“The message would just be that we have goals of what we want to accomplish,” Yordy said. “We need everybody to trust the process. Everybody wants to win games, and we’re going to try our hardest to win as many as we can.”
Badin was weakened by the injury bug last season, forcing many younger players onto the field. Yordy hopes that experience will pay off this year.
Seniors Lavassa Martin (5-8, 202) and Kegen Rogers (6-0, 202) are veterans expected to be among the Rams’ leaders on both sides of the ball.
Defensively, they’re outside linebackers. Offensively, they’ll likely be the primary ball carriers.
SEASON PREVIEWS
“They’ve both had a really good offseason,” Yordy said. “They’ve put some weight on and have got some muscle mass going, but they’ve got a little speed to them for being as big and strong as they are.”
Yordy is running the offense and has scrapped the pistol Wing-T in favor of a pro-style, multiple-formation approach.
“We want to run the ball,” Yordy said. “But if you can’t run the ball, sometimes you’ve got to throw the ball. We can spread people out too.”
The quarterback position still hasn’t been nailed down. Senior Jordan Flaig (6-0, 188), junior Luke Tabler (5-11, 148) and sophomore Zach Switzer (6-4, 178) are competing for the job.
Junior Davon Starks (5-9, 157) is a returning playmaker who can play in the backfield or as a wideout. The receiving corps includes senior Pat Mignery (5-10, 161), along with sophomores Josh Hegemann (5-7, 120) and Marshall Flaig (5-10, 148). Juniors Grayson Taylor (6-0, 225) and Jon Berg (6-2, 196) are the tight ends.
Tabler could contribute as a running back or receiver if he’s not playing quarterback. Juniors Ethan Wishart (5-6, 173) and Andrew Trotter (5-6, 150) could be backfield factors as well.
Up front, junior center Dylan Schmitt (5-10, 231), senior tackle Brenden Ray (6-4, 241) and senior guard Kyle Rosteutscher (5-11, 218) are back.
Senior tackle Dallas Krause (6-0, 215) and junior guard Andrew Jones (6-1, 208) are also expected to be starters, with senior Bryce Holian (5-10, 213), senior Chase Luckett (5-10, 265) and junior Jackson Mills (6-3, 223) also in the O-line mix.
SEASON PREVIEWS
“We’re not trying to reinvent football here,” Yordy said. “I think every coach wants to run the ball. You’ve got to keep the clock moving, and you’ve got to get first downs. We’ve just got to be ready to adjust if we’re not getting it done.”
Joe Schlager directs the Rams’ 4-4 defense. Badin gave up a school-record 320 points last year, but does have a good number of defensive returnees.
With Rogers and Martin patrolling the outside at linebacker, junior Bryan Henson (5-10, 189), Jones, Wishart and Berg are inside LBs.
Yordy said likely starters up front are Holian at end, Luckett at nose guard, and Ray and Mills at tackle. Rosteutscher is also in the conversation.
Starks and Tabler are the top cornerbacks. Marshall Flaig, sophomore Alex DeLong (5-8, 139) and Switzer are competing as safeties.
“We want to attack people and get after it a little bit,” Yordy said. “If we can get everybody to fly to the ball, I think good things will happen.”
Senior Ethan Krug (5-10, 172) is set to do Badin’s place-kicking and punting.
“I think we might have a little more depth on the O-line and D-line with this team,” Yordy said. “But we’ve got to stay healthy. If we get guys hurt, that could be problematic with our numbers.
“We placed an emphasis on the weight room this offseason, and I think the kids have bought into that. Now if that’s going to mean more wins or anything like that, I don’t think I can go that far. But we’re better where we are as a team right now than where we started from.”
BADIN RAMS
Coach: Nick Yordy, first season
OHSAA designation: Division III, Region 12
Playoff history: 22-21 in 22 appearances (1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2015)
2016 record: 2-8 overall, 1-6 in the Greater Catholic League Coed Central Division (second, tied)
Schedule: Aug. 25 — vs. Ross at Hamilton, 7 p.m.; Sept. 1 — at Talawanda, 7 p.m.; Sept. 9 — vs. Edgewood at Hamilton, 7 p.m.; Sept. 16 — vs. Purcell Marian at Walnut Hills, 7 p.m.; Sept. 22 — vs. Roger Bacon at Fairfield, 7 p.m.; Sept. 29 — vs. Fenwick at Hamilton, 7 p.m.; Oct. 6 — at Carroll, 7 p.m.; Oct. 13 — vs. Alter at Hamilton, 7 p.m.; Oct. 20 — at Chaminade Julienne, 7 p.m.; Oct. 28 — at McNicholas, 1 p.m.
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