Team photo: FROM LEFT Row 1: Matt Pochard, Elisha Hensley, Aaron Kupferberg, Dion Stinson, Cam Crotinger, Tre Miller, Dewey Lee, Kyle Nunn, Sam Kovaleski, Brandon Armstrong, Avery Wirt, Loren Charles.
Row 2: Wes Van Atta, Bryce Burrows, Devin Zimmerman, Robert Hammond, Jeremiah Tate, Gage Watson, Justin Hudson, Josh Shuck, Mitchell Hucke, Sami Salama, Jake Shaw, Marquis Landers.
Row 3: Cam Dillon, Jose Barrientos, Brayton Rader, Cam Armstrong, Austin Gutting, Jon Arthur, Caden Spradlin, Chase Wilcox, Seth Leonard, Cade McCaskey, Alex Miller, Matthew Licthinger.
Row 4: Johnny Armstrong, Dawsen Brunner, Willie Bretigam, Steven Gerdeman, Tanner Rickle, Robert Fletcher, Brady Butler, Wyatt Deem, Caleb Peltier, Ben Baldridge, Anthony Gonzalez, Will Kiffmeyer.
Row 5: Tre Judy, Khail Stokes, Ryan Nunn, Brandon Weyer, Jacob Radabaugh, Tristian Crotinger, JD Spiceland, Kayden Bailey, Mitchell taylor, Jordan Foster, Nick Gibson, Josh Short.
Row 6: Alaina Lopez, Avery Lehtomma, Logan Caskey, Jarrett Bartson, Jaquez Hamilton, Adam Gilbert, Grant Morman.
Row 7: Coaches Dave Sprouse, Todd Armstrong, Chris Irelan, Ryan Brooks, Brad Burrows, head coach Mark Ritzler, Chris Randcourt.
Coach: Mark Ritzler, 11th year
Last season: 6-4, 4-3
Returning letter winners: 17
Returning starters: Offense 3, defense 8
Schemes: Multiple spread/4-4
Top players: Seniors Kyle Nunn, 6-3, 200;, WR-S; Tre Miller, 5-8, 145, QB; D’on Stinson, 5-10, 210, RB; Sam Kovaleski, 6-1, 181, DE; Jeremiah Tate, 5-11, 211, LB; Aaron Kupferberg, 5-11, 220, DE; Gage Watson, 5-11, 284, DT; Bryce Burrows, 6-0, 211, LB; Brandon Armstrong, 5-8, 150, CB; Cam Crotinger, 6-3, 201, WR; Dewey Lee, 5-9, 265, OG. Junior Cam Dillon, 6-2, 180, SS..
Outlook: The Trojans narrowly missed a playoff berth last year, losing four straight TRAC games after a 5-0 start to the season had them ranked among the top 10 in the Division I state poll. The biggest loss to graduation was that of RB Emmanuel Mogolu, who rushed for 1,492 yards and 21 TDs during a All-Ohio second-team season in 2014, and added 1,148 yards and 17 TDs last season.
One edge Findlay may have over the top teams in the TRAC is having a starting QB returning in Miller (1,414 yards, 12 TDs passing). Stinson rushed 111 times for 689 yards spelling Mogolu. Nunn was an All-TRAC first team DB, and Kovaleski was All-TRAC second team on defense. Tate was one of the team’s top tacklers.
Joining Nunn, Kovaleski, and Tate as returning starters on defense are DE Aaron Kupferberg, DT Gage Watson, LB Bryce Burrows, SS Cam Dillon, and CB Brandon Armstrong, who is regarded as the Trojans’ top cover man. The Trojans have 25 seniors on their 66-player roster.
“Defense will be the backbone of the team as the young offense tries to find its identity early in the season,” said Ritzler, whose offensive line must replace starters at four spots.
On the web: bcsn.tv/findlay
First Published August 24, 2016, 4:00 a.m.
