Generals roll by Red Riders in 111th meeting

One would be hard-pressed to find a Wooster football team in the program’s history that returned less proven skilled players than the 2022 Generals.

Wooster didn’t bring back a single player who scored a varsity touchdown, and its graduated players had accumulated 93.5% of its total yardage.

With senior running back Seth Chamberlin leading the way in a 40-13 season-opening win over Orrville at Follis Field on Aug. 19, the Generals proved they have plenty of capable replacements. It was the 111th meeting in a rivalry that dates back to 1903.

“It was one of those situations where we said, 'Alright, it’s time to go,'” said second-year Wooster coach Austin Holter, whose senior-led 2021 team went 7-6 and reached the Div. II regional semifinals. “We talked about reloading, and that's what we're doing.

“I’m really proud of them. It’s a testament to how bad our kids want it and how proud they are of this football program. I just go back to all the hard work they put into the off-season and what they've done all summer.”

Chamberlin led Wooster’s attack with 17 carries for 166 yards and three touchdowns. Chamberlin and Orrville quarterback Sawyer Hamsher (16-30 passing, 190 yards, 2 TDs) were named the Joseph R. Benden Player of the Game award winners.

“I think we showed a lot of potential, and we're gonna keep getting better,” said Chamberlin, who scored on runs of 7, 48 and 46 yards. “We had some hiccups out there, but we figured it out. Coaches asked us to play physical and have a lot of energy, and we did that, and it showed off. Thanks to our line — they paved the way, and I just had to run.”

Chamberlin, 5-foot-7 and 170 pounds, is a much-deserving player to wind up in a starring role. He won the Generals’ Iron Man Award for off-season conditioning.

“Seth didn't miss a workout the entire off-season, through the winter, through the spring and in the summer,” Holter said. “To see a young man like him come out and have a game like he did, I’m just so proud of him. We're gonna need to rely on that young man from here on out to be a big key to what we do.”

The Generals were excited to see lots of other new faces also step up for the first time in new roles under the Friday Night Lights.

Splitting time at quarterback, 6-5 junior Luke Snowbarger was 7-for-11 passing for 75 yards and two TDs while 5-9 sophomore Adam Likowski was 1-for-2 for 8 yards and also added six carries for 49 yards.

Catching TD passes were juniors Anthony Sines (14 yards) and Ethan Shetler (18) while also adding a 1-yard scoring run was sophomore Hayden Meese.

The Generals’ defense was solid, led by returning senior inside linebacker Michael Howman-Williams. The Riders were limited to 34 rushing attempts for 54 net yards.

“I’m trying to be more of a leader, speak up more,” said Howman-Williams, who also carried the ball five times for 16 yards. “If a bad play happens, I tell everyone, ‘Keep your head up. Play harder the next play.’ My goal is to bring the whole team together, even the defense.”

Holter praised the linemen on both sides of the ball.

On offense Wooster started tackles Keegan Johnson and Jake Haas, guards Tevin Turner and Braden Haumesser, and center Liam Horst.

The defensive line consisted of ends Jaymin Walker and Shetler and linemen Tyler Boreman and Ean Swartzentruber, with Konrad Klemz working in.

“A couple of those guys were playing their first varsity snaps, and I saw a lot of maturation,” Holter said. “We saw a lot of toughness and a lot of effort.”

Orrville played just two seniors in the game. The Riders started four sophomores and a freshman on their offensive line, and the defense was similarly inexperienced.

Riders coach Matt Zuercher wasn’t happy with the outcome but credited his team for playing hard to the end. Led by Hamsher’s passing performance under heavy pressure, the Generals finished with a 339-244 edge in total yards that wasn’t as lopsided as the final score indicated.

Greg Smiley caught four passes for 60 yards while Mason Woodruff (4-33) and Brant Besancon (3-34) both caught TD passes.

“The games are always won up front blocking and tackling,” Zuercher said. “Give Wooster a lot of credit. They were really good at those things comparatively tonight.

“Our kids hung tough. They could have folded (down 20-0 at halftime), but they came out and fought a little bit. Coming out of the gate with a big rivalry game here on the road, we knew it was gonna be a lot to handle, but everybody's got to step up. Perimeter guys didn't block either. We dropped some balls, and we didn't execute plays. It's a team game, and we’ve got to get better.”

Wooster will return to action Friday by hosting Wadsworth, which beat Barberton 24-7.

Orrville will host West Holmes, which defeated Triway 41-7.