OCC-C ENTRAL D IVISION
Hilliard Davidson
Young roster must mature quickly for ’Cats
By FRANK DiRENNA THISWEEKSPORTS.COM
“We always have the same goals: Win the league, make the playoffs and play to our potenHilliard Davidson High tial,” Backenstoe said. School football coach Brian White and his staff are not OFFENSE accustomed to rebuilding projAlthough the personnel has ects. changed drastically, Davidson Bur after losing 21 seniors remains a run-oriented team to graduation – including with a focus on effective offennumerous starters on both sides sive line play. of the ball – White says they Leading the line at center will are faced with that challenge as be Backenstoe, a first-team allthe Wildcats seek their 10th state, all-district and all-league consecutive trip to the playoffs. selection last season who has “We are so inexperienced,” announced that he will attend said White, who is in his 19th West Point to play for Army. season. “We have a lot of ques“We’re trying to find the right tions that we’re not finding guys to step up,” said Backenanswers for at this point. stoe, who is 6-foot-2, 268 There’s so many spots that need pounds. “Finding people who replaced from last year, and can play and the people who they’re being replaced by are mature enough to be on the younger kids who haven’t field on Friday nights is going really paid their dues at the j.v. to be our biggest concern this level yet.” year.” The Wildcats return just five The remaining linemen all starters in seniors Sam Back- have good size but limited varenstoe (OL/DL) and Ben sity experience. Wright (RB/DB) and juniors Juniors Myles Paazig (6-2, Evan Annis (TE/LB), Ethan 231) and Cal Ryan (6-1, 240) Royer (RB/LB) and Christian will play tackle, and seniors Sweet (RB/DB). Colson Barnett (6-0, 242) and Davidson is coming off its Alex Gonzalez (5-10, 227) and 23rd league title, as it finished juniors Chase Miles (6-0, 230) first in the OCC-Central Divi- and Billy Puncheon (5-11, 278) sion at 5-0. The Wildcats edged are competing for time at guard. Dublin Coffman 7-6 in league Annis will play a key role in play on their way to the cham- the team’s blocking scheme at pionship, but lost 24-3 to the tight end. fourth-seeded Shamrocks in the At the skill positions, the first round of the Division I, Wildcats must replace 2017 Region 3 playoffs to finish 8-3 graduates David St. Clair at overall. Davidson was seeded quarterback and Ryan Royer at fifth. running back. White – who said Coffman St. Clair rushed for 964 yards is the favorite to win the league, and seven touchdowns while with Upper Arlington as the effectively guiding the team’s main threat to the Shamrocks triple-option offense, and Royer – hopes his team develops into led the Wildcats in rushing with a contender. 1,207 yards and 20 touchdowns. “We’ll hopefully get better A walk-on at Cincinnati, Royer as the year goes on, but our shared Offensive Player of the schedule is so front-loaded,” Year honors in the OCC-CenWhite said. “I’d like to think tral with UA running back E.J. that if we’re not demoralized Caldwell. early in the season that we’ll do A competition developed at what we traditionally do, and quarterback in the preseason that’s get better as the year goes between junior Carson Felicetty on.” and senior A.J. VanVoorhis. The Wildcats open Aug. 25 White said VanVoorhis did not at home on their new synthetic to play last season in order to turf field against Grove City, focus on lacrosse. which finished 0-10 a year ago At running back, Wright was but has a new coach in Ten- the preseason favorite to carry nyson Varney who led Franklin the workload. Heights to the Division II play“Ben understands our offense offs last season. and understands where he needs Senior Triston Siemer, a to be when the ball is snapped,” receiver and defensive back who White said. was honorable mention allJuniors Jordan Hicks, league last season for David- Tommy Sanford, Sweet and son, has transferred to Grove Christian Wilson also will see City. time in the backfield, and Sweet The challenging schedule is back from missing part of last includes road games at Hilliard season with a broken ankle. Darby (Sept. 1) and Hilliard “Christian is a really good Bradley (Sept. 8), and White player and he’s probably going called Bradley the most talented to have to help us on both sides team in the community. of the field,” White said. Davidson remains in DiviJunior Kalib O’Connor will sion I, Region 3, which also play fullback, and senior Brett includes Bradley, Darby, Pick- Kodger and junior Matt Ryan erington Central and Pickering- will be at wide receiver. “We have competitive kids, ton North. Coffman has moved but we’re far from putting a to Division I, Region 2. The top eight teams in each competitive team on the field region qualify for the playoffs. right now,” White said. August 24, 2017
