Marion Harding Football: New coach takes over newlook squad in 2022
MARION — The Presidents have experienced a preseason unlike any high school football team in Ohio this year.
In the middle of last week, head coach Demetrius Ross abruptly resigned, shocking his players and staff.
Undeterred, Marion Harding went to Whitehall-Yearling for its final scrimmage before the start of the 2022 regular season and it won the contest 16-13, culminating a whirling 24 hours for the Prexies.
"Yesterday was big for them for many reasons. It gave them an opportunity to show people they are a good football team," new head coach Dan Arndt said.
More:Marion Harding's head football coach Demetrius Ross resigns
The varsity played shutout football for its two quarters of defense, creating three turnovers, and senior running back Trinity Keith, the top returnee to the offense, scored a 6-yard touchdown. The JV team gave up a pair of second-half touchdowns, but forced a safety and two more turnovers as Kwamae Scott scored a 1-yard TD for Harding.
It was quite the capper to an emotional couple of days for the team.
"The kids took it very hard. Coach Ross was well loved by all his players and his staff. We all had a great relationship," Arndt said. "I was curious as to how we were going to come out. My fear was were they going to be able to control their emotions by coming out with that extra edge and maybe make some mental mistakes. They responded well, and that’s a testament to what Coach Ross has done for this program as far as getting these kids prepared for adversity."
Arndt was elevated to head coach last week after serving as the defensive coordinator for the Presidents. The rest of the staff remains intact with Eric Zagrans as offensive coordinator, Lem Reynolds as running backs coach, Thorn Elliott as tight ends coach, Rick Jenkins as the offensive line coach, Sonte Wong as the receivers coach, Mike McClelland as defensive line coach and Dave Rasey, Bob Neault and Jonah Hensley working with the freshmen.
Three new coaches were brought aboard last week to fill spots. Former Harding standouts L.J. Scott and Noah Thompson return to their alma mater. Scott will coach linebackers and special teams, while Thompson will work with the secondary. Former Mount Gilead defensive coordinator Caleb Dettra will assist Arndt with defensive duties and will signal in defensive plays from the sideline.
"I’m going to have an extremely heavy hand defensively. I consulted with Coach Ross. This is my first gig running a football program. I felt I was going to still be a position coach and a defensive coordinator and manage the game," Arndt said. "Coach D pulled me aside and said you’re a head coach. You’ve always been a head coach, and I want you to focus on managing the game and being involved in all the phases of the game and not just defensively."
While the schemes remain unchanged, the players adapted well to the changes on the staff, Arndt said.
"We’re going to work as a team. It’s not just one of us; it’s going to become all of us," he said.
Arndt and the staff take over a new team essentially. There are very few holdovers from last year's breakout 7-4 season that saw the Presidents finish as Mid Ohio Athletic Conference runners-up and earn their first playoff berth since 2003. It was just the program's second winning season since 2004 and its first since 2017.
"We graduated, I think, 23 seniors last year," Arndt said. "Phenomenal seniors. We had All-Ohio football players on that team. These kids have not had a chance to get a whole lot of respect from anybody around them. They are the class that is following the super class for the lack of better words, and that makes them hungry."
Five of the departed were All-Ohio in Division II: Arndt's son Jacob at linebacker, Michael Bush on the offensive line, Brady Wink at quarterback, Wesley Stokes at receiver and Rashawn Turner at defensive end.
Only two players bring back significant experience: Keith and linebacker Bradley Pennington.
Keith overcame a midseason injury to lead the squad in rushing with 634 yards and 10 touchdowns, an average of 6.9 yards per carry. Keith also caught 33 passes for 434 yards and two more TDs. He led the team in scoring with 74 points.
Pennington was third on the team in tackles with 72, adding 12 tackles for loss and two sacks.
Everyone else will be a varsity newbie.
Alex Stokes will take over at quarterback after serving as the backup a year ago as a sophomore. Landon Adams is set for fullback, while Marreon Ross and Marcus Hemphill will line up at receiver and Nick Hecker at tight end. Along the line will be Saxon Sharp, Justin Long, Cam Rayner, Jalen Williams and Josiah Payne.
The defensive line will feature Adams, Williams, Isaac Fosnaugh and Hemphill. Joining Pennington at linebacker will be Juan Ruiz and Justin Long. The secondary brings Parker Davis, formerly of River Valley, and Ridge Barkley, formerly of Ridgedale, as well as Marquise Long and Caden Jones.
Daylen Boler, Keonte Scott, Keith, Ross, Hecker, Sharp and Rayner will also be in the defensive mix.
Jordan Hensley returns as the kicker and punter.
More:The Marion-area's complete high school football schedule for 2022
"We are looking for our seniors to take ownership of this team as well as juniors Alex Stokes and Marquise Long," Arndt said.
Because the players are so new to Friday nights, they want to prove themselves worthy of being Presidents. And what they lack in experience, they make up for with speed and aggressiveness.
"When we go out on the practice field, they feel like they need to prove themselves, and that’s very, very encouraging when you are dealing with a young group of kids," Arndt said. "It’s our job as coaches to harness that energy and draw them back in and not let those emotions take them over."
They passed the final dress rehearsal. Up next is Mount Vernon on Friday at 7 p.m. in Harding Stadium to kickoff the regular season.
"They were able to go out there and run and play and that was refreshing for me. There was excitement and smiles," Arndt said of the successful scrimmage at Whitehall. "It’s business as usual. We have a young team, but we have a hungry team. I’m excited to see what they do this season."
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Marion Harding Presidents Football Bullet Points
Conference: Mid Ohio Athletic.
Coach: Dan Arndt (first season).
Assistants: Lem Reynolds (running backs), Thorn Elliott (tight ends), Rick Jenkins (offensive line), Sonte Wong (receivers, secondary), Mike McClelland (defensive line), L.J. Scott (linebackers, special teams), Noah Thompson (secondary), Caleb Dettra (defensive assistant), Dave Rasey (freshmen head coach), Bob Neault (freshmen), Jonah Hensley (freshmen).
Postseason: Division II, Region 7.
Playoff Appearances: 7 (1998, 2000, 01, 02, 03, 30, 21).
Playoff Record All-Time: 3-7.
State Champion: 1958.
Last Year: 7-4, 4-2
Letter Winners Returning: 7 offense, 2 defense.
Starters Returning: 6 offense, 2 defense.
Base Offense: Spread.
Base Defense: Hybrid.
Marion Harding 2022 Football Schedule
Aug. 19: Mount Vernon at Marion Harding
Aug. 26: Ashland at Marion Harding
Sept. 2: Marion Harding at Newark
Sept. 9: Marion Harding at Galion
Sept. 16: Marion Harding at Shelby
Sept. 23: Highland at Marion Harding
Sept. 30: Marion Harding at River Valley
Oct. 7: Clear Fork at Marion Harding
Oct. 14: Marion Harding at Ontario
Oct. 21: Pleasant at Marion Harding
Marion Harding 2021 Football Results
Mount Vernon, W 28-27
Mansfield Senior, L 6-37
Newark, W 33-6
Pleasant, L 24-27
Galion, W 24-15
Shelby, L 12-38
Madison Comprehensive, W 57-21
River Valley, W 56-40
Clear Fork, W, 23-21
Ontario, W, 42-14
Playoff: Green, L 21-53
This article originally appeared on Marion Star: Marion Harding Football: New coach takes over newlook squad in 2022
