simon Wang, Zech Thompson

Row 3: Robert Ruppert, Devin Dockery, Tyrone Taylor, Zac Mason, Nick Buehrer, Dylan Gyurnek, Michael Blake, Bryce Cooley, Caleb Haines, Trevor Prekop, Lane Strubberg, Jacob Earle, Colin Rockey, CJ Roth

Row 4: Aiden Higby (manager), coaches Joe Brigle, Troy Roth, Blayne Bible, head coach Stephen Brancheau, Anthony Coleman, David Bauer, Martinelli, Landon Brigle (manager)

 

ABOUT THE TEAM

Coach: Steven Brancheau, second year

Last season: 2-6, 3-7 NWOAL

Returning letter winners: 7

Returning starters: Offense 1, defense 7

Schemes: Pistol flexbone/​4-3

Top players: Seniors Nathan Buehrer, 6-0, 215, OL-LB; Keegan Hitzeman, 5-10, 155, QB-DB; Levi Croft, 5-8, 150, WR-LB. Juniors Cody Caudill, 5-10, 155, WR-DB; Jared Sargent, 5-7, 180, OL-LB. Sophomores Jordan Birdsall, 5-10, 155, RB-LB; Dallas Royer, 5-5, 140, FB-LB; Simon Wang, 5-11, 170, WR-DB.

Outlook: The Locomotives have reason to be encouraged about where the program is heading.

However, the lineup lost a key player — quarterback Tyler Benner — to graduation and must find a replacement for the playmaker who led the team with 1,194 rushing yards and 353 passing yards.

Hitzeman and Buehrer, both three-year letter winners, are the senior leaders and will be counted on. But with only three seniors the Locomotives are calling on the juniors and sophomores to step up.

Sargent and Birdsall represent a few of the returning lettermen that Brancheau believes can make a difference for a team that returns only one starter on offense.

"We're going to be young all the way around," Brancheau said. "But we have some talent. We hope to learn as we go."

Royer (69 carries for 389 yards, two TDs) and Caudill (six receptions, two TDs) also have some experience.

 

MONTPELIER SCHEDULE

Aug. 30-at Hilltop

Sep. 6-at Liberty Center

Sep. 13-Patrick Henry

Sep. 20-at Swanton

Sep. 27-Bryan

Oct. 4-Archbold

Oct. 11-at Wauseon

Oct. 18-Delphos Jefferson

Oct. 25-Evergreen

Nov. 1-at Delta