At a glance 2017 SCHEDULE Aug. 25 .................vs. Grove City Sept. 1...............at Hilliard Darby Sept. 8 ............at Hilliard Bradley Sept. 15 .....vs. Olentangy Liberty Sept. 22..................at Lancaster *Sept. 29 .....vs. Central Crossing *Oct. 6............at Upper Arlington *Oct. 13.........vs. Dublin Coffman *Oct. 20.................vs. Marysville *Oct. 27 ...................at Westland 2016 RESULTS (8-3 overall, 5-0 OCC-Central) Grove City ....................W, 26-10 Hilliard Darby ...............W, 13-10 Hilliard Bradley..............L, 31-28 Olentangy Liberty............L, 28-3 Lancaster ......................W, 31-7 *Central Crossing ...........W, 27-0 *Upper Arlington.............W, 24-7 *Dublin Coffman...............W, 7-6 *Marysville...................W, 56-20 *Westland ......................W, 56-0 PLAYOFFS Dublin Coffman...............L, 24-3 *League contest INSIDE THE WILDCATS •Coach: Brian White, 19th season •Top players: Evan Annis (TE/LB), Sam Backenstoe (OL/DL), Carson Felicetty (QB), Jah’von Lynch (OL/DL), Myles Paazig (OL/DL), Ethan Royer (RB/LB), A.J. VanVoorhis (QB) and Ben Wright (RB/DB) •Key losses: Nick Commings, Daniel Downs, David Hoyle, Kent Hummell, Kyle Neimeister, Bosston Nolty, Ryan Royer, David St. Clair and Jesse Wymard
Sam Backenstoe will anchor the offensive line at center, where he was a first-team all-state pick last season. JOHN HULKENBERG/THISWEEK
DEFENSE
White said his team will again need a strong effort from its 50 shade base defense if it hopes to develop into a contender. Backenstoe also will see time at nose guard along with senior Jah’von Lynch, while other key linemen are senior Davis Sell and junior Josiah Ezirim. Annis and Ethan Royer, Ryan’s brother, should lead the linebackers. “Lack of experience is not really something you can coach, but the only thing we can do is get ready for Friday night and prepare the best we can in practice and get experience throughout the season,” Ethan Royer said. “We’re going to do our best, be tough. We’re always going to try to be the toughest team on the field and just work hard.” Senior Nick Kozman is another key linebacker, and White said sophomores Dylan Bunyak and Dylan Kokoska also have been impressive at that position during the preseason. The defensive backs will be seniors Collin Danyi, Benton Snyder and Jon Stull and jun-
iors David May and Sweet.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Graduation took its toll on special teams, as the Wildcats must replace kicker and punter David Hoyle, who was firstteam all-league and special mention all-district. Sophomores Avery Book, Sean Carrier and Jackson Lightfoot are competing for the positions. Top return threats are Wright, Sanford and Sweet. Annis and Kozman are the long snappers.
THE LINEUP
Offense Quarterbacks: A.J. VanVoorhis (sr., 5-10, 165), Carson Felicetty (jr., 6-1, 173) Running backs: *Ben Wright (sr., 5-8, 188), Jordan Hicks (jr., 5-8, 173), Kalib O’Connor (jr., 5-11, 187), Tommy Sanford (jr., 5-11, 164), Christian Sweet (jr., 5-9, 166), Christian Wilson (jr., 5-9, 162) Receivers: *Brett Kodger (sr., 5-11, 159), *Matt Ryan (jr., 64, 187) Tight ends: Chris Potts (sr., 6-3, 217), *Evan Annis (jr., 6-
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Kokoska (so., 6-1, 214) Secondary: Collin Danyi (sr., 5-10, 164), Benton Snyder (sr., 5-8, 187), *Jon Stull (sr., 5-11, 158), David May (jr., 6-0, 169), *Sweet Special teams Kickers: Avery Book (so., 510, 160), Sean Carrier (so., 510, 175), Jackson Lightfoot (so., 6-2, 170) Punters: Book, Carrier, Lightfoot Returners: Wright, Sanford, Sweet Long snappers: Kozman, Annis (*Denotes projected starter)
0, 203), Brennan Connolly (jr., 5-19, 188) Linemen: *Sam Backenstoe (sr., 6-2, 268), Colson Barnett (sr., 6-0, 242), Alex Gonzalez (sr., 5-10, 227), *Chase Miles (jr., 6-0, 230), *Myles Paazig (jr., 6-2, 231), Billy Puncheon (jr., 5-11, 278), *Cal Ryan (jr., 6-1, 240) Defense Linemen: *Backenstoe, *Jah’von Lynch (sr., 5-10, 244), *Davis Sell (sr., 5-10, 211), *Josiah Ezirim (jr., 6-5, 253) Linebackers: Nick Kozman (sr., 5-11, 182), *Annis, *Ethan Royer (jr., 6-2, 202), Dylan Bun- fdirenna@thisweeknews.com yak (so., 5-11, 182), Dylan @ThisWeekFrank
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