Crawford 12: Trio of teams enter fall with high expectations

Editor's Note: This is the second of a summer series.

The second wave of teams is here.

One team returns a ton of talent while the other two have a new group of athletes eager to make their mark on the programs. Each of them is a fall sports team, so you won't have to wait long to see them in action.

In case you missed the first installment featuring the honorable mentions, that can be found in the link below.

Crawford 12:Honorable mention teams have what it takes to compete

So without further ado, let's check out the No. 10, 11, and 12 teams in the Crawford 12.

12. Galion cross country

Three. That's how many runners Galion lost from last season between the boys and girls. Nobody else in the area brings back as much talent as the Tigers, and that will be apparent from the start of the season.

The Lady Tigers are coming off a district runner-up finish and saw rising sophomore Makayla Halbisen not only qualify for state as an individual, she earned All-Ohio honors with a 29th-place finish. Close behind her last season was twin Makenzie, who was 11th at the MOAC meet, 10th at districts, and 38th at regionals. She alternated with the now departed Nora Harding as the second and third scorer and will be even more important of a scorer this fall. Classmate Alayna Griffith was 24th at league, 36th at districts and 63rd at regionals and grew tremendously over the season. Junior Madison Beck, senior Grace Sparks, and junior Jordyn Benton round out the returning six — plus new faces eager to make an impact

Crawford 100:Bucyrus boasts slew of talented underclassmen

All four of the top boys are back for their senior year having helped build up a strong core for one final run. Cohen Pierce and Anthony Ferini battled throughout last season as the top runner, which helped push the duo to new heights. Ferini was top finisher at the MOAC in 18th, but Pierce led the way at districts in 33rd with Ferini four spots back. Ashton Faulds and Isaiah North round out this senior group, with rising junior Evan Walker giving the Tigers a good foundation to build on. Add in incoming young talent, and this group could make some noise this fall.

The MOAC goes through Shelby as it has the last few years, but the girls have the talent to compete and push the Whippets to the limit. And with all of them gaining regional experience, look for a run to state in the near future.

11. Wynford football

The Royals lose an All-Ohioan in lineman Kalen Skidmore along with quarterback Ashton Warren, wideout James Rindfuss, running back Kaiden Blair and linebacker Chandler Elchert.

But they have a solid core returning led by seniors Anthony Evans (167 carries, 1,241 yards, 10 touchdowns) and Evan Wright (91 tackles, 36 solo, 5.5 for loss, 2.5 sacks, three fumble recoveries), plus junior Bryce Locker (91 tackles, 29 solo, 17 for loss, 5.5 sacks) who were three of the best around at their respective positions last year, and will be again this fall.

Junior Brayden Campbell, a transfer from Bucyrus, is a contender to take over quarterbacking duties having thrown for 1,435 yards and 11 touchdowns with 15 interceptions last season. Classmate Jake Stover (91 yards, two touchdowns) will likely be the top target in the passing game with senior Hunter Routson, junior Logan Wright, and sophomores Maddax Engler and Hayden Langenderfer additional options out wide. Add in 6-foot-8 senior KJ Kotalik at tight end and there will be no shortage of playmakers on the offense.

Routson (51 tackles, two interceptions), Evans (37 tackles), Stover (33 tackles, two interceptions), and Engler (10 tackles) will look to build on the success the defense saw last season holding opponents to 267.5 yards per game.

Coach Cyle Skidmore only needed one season to get the program back on track as the Royals finished third in the Northern 10 last year with a 5-2 record — their only losses to league champs Carey and Colonel Crawford — winning a playoff game at Tinora in overtime before falling to Bluffton in regional quarterfinals. With the league seemingly open this fall and a ton of key returners, mixed with exciting new talent, Wynford's dominance in the area could be back sooner rather than later.

10. Colonel Crawford football

Let's stay on the gridiron and move onto Wynford's rival, Colonel Crawford.

Gone is first team All-Ohio quarterback Trevor Vogt, bruising running back Micah Thomas, the booming leg of Braxton Morton, tenacious linebacker Ryan McMichael, and the veteran presence of Lane Rike, Tim Faulkner, Levi Johnson, and Jacob Lucius on the lines.

This seems like a lot to lose — and it is — but anyone who has followed the Eagles closely over the last few seasons knows they've been reloading with talent every fall. This one should be no different with a slew of key players returning and new faces eager to take the next step.

Leading the way is rising junior Payne Degray, who was honorable mention All-Ohio as a defensive lineman and the lone returning all-state player in the area. He had 75 tackles, 28 for loss, six sacks and three forced fumbles in his first full season of varsity ball and has everything it takes to keep improving. His younger brother, John, a rising sophomore, is just as athletic and will be one of the key targets out wide along with playing safety.

Crawford 100:Buckeye Central's bunch look to build on last year's successes

As for who will throw to him, the Eagles have a couple options in juniors Peyton Baker (25-of-44, 466 yards, four touchdowns, one interception as a sophomore) and Brayden Holt (141-of-242, 1,500 yards, 18 touchdowns, 12 interceptions) who transfers in from Wooster Triway. Behind them up will be classmate Connor McMichael (75 carries, 943 yards, seven touchdowns) and likely some combination of senior Jack Agee, junior Tristin Dyer, and sophomores Madden Tesso and Parker Weithman.

McMichael also led the team in receiving with 11 catches for 244 yards and three touchdowns. Senior Lucas Foy (seven receptions, 113 yards, one touchdown) and Weithman (four catches, 120 yards, two touchdowns) give the quarterbacks plenty of options.

Defensively, the Eagles have a strong core returning starting with senior Kaden Bruner who had 79 tackles (most among returners), 17 for loss, and two interceptions. Classmates Brady Hill (56 tackles), Agee (44 tackles), Brennen Reber (43 tackles, 16 for loss, three sacks) and Logan Goddard (50 tackles, one interception) round out the notable upperclassmen. McMichael has the second-most tackles with 72, nine for loss, and two sacks while his classmates Walker Cramer (56 tackles, 12 for loss) and Bryson Hunt (20 tackles) give the team quality depth.

The league has run through Carey the last three seasons and even though the Blue Devils lost a ton of seniors, someone still has to knock them off. And Colonel Crawford has the talent to be that team.

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