Phil Olsen heads into his fifth season as head football coach at Smithville and is coming off one of his best years. Last year the Smithies finished
8-4 overall, 4-3 in the WCAL. That left them in fourth place but was plenty
good to earn a postseason berth.
Leaving big shoes to fill were the graduations of third-team
All-Ohio offensive lineman Jake Johns, honorable mention All-Ohio kicker Quinn
Maibach and honorable mention all-state linebacker Jace Leach.
There will be plenty of familiar faces on the offensive side
this year, led by senior running back Mason Haines. A first-team All-WCAL
choice last year, Haines topped 1,300 yards and will be running behind a
veteran offensive line.
Among nine returning senior letter-winners are five
offensive linemen: Chase Tomassetti, Robbie McCulty, Nathan Horst, Cayden Clark
and Dylan Kreider. They should create plenty of space for Haines and classmate
Javen Woodarski to navigate.
Behind that fivesome is senior quarterback — and owner of
the perfect name for the position — Brock Cannon. Sophomore Brady Sidle also will be in the mix behind center. Outside targets include juniors Brennan Piatt
and Cooper Piatt and sophomores Isaiah Lee and Brayden Beard.
“We will still look to establish the run game but have the
potential to have a more diverse perimeter game with some faster kids,” Olsen
said. “We won’t have the size up front but hope to make up for it with quicker
linemen.
“We return a four-year starter at running back. We hope that
experience pays dividends. Both quarterbacks played varsity games last year. We
have an all-senior line that we will look to lean on for both leadership and
experience.”
Defensively, Tomassetti and Kreider are on the ends, with
Clark and Horst inside. Haines and Woodarski will play linebacker spots along
with senior Will Blankenship and sophomore Zach Lanneaux. Junior Cohen Berry and
sophomore Ben Beichler also will get reps at linebacker.
The secondary will feature Cannon, Lee, Sidle and Brennan
Piatt, with Cooper Piatt, Beard and junior Johnathan Hershey chipping in.
“We will be multiple (schemes) on defense,” Olsen said.
“Anymore, you have to be. We will be an odd front as well as an even if the
scheme calls for it that week.
“Losing two senior inside linebackers and the defensive
leadership they provided, we’ve had kids step into those roles willingly, and
they are working hard. Depth will always be a concern. We have a roster of 39, so health is
paramount. We have kids returning with limited Friday night experience.
Adjusting quickly to Friday night speed will be really important.”
