As the Northern 8 Football Conference continues to expand and evolve, Toledo Christian is once again predicted to be the class of the league.
Led by the dynamic quarterback-wide receiver tandem of Tyler Grace and Karter Koester, the Eagles are the unanimous pick to repeat as league champion as the conference welcomes the addition of Fremont St. Joseph and Southington Chalker, bringing the Northern 8 to eight teams.
Toledo Christian has its three-man offensive line returning to protect Grace behind center as he looks to target last season's Northern 8 offensive player of the year in Koester often.
On defense, the Eagles return six starters, including the Northern 8 defensive player of the year in defensive end Jason O'Neil.
“We are returning the majority of our production from a wide receiver and quarterback standpoint,” Toledo Christian head coach Andrew Skeels said. “Defensively, we return a lot of guys as well. So as coaches, we are trying to keep them motivated and trying to keep them excited to practice. We're changing things up and doing more scrimmages as opposed to 1-on-1s because we have the numbers this year and are able to do that. The main thing for us is to keep our guys hungry. We had success last year, but we are working hard to keep the guys motivated.”
Here is a look at the area teams in the Northern 8 Conference in predicted order of finish:
TOLEDO CHRISTIAN
■ Coach : Andrew Skeels, ninth season
■ Last season : 9-2 overall, 5-0 Northern 8
■ Top players : Seniors Karter Koester, 6-2, 200, WR-DB; Jason O'Neil, 6-3, 200, DE-OL; Dalton Cavazos, 6-1, 225, OL-DL; Tyler Grace, 5-10, 165, QB; Drew Lachmiller, 5-11, 175, RB-LB; Sam Anderson, 5-9, 165, TE-DL; Junior Evan Ryan, 6-0, 205, OL-DL.
■ Outlook : Grace threw for 1,783 yards and 31 touchdowns last season with just four interceptions. His main target was Koester, who hauled in 67 receptions for 1,219 yards and 27 total TDs. O'Neil, Cavazos, and Ryan return on the offensive line, and the Eagles will hope Lachmiller can step into the starting running back role. Linebacker depth and secondary play will be focus areas for Toledo Christian defensively this season.
“Coming off the success from last year's season, my players have worked even harder this offseason to keep the momentum going,” Skeels said. “They have embraced the brotherhood they have built within the team. This year, their focus is staying locked in and the seniors want to leave a legacy for future Toledo Christian football players. Their ability to work as a cohesive unit will drive the success we have this season, and it all starts with the seniors.”
HOLGATE
■ Coach : Colton Wagner, seventh season
■ Last season : 9-2 overall, 4-1 Northern 8
■ Top players : Ethan Showalter, OL-DL; Jerett Engle, OL-DL; Adon Corser, OL-DL; Keiden Giesige, WR-DB; Isaac Mendoza, WR-DB; Damien Briner, RB-LB.
■ Outlook : Zack Boecker is tabbed to replace standout senior Xavier McCord from last season. He will look to get the ball to an experienced group of receivers with Giesige, Mendoza, and Alexavier Alvarez returning from last season. Briner will carry the backfield workload along with Corser. The defense will have to replace Dylan Boecker, who was a four-year letterwinner and first-team all-conference last season, but should be strong up front.
“We have a great core of upperclassmen athletes coming back next season that had huge roles last year, Wagner said. “I expect our linemen to step up in a big way and be leaders up front. We also have a very good mix of running backs and wide receivers that all bring different strengths to the table. That will allow us to get creative with our play calling and put us in a position to win each week.”
DANBURY
■ Coach : Brett Sykes, second season
■ Last year : 2-8 overall, 2-3 Northern 8
■ Top players : Drake Turinsky, 5-7, 180, RB-DB; Tommy Dean, 5-10, 170, QB-LB; Parker McMurray, 5-10, 215 OL-DL; Grant Dunfee, 5-10, 215, OL-DL.
■ Outlook : The Lakers will be a very young team once again this season and will not feature a senior on the roster. The running game with Turinsky will be a strength as the Lakers return six starters on offense and six on defense. Danbury will look to overcome some of its youth and inexperience as the season progresses.
“We are still a very young team and will not have a senior this season,” Sykes said.
FREMONT ST. JOSEPH
■ Coach : Josh Wehring, second season
■ Last season : 0-10 overall
■ Top players : Seniors Matthew Connell, 6-0, 245, TE-LB; Tristan Obergon 6-0, 280, OL-DL; Oliver Wright, 6-3, 162, WR-DB; Juniors Ethan Grahl, 5-8, 160, RB-LB; William Connell, 6-3, 235, OL-DL; Sophomores Liam Theissen, 5-7, 131, RB-LB; Andrew Speildenner, 5-11, 152, WR-LB.
■ Outlook : Fremont St. Joseph will transition to 8-man football and join the Northern 8 this season. The core on the offensive and defensive line should be strong with a lot of experience. The Crimson Streaks will have to adjust to the nuances of the 8-man game and Wehring said they will need to become fundamentally sound in all phases. Matthew Connell returns after catching 22 passes for 332 yards and two TDs at the tight end position last season. Grahl had 202 rushing yards and a score as a sophomore last year. Theissen made 52 tackles last year as a linebacker.
“The transition to 8-man football will be a challenge, but our players and staff have done so with a positive mindset,” Wehring said. “We look forward to competing in the Northern 8 Conference.”
STRYKER
■ Coach : Kent Holsopple, sixth season
■ Last season : 2-8 overall, 0-5 Northern 8
■ Top players : Seniors Jacob Myers, 6-0, 160, WR-RB-DB; Chris Damms, 5-11, 170, RB-WR-LB; Junior Eli Capps, 6-0, 160, WR-TE-LB; Sophomores Ethan Beltran, 5-9, 190, OL-LB; Vance Chapple, 6-1, 220, OL-DE-LB; Jacob Ramon, 5-9, 145, WR-DB.
■ Outlook : Stryker returns talented players in the trenches along with some playmakers from last year. Myers returns after catching 62 passes for 487 yards and eight TDs last season along with 15 carries for 117 yards and a rushing TD. Ramon caught 35 passes for 334 yards and five TDs. On defense, Beltran recorded 97 tackles and had a sack and four tackles for loss and Chapple added 45 tackles with a sack and five tackles for loss.
“We're excited for our seventh varsity season and fifth full-time season playing in the Northern 8 Conference,” Holsopple said. “We must focus on getting better each week. Our newcomers and experienced players must come together as a team and really attack challenges, seize opportunities, and just do the job our team needs them to do every day. We will go through our share of growing pains like any young team, but as long as we stick together, I'm confident we will improve steadily and have an exciting 2024 season.”
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