Paint Valley Bearcats: Can the Bearcats Climb the ranks of the SVC?
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
Improvement, overcoming adversity and developing a tougher mentality is the main focus for the Paint Valley Bearcats for the 2011 season.
Last year, they finished 2-8 (2-5 SVC), winning two of their final three games (defeating Huntington and Unioto), but that wasn't enough to salvage a season where they were bitten by the injury bug for the second consecutive season.
In '11, the Bearcats and head coach Pete Hollon have four keys they must keep in mind to drastically improve on last season. Those keys are: the defense must be better, they must play a solid early schedule, must avoid injuries and must improve on their turnover ratio.
PV returns 17 letterman, seven offensive starters and nine defensive starters.
Last season, the Paint Valley defense allowed 32.2 points per game, and the team itself started off 0-6 due in large part to injures at or before the start of the regular season. As for the turnover ratio, PV ended the season at -14.
"Without a doubt, improving our defense started on Jan. 3 in the weight room. Our main protocol all winter was to get stronger, get more nasty and more aggressive," Hollon said. "When you allow 32.2 points per game, I don't care how good your offense is, you are going to struggle."
What really hurt PV last season was the aforementioned turnover ratio.
"A lot of the turnovers come back to lack of strength, which we've worked on in the offseason, and a lot of it was what's between the ears, and we are working on the mental aspects of the game," Hollon said. "A lot was because we had so many younger players who probably weren't ready to play varsity football. At one time our turnover ratio was -27, so we did cut the back some in the latter part of the year, but through the first three games last year (all non-league games), it was -17."
One plus for the Bearcats entering the '11 season is they bring nine players back to the defense, and that means nine players who now have gained experience at the varsity level. With all the returning lettermen, Hollon stated one of the strengths headed in the season is the Bearcats' depth at skill positions.
Returning are: Riley Markko, Hayden Lambert, Kyle Kottenbrook, Dylan Fewster, Nate Yoakum, Quentin Tesi, Logan Ackley, Dylan Estep and Eli Barker. Also on the defensive rotation will be Derrick Wagoner, Tyler Murray, Dallas Immell, Mark Clifford, Roddy Long and Mason McCloy.
Markko, a 6-2, 195-pound senior, will be at defensive end, and Murray, who is also a senior (5-10, 215), will be at the other end spot on defense. The Bearcats will have size with their inside linemen with senior nose guard Lambert (6-3, 295) and Wagoner (6-2, 265) plugging up holes in the trenches.
Playing linebacker this season will be a rotation of one senior, Fewster (6-1, 245); one junior, Tesi (5-10, 185); sophomores Yoakum (5-10, 175) and Clifford (5-10, 195); and one freshman, McCloy (6-2, 190).
The defensive backfield consists of senior safeties Barker (6-2, 185) and Ackley (6-1, 155), along with sophomore cornerback Estep (6-1, 155) and junior cornerback Immell (5-8, 160).
One player in particular returning is Lambert, a four-year starter on either offense, defense or both.
"Hayden is a special kid, and the crazy thing is I don't think he understands how good he can be," Hollon said. "He's really dedicated himself this offseason to losing a little bit of weight, and he's so strong (360-pound bench press). He's invaluable for us, and right now we are just looking to play him on defense only to keep him fresh for four quarters."
Offensively, the Bearcats return six players in Ackley (FB), senior center Mat Quillen, Wagoner (RT), Estep (SE), Clifford (RB) and Barker (QB). Also a part of the offensive unit will be Cody King (SE), Fewster, Chris Spears (5-10, 165), Robbee Wallace (WR), Kottenbrook (FB) and Yoakum (WR).
"We have about nine who rotated in the offense last year back, and we are only going to be as strong as our offensive front," Hollon said. "We are going back to the no-huddle spread. Our quarterback has put on an additional 30 pounds and grown a couple inches, so we like where he is at.
"Again, we just have so many question marks up front."
With all the players returning and a new dedication to the program, Hollon said the offseason for Paint Valley football "has been tremendous."
"Our numbers in the weight room have been outstanding," he said. "For the most part, the kids who have lifted have sacrificed their lunch, their study hall and their after-school hours to get stronger. We've put so much time into it, we really feel that's one of the areas we've really corrected in the offseason."
The dedication to bring back the tradition of Paint Valley football is on the players' minds. The Bearcats last advanced to the playoff round in '03, which was the last time they were crowned the Scioto Valley Conference champions. PV has reached the state playoffs on seven occasions since '85.
"Well, the program is so special around here, and the kids don't like losing. We felt like we could probably blame injuries for the last couple years, but we really believe in the 'next man up' philosophy," Hollon said. "We haven't done that the last couple years, and the kids want to change that."
Hollon said a good start to the season could be what the Bearcats need to improve on their consecutive 2-8 seasons.
"Winning is contagious, and we feel the three teams we have on the non-league schedule we can play with," he said. "It is critical we come out of those games with an injury-free situation and gain some confidence when we head into our league games."
Speaking of the league, the SVC could be as competitive as it has been in quite some time. There have been three different champions the past three seasons with the Adena Warriors winning the league last season, losing just one game in SVC play.
Adena, Zane Trace and Westfall return top players from last season.
"I don't know if there is one bad team in the league," Hollon said. "It's the first time in a long time we've been able to say that."
To improve in the win column and to win games in the league, PV must play four complete quarters.
"Just looking at league play, we were down by a touchdown or less in each game going into the half," Hollon said. "Again, it is just being physical, strong and playing four quarters.
"I think the kids know what to expect more (after playing varsity last season), and they will be used to the quickness of the game now. There is just so much difference than playing at other levels than playing on Friday nights."
