Grand River Conference 11-Man Football Preview

by Jeremy Benson, GrandRiverConference.com

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Coaches Pre-Season Poll

Two-time defending GRC 11-Man Champion Gallatin Bulldogs look to make it three straight championships this year.  According to the coaches, they are the favorites to become the first GRC football team to capture back-to-back outright titles since Hamilton won four straight from 2008 to 2011.

Here are the coaches' picks for the 2023 season for GRC 11-Man:

Gallatin

Gallatin finished 10-1 in 2022, winning their 13th Grand River Conference football championship finishing 7-0.  It was their second consecutive championship.  They became the first team to win back-to-back outright titles since South Harrison in 2012 and 2013.  The Bulldogs defeated Putnam County in the district championship game before falling to eventual state champion East Buchanan 14-6 in the state quarterfinals.

Gallatin graduated a lot of talent, including Payton Feiden (1st Team All-Conference Athlete and Defensive Back), Draven Wright (1st Team All-Conference Running Back, Defensive Back, and Returner), Brett Hemry (1st Team All-Conference Defensive End, 2nd Team All-Conference Offensive Line), Isaac Bird (2nd Team All-Conference Wide Receiver and Defensive Back), Colt Baker (1st Team All-Conference Offensive Lineman and Hon Mention All-Conference Defensive Lineman), Logan Bottcher (1st Team All-Conference Linebacker and 2nd Team All-Conference Running Back), Gabe Parker (1st Team All-Conference Defensive Lineman), and Ethan Adkison (Hon Mention All-Conference Defensive End).

Despite the loss of talent, the coaches still believe the Bulldogs have enough talent to take home another title.  That starts at quarterback, where Peyton Baker (All-District and 1st Team All-Conference) will again be the signal caller for his senior season.  Offensive Lineman Keegan McBroom (All-District and 1st Team All-Conference) and Owen Waterbury (1st Team All-Conference Tight End) are the other returning starters on offense from last season.  Waterbury played tight end last season but will move to the offensive line in 2023.

Baker (Defensive Back) and McBroom (All-State and 1st Team All-Conference Defensive Lineman) also return as starters on defense in addition to offense.  Boston Bell (Hon Mention All-Conference Linebacker) and Jaden Wilson round out the returning starters on defense.

Newcomers that expect to contribute this year include Brody Bird (Running Back and Defensive Back), Stanley Hanson (Fullback and Defensive End), Magnum Fenimore (Offensive Lineman and Defensive End), and Marquise Nielsen (Defensive Back).  Waterbury will also be a first-time starter on defense at linebacker, and Wilson will be a first-time starter on offense at tight end.

Coach Chris Holt said, "We will need to stay healthy as our depth is not what it was a year ago.  We feel like we can have a very successful season."

Putnam County

Last year, Putnam County was picked to finish #7 in the preseason poll.  However, they surprised everyone (except probably Midget fans, players, and coaches) by finishing third with a 5-2 conference record.  Overall the Midgets finished 9-3 falling to Gallatin in the district championship game by the score of 21-7.  It was a game with a lot of missed opportunities by Putnam County.  

The Midgets will not sneak up on anyone this year, with the coaches selecting them to finish second in the preseason poll.  But like many in the conference, they will have to replace many talented players to challenge for the conference title.

Key Players that Putnam will need to replace include Blaine Perkins (2nd Team All-Conference Athlete and Linebacker, 1st-Team All-District Running Back, KRES All-Star Running Back, 3rd-Team All-State Running Back, and KMZU Dream Team), Jake Rouse (1st Team All-Conference Wide Receiver and Defensive Back, Hon Mention All-Conference Kicker, and All-District Defensive Back), Chase Tomlin (1st Team All-Conference and 2ndTeam All-District Running Back), Brayden Walter (1st Team All-Conference and 1st Team All-District Offensive Lineman, Community Service All-State Team, and KMZU Dream Team), Vincent Jones (1st Team All-Conference Tight End and 2nd Team All-Conference Defensive End), Chase Simmons (2nd Team All-Conference Linebacker), Hunter Grabill (2nd Team All-Conference Offensive Lineman), and Josh Myers (Hon Mention All-Conference Offensive Lineman).

Quarterback Trace Riediger (2nd Team All-Conference) will return as the signal caller for the Midgets for his senior season.  Riediger threw for over 1,000 yards and 10 TDs in 2022.  Jude Watt (Fullback) and Tristen Hendee (Running Back) will return with Riediger in the backfield this season.  Joining them as returners on offense will be Offensive Lineman Reed Valentine and Mason Robinson, Tight End Kollin Huse, and Fullback Cole Moss.  Watt was also an all-district and honorable mention all-conference returner last season.

All but Riediger will also play key roles on defense, with Valentine, Robinson and Hendee (2nd Team All-Conference) at defensive line, Watt (2nd Team All-Conference) at defensive back, and Huse and Moss at linebacker.  Watt also earned Honorable Mention All-Conference at Returner.

Newcomers that expect to contribute for Putnam are sophomores Treven Riediger (RB/LB), Angstrom Watt (RB/LB), Bentley McCormack (OL/DL), Logan Jones (TE/DL), Riley Ayers (WR/DB), and Trace Hailey (RB/DB)

Coach Adam Huse said, "Our seniors from last year help to set the standard of what we want Putnam County Midgets football to be doing forward. Every Friday night we hope to play a physical smash-mouth style of football game that relies on running the football and playing great defense. If we are able to achieve this we should be competitive in every game we play this year.  Our goal is as always to compete for Conference Championships and District Championships and to be playing meaningful football in November."

