22B • Morning Journal • Football Preview 2012 • Thursday, August 23, 2012
OAK GLEN GOLDEN BEARS
2012 Oak Glen football team
Oak Glen shows muscle up front Classification
West Virginia Class AA
2011 Record
10-2. It was the winningest season in school history as the Golden Bears advanced to the West Virginia Class AA quarterfinal, falling 66-40 to eventual state runner-up Point Pleasant. They were 5-0 in games decided by eight points or less.
Head Coach
Ian Whittington enters his first sea-
2012 SCHEDULE All games start at 7:30 p.m., unless noted Aug. 23 vs. Edison (at Steubenville), 8 p.m. Aug. 31 Wellsville Sept. 7 Indian Creek Sept. 14 at John Marshall, 7:30 Sept. 21 Steubenville Catholic Sept. 28 at Weir Oct. 5 at Tyler Consolidated Oct. 12 at East Liverpool Oct. 27 Point Pleasant, 1:30 Nov. 2 Magnolia
son as head coach. He served the previous three years as an assistant at Oak Glen.
Assistant coaches
Derrick Stickles, offensive coordinator, offensive line, outside linebackers Rich Flowers, wide receivers, defensive backs Justin Lipps, running backs, defensive ends Doug Wells fullbacks, linebackers
Returning lettermen
Fourteen, including six starters on offense and six starters on defense.
Basic offensive formation Multiple sets.
Offensive outlook
The Golden Bears graduated Lucas McDowell, Jeff Hissam and Dylan Davis, who accounted for 83 percent of their offense last. But they return the entire offensive line, including 6-foot8, 370-pound left tackle Richie Davis. “If you can find a better offensive line, I’d like to see it,” Whittington said.
“They’re big, they’re strong and every single one of them has been there since December in the weight room. They haven’t missed a day.”
Basic defensive formation 4-4.
Defensive outlook
Defensive tackle Preston Murray is a four-year starter and stalwart on the Oak Glen defense. “We want to force you to pass the ball,” Whittington said. “We want to be more physical and fly to the football. Our goal is to force the offense into being one-dimensional.”
Returning offensive backs
Tyler Steed (senior running back), Zack Staley (senior fullback).
Incoming offensive backs
Bub Haddox (junior quarterback), Chase Hartley (sophomore quarterback), Michael Shenton (junior fullback), David Campbell (junior running back).
Returning offensive ends
Cole Holloway (senior wide receiver), Clayton Flowers (senior wide receiver), Justin Stivason (senior tight end), Trey Smith (senior wide receiver), Josh Weltner (senior wide receiver).
Incoming offensive ends
Cody Howell (senior wide receiver). Nation Whittington (senior tight end), Cody Howell (senior wide receiver).
Returning offensive linemen
Preston Murray (senior tackle), Jeff Stivason (senior guard), Logan Curtis (senior center), Nate Wright (senior guard), Richie Davis (senior tackle).
Incoming offensive linemen None.
Returning defensive linemen
Preston Murray (senior tackle), Zack Staley (senior end), Jeff Stivason (senior tackle), Cole Holloway (senior end). See OAK GLEN, Page 24B