Smithville counting on senior line, star back to power offense

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.”

2025 schedule

Aug. 22 Tuslaw

Aug. 29 at Claymont

Sept. 5 Black River

Sept. 12 Dalton

Sept. 19 at Waynedale

Sept. 26 at Hillsdale

Oct. 3 Northwestern

Oct. 10 at Rittman

Oct. 17 Norwayne

Oct. 24 at Chippewa