2024 local SBC football team previews: Gibsonburg looking to return to playoffs, win league title

Gibsonburg just missed out on making the playoffs last fall and the Golden Bears hope to earn a berth while contending for a title in the Sandusky Bay Conference.

Gibsonburg went 5-5 overall, finishing one spot out of playoff contention in Division VII. The Golden Bears finished with a 4-3 record in the SBC River Division.

“For us to [qualify for the playoffs] or compete for a league title, we must be more consistent blocking, tackling, and reading our keys against the bigger teams,” Gibsonburg coach Joe Wyant said.

Woodmore left the Northern Buckeye Conference and played in the SBC River Division for the first time last season, joining Gibsonburg and Lakota. Fremont St. Joseph has left the SBC River and is playing eight-man football this season.

Port Clinton is the lone local team in the bigger school SBC Bay Division.

Hopewell-Loudon looks to be the team to beat in the SBC River, while Milan Edison is the preseason favorite in the SBC Bay.

Wyant said the Golden Bears face a tough schedule, inside and outside of league play.

“We have the same schedule as last season which was ranked the third toughest in the state in Division VII,” he said.

Woodmore and Lakota look to step up under new coaches, while Port Clinton looks to get back into the Division V playoffs.

Lakota, which plays in the River Division, went 5-5 in the regular season last fall before falling to Columbus Grove in the opening round of the D-VI playoffs.

Here is a look at The Blade-area teams in the Sandusky Bay Conference:

GIBSONBURG

■ Coach: Joe Wyant, fifth season

■ Last season: 5-5, 4-3 SBC River

■ Top players: Seniors Camden Mooney, 6-1, 160, QB-SE-OLB; Antonio Salazar, 5-7, 165, RB-LB. Juniors Luke Foster, 6-2, 220, TE-MLB; Aiden Morant, 6-1, 170, RB-DB; Jett Linton, 5-10, 275, OT-NG. Sophomore Hunter Smith, 5-10, 180, FB-MLB; Reece Walby, 5-10, 170, RB-QB.

■ Outlook : Wyant, who has a record of 28-16 with the Golden Bears, has 31 varsity players. Eight seniors are among 16 returning letter winners. Nine starters are back on each side of the ball.

Mooney, who threw for 248 yards and 5 TDs, had 42 tackles en route to earning All-SBC second-team honors. Walby rushed for 505 yards (6.1 per carry) and scored eight touchdowns. He also had 91 tackles to earn all-league second-team honors.

Foster, who averaged 15.3 yards per catch, finished with 80 tackles and was named to the all-league second team along with Morant (499 rushing yards, 36 tackles). Linton earned All-SBC second-team honors at offensive tackle. Salazar (391 rushing yards and 77 tackles) and Smith (573 rushing yards, 32 tackles) also are key returners.

“Camden is a leader on our offense at QB and one of our top tacklers,” Wyant said. “Reece is our best all-around player. Luke is the defensive leader at middle linebacker.”

The Golden Bears will run the Wing-T on offense and a 4-2-5 defense. Wyant said he hopes the team will be bigger, faster, and stronger to get through a tough schedule.

However, Gibsonburg lacks depth and 11 freshmen are new to the varsity.

“We’re hoping to be competitive, be at the top of our league, and make a run in the playoffs,” Wyant said. “We started six freshmen last season and hope the experience pays off this year.”

PORT CLINTON

■ Coach: Eric Leuthold, third season

■ Last season: 3-7, 1-4 SBC Bay

■ Top players: Seniors Gabe Koskela, 5-10, 165, QB-DB; Romney Turner, 6-3, 170, WR-DB; Josh Cornell, 5-8, 140, WR-DB; Briar Rohrer, 5-9, 155, WR-DB; Aidan Haynes, 6-2, 195, OL/DL. Juniors Malakii Pinkelton, 5-8, 180, RB-LB; Wyatt Siefke, 6-1, 180, TE-LB;

■ Outlook: Leuthold has eight seniors and 21 returning letter winners among 42 on the varsity. Seven starters return on each side of the ball for the Redskins.

Koskela is back behind center and is joined in the backfield by Pinkelton. Turner is back at wideout, while Siefke returns after earning all-league honorable mention at tight end.

Cornell and Rohrer also earned All-SBC honorable mention.

