“It all starts with senior leadership and we have that this year, so we are excited about that,” said McGill. “These kids have worked extremely hard, not just in weight room and training, but in the locker room and on the practice field to have a unified team culture. Guys will play harder for each other, and that brings about good things for sure.”
The Tigers had some good things happen to them during the 2015 campaign, including a 9-3 record and one playoff win before running into traditional powerhouse and then-four-time defending state champ Marion Local in the second round.
The Tigers have seven starters on offense and seven on defense back from that team. But the key may be how quickly new starting quarterback Luke Woods, a senior, and his offense can get in sync.
“He’s a smart kid and he’s a competitor,” said McGill. “At a school our size, it’s not so much that you look for a kid (that‘s the best athlete); it’s the best kid who can move the ball and then you fit the offense around his style.
“The last three years, we’ve had more of a pocket passer. This year, we’ll have elements of that, but Luke will be more of a runner.”
The Tigers will have their usual stable of skilled players to help Woods out in senior Brandon Wolfe and junior Braden Miller at running back; and senior receivers Ben Highland, Jerrett Smith, Sam Strickland and Chase Humphrey (tight end) and junior wideout Levi Moell.
However, the strength of the team will be offensive and defensive lines, according to McGill.
Those lines will be anchored by five big, two-way players: Seniors Trent Schmucker (6-4, 270), Adam Schultz (6-3, 225) and Conner Glock, and juniors Trevor Burden (6-3, 275) and Tevon McNutt (6-0, 225).
The Tigers open at Germantown Valley View on Friday and also have Kenton Ridge on their non-conference schedule.
“There’s no creampuffs for sure, so we don’t have any time to waste,” said McGill. “The kids feel the urgency to get ready, so that’s a good thing.”
WLS will, of course, be in the hunt for the Ohio Heritage Conference title. McGill expects Mechanicsburg, Greeneview, Northeastern and Triad to be there, too.
“We expect to compete for the conference championship,” he said, “and you hope that you take care enough of your non-conference schedule that you put yourselves in the position to get to the playoffs.”
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