A new league, a familiar favorite.
The Northern Buckeye Conference begins competition with Genoa -- champion of the last four Suburban Lakes League titles -- as the favorite to win the inaugural championship.
The Comets -- winners of 39 straight regular-season games -- won 12 SLL titles during that league's 39-year history, the most of any school.
So it was no surprise that Genoa was picked in a preseason coaches poll to win another crown. The Comets are one of six former SLL teams in the NBC. Fostoria, which had played in the Northern Ohio League, and Rossford, which left the Northern Lakes League, are the other two.
Genoa received six first-place votes, while Woodmore got two.
"I think you're going to have a couple of teams at the top and everybody else scrapping for the rest of the league," Woodmore coach Britton Devier said. "I think Genoa will be up there. Eastwood is always solid and Otsego will be the sleeper."
Fostoria coach Beau Carmon thinks the Comets have earned their ranking.
"Any time you run into a program like Genoa you better be ready to play," Carmon said. "They're known as one of the best programs throughout the state and to have them in our league is an honor.
"I like playing the best and I'm glad we have teams like Genoa and Eastwood that we'll be playing against."
Genoa coach Mike Vicars has led the Comets to a 46-5 mark in four seasons, reaching the state playoffs each year.
"It's a special thing, but we really haven't got caught up in that streak a whole lot," Vicars said. "I'm sure it's probably in the kids' minds just because when it gets so big people want to talk about it a lot and I guess there's a little pride in it.
"I guess when it ends -- it could be week one -- it's going to be hard. Right now, you embrace it and you have fun with it."
Rossford coach Todd Drusback believes the Bulldogs will find the NBC a great fit for their program.
"It's good and it's exciting," Drusback said. "You hated to leave the NLL and with all the great traditions, but at the same time we're excited to start new traditions."
However, Rossford and Fostoria know they have their work cut out for them.
"The top end of this league is fantastic, but that's not to say all the other schools in the league aren't either," Drusback said. "Even though we're switching leagues, it's going to be great competition week in and week out and we're looking forward to that challenge."
Here is a look at the teams in predicted order of finish:
GENOA
Coach: Mike Vicars, fifth year
Last season: 12-1 overall, 6-0 SLL
Returning letter winners: 14
Returning starters: offense 6, defense 5
Schemes: Wing-T/Multiple 50
Top players: Seniors Josh Bryer, 6-4, 213, QB; Tyler Pickard, 5-11, 190, RB-LB; Brandon Roberts, 5-10, 160, RB/DB; Devin Sibby, 5-9, 205, RB-DE; Jarrod Adkins, 6-1, 197, TE-DE; Evan Wendt, 6-1, 224, G-DT. Junior Kyle Nutter, 5-11, 190, RB-DB.
Outlook: The Comets are clear favorites to claim the first NBC championship for a number of reasons.
The fact there are 14 letter winners from last year's team that went deep into the playoffs makes Genoa an obvious choice.
Pickard, a two-time All-Ohio kicker, is Mr. Reliable whenever the Comets are in field-goal range. He made nine field goals and 52 extra points in the regular season a year ago.
With 59 players, it shows the kind of enthusiasm that comes with success.
Kyle Nutter led the SLL in rushing last season, rolling up 1,143 yards on 163 carries, and scoring 18 TDs. Bryer 54 of 98 passes for 821 yards and 10 TDs.
Linemen Nick Keller, Rick Bierbaum and Sibby provide good size and strength up front.
"We are trying to reload," Vicars said. "We have a nice hard-working group of young guys, but we are very green in some areas. Overall, if we stay healthy we have a good chance to compete."
EASTWOOD
Coach: Jerry Rutherford, 30th year
Last season: 6-4, 5-2 SLL
Returning letter winners: 11
Returning starters: offense 5, defense 6
Schemes: Wing-T/5-2
Top players: Seniors Kris Hayward, 5-11, 204, OG-LB; Caleb Vespi, 6-4, 190, P; Zac Shaffer, 5-11, 260, OL; Brandon Shaffer, 6-1, 197, T-DE; Alex Keyes, 5-8, 161, RB-DB; Kyle Schlumbohm, 6-0, 158, SE-DB; Zach Conkle, 5-8, 174, RB-LB.
Outlook: Rutherford has ample size, experience and depth to work with. This is also a group that has impressed the longtime coach early in the process.
"This is probably as much fun as I've had in 30 years of coaching," Rutherford said. "We've got a nice team and we're playing hard."
The senior-led group, which includes Schlumbohm, Conkle and Hayward, has the ingredients to compete for a title. Conkle scored 14 TDs and rushed for 539 yards on 62 carries last year.
OTSEGO
Coach: Erik Johnson, third year
Last season: 3-7, 3-3 SLL
Returning letter winners: 11
Returning starters: offense 8, defense 5
Schemes: Wing-T/4-3
Top players: Seniors Brandon Chesney, 6-3, 245, DE/OT; Nate Downs, 5-10, 230, G/LB; Ryan Fackler, 5-9, 185, C/DT. Juniors Ryan Smoyer, 6-4, 190, QB; Al Limes, 6-4, 195, TE/LB; Mire Girona, 5-10, 230, G/DE; Dave Fleetwood, 5-9, 165, HB/DB; Drake Johnson, 5-11, 185, HB/LB.
Outlook: The Knights are considered as a team to reckon with. Johnson intends to employ the Wing-T, which will be managed by Smoyer, whose size and experience make him an obvious concern for opponents.
Otsego's strength clearly leans on the offensive side. Chesney, Downs and Fackler provide plenty of blocking experience up front.
"We have a good amount of kids with experience returning. If we can have others continue to improve to fill in holes and create depth we will continue to see improvement," Johnson said.
