2011 Prep Football Preview: Northeastern

Boasting 18 returning letterwinners, Scott Rolf’s squad wants more.

Row 1 (from left): Jed Taylor, John Drow, Ryan Davis, Josh Rowe, Justin Parcels, Levi Wilson, Tyler Ford, Mitchell Binkley, Cole Howard, Brentyn Stoops. Row 2: Nick Dingus, Bo Whip, Brad Orahood, Michael Collins, Drey Williams, Jacob Strohl, Cody Parker, Jacob Macy, Seth Payton, Chad Dewey. Row 3: Adam Sudhoff, Camron Lewis, Alex Gragg, Cameron Hand, Shawn Ward, T.J. Bowman, Garrett Plank, Andrew Dillow, Kyle Myers, Tristan Rowland. Row 4: Alex Robbins, Johnny Dean, Matt Seibold, Mitchell McCorkle, Bailey Scanlon, Josh Strohl, Jonathan Ziegler, Ryan Miller, Jake Parcels. Row 5: Antonio Stevens, Brock Lucas, Clayton Farquer, Christian Knasel, Ryan Baker, Trevor McCorkle, Troy Clay. Row 6: Darin S. Binkley, John C. Downing, Darrin Williams, Scott Rolf, Bill Haggy, Chris Kitchen, Greg Mann. Staff photo by Marshall Gorby

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Bill Lackey Northeastern QB Tyler Ford avoids a tackle by Triad's Nick Marenberg as he carries the ball last season. Staff photo by Bill Lackey

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By Michael Cooper, Staff Writer Updated 2:38 PM Thursday, August 25, 2011

SPRINGFIELD — After a 6-4 season last fall, the Northeastern High School football team is hoping to build on that success.

The goal is to get back into the Ohio Heritage Conference race, and make a run at the Division IV, Region 14 playoffs.

“Our sights are set high,” Rolf said. “Our kids are hungry for something a little bit more. We haven’t won a championship for a few years, so I think all the kids are ready to get a trophy in the case.”

With 18 returning letterwinners, there’s plenty of optimism.

“We have a whole lot of people coming back,” Rolf said.

They’ll be led by senior Tyler Ford, who returns at quarterback in the Jets’ option scheme, and senior running back Brentyn Stoops, who rushed for 1,336 yards and 18 touchdowns. He also led the area in scoring with 126 points.

The Jets finished tied for second at 5-2 last season with West Liberty-Salem and Triad, two games back of champion Catholic Central.

The Jets’ lone losses were to West Liberty-Salem and Catholic Central in back-to-back weeks.

“You’ve got to take it away from the teams who’ve earned it,” Rolf said.

He also believes there’s parity in the OHC. He knows you can’t take any team lightly.

“Don’t take any team for granted, no matter what happens the week before,” Rolf said.

The Jets also moved from Region 16 to Region 14 with the likes of Columbus Bishop Hartley, Columbus Bishop Ready and Belleville Clear Fork, led by former Urbana coach Dave Carroll. Northeastern is the southernmost school in the region.

“I feel like our chances are as good as they’ve ever been,” Rolf said.

Northeastern Team Page: Get the 2011 schedule, as well as a player roster and the latest stats.

Program  at a glance

Conference: Ohio Heritage Conference

Division/Region: IV/14

Head coach: Scott Rolf (Sixth season, 22-26)

Assistant coaches: Chris Kitchen, Darin Binkley, Darren Williams, Bill Haggy, Greg Mann, John Downing

Playoff apperances: 7 (1985, ’88, ’90, ’92, 2000, ’02, ’03)

Best playoff finish: 0-7 in playoff appearances

Last league title: 2002

Stadium: Conover Field

School address: 1480 Bowman Road, Springfield, 45502

Team at a glance

Returning letterwinners: 18

On offense: Senior QB Tyler Ford returns in his second season as the Jets signal-caller in their wishbone offense. He rushed for 556 yards and six TDs last year. Running back Brentyn Stoops (1,336 yard, 18 TDs) and fullback Brad Orahood will play alongside Jed Taylor, a move-in from Circleville, Seth Payton and Justin Parcels in the backfield. Jacob Strohl, Mitchell Binkley and Cody Parker return at wide receiver. Parker returns after injuring his arm last season. The Jets experienced line includes four seniors and a junior: Josh Rowe, John Drow, Levi Wilson, Bo Whip and Ryan Davis.

On defense: The Jets defense will switch from a 3-5-3 to a 4-3 this season. Last year’s team MVP Drey Williams will move from the outside to middle linebacker. He’ll be joined by Cole Howard and Binkley at linebacker. Rowe and Wilson will be the ends, while Chad Dewey and Michael Collins will play tackle. Stoops, Parker, Parcels, and Strohl are the team’s defensive backs.

Key player: Ford. The Jets’ QB will be relied on to make a boatload of reads in their option offense.

Integral ingredient: Play faster on defense. “We want to play better team defense, and hold the score down on people,” Rolf said. “We have to get back to stopping the run.”

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