Ohio Football

Sunday, August 5, 2012

Conference Call: MVC

By Greg Shoemaker | Featured Analyst

Five of the eight Miami Valley Conference schools made the playoffs in 2011. It showed that the MVC is getting ready to become a force in small school football. They still have some work to do after combining to go 1-5 in the post-season. Taking a few lumps while winning isn’t such a bad thing.

From top to bottom the conference has strengthened as every program has an appetite for victory and then some. The balance bodes well for the future all that’s left is to find out who has the desire to continue making great leaps and bounds.

Here is a complete overview of the MVC:

NORTH COLLEGE HILL
Division IV, Region 16
Head Coach: Bruce Baarendse (152-114 @ North College Hill, 26 years, 152-114 overall record, 26 years)
2011 Record: 8-3, 7-0 MVC

Overview: Right out of the gate North College Hill will push themselves to the limit with non-conference games versus Division II Mount Healthy and Region 16 rivals Roger Bacon and Madeira. Winning two of those contests will be a tall order for a team that lost seven starters on defense and five on offense from last year’s playoff group. If the Trojans can survive the storm it is only going to make them that much tougher mentally come November.

It all starts for NCH with tailback Tevin Brown. The MVC’s top offensive threat ran for 1,626 yards, 23 total touchdowns (21 rushing) and 1,810 all-purpose yards on his way to First Team All-Southwest District and Honorable Mention All-Ohio honors. Having Brown to carry a majority of the workload is good news for sophomore quarterback Sean Steele. Head coach Bruce Baarendse believes Steele is on the verge of blossoming into something special. Speaking of special
Jalen Young has shown he is a game changer in all three phases of the game. Young accumulated 887 all-purpose yards (334 total return yards), 255 more rushing with 17 receptions and two interceptions. Tight end Akeem Britton and receivers Demarcus Smith and Nigel Luke add quality depth to the aerial attack.

Safety Ramir Hollis is the cornerstone of the NCH defense. Hollis recorded 108 total tackles had 14 tackles for losses and 5.0 sacks as he earned Second Team All-Ohio honors as a junior. Teamed with Josh Denson who led the Trojans with five interceptions secondary should be very opportunistic. Senior defensive tackle Kyle Jones has the tools to be a first team All-MVC performer. North College Hill needs to replace a ton of girth up front with Jones. it is going to be the play of those newcomers that determines just how far this team goes.


CHCA
Division IV, Region 16
Head Coach: Eric Taylor (34-12 @ CHCA, four years, 41-15 overall record, five years)
2011 Record: 8-4, 6-1

Overview: Life in small school football is always loaded with obstacles. That is definitely the case for CHCA as their will search for their identity early in 2012. Head coach Eric Taylor has gone from coaching the biggest line he’s ever had to the smallest one, literally. Nevertheless one thing that has remained stable is this program’s ability to adapt and move on to be a factor for the post-season on a yearly basis. Expect Taylor and his troops to give it another run.

Quarterback Conner Osborne was the only sophomore in Southwest Ohio to be under center for a playoff win last season. That experience should boost his confidence and make him a calming influence in the huddle moving forward. Osborne threw for 1,289 yards with 14 touchdown passes in his varsity debut. Taylor is looking for a monster year from receiver Nick Weaver, who had 31 receptions and amassed 947 all-purpose yards as a junior. He will be joined by classmates Jordan Smith and Adam Chapelle at wideout in the spread offense as well as in the secondary on defense.

Unlike the seniors, the junior class has skills players that are hard-hitting linebackers and running backs. Nick Marsh and Tyler Renners combined for 1,012 yards and 12 rushing touchdowns as sophomores. Marsh has All-District and All-Ohio potential at linebacker after a 51 tackle, 8.0 sack performance a year ago. Kyle Davis joins Marsh in stuffing up the holes and filling the gaps in front of them.


