New London football continuing to rebuild its program in 2022
Stay patient, New London football fans.
There is a bright light at the end of the tunnel.
With the varsity playing an 8-man schedule for the second consecutive season, the junior varsity will be competing in an 11-man complete Firelands Conference schedule, with the intent to get back to a full varsity schedule as soon as possible.
“We are building our way to be back in 11-man varsity,” said New London coach Jon Harrison, whose team finished last season with a 2-4 record. “The biggest thing this year is we are very young with a handful of freshmen and a lot of first-time players.”
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With 11 freshmen scattered throughout the roster and some even in the starting lineup, there is reason for optimism this fall as Harrison and his staff look to rebuild the program one block at a time.
But the growing pains will be felt.
Harrison will turn to freshman Hunter Chandley to start the season at quarterback, with another freshman, Zach Williams, lining up at running back. Williams will have senior JJ Kopas in the backfield as well.
Lining up at wide receiver are juniors Travis Hinckley and Tyce Davidson and freshman Jaxon Speicher. The trio will be joined by freshman Keith Squire at tight end.
“We will be a run-first offense,” Harrison said. “We will utilize a tight end for the most part and run some play action.”
Beginning the season at tackle are senior Austin Brownell and sophomore Parker Taft with junior Bradley Blanton and senior Austin Ledyard as the projected starters at the guard spots. Freshman Chase Cook is slated to start at center.
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Brownell, Blanton, Davidson, Taft and sophomore Weston Risner are the returning letter winners for both offense and defense.
“Offensively, our strength is in the skilled positions,” Harrison said. “We have some young athletes bringing speed and work ethic to the team.”
With half of the starting defensive unit just leaving middle school, the group should see some improvement in the second half of the season as the game slows down for them.
Risner and Brownell will handle the defensive end spots with Taft and Ledyard lining up at defensive tackle. The inside linebackers will be Blanton and freshman Oliver Harrison with Squire and Williams at the outside backer spots.
Hinckley and Speicher will begin the season at cornerback with Chandley at safety, and the special teams will feature Williams as the punter and Brownell as the kicker.
“We will be in a 4-2-5 system with one to two high safeties,” Harrison said. “We will play multiple coverages. Defensively, we will be tough in the box. Our goal this year on defense is to take away the run.”
Harrison is encouraged by the steps the team is taking to get back to a full varsity schedule.
“I believe this year we are getting the kids to buy in and take the necessary steps to build the program for the future,” he said. “We are focusing on changing the culture by emphasizing on our mindset and competing every day. We have a good core group [and] we plan on building with it.”
Youth and inexperience on the roster make for a steep learning curve, according to Harrison.
“For both, we are young,” he said. “There are first-time players who are making an impact as well as some freshmen. We have a lot to learn, but the group we have is very coachable.”
This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: New London High School 2022 football preview
