Team photo from left:
Row 1: Jacob Prigge, Jacob Berry, Derek Butler, Bryant Schlade, Sam Walker, Anson Lankenau, Nate Rohrs, Devon Armour, Tyler Zachrich, Josh Westhoven
Row 2: Seth Gerken, Allen Sweeney, Justin Double, Branden Cash, Chandler Burken, Wes Rickenberg, Syan Brackman, Andrew Pettit, Ben Bohls, Andrew Ripke, Timmy Wagner
Row 3: Tanner Kuhlman, Trevor Ashbaugh, Alex Pettit, Zach Strall, Bo Cochran, Blake Dunbar, Caleb Baldridge, Willie Jones, Dylan Rodenhauser, Derek Sholl
Row 4: Brock Brubaker, Ben Bowes, Jacob Moll, Stone Anderson, Zach Leatherman, Derek Gerken, Layne Schnitz-Paxton, Zach Plassman, Hunter Wilde, Stephen Yunker, Charlie Lawson
Row 5; Mike Waisner, Bry Brackman, Josh Spurgeon, Dylan Kirkendall, Timmy Smith, Logan Peckinpaugh, Joseph France, Brock Hardy, Bryce Reynolds, Aaron Thomas
Row 6: Serapio Medina, Jermiah Double, Casey Cotter, Aaron Debbe, Zach Spurgeon, Drew Garringer, Kade Navarre, Rudy Koesters, Clayton Eickholt, Jared Ludeman
Row 7: Marissa Kirkendall, Richelle Avers, Marissa Mendoza, Kenli Dachenhaus, Taryn Conklin, Sadie Harris, Jacob Heath, Grant Strock, Hanah Meter, Paige Veillon, Tyler Bostelman, Emma Bostelman
Row 8: Coaches Karl Yunker, Mike Hummer, Kevin Milius, head coach Tory Strock, Chad Brubaker, Dave Mack, Kenny Bostelman, Joe Good, Phil Fogle, Mark Myers
ABOUT THE TEAM:
Coach: Tory Strock, sixth year
Last season: 11-1-1, 7-0 NLL
Returning letter winners: 8
Returning starters: Offense 2, defense 4
Schemes: Multiple, Wing-T/3-5
Top players: Seniors Derek Butler, 5-10, 178, QB-LB; Nate Rohrs, 5-11,195, WR-LB; Zach Fielder 6-2, 212, TE-DT; Bryant Schlade, 6-0, 191, RB-DL; Sam Walker, 6-0, 194, HB-LB; Anson Lankenau, 5-11 185, WR-LB.
Outlook: Strock has complied a 36-19-1 record at Napoleon and had his most successful season last year.
Napoleon beat Calendonia River Valley (30-6) in the Division III playoffs, then held off a two-point conversion attempt in the closing seconds to edge Bryan 21-20. But the Wildcats fell in the regional final (35-20) to Bellevue.
Strock has 63 players led by 17 seniors.
“Competition for positions has been a plus,” Strock said. “In addition, although we have many new faces, experience gained from the exposure to last year’s outstanding club should be beneficial.”
Schlade earned All-Ohio first team as a defensive lineman. He carried the ball 98 times for 655 yards last season (6.7 per carry). Rohrs and Lankenau will play both ways.
The Wildcats lost their quarterback and leading rusher and receiver to graduation.
“Plain and simple, the lack of game night experience at almost all of the offensive positions could hamper us,” Strock said. “We must mature quickly in every area if we are to compete in 2013. The defensive secondary is brand new, so we must learn on the fly.”
NAPOLEON SCHEDULE
Aug. 30-at Defiance
Sep. 6-at Wauseon
Sep. 13-Rogers
Sep. 20-at Northview
Sep. 27-at Perrysburg
Oct. 4-Maumee
Oct. 11-Springfield
Oct. 18-at Anthony Wayne
Oct. 25-at Southview
Nov. 1-Bowling Green
First Published August 28, 2013, 4:00 a.m.
