2009 Ohio high school football teams to watch: Division VI

Michael Broida, OhioHSsports.com, November 08, 2009 4:12 p.m.

Mogadore Wildcats

Region: 21

Conference: Portage Trail—County Division

2008 Record: 10-2

Head Coach: Matt Adorni

Players to watch:  Kodey Chance, TB/LB, averaged 7.5 yard per carry with 13 TDs.Jake McAvinew, DL, scored 12 sacks in each of the last two seasons  Landon Trainer, TE, 407 yards receiving with 7 TDs

Outlook for 2009: While Mogadore is routinely a talented and successful team (4 state titles, 14 regional championships, 35 Portage League championships), this year the Wildcats welcome back sixteen starters, seven on offense and nine on defense. Good numbers for any team, and in the tiny Division VI, it is almost unheard of. What Mogadore’s opponents should realize is that the Wildcat team that went 10-2 in 2008 is only going to get better this year. The biggest question for Mogadore is how well new quarterback, Drew Babbit, will fair as the leader of the Wildcat offense.

Delphos St. John’s

Region: 22

Conference: Midwest Athletic Conference

2008 Record: 13-2

Head Coach: Todd Schulte

Players to watch: Wes Ulm, QB, returning starter. Very mobile. 2100 all purpose yards
Jordan Leinger, HB, over 1,200 yards last year Chris Pohlman, LB, the team’s leading tackler in 2008 Joel Pohlman, LB, second leading tackler in 2008 behind his brother Ty Bergfeld, FS, 3 year starter, lead team in interceptions in 2008

Outlook 2009: Unlike most defending champions, Delphos St. John’s returns a large percentage of their starters, including four of their offensive linemen. St. John’s will have the pressure of being the top team in the state, but head coach Todd Schulte isn’t worried. “We really stressed to our kids that we’re not setting out to defend the title. We don’t want to think we own anything. We’re moving on to 2009,” said coach Schulte. While St. John’s returns a lot of key players from their 2008 championship run, they will need to replace several key defensive starters if they hope to make it back to Canton this fall.

Malvern Hornets

Region: 23

Conference: Inter-Valley Conference

2008 Record: 13-1

Head Coach: Dave Tucci

Players to watch: Brett Lee, DE/OT, 11 tackles for loss and 4 sacks in 2008Tyler Crawford, LB, the team’s leading tackler in 2008Maurice Johnson, RB, 982 yards rushing with 8 TDs

Outlook for 2009:  Malvern won Region 23 in 2008 to make it to the state semis, undefeated, before losing by 35 points to state runner-up, Hopewell-Loudon. The Hornets will surely be out for vengeance this year, and will look to win their games in the trenches, returning three offensive linemen (who will also play on the defensive line) as well as their running back from last year. Combined with the loss of their starting quarterback, expect Johnson to carry a lot of the load for the Hornet offense.

Maria Stein Marion Local Flyers

Region: 24

Conference: Midwest Athletic Conference

2008 Record: 11-3

Head Coach: Tim Goodwin

Players to watch: Unknown

Outlook 2009: Marion Local has become synonymous with DVI football dominance. After a couple seasons in D-V, the Flyers are back in Region 24. This year will a bit of an anomaly for Marion Local: they return only two full time starters. Head coach Tim Goodwin is still confident, “We will have many bumps in the road, but there is some talent to work with.” Marion Local might be an odd choice to win Region 24, but under a veteran coaching staff and established program, this varsity team, that was undefeated last year at the JV level, will be a work in progress that might reach perfection by November.

Other teams to watch: Hopewell-Loudon, St. Paul, Ada, Pandora-Gilboa, Hannibal River, Columbiana, Sidney Lehman Catholic, Springfield Central Catholic,