2016 Ohio high school football Division IV Region 14 preview

Video: Junior year
See highlights of Alec Foos in action for Bellevue


Players To Watch

* Jake Ruby, Senior QB, Hartley
Ruby is an Ohio State baseball commit.

* Alec Foos, Senior QB, Bellevue
The Northwest District Offensive Player of the Year accounted for 48 touchdowns last year.

* Trey Wilson, Senior QB, Ben Logan
Wilson threw for 2,635 yards and 37 touchdowns last year.

* Trey Pugh, Senior TE, Jonathan Alder
Pugh is a Northwestern commit.

* Alex Jacobs, Senior QB, Indian Lake
Jacobs was the CBC Mad River Division Offensive Player of the Year.

* Kobe Holtz, Senior RB/LB, Kenton Ridge
Holtz scored 11 touchdowns and had 95 tackles last year.

* Emerson Lowe, Senior RB, Port Clinton
Lowe has 2,209 career rushing yards and 33 touchdowns.

* Bo Gross, Senior RB/LB, Lima Bath
Gross scored 16 touchdowns and had 128 tackles last year.
Team To Beat

* Bishop Hartley (Columbus) – 12-3, state champion, Region 12 champion
In year No. 9 under head coach Brad Burchfield (86-19 at Hartley), the Hawks are coming off their fifth regional title in six years. They are serious threats to repeat as state champs. Burchfield (117-44 overall) said “I really believe that this could be our best team. Of course that guarantees nothing, but I love the leadership, ability and brotherhood of this group.” The talent is there. The Hawks return 10 starters on defense and six on offense. They have 27 total letterwinners back. Key returning seniors are quarterback Jake Ruby (6-foot, 180 pounds), linebacker/offensive lineman Cody Kirkbride (6-4, 235), offensive lineman/linebacker Thomas Casimir (6-0, 230), defensive back/receiver Jaden Manley (5-11, 175), defensive back/running back Cam'Ron Culver (5-11, 165), linebacker/running back Marquette Dixon (5-11, 180), linebacker Jack Baughman (6-1, 215), running back Nick Onega (5-11, 200) and defensive end Nicholas Dawes (6-4, 235). Keep an eye on junior offensive lineman Maximus Stienecker (5-11, 220) and sophomore tight end Jordan Kirkbride (6-4, 220). They open the season at Toledo Central Catholic.

Teams To Watch

* Bellevue – 10-3, Region 12 finalist
The Redmen have been to the playoffs four times in five years and should make another deep trip. Senior quarterback Alec Foos (6-1, 190) returns, as does junior running back Bryce Ray (6-0, 205). Foos was the Northwest District Offensive Player of the Year, while Ray was first team all-district. Foos ran for 1,794 yards and 28 touchdowns and threw for 1,526 yards and 20 touchdowns last year. As a sophomore he ran for 1,229 yards, had 454 yards receiving and scored 31 total touchdowns.

* Benjamin Logan (Bellefontaine) - 6-4
The Raiders return some key cogs from an offense that averaged 43.1 points per game. Senior quarterback Trey Wilson (6-1, 185) is back after throwing for 2,635 yards and 37 touchdowns last year. One of his main targets returns as well in senior receiver Josh Whitten (5-10, 165). Whitten had 71 receptions for 1,143 yards and 14 touchdowns. Last year’s leading rusher – senior running back Nick Brown (5-10, 170 with 520 yards rushing and seven touchdowns) – is also back. Defensively, the Raiders return seven of their top eight tacklers.

* Indian Lake (Lewistown) – 8-3, Region 12 quarterfinalist
The Lakers earned the program’s first playoff berth last year and expectations are high. Senior quarterback and reigning CBC Mad River Division Offensive Player of the Year Alex Jacobs (6-1, 200) returns after throwing for 1,430 yards and 19 touchdowns and running for 742 yards and five touchdowns. A pair of standout receivers return in senior Tyler Replogle (6-2, 180) and junior Collin Coburn (6-2, 200). Coburn had 27 receptions for 417 yards and nine touchdowns, while Replogle had 24 for 308 and five, respectively. Senior linebacker Branden Henderson (5-10, 180 with 69 tackles) spearheads the defense.

* Jonathan Alder (Plain City) – 9-2, Region 12 quarterfinalist
The Pioneers feature one of the state’s top recruits in senior tight end Trey Pugh (6-5, 225), who has committed to Northwestern. Also back are senior defensive back Andrew Koening (6-3, 190), junior quarterback Preston Eisnaugle (5-11, 170) and junior defensive back Bryan Blacka (5-11, 175).

* Kenton – 2-8
The Wildcats return senior quarterback Trent Hites (5-9, 175), who threw for 1,610 yards and 13 touchdowns and ran for 684 yards and five touchdowns last year. Five of Hites’ six favorite targets return, including senior receiver Chris Deardorff (5-11, 170), who had 46 receptions for 544 yards and six touchdowns. Defensively, the Wildcats return six players that logged at least 36 tackles last year. Senior defensive back Austin Buroker (6-2, 190) was last year’s leading tackler with 131.

* Kenton Ridge (Springfield) – 8-4, Region 12 semifinalist
The Cougars return a solid offensive nucleus led by senior running back/linebacker Kobe Holtz (5-11, 205), who was first team All-CBC Kenton Division last year after rushing for 379 yards and 11 touchdowns. He also had 95 tackles. Also back is senior quarterback Noah Schleinitz (6-0, 175) and senior receiver Jordan Bailey (5-11, 155). Schleinitz threw for 813 yards and nine touchdowns and ran for 474 yards and five touchdowns last year, while Bailey caught 16 passes for 431 yards and seven touchdowns.

* Napoleon – 6-4
The Wildcats' defense will feature a key senior at each level in defensive lineman Randy Hilton (5-11, 180), linebacker Alex Andrews (5-11, 178) and defensive back Alex Gerken (6-0, 175).

* Wauseon – 9-2, Region 12 quarterfinalist
The Indians are 30-5 the last three years. Key returners include senior offensive lineman Jacob Raabe (6-2, 230) and senior running back/linebacker Brendan Wilson (6-0, 180).

Keep An Eye On

* Bath (Lima) - 7-3
The Wildcats were the unlucky loser of a tiebreaker to decide the final playoff sport last year. Senior running back/linebacker Bo Gross (6-1, 230) scored 16 touchdowns and had 128 tackles last year.  

* Ottawa-Glandorf (Ottawa) - 8-4, Region 12 semifinalist
The Titans will lean heavily upon senior running back Connor Niese (6-0, 180).

* Port Clinton - 7-4, Region 12 Quarterfinalist
A year after earning the program’s first playoff berth, the Redskins earned another. Port Clinton was 0-10 in 2013 and the 2014 season (7-4) was the school’s first winning season since 1990 and its first seven-win season since 1979. Senior running back Emerson Lowe (5-9, 200 with 2,209 career rushing yards and 33 touchdowns) lead the offense.  

* Highland (Sparta) - 6-4
The Scots have the ingredients to make a postseason push. Key players include senior running back Jared Limings (6-0, 180), senior defensive lineman Zach Baker (6-1, 230) and senior kicker Satchel Denton (5-11, 180).

Also In This Region

River Valley (Caledonia) 6-4
London 6-4
Shawnee (Springfield) 3-7
Van Wert 5-5
Oak Harbor 5-5
Vermilion 4-6
Huron 3-7
Graham Local (St. Paris) 3-7
Upper Sandusky 3-7
Urbana 2-8
Fostoria 2-8
East (Columbus) 1-9
Bryan 0-10