MORRAL — After enjoying its first winning season in 20 years, Ridgedale coach Corey Chatman hopes his team is ready for what lies ahead.
"Like we tell the players, the Rockets aren't surprising anyone this upcoming season. Every team we play will be ready to play us," he said.
As last year's Central District Coach of the Year in Division VII mentioned, there's no sneaking up on unsuspecting opponents in 2024, so here are three things to know about the Ridgedale football team before the start of the season.
Check out last year's honorees: All-Central District Football: Ridgedale's Corey Chatman named top coach in Division VII
Last year's Ridgedale prospectus: Ridgedale football guide: Rockets 'light years ahead' as program grows
1. Rockets relying on defense
Ridgedale held opponents to 20 or fewer points in seven of their 10 games last year and had two shutouts. They lost All-Ohio linebacker Nathan Thiel, fellow linebacker Logan Rasnick and defensive back Landon Murphy to graduation, but they have two stalwarts back along the defensive line in senior Brayden Townsend and junior Evan Ricketts, a pair of third-team All-Ohio picks in 2023. Townsend finished with 64 tackles, 18 tackles for loss and six sacks, while Rickets added 68 tackles, 21 for loss and six sacks.
Between those two bookends along the line will be senior Lake Mitchell and junior Michael Justice, while at linebacker will be junior Michael Deas, junior Brody Fultz and sophomore Hunter Hutchinson. Deas was second on the team in tackles with 77, plus picked off three passes, while Fultz had 51 tackles with eight for loss.
In the backfield, they will look to senior Caiden Daniel, A.J. Imbody, J.J. Slaughterbeck, sophomore Kingston McGary and junior Ayden Salyer. The leader of the group is Slaughterbeck who ended with 61 tackles and four interceptions.
Adding depth to the defense is junior Logan Applegate, senior Paul Edwards-Woodward, junior Memfis Blair, junior Isaac Lust, freshman Colt Rawlins, freshman Coltin Stinchcomb and freshman Britton Pottkotter.
"We have a lot of experience at all levels of the defense," Chatman said. "A lot of experience will play key for the Rockets defense."
2. Ridgedale's QB will drive the offense
Another year in the same scheme is the good thing for the Rockets, especially Townsend at quarterback. He put up 1,641 yards a year ago on 124 of 217 passing. He threw 18 touchdowns and 11 interceptions, but with Thiel and Murphy gone, he'll need to find new go-to targets as they accounted for 88 of those receptions.
Look for Rickets, Daniel and Salyer to line up at receiver, while Deas and Slaughterbeck will operate out of the backfield. The two backs combined for 25 catches and over 300 yards in the air, while Deas led the team with 419 yards rushing on 75 carries.
Hutchinson will be the fullback helping Mitchell, Fultz, senior Jamison Potts, Justice and Edwards-Woodward block along the line.
Lending some depth across the offense will be Imbody, Applegate, Blair, McGary, Lust and sophomore Luke Trippett.
"Concerns this upcoming season is the production from the skilled positions," Chatman said. "We have a lot of guys back, but we are asking them to take on different roles than they had in the past. The offensive line is still a concern. This year it has to do with depth upfront. These young men are putting in the work. Like all coaches say, we go as the O-line goes."
3. Optimism abounds with the Rockets
Last year Ridgedale finished 19th in the computer rankings of Division VII's Region 26, which includes northwest Ohio powerhouses. This year the Ohio High School Athletic Association moved the Rockets to Region 27 in southern and eastern Ohio, and their 6.3 average from the 6-4 record would have placed them 12th and comfortably in the playoffs in 2023.
"The offseason training was great, and you can really tell when you look at some of the players," Chatman said. "We were able to attend a few 7-on-7s. We got better and improved against every team we faced. I learned that we are light years ahead of where we were last year."
Instead of major overhauls that come with coaching changes or roster attrition, the Rockets are enjoying their stability by finetuning their offense and defense.
"Seniors like Brayden Townsend and Caiden Daniel, juniors' Evan Ricketts, Michael Deas, J.J. Slaughterbeck and Brody Fultz will be asked to take on bigger roles this year," he said. "Most of the team is coming back from last year, so we will count on all of them."
Ridgedale's outlook
Last year was a breakout season for Ridgedale, a school that hadn't experienced a winning season in football since 2003. Chatman was named a Central District Coach of the Year for his work, but he knows there is more to accomplish.
"Goals for the Rockets this year are very simple," he said. "We want to WIN! But, we want to compete and improve every day and every game. If we do that, we will live with the results. Looking at the 2024 schedule, the outcome is very promising for the Rockets."
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Ridgedale Football Primer
● League: Northwest Central Conference.
● Playoff Division: VII, Region 27.
● Head Coach: Corey Chatman (third season, 9-11).
● Assistants: Mark Sanford (co-offensive coordinator, quarterbacks), Tracy Smith (running backs, defensive line), Tyrone Deas (offensive line), Todd Townsend (defensive coordinator, linebackers), John Slaughterbeck (defensive backs), Kyle Mathey (co-offensive coordinator, wide receivers).
● Playoff Appearances: 5 (1999, 2000, 02, 03, 20).
● Playoff Record: 4-5.
● Last Year: 6-4, 5-4.
● Starters Returning: 8 offense, 8 defense.
● Base Offense: Spread.
● Base Defense: 4-4.
2024 Schedule
Aug. 23 at Hilltop
Aug. 30 at Elgin
Sept. 6 Ridgemont
Sept. 1 4 at Rearview Gabriel Richard Catholic, Mich.
Sept. 20 at Upper Scioto Valley
Sept. 27 Hardin Northern
Oct. 4 at North Baltimore
Oct. 11 Cory-Rawson
Oct. 18 at Waynefield-Goshen
Oct. 25 Perry
2023 Results
Hilltop, W 20-6
Elgin, L 0-32
Ridgemont, W 32-16
Crestline, W 41-0
Upper Scioto Valley, L 14-50
Hardin Northern, W 37-15
North Baltimore, W 37-15
Cory-Rawson, W 34-7
Waynesfield-Goshen, L 20-53
Perry, W 19-16
This article originally appeared on Marion Star: 2024 Ridgedale Football Guide: 'We want to win' is the Rockets gridiron battle cry
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