Improving in the trenches an emphasis for Mapleton football in 2022
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The emphasis will be on getting better in the trenches on the offensive line for Mapleton’s football team to establish its run-oriented pistol Wing-T offense for the 2022 season.
Third-year Mounties coach Matt Stafford knows his team is very young and inexperienced, especially on offense.
"We’re looking at three sophomores getting significant playing time on offense,” he said. “We have to replace three starters on the offensive line and three starting running backs. I like how our young guys have jelled and grown over the offseason and through summer practices."
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Mapleton finished last season with a 3-7 overall record, including a first-round playoff loss at Lucas.
Letter winners returning on offense include junior quarterback Kollin Cline, senior halfback Garret Kern, senior left guard Sheldon Hartzler, junior right tackle Tyler Delosh and junior center Ben Miller.
Cline rushed for 355 yards and four scores on 105 carries while completing 47 of 114 passes for 544 yards and three scores last season.
Promising newcomers include senior tight end Brycn Cucco, junior right guard Mark Miller, junior halfback Jordan Davidson, sophomore tailback Luke Pryor, sophomore tight end Tyson Welch and sophomore halfback Parker McKissick.
"Offensively, Kollin Cline is entering his junior year,” Stafford said. “Kollin became our starter in week seven of his freshman season. Kollin is an outstanding athlete who has a great understanding of our offense and what we’re trying to do schematically. He’s a dual-threat guy who has a nice arm and speed."
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Stafford is also pleased with the size Mapleton has on its offensive and defensive lines.
"Many of our linemen are upperclassmen who have gotten varsity experience over the last couple of seasons, so we’re expecting them to take that next step up in production," he said.
On defense, the Mounties will play a 3-4 slant and angle set.
Letter winners returning on defense include Mark Miller (50½ tackles) at defensive end, Kern (80½) at strong safety, Cline at free safety, Cucco (50½) at nose tackle, junior Kyle Sloter at cornerback, Delosh at defensive tackle, senior Robert Morris at defensive tackle and Ben Miller at defensive tackle.
Promising newcomers include Pryor at linebacker, McKissick at defensive end, sophomore Colton Wittman at linebacker, freshman Preston Rohr at defensive end, freshman Ajay Workman at defensive tackle, Davidson at cornerback, sophomore Donovan Mills at cornerback and junior Reed Welch at defensive tackle.
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"We are young,” Stafford said. “Our roster is mostly comprised of juniors and sophomores. Although many of our juniors have gotten varsity experience, they haven’t been pressed into starting positions. They now have to take that next step in development and production.
"Although we are young, we’re very excited about our kids. It’s a matter of how quickly we can develop them and get them acclimated to the speed and physicality of varsity football."
Stafford looks for the Firelands Conference to be strong once again this season. The Mounties went 2-4 in league games last year.
"Our league is very competitive from top to bottom," he said. "I think Crestview has things rolling right now. They have some nice athletes and linemen coming back. You can never count out St. Paul. They reload every year. Plymouth has two of the best athletes in the conference, so they are going to be a handful as well.
“I don’t like making predictions. I just know every week is going to be a knock-down, drag-out battle and a lot of soreness on Saturday mornings."
This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: Mapleton High School 2022 football preview