With only nine seniors, Johnson said it's vital for underclassmen like Smoyer, Limes and Girona to make their mark.
Smoyer is one of the league's top returning QBs, completing 42 of 82 passes for 687 yards (4 TDs) last year.
LAKE
Coach: Bob Abbey, fifth year
Last season: 6-4, 3-3 SLL
Returning letter winners: 12
Returning starters: offense 6, defense 5
Schemes: I-formation/4-2-5
Top players: Seniors Nathan Pennington, 6-1, 180, QB/DB; Dylan Hirzel, 6-4, 205, TE/OLB; Tim Lohmann, 5-11, 175, RB-LB; Corey Hotmer, 5-11, 205, OL-DL; Zach Sharpe, 6-0, 200, OL-LB. Junior Jake Hankish, 6-2, 265, OL-DL.
Outlook: Pennington, Hirzel and Sharpe are among the 10 seniors Abbey is counting on to provide leadership early in the season.
"We're expecting good things this season," Abbey said. "Experience is definitely our strength."
Lohman is the top returning rusher. having gained 374 yards on 90 carries as a junior. Hirzel caught 20 passes for 325 yards a year ago.
WOODMORE
Coach: Britton Devier, second year
Last season: 3-7, 1-5 SLL
Returning letter winners: 15
Returning starters: offense 5, defense 4
Schemes: Spread/3-4
Top players: Seniors Jon Sandwisch, 6-2, 198, QB; Cody Lockhart, 5-10, 189, RB-LB. Juniors Danny Munoz, 6-0, 245, OL-DL; Jacob Icsman, 5-9, 165, RB-LB; Coleton Bihn, 5-9, 145, WR-DB; Zach Brossia, 5-10, 165, WR-DB.
Outlook: With a year under Devier's watch, the Wildcats can't help but feel optimistic.
Of course, having 15 returning letter winners, including nine starters, makes for a more experienced team. Sandwisch and Lockhart, the two most experienced players in the backfield, are expected to figure prominently in the offense.
Devier has implemented a spread attack to make the most of their offensive skills. Sandwisch passed for 1,328 yards and rushed for 437 yards last season.
"A new offense gives us a chance to spread the field," Devier said. "Depth will be an issue. If we can stay healthy we will compete in the NBC."
FOSTORIA
Coach: Beau Carmon, third year
Last season: 0-10, 0-7 NOL
Returning letter winners: 15
Returning starters: offense 5, defense 5
Schemes: Spread/4-3
Top players: Seniors Drew Danner, 5-9, 205, WR-DL; Jordan Settles, 5-9, 175, RB-LB; Brennan Baeder, 5-10, 200, OL-DL. Juniors Adonis Cousin, 6-1, 190, QB-LB; Billy Couch, 6-1, 250, OL-DL; Keanu Crowe, 5-10, 170, RB-LB; Eric Sanchez, 6-1, 200, TE-LB; Darran Lambright, 5-7, 210, OL-DL. Sophomores C.J. Matheny, 5-10, 160, WR-DB; Elijah Hampton, 6-0, 165, WR-DB.
Outlook: The Redmen hope to find the NBC a welcoming experience. Carmon has eight seniors to lead the way for a team that went winless a year ago.
Danner and Settles, both two-year letter winners, are the most experienced players. However, expect signal-caller Cousin, who is one of 11 juniors to provide some key leadership.
"The attitude of the team is very different this year," Carmon said. "It's coachable and I like this team a lot. We feel like we can pound the ball with the kids that we have this year."
ROSSFORD
Coach: Todd Drusback, second year
Last season: 0-10, 0-7 NLL
Returning letter winners: 15
Returning starters: offense 7, defense 6
Schemes: Spread/3-5-3
Top players: Seniors Steve Everitt, 6-4, 210, OT-DE; L.J. Buck, 5-11, 195, C/DT; Michael Jarosz, 6-0, 145, WR-DB; Nick Vidra, 6-0, 170, WR-DB; Devin Fryman, 6-0, 175, QB. Junior Michael Welch, 6-0, 215, OG-DT. Sophomore Jonathan Stockhard, 5-8, 185, RB-LB.
Outlook: With the Northern Lakes League in their past, the Bulldogs enter the NBC with plenty of energy and optimism.
With 50 players taking part in two-a-days, Drusback believes he has a team that is ready to challenge for a title.
"Our team is looking forward to being more competitive and being in position to win games this year," said Drusback.
Fifteen seniors lead the charge, however, the play of junior QB Fryman will be key for a team that struggled mightily to put points on the scoreboard last season.
Senior wideouts Kyle Handley (5-10, 200) and Larry Sloan (6-4, 185) could prove as major playmakers in the spread attack.
Rossford must also show some improvement on the defensive side.
"I know our kids are feeling good and that's what we really worked on last year," Drusback said. "I feel there's a changed [attitude] this year. The numbers are up and there's a competitiveness at practice."
ELMWOOD
Coach: Vic Meyer, third year
Last season: 5-5, 3-3 SLL
Returning letter winners: 13
Returning starters: offense 6, defense 5
Schemes: Spread/4-3
Top players: Seniors Jake Baker, 5-9, 235, OL/DL; Trevor Tyson, 5-11, 265, OL/DL; Zach Foster, 6-0, 165, QB-DB.
Outlook: The Royals begin play in the NBC facing a difficult uphill challenge.
The varsity has just 20 players, which includes eight seniors. Depth is top concern.
Baker, Tyson and Foster represent the leaders of a team looking to defy preseason predictions.
"We're expecting to improve on last year's 5-5 season," Meyer said. "We have experience on the offensive line and defensive line."
First Published August 24, 2011, 4:15 a.m.