PC will run a multiple spread on offense and feature a 4-2-5 look on defense.

Leuthold said he has a lot of skill players back on offense. Those players also comprise the team's defensive backfield, all with two to three years of varsity experience. Two linebackers also are back.

However, only one offensive lineman is back. The team's schedule also is challenging, so staying healthy is paramount, according to Leuthold.

“Our kids have worked hard through the offseason and preseason in the weight room and camps,” Leuthold said. “We have many new faces and some kids playing new positions while returning some depth in our offensive and defensive skill positions. Our goal is to continue to improve each week while putting a product on the field our community can be proud of.”

LAKOTA

■ Coach: Ryan Lozier, first season

■ Last season: 5-6, 3-4 SBC River

■ Top players: Seniors Grant Bomer, 5-11, 180, WR-LB; Paul Williams, 5-10, 170, OL-LB; Max Nordhaus, 6-3, 245, OL-DL; Brandon Leal, 6-0, 200, K. Juniors Avery Schilling, 6-4, 190, WR-DB; Jalen Wagner, 5-9, 165, QB;

■ Outlook: Lozier, who was an assistant coach at the school for three years, takes over the program for former head coach Mike Lento.

The Raiders have 37 varsity players with five seniors and eight returning letter winners. Six starters are back on offense and three return on defense.

Bomer had 10 receptions for 146 yards with 34 tackles on defense. Schilling had 28 catches for 448 yards and 3 TDs. Wagner completed 95 of 162 passes for 1,423 yards and 12 TDs and also rushed for 133 yards. Nordhaus had 34 tackles, including seven sacks. Leal, who connected on 7 of 12 field goals, booted the sixth-longest kick in Ohio history (56 yards) last season.

The Raiders will run multiple looks on offense and a 4-3 defense.

Lozier said his team's strengths will be having skill players back at wide receiver and quarterback. He said his athletes can play, while the kicking game is solid with Leal back. Nordhaus and Bomer are experienced leaders on the defense. But he said Lakota's biggest question is lack of experience with only four seniors. Many sophomores will play big roles and depth is a question mark.

“I am pleased with our players’ progress through camp and look forward to many of our young guys stepping up to the challenge and producing on Friday Nights,” Lozier said. “We will lean heavily on the few returners. With the gauntlet of a league schedule we play as well as a great nonconference schedule, our guys have had to grow up fast. I look forward to seeing them attack it head-on.”

WOODMORE

■ Coach: Scott Stecher, first season

■ Last season: 2-8, 1-6 SBC River

■ Top players: Seniors Karter Walper, 6-2, 215, TE-DL; Izaiah Wilson, 6-0, 220, OL-DL. Juniors Jesse Lopez, 6-0, 170, WR-DB; Landon Rich, 6-0, 200, RB-LB; Michael Seeger 6-1, 195, WR-DB. Sophomore Cole Potridge, 6-1, 200, RB-LB

■ Outlook: Stecher, who was an assistant at Port Clinton last season, also was head coach at Monroeville from 2014-20.

The Wildcats will run a pro-style and 3-4 basic defense.

Potridge and Seeger, who are among six returning starters on defense, each earned All-SBC honorable mention. Potridge had 60 tackles, including four for loss. Seeger finished with 53 tackles to go along with 343 rushing yards (4 TDs) and 267 passing yards.

Stecher has 46 total players but only three seniors. Six starters are back on offense among 14 total returning letter winners.

Lopez had 14 tackles and four pass breakups. Rich (48 tackles, 589 rushing yards), Walper (20 tackles), and Wilson (three-year letter winner) also were key contributors.

Sophomore Calvin Lipstraw (QB/DB), junior Gavin Herrig (QB/DB), sophomore Adley Anstead (OL/DL), junior Ryan Maynard (OL/DL), freshman Ish Nagy (RB/LB), and freshman Nick Vargo ( OL/DL) are promising newcomers.

Stetcher said his team's strengths will be youth in numbers, the running back position, and togetherness along with the linebacking and defensive line positions. However, he said trouble areas could be depth on the offensive line and at defensive back

“The players have responded well to the change in coaching and are picking up the new systems,” Stetcher said. “They have also been enthusiastic. We are looking to have a better season and keep the momentum moving forward. We have a big and talented freshmen class who will have an impact on this season once they get through the learning curve.”