High school football: Elida leaning on speed, experience

ELIDA – Experience and speed are normally key factors for success.

Elida head football coach Kyle Harmon hopes those two ingredients will help pave the way for a winning season for his squad.

Elida returns 14 letter winners from last year’s team that went 5-6 overall and 4-5 in the Western Buckeye League. The Bulldogs competed in the Division III playoffs, where they lost to Butler in the first round.

For Elida, it all starts on the offensive side of the football.

“Ryan McGue (Sr., 6-4, 205), our quarterback, is back,” Harmon said. “We were 4-0 last year (when he started). He had a leg injury, which obviously set us back. He’s back and healthy. He’s ready to go. He’s worked extremely hard.”

McGue said he is back to his old form.

“I feel like I’m 100 percent. I went through a lot of physical therapy. Now, I can’t even tell,” he said.

There will be plenty of weapons around McGue as the Bulldogs will employ a spread offense.

“Amari Wash (Jr., 5-10, 175, WR/RB) is back,” Harmon said. “He (Wash) has put on about 15, 18 pounds. … He looks like a different kid. He’s a lot more physical this year, and his strength numbers have gone up, big time. Tyler Dillon (Sr., 6-2, 190, WR) and Noah Jostpille (Jr., 6-4, 190, WR) are the outside receivers. Elisha Reddick (Jr., 6-0, 175, WR) came out – a track guy. He (Reddick) is a two-time 400-meter WBL champion. He hasn’t played football before, but he’s learning a lot and played really well over the summer.

“Then, we had a tight end, Connor Konopka (Jr., 6-3, 195) who came in from an Elida family that moved back to the area, so we expect big things from him at that spot. Taking over the running back spot is Cam Kaufman (Jr., 5-10, 170). He (Kaufman) is a track guy. Jayair Morgan (Sr., 5-7, 170, RB), came back out. Tyler Dillon (Sr., 6-2, 190, WR/DB) is back for us. Kohen Sullivan (So., WR/RB/LB) will get a lot of time. We have some pretty good skill (players).”

Tyler Dillon is confident about this year’s offensive unit.

“I think we have a little more speed than we did last year,” Dillon said. “We might be a little smaller on the O-line, but I feel like we can still do some damage down there. I feel like we’ll be the same or even better than last year.

“We kind of fell apart when he (McGue) got hurt last year. I think we’ll do better this year (on offense).”

Last season, Elida ranked seventh in the WBL in total offensive production. The Bulldogs rushed for 1,565 yards and passed for 1,296 yards.

“We’re going to change it up a little bit,” Harmon said about his offense. “Our skill guys are built a little bit different. We had David (Etzkorn) last year, who could pound the ball downhill. Now we have a lot more speed offensively than we had last year. We might try to spread things out. We’re going to try to get the ball to our athletes out in space.”

Last year as a senior, Etzkorn rushed for 836 yards and had 11 touchdowns. Etzkorn, who also played linebacker, is now playing football at the University of Findlay.

Defensively, the Bulldogs will utilize 4-3 and 4-2-5 schemes.

“We will be similar (to last season),” Harmon said. “We lost a lot of guys on the defensive side. Up front, we return Parker Crim (Jr., 6-3, 235, DE/OT) and Tyler Siefker (Sr., DL/C). We also expect some of the other guys to step up. They’ve worked hard in the weight room.

“Carter Kerby (Jr., 5-11, 220, DL/OL) got some snaps last year on the D-line. Aaryn Dailey (So., 5-10, 200, DL) also got some snaps on the D-line. Both of those guys have probably put on about 20 pounds.”

In 2023, Elida was ranked third in the WBL in total team defense as it allowed 270.5 yards per game. Opponents scored on average, 23 points per contest (fifth in the WBL) against the Bulldogs.

Crim is optimistic about this year’s defensive unit.

“We will probably be better this year because we have more speed than we had last year. All of that will complement one another, more than it did last year,” Crim said.

Crim, who is being highly recruited by Division I colleges, is not going to allow the recruiting process to deter his focus.

“Not really (going to worry about the future). I just have to do my job, and everything will follow through after that,” Crim said.

Tyler Siefker, who plays both ways on a regular basis, is not concerned about what position he plays. He just wants to be on the field as much as possible.

“I’ve been at center since my sophomore year. I like it there, but I know every position (on the O-line), so it’s whatever,” Siefker said with a grin. “On defense, they put me at end last year but I’ve always been on the D-line.

“To be honest, ever since midget football, I’ve always been an offensive player. I’m just really down to the footwork. So, that’s where offense came into play. Defense just came into play. … It all works hand-in-hand.”

Added Harmon, “They (Crim, Siefker) are weight room guys. They work extremely hard. They lift together. They’re on the all-time boards for all the lifts. They push each other. They balance each other out. They’re two guys who just do their jobs.”

Harmon said the WBL will once again be very competitive.

“Week-in and week-out, the Western Buckeye League is a tough conference. It is going to be a battle every Friday night,” he said.

TEAM PROFILE

Coach: Kyle Harmon (fifth season)

Division: IV

Last year’s record: 5-6 (4-5 WBL). Lost in first round of the Division III playoffs.

Ticket information: https://www.home.elida.k12.oh.us/hometown-ticketing

Returning 2023 varsity letter winners include: Ryan McGue (Sr., QB/DB), Amari Wash (JR., WR/RB/DB), Tyler Siefker (Sr., C/DL), Parker Crim (Jr., OL/DE), Sam Mattox (Sr., LB), Tyler Dillon (Sr., WR, S), Carter Kerby (Jr., OL/DL), Aaryn Dailey (So., OL/DL), Kohen Sullivan (So., LB/WR/RB), Cameron Kaufman (Jr., RB/DB), Noah Jostpille (Jr., WR/DB), Dominic Kohli (Sr., TE/LB), Blake Hollar (So., LB), Preston Crist (So., TE/LB)

Promising newcomers include: Elisha Reddick (Jr., WR/DB), Jayair Morgan (Sr., RB/LB), Dalton Shaffer (Fr., WR/DB)

2024 schedule

(Kickoffs scheduled for 7 p.m.; subject to change)

8/23`at Rogers

8/30`Shawnee

9/6`at Kenton

9/13`at Ottawa-Glandorf

9/20`Bath

9/27`Celina

10/4`at Defiance

10/11`Wapakoneta

10/18`St. Marys

10/25`at Van Wert