Team photo from left:
Row 1: Dylan Van Den Eynde, Joel Bell, Bobby Snook, Chase Cook, Brandon May, Chris Warrington, Anthony Webb
Row 2: Grant Kinsinger, Chase Conkle, Cody Cornwell, Casey Fowler, Colton Bond, Eric Peverly, Kyle Bell, Trey Cruz, Justin Iott, Austin Combs, Allan Hartley
Row 3: Matt Groves, Matt Loughman, Trevor Springer, Nathan Craft, B.J. Lawson, Colton Smith, Jake Rozelle, Mitch Rhodes, Alec Rhodes, Jacob Schimmoeller, Mason Rose, Cole Smith
Row 4: Samuel Bell, Nick Burner, James Chandler, Clay Lenhart, Anthony Masterlasco, Jacob Nichols, Kyle Mankins Kegan Kaedong, Evan Stump, Cody Bachorik.
Row 5: Coaches Jeff Lease, Jason Elchert, Aaron Dietsch, Michael Busch, Ryan Cook, Scott Arnold, Scott Garlock, head coach Tim Nichols, Jake Warrington, Brandon Pickett
Not Pictured: Nate Aydt
ABOUT THE TEAM:
Coach: Tim Nichols, seventh year
Last season: 12-2, 8-1 Blanchard Valley Conference
Returning letter winners: 13
Returning starters: Offense 5, defense 8
Schemes: Spread offense, 4-3 defense
Top players: Seniors Chase Cook, 5-9, 160, WR; Chris Warrington, 12, 6-0, 210, OL; Joe Bell, 5-7, 170, DB; Anthony Webb, 5-10, 180, LB; Brandon May, 6-2, 230, DE; Junior Austin Combs, 5-11, 215, RB.
Outlook: The Eagles hope to ride a strong, experienced defense with eight starters back to compete for a league crown again after finishing second last season.
"We are comfortable right now with where our defense is," Nichols said. "We return six of our front seven, so we expect our play to be high on that side of the ball."
The Eagles will count on sophomore quarterback Nathan Craft.
"Hopefully we can get the running game going and get him comfortable early," Nichols said.
Success in the BVC won't be easy as several teams look to be improved.
"The league overall should see a lot of improvement," Nichols said. "The past few years, it's been a three-team race with McComb, Leipsic and us. Now I think it could be five teams with Van Buren and Arlington in the mix."
LIBERTY-BENTON SCHEDULE
Aug. 30-Bucyrus Wynford
Sep. 6-McComb
Sep. 13-at Vanlue
Sep. 20-Cory-Rawson
Sep. 27-Arcadia
Oct. 5- Detroit Edison PSA
Oct. 11-at Pandora-Gilboa
Oct. 18-at Leipsic
Oct. 25-at Van Buren
Nov. 1-Arlington
First Published August 28, 2013, 4:00 a.m.