SUMMIT COUNTRY DAY SILVER KNIGHTS
Division V, Region 20
Head Coach: Mike Brown (7-4, one year at SCD, 7-4 overall)
2011 Record: 7-4, 4-3

Overview: With back-to-back playoff appearances for the first time in school history, Summit Country Day looks to be on their way to a long run of success for the football program. The Silver Knights have humble achievements. They still have goals of winning a league title and show that they are more than just happy to be in the post-season after last season’s first-round shellacking at the hands of Pleasant. Head coach Mike Brown has reason to be excited about this SCD squad despite losing nine starters (six were two-way). The athletes and numbers are coming out to play which is only going to boost competition for playing time.

Brown has to deal with a smaller senior class than he had last fall. He will look for Warren Hill, Armand Walker and Christian Kuethe to provide leadership. Hill and Kuethe combined for 89 total tackles in the secondary in 2011. Walker posted 4.0 sacks from his defensive end spot.

Junior Michael Barwick is already getting interest from major colleges. The linebacker/offensive lineman racked up 47 total tackles and registered 3.0 sacks a year ago. His classmates Antonio Woods, defensive end Daniel Bruns and defensive back Gage Goodwin have only begun to scratch the surface for what they can become. Woods threw for 679 yards ran for 404 more as a sophomore. He must do a better job of cherishing the football. Summit Country Day will need to covet every possession if they are to make a third straight trip into November.


LOCKLAND PANTHERS
Division VI, Region 24
Head Coach: Ty Copeland
2011 Record: 7-4, 4-3

Overview: A year ago Lockland relied on athleticism to get them back to the playoffs. The Panthers eked out several wins over foes that they handled rather convincingly over the past few seasons. For success in the postseason it will take more than shear talent to advance. It is going to take a much more focused effort for this team to leave its mark on the program. That is a tall order but definitely a more than attainable goal.

If the rest of the Lockland players follow the example that star senior Se'von Jackson sets on field good things will happen. His 92 total tackles, 656 rushing yards, seven total touchdowns and 899 all-purpose yards were good enough to garner Third-Team, All-Ohio honors as a junior. . Fred Davis, Eric Robinson and tight end Oumar Ba provide senior leadership on the line.

There are several Lockland skill players that showed some flashes of being special in 2011. Tyren Hairston, Davi Roundtree, Deion Wilkinson Justin Case, Rodney Newman need to become even more consistent and productive this fall. The Panthers need this cast to elevate their games to the next level to remain one of the top tiered teams in the MVC.


CINCINNATI COUNTRY DAY INDIANS
Division VI, Region 24
Head Coach: Tim Dunn (186-72 @ CCD, 23 years, 186-72 overall)
2011 Record: 7-4, 4-3

Overview: For the first time in nine seasons CCD made the playoffs now they will try for an encore performance in 2012. Being at their best against MVC and Region 24 rivals Lockland, New Miami and Cincinnati Christian is a must again if the Indians want to repeat. Head coach Tim Dunn is going to ask many underclassmen to perform at high level right out of the gate. Sophomore Kaleb Treg could end up being something special at quarterback if he can avoid miscues.

Having a Third-Team, All-Ohio performer like Zach Higginbotham pays dividends on both sides of the ball. Higginbotham racked up 145 total tackles (95 solo) at linebacker and ran for 603, had another 117 receiving with nine total touchdowns (eight rushing) on offense. The foot of kicker Wes Mink might be an even bigger asset than Dunn thinks by year’s end.

The schedule is conducive to a great start for CCD. It should allow them to work on flaws before league play. The young Indians defense will be eyed closely as there are many questions to be answered. Higginbotham, JR Menifee and sophomore Austin Richey have to elevate their games even higher. Menifee had eight interceptions in 2011.


CLARK MONTESSORI COUGARS
Division V, Region 20
Head Coach: Steve Sheehan (16-24, four years @ Clark Montessori, 196-106 overall, 28 years)
2011 Record: 4-6, 2-5

Overview: This could be the year that Clark Montessori plays the role of spoiler. The Cougars have the talent to exploit matchups on both sides of the ball. If head coach Steve Sheehan can get his squad to execute there might just be a mess atop the MVC standings come the end of October. Sheehan should still see his 200th victory sometime before the first snowfall.

