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The Lima News
High school football: Allen East looks to build on key returners
By Mark Altstaetter,
22 hours ago
Starting quarterback Jackson Thompson is back under center for the Mustangs in 2024. Nate Reynolds | The Lima News
HARROD – Allen East head football coach Joel Billings does not want to look too far ahead.
However, with an all-senior offensive line and depth at the skill positions, Billings is cautiously optimistic about the upcoming season.
In 2023, Allen East went 4-7 overall and 3-4 in the Northwest Conference. The Mustangs got into the Division VI postseason playoffs, where they lost to Anna in the first round.
Allen East returns 13 letter winners from a year ago, including 10 starters.
“We have a good nucleus back,” Billings said. “Right now, the offensive line has five seniors, which is pretty rare. I don’t know if we’ve ever had that while I’ve been a head coach.
“Skill-wise, Ethan Young (Sr., 5-10, 163, WR/DB) will be the top receiver coming back. We feel that we have a pretty good nucleus of guys that are all a little bit similar. Ethan Hershberger (So., 5-9, 148, WR/DB) is going to be a sophomore, who played some last year. Deacon Jones (5-8, 150, WR/DB) is a junior. He (Jones) has played at some skilled spots.”
Allen East also returns its signal-caller and starting running back from a year ago.
“Jackson Thompson (Jr., 5-10, 185) is back at quarterback. Last year was his first year (at quarterback),” Billings said. “Playing quarterback was not what he (Thompson) played in the lower levels. He has made some progress in the seven-on-sevens. He’s a great athlete, and really the kind of kid that you would want to play quarterback for you. … It’s somebody you would want, character-wise. We’re excited to have him back.
“At running back, Jacob Pinks (Sr., 5-10, 170) is returning. Miles McDorman (So., 5-10, 170) is a sophomore, who made big strides last year in practice and was out there on special teams. He (McDorman) had a good offseason.”
Last (regular) season, Thompson was 63 of 156 passing for 928 yards with six touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He also rushed for 510 yards on 118 carries with 9 touchdowns.
“With Jackson (Thompson at quarterback), we will probably run more than we throw, but we will still be a spread offense. We’ll try to stay balanced, and really try to take what’s there,” Billings said.
Last season, Allen East scored 25.7 points per game. Defensively, the Mustangs gave up 24.8 points per contest.
“At the skill spots, we have a lot of flexibility,” Billings said. “We are almost two-deep at most of the skill spots. We feel confident.”
On the defensive side of the ball, Allen East yielded 302 yards per game in 2023.
“Defensively, we will be very similar to what we were in the past (3-5-3 scheme). We will just keep building off the system and try to fix the weaknesses,” Billings said. “We have Kyden Culbertson (Sr., 6-1, 230, OL/DL) back. Braylon Paxson (So., 5-10, 190, OL/DL) is back. He (Paxson) played a lot on offense last year as a freshman. Grant Slusser (Sr., 6-3, 200, LB) is new. He (Slusser) played his freshman year, then came back out.
“Levi Nickles (Sr., 5-10, 165, WR/LB) is back. Ethan Hershberger (So., 5-9, 148, WR/DB) will play safety. Hunter Nickles (Sr., 5-11, 170, WR/LB) is another kid in that senior class who’s been biding his time and got a lot of playing time last year. At defensive back, Jackson Friesner (Sr., 5-11, 160, WR/DB) returns. We’ve got some young guys that are competing for spots, too.”
Billings said the Northwest Conference should be very competitive this fall.
“We have two new teams coming in. Fort Loramie has always had the big-frame (type of) kids. With LCC, I think Coach (Scott) Palte is one of the better coaches in the area, if not the best coach in the area. He always seems to utilize his personnel really well. Of course, you have Columbus Grove there. Also, Bluffton and Crestview are there. Our goal is to show up and compete. I don’t really talk to them (his players) about winning a league title. I tell them, ‘Let’s just show up and do our best and focus on those things that are going to get you in that position’,” he said.
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