Team photo from left:
Row 1: Matt Herrick, Casey Gose, David Nutter, Ryan Espinoza, Tyler Kwiatkowski, Logan Scott, Tyler Rozek, Alex Hayes, Cody Johnson, Michael Deiter, Quentin Spiess, Max Reeder, Cole Beck, Robert Roginski, Lucas Apel, Dakota Sheahan, Garrett Etts
Row 2: Jake Wojciechowski, Nick Wolfe, Noah Goodrich, Tyler Baird, Jay Nino, Kyle Rozek, Cody Pickard, Kyle Edwards, Trever Martin, Blake Traver, Matt Aumiller, Lewis Cutchall, Andrew Belcik
Row 3: Zach Grodi, Michael Apthorpe, Damian D'Emilio, Ethan Roberts, Austin Wise, Brock Metcalf, Dylan Witt, Andrew Drummond, Zeke Herrera, Michael Roberts, Tyler Stuck, Joe Farkas, Solomon Mutchler, Michael Meng, Joe McLear, Dakota Sparks, T.J. Baker
Row 4: Zach Becker, Isaac Verdugo, Jack Encheff, Devon Wyatt, Noah Heritage, Trey Neumann, Alex Hodulik, Andrew Davis, Nick Strahl, Jordan Stuck, Chase Cutchall, Vincent Asman, Doug Bergman
Row 5: Clay Deppen, Donte McClure, Connor Chapinski, Adam Bates, Kurtis Lee, Matt Bradfield, Caden Cruickshank, Sam Sutter, Matt Herrick
Row 6: Coaches Keith Traver, Kent Davis, Ron Williams, Paul Patterson, head coach Tim Spiess, Ben Ohlemacher, Blair Skilliter, Randy Grosjean, Jim Kubuske
ABOUT THE TEAM:
Coach: Tim Spiess, second year
Last season: 11-1, 7-0 NBC
Returning letter winners: 29
Returning starters: Offense 8, defense 8
Schemes: Wing-T/50
Top players: Seniors Michael Deiter, 6-5, 308, OL-DL; David Nutter, 6-0, 227, RB-LB; Casey Gose, 5-10, 174, SE-CB; Ryan Espinoza, 5-10, 194, RB-LB; Quentin Spiess, 6-2, 194, SE-TE-SS; Logan Scott, 5-10, 183, QB. Junior Cody Pickard, 5-10, 167, PU-PK-CB.
Outlook: The Comets return two All-Ohio picks, Deiter (second team) and Pickard (first team). Four other All-NBC players return — Nutter, Gose, Espinoza, and Spiess.
Coach Spiess said his skill players on offense and his special teams players should be strengths.
The Comets lost two All-Ohio first-team picks in lineman Nick Keller and running back Kyle Nutter, who set school career and season records in rushing.
Pickard connected on 57 of 59 extra points and 12 for 15 on field goal attempts.
Dieter, who has committed to Wisconsin, started at left tackle on offense and doubled as a tackle on defense last season. He had 58 tackles and nine sacks as a junior.
The defensive front, anchored by Deiter, should be very strong.
“Due to injuries in 2012, several underclassmen gained valuable experience,” Spiess said.
GENOA SCHEDULE
Aug. 30-Waite
Sep. 6-at Oak Harbor
Sep. 13-at Port Clinton
Sep. 20-at Rossford
Sep. 27-Eastwood
Oct. 4-Fostoria
Oct. 11-at Lake
Oct. 18-at Otsego
Oct. 25-Elmwood
Nov. 1-Woodmore
First Published August 28, 2013, 4:00 a.m.