NELSONVILLE — Redemption. Sometimes we all need something to drive us in order to get back on track and get over the hump. That’s exactly what Nelsonville-York is attempting to do this Fall.
The Buckeyes are in a bit of a peculiar situation coming into this season. Usually the cream of the crop in the Tri-Valley Conference-Ohio division year-in and year-out, Nelsonville-York had an unusual slip up in the 2023 season that head coach Rusty Richards and the rest of his staff is trying to avoid this time around.
A program so used to postseason success and championship banners, the Buckeyes seemed to be in prime position to make last season another special one more than halfway through the season. Following an opening night loss to Trimble on the road, Nelsonville-York went on to win seven-straight games, setting up a home contest with Vinton County that was a de facto divisional title game.
The Buckeyes eventually fell 13-7 to a talented Vikings team, but things started to falter from there. One week later, Nelsonville-York went on the road to Athens and lost once again before the playoffs.
Adding in the Trimble game from the beginning of the season, the Buckeyes dropped both of their biggest rivalry games on the road while also essentially losing the divisional crown at home.
It’s another year and a whole new journey. Richards is ready to get Nelsonville-York back to the mountain top.
“I think it really woke us up. It’s probably the best offseason we’ve had in six or seven years here,” Richards said in an interview with the Messenger when asked about how last year impacted the mindset coming into 2024. “These kids are hungry, they want to get paint back on the wall. I think it’s been a driving force for our offseason.”
If the team wants to do that, it’s going to have to be with some new names stepping up. Richards will have to replace both members of the offensive backfield this season with Makhi Williams and Gavin Richards each graduating.
Stepping into the quarterback position will be Cameron Sullivan, a sophomore with no varsity experience on the gridiron but was a key rotational piece for the school’s basketball program in his freshman year. The leading tailback as of now may not be cemented, but Richards is more than comfortable with the list of names he has stepping in there.
“He just got better every 7-on-7. He had a good scrimmage last week, progressing nicely. He’s 6-2, 220 so he can throw it but he’s also going to be a load to take down,” Richards said, also noting the play of Grant Elliot, a freshman quarterback who has been working with the first team at times while catching Richards’ attention.
On the outside, eyes can be focused on Alec Thompson. The returning receiver had a breakout campaign last season, came back bigger after the offseason and should be a nightmare to cover and deal with offensively in the secondary.
“He’s been a lockdown guy all summer for us. He was our main cover guy last year, he had a big scrimmage the other day,” Richards said of the wideout. “Had over 100 yards receiving and another 47 running the ball. We’re going to get him more involved with his legs.”
Defensively, it’ll be tough to replace the hole that Gavin Richards is leaving behind in the middle linebacker spot but Richards has confidence that his group of guys will do their best to replace the production.
“I expect big things out of Austin Gautier and Dakota Cunningham. They both got a full season playing outside linebacker and hopefully they can break him in,” Richards said when asked about the defense, mentioning that Sullivan would be taking over responsibilities in the middle of the defense.
On the line, the Buckeyes should feel more than comfortable with Caeleb Layton patrolling the trenches after a breakout season a year ago along with some other important names.
“He’s been a pretty big player for us the past two years and we expect big things out of him this year as a junior.”
The pieces are back in place to try and make a divisional run once again, it’s all up to Richards and the rest of the Buckeyes program to go prove it. Nelsonville-York expects championships, now it’s time for them to bring it back.
“Right now our sights are on Trimble and trust me, we are not looking anywhere past Trimble,” Richards said when asked about a full-season expectation, noting the opening night game as the only thing on Nelsonville-York’s mind. “We will keep getting better every week after that and get into league play and try to win the league… it starts with a TVC championship.”
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