PV opens the season at home against Belpre on Friday, Aug. 26.[[In-content Ad]]
Last year, they finished 2-8 (2-5 SVC), winning two of their final three games (defeating Huntington and Unioto), but that wasn't enough to salvage a season where they were bitten by the injury bug for the second consecutive season.
In '11, the Bearcats and head coach Pete Hollon have four keys they must keep in mind to drastically improve on last season. Those keys are: the defense must be better, they must play a solid early schedule, must avoid injuries and must improve on their turnover ratio.
PV returns 17 letterman, seven offensive starters and nine defensive starters.
Last season, the Paint Valley defense allowed 32.2 points per game, and the team itself started off 0-6 due in large part to injures at or before the start of the regular season. As for the turnover ratio, PV ended the season at -14.
"Without a doubt, improving our defense started on Jan. 3 in the weight room. Our main protocol all winter was to get stronger, get more nasty and more aggressive," Hollon said. "When you allow 32.2 points per game, I don't care how good your offense is, you are going to struggle."
What really hurt PV last season was the aforementioned turnover ratio.
"A lot of the turnovers come back to lack of strength, which we've worked on in the offseason, and a lot of it was what's between the ears, and we are working on the mental aspects of the game," Hollon said. "A lot was because we had so many younger players who probably weren't ready to play varsity football. At one time our turnover ratio was -27, so we did cut the back some in the latter part of the year, but through the first three games last year (all non-league games), it was -17."
One plus for the Bearcats entering the '11 season is they bring nine players back to the defense, and that means nine players who now have gained experience at the varsity level. With all the returning lettermen, Hollon stated one of the strengths headed in the season is the Bearcats' depth at skill positions.
Returning are: Riley Markko, Hayden Lambert, Kyle Kottenbrook, Dylan Fewster, Nate Yoakum, Quentin Tesi, Logan Ackley, Dylan Estep and Eli Barker. Also on the defensive rotation will be Derrick Wagoner, Tyler Murray, Dallas Immell, Mark Clifford, Roddy Long and Mason McCloy.
Markko, a 6-2, 195-pound senior, will be at defensive end, and Murray, who is also a senior (5-10, 215), will be at the other end spot on defense. The Bearcats will have size with their inside linemen with senior nose guard Lambert (6-3, 295) and Wagoner (6-2, 265) plugging up holes in the trenches.
Playing linebacker this season will be a rotation of one senior, Fewster (6-1, 245); one junior, Tesi (5-10, 185); sophomores Yoakum (5-10, 175) and Clifford (5-10, 195); and one freshman, McCloy (6-2, 190).
The defensive backfield consists of senior safeties Barker (6-2, 185) and Ackley (6-1, 155), along with sophomore cornerback Estep (6-1, 155) and junior cornerback Immell (5-8, 160).
One player in particular returning is Lambert, a four-year starter on either offense, defense or both.
"Hayden is a special kid, and the crazy thing is I don't think he understands how good he can be," Hollon said. "He's really dedicated himself this offseason to losing a little bit of weight, and he's so strong (360-pound bench press). He's invaluable for us, and right now we are just looking to play him on defense only to keep him fresh for four quarters."
Offensively, the Bearcats return six players in Ackley (FB), senior center Mat Quillen, Wagoner (RT), Estep (SE), Clifford (RB) and Barker (QB). Also a part of the offensive unit will be Cody King (SE), Fewster, Chris Spears (5-10, 165), Robbee Wallace (WR), Kottenbrook (FB) and Yoakum (WR).
"We have about nine who rotated in the offense last year back, and we are only going to be as strong as our offensive front," Hollon said. "We are going back to the no-huddle spread. Our quarterback has put on an additional 30 pounds and grown a couple inches, so we like where he is at.
"Again, we just have so many question marks up front."
With all the players returning and a new dedication to the program, Hollon said the offseason for Paint Valley football "has been tremendous."
"Our numbers in the weight room have been outstanding," he said. "For the most part, the kids who have lifted have sacrificed their lunch, their study hall and their after-school hours to get stronger. We've put so much time into it, we really feel that's one of the areas we've really corrected in the offseason."
The dedication to bring back the tradition of Paint Valley football is on the players' minds. The Bearcats last advanced to the playoff round in '03, which was the last time they were crowned the Scioto Valley Conference champions. PV has reached the state playoffs on seven occasions since '85.
"Well, the program is so special around here, and the kids don't like losing. We felt like we could probably blame injuries for the last couple years, but we really believe in the 'next man up' philosophy," Hollon said. "We haven't done that the last couple years, and the kids want to change that."
Hollon said a good start to the season could be what the Bearcats need to improve on their consecutive 2-8 seasons.
"Winning is contagious, and we feel the three teams we have on the non-league schedule we can play with," he said. "It is critical we come out of those games with an injury-free situation and gain some confidence when we head into our league games."
Speaking of the league, the SVC could be as competitive as it has been in quite some time. There have been three different champions the past three seasons with the Adena Warriors winning the league last season, losing just one game in SVC play.
Adena, Zane Trace and Westfall return top players from last season.
"I don't know if there is one bad team in the league," Hollon said. "It's the first time in a long time we've been able to say that."
To improve in the win column and to win games in the league, PV must play four complete quarters.
"Just looking at league play, we were down by a touchdown or less in each game going into the half," Hollon said. "Again, it is just being physical, strong and playing four quarters.
"I think the kids know what to expect more (after playing varsity last season), and they will be used to the quickness of the game now. There is just so much difference than playing at other levels than playing on Friday nights."
PV opens the season at home against Belpre on Friday, Aug. 26.[[In-content Ad]]