A bite of winning fuels Utica football’s hunger
UTICA — Utica football players lingered on the field long after their 31-0 victory against Lakewood in last season’s finale as it was a feeling they wanted to savor.
The goal now, however, is to make it commonplace. The Utica players enjoyed the feeling of success, and the job now is to replicate it.
"Things are great. Team's talking, communicating, and we are a lot closer," senior receiver Hayden Smith said. "Right after the season ended, we would be going to lifting, and we made a joke that we were on a winning streak. Being that was my first win in high school, we have to keep that feeling going."
Several of the players that contributed to Utica’s first victory since 2018 graduated, but the cupboard is far from bare.
Most importantly, however, those seniors started a brotherhood the current players have continued through the offseason. It is the first step to rebuilding a program that has struggled to get into the win column.
"It's our partnership, our companionship," said senior defensive lineman Jordan Hartman, following Utica’s Midnight Madness practice Aug. 1. About a half-dozen of the graduated seniors were in attendance showing their support. "Last year, we really started hitting it off and being talkative. Our seniors last year and us as juniors became leaders, and that has been moving on from last year."
Hartman (6-foot-1, 210 pounds), who shares time at tight end with sophomore Brandon Thornsberry, and junior standout Dylan Cooperider (6-1, 300), who already has started two seasons, lead a core in the trenches. Juniors Connor Staugh and Tyson McElroy and sophomores Anthony Roenker and Grayson Tyo have teammates buzzing about the present and the future.
Coach Charlie Rowley and his staff have emphasized the need to be the team that sets the tone with physicality. Those Utica players on the line take pride in shouldering that load.
"The (offensive line) is like our group inside of our team," Hartman said. "We are like a giant family separated from the skill players. We call each other the hogs. We always joke around, and we have a very close relationship."
That imposing line will be blocking for an intriguing set of skill players. Senior Zach Heckman, who returns after sitting out last season, and sophomore Hayden Piper both provide dual-threat capabilities at quarterback and can push the ball downfield to Smith and juniors Gavin Chinn and Logen Fisher.
"(The underclassmen) are coachable, competitive and willing to do what they need to do to make the team better," Smith said. "I just want to show them everything I've learned, teach them to ask questions if they don't know what they are doing and apply themselves."
Junior Tyler Collura, who spilt time at quarterback with the graduated Seth Miller last season, moves back to a running back position. Collura provides the thunder to junior Justin Giffin’s lightning.
All of the offensive standouts will play key roles on a defense, which adds the return of senior Zach Cyphers to help mitigate the loss of the graduated Brock Wygle, joining senior Ricky Jackson at linebacker. Sophomore Kaden Baker was an immediate contributor at nose guard, and junior Chase Bennett will be able to take the load off the two-way performers in the secondary.
"Our total numbers are up as far as roster goes, which is exciting," Rowley said. "We are still kind of young, but we are experienced. I am excited about that, and we have a couple new faces coming back. We are building off of past years, but this team is going to create its own identity as well."
Utica will have an opportunity to sustain its momentum from the start. Centerburg visits for the season opener before Utica visits Loudonville for the teams’ first matchup since they were Mid-Buckeye Conference foes in 2012. A trip to Fredericktown follows in Week 3.
Utica could steal a page from Northridge’s playbook. Last year, the U.S. 62 neighbors used a pair of non-league victories to springboard them to a winning season in Licking County League-Cardinal Division play and a playoff berth.
"It's definitely in the back of everybody's minds," Hartman said. "We accomplished that (Week 10 victory), and why can't we keep that going? That definitely sparked the offseason. Everybody really worked and grinded in the offseason."
ksnyder@newarkadvocate.com
740-973-4541
Twitter: @newarkurt
At a Glance
Coach: Charlie Rowley
State Classification: Division V, Region 19
In 2021: 1-9, 1-4
Key players: Justin Giffin, Jr., RB/DB. Jordan Hartman, Sr., TE/DL. Dylan Cooperider, Jr., OL/DL. Zach Heckman, Sr., QB/DB. Hayden Piper, So., QB/LB. Tyler Collura, Jr., RB/LB. Gavin Chinn, Jr., WR/DB. Logen Fisher, Jr., WR/DB. Zach Cyphers, Sr., RB/LB. Connor Staugh, Jr., OL/DL. Brandon Thornsberry, So., TE/DL.
What to expect: Increased depth at skill positions will allow coach Charlie Rowley flexibility as Utica attempts to take off. The return of Zach Hackman and Hayden Piper provide two options at quarterback with Tyler Collura joining Justin Giffin at running back spots. All four will be key pieces on defense, too, and Dylan Cooperider, Jordan Hartman and Connor Staugh provide size and experience up front.
Game to watch: Week 1 vs Centerburg — Utica won its season finale against Lakewood and will have a chance to pick up where it left off. Utica was competitive with the Trojans for a half last season, and boosted by what should be a big home crowd could represent a rebirth for the program.
Postseason outlook: Utica has struggled to beat its former Mid-Buckeye Conference brethren, but early success against Centerburg, Loudonville and Fredericktown would put Utica squarely in the playoff mix in Division V heading into LCL-Cardinal play.
This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: A bite of winning fuels Utica football’s hunger
