Division III Football Overview: Ohio's toughest Division?

Northwest has made the playoffs eight straight seasons but if the Indians are going to win their first state title it will have to happen within the next two. For the 11th straight time, a levy failed to pass in the district, thus eliminating sports at Northwest after the 2010-11 school year.

“We’re fighting for our lives here,” head coach Vic Whiting said. “The kids on this football team have paid a price to be on this football team. Not only do they work hard but they have to pay-to-play.

“We’ve got good kids and there is no doubt about that. We’re going to be really young and we’re going to be small.”

Evan Bach headlines the roster after moving from receiver to the backfield last season and rushing for 1,659 yards on 215 carries and 20 touchdowns.

Bryan Jones is under center again coming off a 74-of-129 passing effort for 975 yards, 10 touchdowns and nine interceptions.

Defensively, the linebacking corps returns with Bobby Schilling as the focal point.  He tallied 166 tackles as a junior with four sacks and two interceptions. Mitch Lewis had 52, respectively.

But according to Whiting, Northwest will field its share of underclassmen in 2009

“We have a lot of sophomore kids stepping up and there is quite a bit of speed and skill in that group,” he said. “But you don’t know what is going to happen because you don’t know how they are going to play on the varsity level.”

Dover has only missed the playoffs once this decade (2004) so it is safe to say the Tornadoes don’t rebuild, they reload.

Despite the loss of all-state quarterback Cory Lisowski to graduation and his go-to receivers in head coach Dan Ifft’s patented spread offense, Dover will be a force in the region once again.

“Some of our personality on offense might change losing Cory and some of those fleet receivers,” Ifft said. “but we’re going to try and do the same things – just get it done in a different way.

Marcus Mamarella steps in at quarterback after tossing for 49 yards and two touchdowns last season. He also had 202 yards rushing and nine touchdowns. Ian Drapcho will be his main target coming off 461 yards receiving on 26 catches and four touchdowns a year ago.

Alex Aubihl, Jason Orr, Cody Gordon, Danny Jeandervin and Kyle Erwin will provide experience on the line while the skill positions develop.

Defense will keep Dover in games early as the offense gels with nine starters returning.

“We’re going to try and continue to throw the ball but we might run it more – I won’t know that until we get rolling,” said Ifft. “Hopefully we can throw the ball as well as we did last year.”

Veteran head coach Mike Hensley retired from the Granville head coaching position in the offseason, but a new face won’t be roaming the Blue Aces sideline in his place.

That’s because longtime assistant and Granville alumnus J.R. Waite has taken over the top spot.

“It is a great honor and a great responsibility,” Waite said. “It has special meaning to me. I learned a lot from Mike and was fortunate to be given a lot of responsibilities by Mike.”

Waite retained the entire coaching staff.

“I am very familiar with our coaching staff and that makes the transition a little easier. I have great familiarity with the players,” he said.

Granville has to replace WR Adam Alderman and QB Cory Becher on offense, which combined, claim five school records.

David Hettler takes over at quarterback and Tyler Link is the leading returning rusher.

“We had a good core in the weight room in the offseason. We feel good about where we are with strength and conditioning,” Waite said. “It looks good – a very good future.”

Granville is looking for its third straight playoff berth and fourth in school history.

Licking Valley has been a playoff mainstay qualifying for the playoffs eight of the last nine seasons, which have included two state runner-up finishes (2001 and 2007).

But that streak could be in jeopardy this season with the well left mostly dry following last season’s state semifinals run.

The most notable player missing from the roster is RB/LB Storm Klein. In his storied four-year career, the Ohio State recruit set Central District records with 6,368 yards rushing and 99 touchdowns.

The Panthers only return three starters on offense and defense.

“We are very inexperienced,” longtime head coach Randy Baughman said. “We had a successful (junior varsity) team last year so we hope they are ready for Friday nights.”

Steubenville (14-1)

Few teams, regardless of division, have experienced the success Steubenville has the past decade. Since 1999, the Big Red have missed the postseason only once, have won two state titles (2005, 2006) and finished state runner-up last season. What’s more, this season has the potential to mark Steubenville’s seventh straight undefeated regular season.

There is a good chance that streak will stay alive with 15 starters returning.

“We have a good nucleus back and that is always good to have and it is a nucleus we can build around,” said head coach Reno Saccoccia, who was the D-IV co-coach of the year last season. “We have some experienced players coming back but there is a difference between an experienced player that is an underclassman and the experience of a senior leader.”

QB Dwight Macon is a Division I college prospect with several scholarship offers already. He rushed for 837 yards and 12 touchdowns last season and passed for 2,424 yards and 28 touchdowns with only four interceptions. He was the D-IV co-player of the year last season.

Steubenville moves up to D-III after two successful seasons in D-IV.

“If you look at Division III and the way it is set up, I can’t see any tougher division that is more competitive,” Saccoccia said. “We are just concentrating on improving everyday and preparing ourselves mentally and physically for a long and hopefully a long grind.” 

Cambridge made the playoffs for the first time in 2004 and made three straight appearances but has failed to qualify since.

QB Billy Webb (5-11, 179, Sr.) was 60-of-116 passing for 798 yards and three touchdowns last season with 169 yards and four touchdowns.

RB/LB Tyler Hardesty (5-11, 205, Sr.) tallied 292 carries for 1,639 yards and 23 touchdowns and also had 13 catches for 167 yards. Experience on the offensive line will help with the ground game, according to head coach Rich Goodrich.

“I feel we have a strong unit and will be a little diversified this year,” he said. “We should have the best team speed that we’ve had. We’ve got some young kids that can run and our older kids have above average speed and above average quickness.”

John Glenn missed the postseason last year after three straight appearances and it will be difficult to keep the Little Muskies out two seasons in a row.

The Panthers move up to D-III after finishing in the D-IV state semifinals last season. New Lexington has made the postseason four straight seasons. QB/LB Clint Cannon (6-1, 202, Sr.) and RB/LB John Robinson (6-1, 190, Sr.) headline the Panthers roster this season. Head coach Bill Nutt was the D-IV co-coach of the year.

The Hornets move up from D-IV after finishing No. 10 in Region 15 last season.

The Panthers earned a playoff berth for the first time last season since 2003.

Sheridan has made the playoffs six times since 2001 but the road ahead looks tough for the Generals this season. With the graduation of 20 seniors, the entire offense needs to be replaced as well as the defensive line.

“We have a lot of kids that are going to have to play both ways this year for us,” head coach Paul Culver said. “When you lose that many kids it is hard to find that many to take their place.

“I have been around this game long enough to know what it takes to have a good football team and I think we have some potential but potential doesn’t translate to what happens on the field unless you are working hard and doing what you’re supposed to be doing.”

DL Drew Carpenter (6-1, 220, Sr.) was an All-Ohio first team defense selection.

Millersburg West Holmes (5-5), Alliance (6-4), Alliance Marlington (5-5), Cadiz Harrison Central (6-4), Carrollton (0-10), Philo (3-7), East Liverpool (1-9), Hebron Lakewood (1-9), Lisbon Beaver Local (4-6), McConnelsville Morgan (1-9), Minerva (6-4), Navarre Fairless (4-6), Richmond Edison (3-7), Salem (0-10), Uhrichsville Claymont (3-7), Warsaw River View (2-8), Winterville Indian Creek (2-8), Zanesville Maysville (0-10)