NW OHIO

Holgate Tigers

FROM LEFT: Row 1: Mitchel Gonzalez, Wes Schwab, AJ Kelly, Ben Thomas, Jake Aelker, Brandon Gustwiller Row 2: Tim Peterman, Jakob Gerstung, Jacob Clark, Angel Almanza, Sean Mack, Chance Gray Row 3: A.J. Alvarez, Reed Ricker, Nick Luderman, Brok Theisen, Dylan Szabo, Everett Klinginshirn, Micajah Jackson, Owen Clady Row 4: Gabe Santos, Joe Stalnaker, Garrett Blakely, Noah Schuller, Ryan Okuley, Tommy Kovar, Row 5: Coaches - head coach Jeff Boulton,Chris Burgel, Jesse Santos, Blake Sizemore, Josh Riedy, Ted Sonneberg, Tim Ordway, Matt Clark; trainer Scott Buddelmeyer

Coach: Jeff Boulton, first season

Last season: 2-8, 2-5 Green Meadows Conference

Returning letter winners: 14

Returning starters: Offense 7, defense 7.

Schemes: Wing-T/3-5-3

Top players: Seniors Mitchel Gonzalez, 6-1, 204, RB/DB; Brandon Gustwiller, 6-2, 182, OL/LB; Jake Aelker, 6-1, 168, RB/DB; AJ Kelly 5-11, 150, RB/SE; Wes Schwab, 5-10, 179, RB/DB; juniors Angel Almanza, 6-2, 215, OL/DL; Jacob Clark, 6-2, 180, OL/LB; Chance Gray 5-7, 156, RB/DB; Sean Mack, 6-1, 182, QB/DB.

Outlook: The Tigers will field a team of 26 players with 14 returning letter winners, many who will be expected to play both offense and defense.

With a small squad, staying healthy will be the key in order for Holgate to remain competitive through the course of the season. Boulton said that his goal is to build the program by establishing a foundation in order to retain players.

"If we can stay healthy, we have a chance of being competitive against schools in a similar scenario," Boulton said. "We're trying to build a foundation, and we're back to square one, as far as the fundamentals go."

2012 HOLGATE SCHEDULE

Aug. 27-North Baltimore

Sept. 3-Toledo Christian

Sept. 10-at Hilltop

Sept. 17-Wayne Trace

Sept. 24-at Ayersville

Oct. 1-at Fairview

Oct. 8-Edgerton

Oct. 15-at Hicksville

Oct. 22-Tinora

Oct. 29-at Antwerp