With a seasoned veteran at quarterback, South Central football has high hopes in 2022

To compete for a Firelands Conference championship, decades of past champions in the always rugged conference have taught many lessons.

But right near the top is the need for the champion to have a talented, experienced quarterback at the helm who is surrounded with enough talent to face and defeat the bevy of solid defenses he is going to face in September and October.

Entering his senior season and already holding most of the South Central career and single-season passing records, Brandon Mitchell may just be the right player lining up behind center to get the job done.

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“We are experienced offensively, especially at quarterback, where Brandon already holds most of the quarterback records at SC,” sixth-year Trojans coach Corey Fickiesen said.

Add in seniors Hagen Adams and Isaac Blair at wide receiver, and it could add up to an interesting fall in Greenwich.

South Central employs a spread offensive system that relies on getting the ball to playmakers in open spaces.

“Hagen Adams and Isaac Blair at wide receiver bring back playmaking ability,” Fickiesen said. “Braden Kiesel, Connur Mills, Derick Murray and Gage Lauderman all return up front.”

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Those four are all seniors this fall, adding leadership and versatility to the Trojans offensive line.

Alongside Mitchell at quarterback will be Aaron Hauler and Brandon Smith at running back. Gunner Ray is slated to start at the third wide receiver position, with Eric Sanders adding some depth to the position.

Kiesel will start at center and will be flanked at the guard positions by Mills and Lauderman. Murray will anchor one tackle spot with Boston Smith at the opposite end. Landon Gamble and Sam Bowers will fill in on the line as needed.

Adams will handle the kicking and punting duties.

The Trojans lost six letter winners on offense and have six returning.

“Hagen Adams had a good year last year and now is our go-to guy,” Fickiesen said. “Isaac Blair is bigger and stronger and will be a go-to guy as well.

“Offensively and defensively, we lost a couple of big playmakers, so we have a couple holes to fill. Also, just like every year, depth is a worry at some positions.”

Eight starters are back on defense for South Central, which will employ a 4-2-5 scheme with multiple looks.

“Our strengths on defense are experience and speed,” Fickiesen said. “We return both inside linebackers and our top three tacklers. Mills, Murray and [Brandon] Smith all return up front, and we have Blair and Adams returning in the secondary.”

Boston Smith and Mills will start at defensive tackle, while Murray and Brandon Smith will start at defensive end.

Hauler and Seth Kocher are the projected starters at outside linebacker, while Kiesel and Lauderman are slated to handle the inside slots. Ray and Blair will be the starting cornerbacks with Adams at the safety position.

“Kiesel was our top tackler last year and is the top center in the league,” Fickiesen said. “Brandon Smith and Lauderman were in the top three in tackles last year.”

Fickiesen is also looking to get production from Josh Radcliffe at defensive end and Sanders at cornerback.

“We lost some key pieces, but we will be more experienced up front, especially on both sides,” he said.

South Central has the same goal each year when it comes to the Firelands Conference — win a championship.

“Our goal is always to compete and win the conference,” Fickiesen said. “Crestview returns a lot from a very good team. St Paul returns some good pieces and is always good. Western Reserve will be at the top [and] Plymouth, Mapleton [and] Monroeville all will be very competitive.

“The league has been very good the last couple years, and I think it will be the same. Anyone can beat anyone, and we have to be ready to compete every night.”

The Trojans open the season at Willard on Aug. 19.

This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: South Central High School 2022 football preview