Utica Redskins 2011

[NewarkCatholicFan]

Utica was 6-4 last season
Non-league 1-2
(If the schedule is the same)they really need a better start to the season.

The Redskins lost 10 seniors from last season including the best QB in Licking County four year starter(I beleive this is correct)Jason Hoar and the counties best receiver,Scott Cline.(DOES ANYONE KNOW WHERE THESE TWO ARE GOING TO PLAY COLLEGE BALL?)

The offense does return 4 starters, according to the Newark Advocate. There are three QB'S on the roster (soph-Tyler Cline,5-8-131,JR-Trent Vickers,5-10-135 and SR,Clay Rowley,5-9-168. One would have to think if all three return the battle for the starting QB could be a war.

Artie Douglas, a Sr. wideout returns.He is listed at 5-8-147. Based on the fact that he is the only returning rec on the roster he should be able to help the passing game and the new QB.

Sr,Brett Robberts is a undersize tight end(5-10-165)I am guessing he also should be able to help in the passing game.That's if the Utica offense tries and gets the tight end slot invilved in the passing game.

Sr,Sam Preston-6-0-234 is the ONE OF TWO returning line on the offense. The other returner is Left Guard Matt Lewis, A Sr 5-11-196. These two will have to show the way if the offense has a chance to do anything, at all.

The running game will need someone to step up as both the starter and # 1 back up graduated. Some names to look for could be JR, Ben Hayes,5-7-150,
Jr, Kody Smith 5-6-136 and Jr,Drew Beaver 5-6-162.

The defense returns only five starters.DT Sam Preston and NG Matt Lewis. Both will have to be the leaders on the line, as they will on offense.

The secondary could be the strongest area on this team with three starters returning. Clay Rowery, Artie Johnson and Tyler Compton(The roster I have does not have Compton on it, but he is listed as a starter on the depth chart.

GOOD LUCK UTICA IN 2011.

[gamauter]

Wow, not much size here, Utica always seems to have good skill people we will just have to see if they can get some bigs to open holes and stop the other teams.

[Red_Skin_Pride]

NCF, Hoar is going to Otterbein to play QB and Cline is a preferred walk-on at Cincinatti from (what I hear) on defense as a safety. They seem to think he has the speed and ability on defense to make the team. The *rumor* that I heard was a few weeks before national signing day, UC contacted him and told him depending on how many kids signed with them on NSD, they might offer him a scholarship late...they had a great class this year so he didn't end up getting a scholarship offer but (and this part is confirmed per the Newark Advocate) they wanted him to come try out as a preferred walk on. I would assume that he'll end up in the OVC or some non scholarship D.II or D.III school if things don't work out.

[Red_Skin_Pride]

As for this season, Utica will be down compared to 7, 7 and 6 wins the past 3 years. They've only lost 4 games in the MBC in the last 3 years (once to Johnstown, once to East Knox, and twice to Fredericktown) but they might lose more than that this season. However, this might be a stepping stone year to 2012. NCF did a great job with the preview, but left out the future of the offense, RB Travis Baldwin. He was a freshman last year who played a lot on both sides of the ball, and had considerable size and speed for his age. He played safety on defense, relieving Scott Cline occasionally. I look for Rowley and Vickers to start the season splitting time at QB, and Vickers to eventually win the starting position, as he offers the skill set most like Hoar's...which the offense has been built around the last 4 years. As gamateur said, Utica is always small on the line, so I think they've found that they're going to have to run this kind of offense to succeed. The days of lining up and pounding it, running guys like Tony Majors, Mike Lewis, and Dustin Walker 35+ times per game with an Oline averaging 225 or more are over with the kids they have coming out now as linemen. Just not a lot of big kids in our school the past 8-10 years. The skill positions will be ok with Vickers, Rowley, Douglas, Hayes, Baldwin and Robberts returning, along with Beaver. It remains to be seen how sophmore Tyler Cline (Scott's younger brother) will progress heading into this year. Scott's breakout year came as a sophmore, and I know many people are hoping Tyler can help us this year and do the same. Utica really does have some good looking younger backs if they can find people to block for them.

Defensively is the best side of the ball for returning starters. If you're correct NCF and this Tyler Compton kid is listed as a starter, Utica actually has 4 returning starters in secondary, as Ben Hayes started at corner last year as a sophmore. He and Douglas will likely be the corners, while Rowley and Compton with fill safety spots. Lewis and Preston will make a good tandem on the Dline, but Utica needs to find another 4-5 kids to be able to have any chance against Johnstown and Fredericktown. Robberts will likely be the key returning LB, as he really started becoming a force at the end of the year last year (he had like 20+ tackles against Fredericktown).
It'll be an interesting year. And it COULD be a good year if the younger guys step up and play to their potential, because I know we had some decent sized younger lineman last year that will likely be starting this year, mixed with a decent amount of returning experience, and experience winning some games, especially within the conference. I think realistically it'll be about a .500 year, BUT Utica hasn't beaten either Granville or Heath in almost a decade, so if they win one of those two games (both at Utica) look out, with such a young team, anything's possible.

[57chevy]

What is pay to play going to be? Will it have any effect?

[Red_Skin_Pride]

^I've not heard much of anything so far, but from my understanding of the little bit I did hear, it won't affect fall sports too much this year. I know Utica's been practicing and has been to a few 7on7's. Usually the way this all works in our district 57chevy, is that all the people get complacent in the spring/summer and don't pass the levies. Then football season rolls around and the players, parents and volunteers start raising money and really beating the "we need to pass this or we're not going to have sports" drum AND people look at the calendar and think s**t, basketball season is coming and we might not have basketball! If you've paid attention, the past 2 levies have all passed right around football/basketball season. This is nothing new. It'll get passed. No way in such a small community, driven in large part by its sports programs, that those associated with our sports programs will miss let the community slack and force the kids to miss out on the chance to play in the LCL in a few years, or miss out on basketball season, period.

[57chevy]

Well I had heard that the community had been raising money so the pay to play wouldn't be so harsh. Good luck!

[57chevy]

Did you mean Artie Douglas in your preview above?