2013 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW

Ottawa Hills Green Bears

Toledo Area Athletic Conference

2013 Ottawa Hills Green Bears

Row 1: Chuck Moynihan, Austin Stevens, Jake Swafford, Noah Hupp, Max Isenberg, Ed Harrison.

Row 2: Stephen Wohlfarth, Alex Scott, Jonathan Intrater, Andrew Boesel, Cameron Burris, Miguel Sanchez, Daniel Intrater, Charlie Sandberg, Matt Gargas.

Row 3: Andy Dayton, Alex Schlatter, Logan Crider, Vincent Hahn, Hassen Bin Hamid, Jack Wollenburg, Erik Gross, Miles Daniels.

Row 4: Noah Purnell, Ricky Davis, Griffin DeMilt, Trent Davis, Kyle Harrison, Alec Zinck, Will Petro, Simon Purnell, Cole Simonetti, Vic Schlatter.

Row 5: Chris Hardman, Nathaniel Erickson, Amy Clement, Dan Shifley, Mike Vogelsong, Tom Burzine, Chris Wilhelm.

ABOUT THE TEAM

Coach: Chris Hardman, 16th year

Last season: 7-4, 6-1 TAAC

Returning letter winners: 7

Returning starters: Offense 2, defense 2

Schemes: Spread/​3-5

Top players: Senior Jake Swafford, 5-11, 180, RB-DB. Junior Cameron Burris, 5-8, 185, OL-DL; Andrew Boesel, 6-1, 180, RB-LB; Austin Stevens, 6-3, 180, QB-DB. Sophomore Jack Wollenburg, 6-1, 170, WR-DB.

Outlook: No team in the TAAC was hit harder by graduation than the Green Bears, who have just four seniors on their 35-player roster and must replace starters at nine positions on both sides of the ball.

This rebuilding task is made easier, according to Hardman, by the team’s enthusiasm. But there will be no hiding the inexperience. The biggest losses offensively were RB Will Longthorne (567 rushing yards, 12 TDs) and Judah Wollenburg (607 rushing yards, 8 TDs).

“It’s very simple,” Hardman said. “How quickly can our young team adapt to varsity football?”

OTTAWA HILLS SCHEDULE

Aug. 30-at Van Buren

Sep. 6-Ayersville

Sep. 13-at Lake

Sep. 20-Gibsonburg

Sep. 27-Hilltop

Oct. 4-at Edon

Oct. 11-Cardinal Stritch at Clay

Oct. 18-Danbury

Oct. 25-Northwood

Oct. 31-Toledo Christian at Springfield