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Elgin Football: Young crew gets chance for Comets in 2022

rob mccurdy, marion star
·4 min read
Elgin 's football team comes onto the field at Ridgedale last year in a Northwest Central Conference football game.
Elgin 's football team comes onto the field at Ridgedale last year in a Northwest Central Conference football game.

MARION — With the graduation of All-Ohioans Cy Starcher at quarterback and Kevin Kline at running back, Elgin's football team will have a new look for 2022.

Starcher ran for 1,600 yards and threw for nearly 300 yards, while Kline produced more than 1,400 yards. Starcher scored 33 touchdowns and Kline had 20.

That's a lot of offense that turned their tassels last spring.

"Finding a way to replace offensive production lost to graduation (is a concern)," Elgin coach Zack Winslow said.

The Comets feel they have some athletes to fill the void.

Sophomore Quinton Harrison (5-foot-10, 150 pounds) will take over as quarterback, while junior Darrin Zier (5-10, 180) and senior Breckin Dugan (6-0, 170) will line up at running back, and senior Sammy Lanier (5-9, 200) will be the fullback. Sophomore Nash Lust (5-7, 160) and senior Thomas Colby (6-3, 195) are set at receiver and tight end respectively in Elgin's version of the wing T.

Playing along the line will be junior Russell Sherman (6-2, 215) and junior Nels VanGundy (6-3, 200) at tackle, junior Jacob Brown (6-0, 215) and senior Kenny Sloan (6-1, 195) at guard and senior Colton Brush (6-1, 220) at center.

"Overall team athleticism should be a strength for us," Winslow said.

Players like Jonah VanGundy, David Hawkins and Anthony Rodgers will need to be replaced on defense.

Nels VanGundy, Brown and Slone will fill roles along the defensive line, while Harrison, Lanier, Landon Shepard and Kaiden Luikart will be linebackers, and Dugin, Nash Lust, Zier and Colby will be counted on in the backfield in the 3-4 scheme.

Elgin's defense stops a play at Ridgedale last year in a Northwest Central Conference football game.
Elgin's defense stops a play at Ridgedale last year in a Northwest Central Conference football game.

Colby is the top returnee in terms of tackles with 39 and five tackles for loss, while Nels VanGundy had 33 tackles and four for loss, and Luikart had 31 tackles.

Colby will punt and kick, while Dugan and Zier will be returners on special teams.

"Team speed defensively should be a strength for us," Winslow said. "A lack of varsity experience and depth are concerns,"

Zier, Brody Wood, Luke Waldo, Donovan Stith and Ronnie Newman are newcomers who will make impacts this season, the coach said.

"The renovation to our athletic complex paid dividends this offseason," Winslow said. "Attendance was good and the team worked really hard. This offseason I learned that this team is an exceptionally hard working group."

Last year the Comets went 4-6 overall, but 4-3 in the Northwest Central Conference.

"The league loses a bunch of proven talent to graduation, but I expect it to be a very competitive league," Winslow said. "Our goals are always to win the conference and qualify for the playoffs. Although the team will be young and inexperienced, I look for our team to grow each week."

With so many new faces being counted on to produce under the lights, Elgin will look to its upperclassmen to get the squad ready for what's ahead.

"Breckin Dugan, Colton Brush, Kaiden Luikart, Thomas Colby, Nels VanGundy and Darrin Zier will be expected to not only be leaders on Friday nights but on a daily basis," the coach said.

rmccurdy@gannett.com

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Elgin head football coach Zack Winslow walks the sidelines during a game at Cardington last season.
Elgin head football coach Zack Winslow walks the sidelines during a game at Cardington last season.

Elgin Comets Football Bullet Points

  • Conference: Northwest Central.

  • Coach: Zach Winslow.

  • Assistants: Ben Nauman (associate head coach, defensive coordinator), John VanGundy (offensive line, defensive line), Cole Nicolosi (offensive coordinator, running backs, safeties), Marvin Jackson (special teams coordinator, wide receivers, corners), Shawn Wittibslager (offensive line, defensive line), Cam Miller (quarterbacks, outside linebackers).

  • Postseason: Division VI, Region 23.

  • Playoff Appearances: 5 (1988, 91, 99, 2005, 20).

  • Playoff Record All-Time: 2-5.

  • Last Year: 4-6, 4-3.

  • Letter Winners Returning: 6.

  • Starters Returning: 3.

  • Base Offense: Wing T.

  • Base Defense: 3-4.

Elgin 2022 Football Schedule

  • Aug. 19: Elgin at Northmor

  • Aug. 26: Cardington at Elgin

  • Sept. 2: Elgin at Mount Gilead

  • Sept. 9: Elgin at Perry

  • Sept. 16: Elgin at Waynesfield-Goshen

  • Sept. 23: Hardin Northern at Elgin

  • Sept. 30: Ridgedale at Elgin

  • Oct. 7: Ridgemont at Elgin

  • Oct. 14: Elgin at Upper Scioto Valley

  • Oct. 21: Crestline at Elgin

Elgin 2021 Football Results

  • Galion, L 12-15

  • Cardington, L 16-20

  • Mount Gilead, L 42-45

  • Perry, W 68-62

  • Waynesfield-Goshen, L 28-56

  • Hardin Northern, L 42-52

  • Ridgedale, W 48-13

  • Ridgemont, W 56-24

  • Upper Scioto Valley, L 18-46

  • Crestline, W 53-6

Elgin's football team gathers at Ridgedale last season in a Northwest Central Conference football game.
Elgin's football team gathers at Ridgedale last season in a Northwest Central Conference football game.

This article originally appeared on Marion Star: Elgin Football: Young crew gets chance for Comets in 2022