The CM offense has a great balance with seniors Kenny Thornton at quarterback, running back Aaron Toney and receiver David Burt. They are good but must find a way to get the ball into the end zone more often. Clark Montessori lost the last four contests of 2011 (all to playoff teams) by a combined average of 43-8, including being shut out twice.

The defense has a great nucleus returning, including rising star, Fanon Vines. All Vines did as a freshman in 2011 was lead the team with 82 tackles, register 6.o sacks, recover five fumbles and return an interception for a touchdown. A junior class that includes linebacker Raeshawn Brown, Damon Edmonds, Jordan Whaley-Watson, Lamont Ragan and Andrew Crick have shown well in their time at the varsity level. Stewart Isaacs and classmate Toney each registered 48 total tackles in 2011. Burt has seven career interceptions. Thornton joins him in the secondary giving Sheehan some freedoms to go after it with his formidable duo.


NEW MIAMI VIKINGS
Division VI, Region 24
Head Coach: Jim Jewett (2-8 @ New Miami, one year, 2-8 overall)
2011 Record: 2-8, 1-6

Overview: It is time for New Miami to take a step forward in their evolution under second-year head coach Jim Jewett. The Vikings were thin with senior leadership in 2011, but this fall will be different. This is a team with plenty of varsity playing time under their belt and will be expected to play like a team that has been there before.

This team has to do a better job of crossing the end zone. Seven times they scored 14 or fewer points a year ago. It all comes down to being tougher up front. New Miami has the skill player to do damage if the line can produce some daylight for them. The backfield will be a strength of this squad. Quarterback CJ Kellum, with running backs Pat Marcum, Cody Brown and Clay Williams, will be working together for a second season. Marcum, Brown and Williams combined for 1,434 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns as juniors. Senior Nick Melott and Chris Mills will lead the charge on both sides of the line.

Being in top physical and mental condition is a must for New Miami’s upperclassmen with a roster that sits at 25 men and six of those are freshmen. That trio of Marcum, Brown and Williams is the foundation of the defense at linebacker. Marcum earned Second-Team, All-Southwest District honors with his play on this side of the ball. Cody Wallen and Kellum make the core of a solid secondary. Kellum had four takeaways in 2011. Wallen amassed 308 return yards on special teams a year ago.


CINCINNATI CHRISTIAN COUGARS
Division VI, Region 24
Head Coach: David Fulcher (2-8 @ Cincinnati Christian, one year, 2-8 overall)
2011 Record: 2-8, 0-7

Overview: Year one of head coach David Fulcher’s regime was a rough one. His Cougar cubbies were outscored by a margin of 44-7 in MVC tilts after a short hiatus as an independent the previous two years. Taking those lumps may not be a bad thing down the road as the Cincinnati Christian players now know what it takes moving forward having been through the initiation process.

The senior class is led by linebacker/running back Adam Spies, tight end Mitchell Wilhelm, transfer Jake Julian and Tony Vitale. Spies recorded 91 total tackles and Vitale added 50 more in 2011 for the defense. Two freshmen, Logan Katsetos and Joey Carroll, got snaps under center a year ago. Katsetos, who finished the year with 483 yards through the air while completing 62.9 percent of his passes, is slated to be the starter in 2012.

The most promising underclassman is receiver/defensive back David Jefferies. He heads into his junior campaign with 27 receptions, 386 receiving yards and 844 all-purpose yards at the varsity level. His classmates Jahjuan Reid, Dakota Moon, Dale Belzer, Jonathan Burket and Andrew McGuffey all return in the back seven for the defense. Moon, Burket and McGuffey combined for 128 tackles out of the secondary as sophomores. Kameron Antwine showed off his talents in the return game racking up 335 kickoff return yards as a freshman. Another member of the Class of 2015 who has a big upside is running back/linebacker Elijiah Ruff.

Greg is a co-founder of TSF and is now entering his ninth season as a Featured Analyst for the website. The Xavier University grad also serves as the Content Manager for the website and is widely considered one of the top high school football experts in the region. If you are interested in covering your team, please CONTACT US.

© 2013, Get Sports Enterprises, LLC. All rights reserved.