Football preview: Tecumseh has new look, new determination

Hit hard by graduation, the Arrows hope to return to playoffs


2010 schedule

Date Opponent

Aug. 27 Fairborn

Sept. 3 Butler

Sept. 10 at Miami Trace

Sept. 17 Urbana

Sept. 24 at Graham

Oct. 1 at Kenton Ridge

Oct. 8 Stebbins

Oct. 15 at Shawnee

Oct. 22 at Tippecanoe

Oct. 29 Bellefontaine

2009 results

Opponent Result Score

at Fairborn W 21-14

at Butler W 49-6

Miami Trace W 62-0

at Urbana W 49-7

Graham W 43-0

Kenton Ridge W 34-0

at Stebbins W 43-6

Shawnee L 14-10

Tippecanoe W 26-0

at Bellefontaine W 13-10

West Carrollton* W 55-23

vs. Winton L 40-7 Woods**

* — playoff game

** — playoff game at Centerville

Results for last 10 seasons

Year Record

2009 10-2

2008 11-1

2007 6-4

2006 9-3

2005 2-8

2004 3-7

2003 5-5

2002 5-5

2001 11-2

2000 6-4

Totals 68-41

NEW CARLISLE — The Arrows will have a new look this year.

It won’t be in the formations or uniforms, but the players on the field. The Tecumseh High School football team graduated one of its greatest football classes and now new leaders need to emerge.

Zeke Eier and Mike McKee are the lone returning starters from the 2009 playoff season. Sixteen seniors on last year’s roster graduated.

Offense

When asked if the Arrows will continue to run the wing-T, head coach Kent Massie laughed and said, “Is the sky blue?”

That’s affirmative. Eier is a fullback (361 yards, eight TDs in 2009) and McKee is a running back (244-2).

Tony Evans is the new QB. He was a backup last season and saw some varsity time.

Jeremy Herdman and Chuck Buchanan are new running backs, and Morgan Clark moves into the tight end slot. Linemen include Cody Snyder, Phil Nolasco, Alex Peters, Braxton Pearson, Jacob Nickell and Matt Jones. Wide receivers are Codi Frank and Logan Crockett.

Defense

Eier was second on the team last season with 92 tackles (46 solo, five forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries).

McKee had three interceptions in 2009 and will again play defensive back.

Other defensive players include linebackers Mike Jones, Snyder, Herdman, Clark and Buchanan, defensive backs Frank and Crockett, and Tyler Perry at defensive line.

The defense will continue to run a 4-4 formation.

Extra points

• The Arrows have made the playoffs three of the past four seasons. Upholding that tradition is important to this year’s team, Massie said.

• In past years the offense has been productive, but Tecumseh considers itself a defense-first team. The Arrows allowed an area-low 57 points during the 2009 regular season.

Coach’s quotes

“This year is so much different because we lost so many guys, starters and really good players. But at the same time, we’ve got guys that have been waiting in the wings. They’ve paid their dues and they’re ready to step up to the challenge to play on Friday nights,” Massie said.

Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0366 or bplasters@coxohio.com.

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