Cedarville
Coach: Jason Christian, 3rd season (8-12-1 career record);
OHSAA Designation: Division VII, Region 26;
Playoff History: Once a state playoffs regular under former OHSFCA Hall of Famer Jim Villinger, Cedarville suffered 11-straight losing seasons before notching a winning record and playoff berth in 2013 – the Indians’ first since 2001.
2013 Record: 7-4 overall; 4-3 Ohio Heritage Conference;
Schedule: Aug. 29 – at Madison Plains, 7 p.m.; Sept. 5 – Cincinnati Christian, 7 p.m.; Sept. 12 – Dayton Christian, 7 p.m.; Sept. 19 – at Greeneview, 7 p.m.; Sept. 26 – at Mechanicsburg, 7 p.m.; Oct. 3 – Southeastern, 7 p.m.; Oct. 10 – Triad, 7 p.m.; Oct. 17 – at West Liberty Salem, 7 p.m.; Oct. 24 – at Catholic Central, 7 p.m; Oct. 31 – Northeastern, 7 p.m.
Caleb Coe’s 17 touchdowns and 1,550 rushing yards were the driving force behind Cedarville High School’s magical ascent to the 2013 Division VII football playoffs – the program’s first postseason appearance since 2001.
But if the Indians are to string together two consecutive winning seasons, Coe’s youthful supporting cast needs to learn fast.
Ten seniors – nine of them two-way starters – are gone from last year’s 7-4 team, including quarterback Hudson Grant.
Only Coe and junior offensive lineman Nathan Sheridan return with experience on a lean, 21-player squad.
“We’ve had two small classes back-to-back where the freshmen and sophomores haven’t had very good numbers,” said Cedarville coach Jason Christian, whose 2013 team lost to then unbeaten, Ohio Heritage Conference champion Triad in the opening round of the D-VII, Region 26 playoffs.
“We still expect to win, though. That’s what we want to do. The community will get behind you if you win. They’ll stay home if you don’t.”
Sheridan, a junior, moves from center to guard and makes the calls on offense.
Senior Brant Wickline shifts from receiver to quarterback. The 6-foot-1, 180-pound understudy started two games last fall after Grant broke a finger.
“He’s got a good, strong arm and he’s a good leader,” Christian said of Wickline. “He’s not real demonstrative, but he does his job. He controls the huddle and has a good attitude.
“What hurts him is never having been a starting quarterback before – just (lack of) experience.”
Faced with unusually low numbers, Christian looks to the example that Ohio High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Famer Jim Villinger set during his storied run with the Indians.
“Mr. V. won an awful lot of football games with 21, 22, 23 and 24 kids,” Christian said. “You just have to have the right 21. That’s what we’ll go with. We’ve just got to step up.
“They guys I’ve got, they’ll compete,” he added. “Everybody had fun last year. It’s a lot more fun to win, obviously – to get a taste of that. But it really didn’t translate into getting any more kids out (for the team). It just didn’t translate for them. That’s surprised me a little.”
Not since Villinger’s 9-1 campaign in 2001 had Cedarville won so many games.
The Indians’ emotional turning point came during last season’s gritty, 12-0 win over visiting Greeneview.
Delivered during a relentless, driving rain, the knockout blow ended the Rams’ recent dominance, pushed Cedarville to 4-0, and awarded a bulk of the computer points necessary to make the playoffs.
“We just want to win. That part’s always the same with us,” Christian said. “It doesn’t matter if we’ve got 21 or 41, winning is the goal every year. That’s the attitude we’ve got to get the kids to buy into.”
Graduation has claimed the Indians’ kicking game, too. Wickline is slated for double-duty at kicker. Hunter Ratliff is the squad’s punter.
“We’ll probably keep everything the same, save for a few different offensive sets,” Christian said. “For the most part, we’ll look the same as last year, including the 50 defense.”
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