Milan

Milan started off last year losing 4 of their first 6 games but ended with 4 straight wins before falling to Putnam County in the district semifinals.  They were 6-5 overall and 4-3 in the GRC finishing in 4th place.  The coaches have picked them to finish one spot higher in 2023.

Milan graduated Daren Doporto (2nd Team All-Conference Defensive Line and Hon Mention All-Conference Running Back), Jeremy Bennett (All-State and 1st Team All-Conference Defensive Back and Hon Mention All-Conference Wide Receiver), Garrett Mosely (2nd Team All-Conference Offensive Lineman), Chase Jacobs (Hon Mention All-Conference Defensive Line), and Christian Chaparro (1st Team All-Conference Kicker)

Just like the first two teams, Milan also returns their signal caller with Ahmet Niasse coming back at quarterback for his senior campaign.  In addition to playing quarterback, Niasse is a talented linebacker, having earned All-State and 1st-Team All-Conference honors at that position.  He contributed over 1,000 total yards of offense and 13 touchdowns at quarterback while recording over 100 tackles on defense.

Also, returning for the Wildcats are LB/RB Carlos Cotto (2nd-Team All-Conference Running Back), Kamden DeRyke at LB/TE, Jose Garcia at OLB/FB, Keaton Weter at safety, and four different linemen who all saw starting time at some point in Caleb Pearce, Troy Aldridge, Santiago Osorio, and Tony Linhart.  Eddy Garcia will return in the secondary, but also saw time as kick returner as well.  He will see a larger role in the running and receiving game this year with the departures of Doporto and Bennett.

Coach Mark Cole said, "Our expectation is to compete with the upper echelon, improve every week in preparation for a postseason play, and hopefully deeper into November."

Trenton

Trenton had their best season since joining the GRC in 2016.  Their 2022 campaign ended with a record of 8-2 and 6-1 in conference finishing in 2nd place.  With the loss of a talented senior class, the coaches expect a drop-off this season.  The Bulldogs are picked to finish 4th in the preseason poll.

Sam Gibson (1st Team All-Conference Running Back and 1st Team All-Conference Linebacker) leads the group of seniors that will be difficult to replace.  He is joined by Dylan Spencer (2nd Team All-Conference Offensive Lineman), Tim Kempton (2nd Team All-Conference Defensive End), Ian Elbert (2nd Team All-Conference Linebacker), Tucker Otto (2nd Team All-Conference Defensive Back and Hon Mention All-Conference Wide Receiver), Coleman Griffin (2nd Team All-Conference Punter and Hon Mention All-Conference Quarterback) as players that will be difficult to replace.

Key players returning for the Bulldogs are Gave Novak (2nd Team All-Conference Running Back, Defensive Back, and Returner) and four players on the offensive line - Riley Gott, Gabe Stark (Hon Mention All-Conference Offensive Lineman and 1st Team All-Conference Defensive Lineman), Collin Taylor, and Gavin Cagle (1st Team All-Conference Offensive Lineman and Defensive End)

Coach Kevin Hixson said, "We lost a good group to graduation but have high expectations for this year's squad. I think we had a great offseason and just need to go out and compete."

Maysville

Maysville got off to a good start in 2022 winning 4 of their first 6 games.  However, a tough schedule down the stretch led to a 4-game losing streak culminating in back-to-back losses to Milan to end the season.  They finished 4-6 with a 3-4 record in conference.  The coaches expect them to finish in 4th place this year which matches their position from a year ago.

If the Wolverines hope to improve on those expectations, they will need to replace talented players in Konnor Watkins (1st Team All-Conference Offensive Lineman and All-District & 2nd Team All-Conference Defensive Lineman), Kaleb Jestes (All-District and 2nd Team All-Conference Linebacker), Spencer Pliley (Hon Mention All-Conference Running Back), and Emmett Wade.

Maysville will welcome back a lot of players from last season starting with their quarterback.  Kris Gabbard returns as behind center for the Wolverines.  He threw for 470 yards and 5 touchdowns in 2022.  He will be joined by Coy Sobotka (All-District and 1st Team All-Conference Linebacker) who had 84 tackles with 23 tackles for loss, and Dillon Willis (All-District & 2nd Team All-Conference Defensive End and Hon Mention All-Conference Tight End) with 14 TFL with 5 sacks.  Other returners include Max Heintz (2nd Team All-Conference Kicker), Kobyn Metzger (Hon Mention All-Conference Wide Receiver), Tanner Evans, Kendrick Gabbard, Brock Windham, and Draken Bennett.

Isaac Perkins is a newcomer that is expected to get playing time at wide receiver, running back and defensive back.

Coach Chris McMillen said, "We have several players returning with game-time experience and a firm grasp of our expectations. We hope to continue to grow and develop as a team. The GRC is a tough, tough conference and we want to be in the mix at the top."

Polo

Polo started the season with two non-conference wins, and things were looking up.  They then ran into Maysville in their GRC opener and fell 30-6.  Polo would lose all seven conference games scoring a single touchdown in every game.  They finished the season 2-8 and 0-7 in conference.  

This season, the coaches expect them to improve on the standings a bit by picking them 6th in a (now) 7-team conference.  The Panthers will have plenty of returning players this season to try to move up in the standings.  They lose Ty Claypole (Hon Mention All-Conference Linebacker, KMZU Dream Team), who led the team in tackles, and Lucas Curp, who provided a steady hand in the backfield.  

Like most of the GRC, the Panthers return their quarterback this season.  Maverick Gentry will return for his junior campaign.  Last year, he passed for over 1,200 yards and 9 touchdowns while rushing for over 500 yards.  Gentry is a versatile player that also earned All-Conference honors at punter (1st Team) and defensive back (Hon Mention).  Other honors for Gentry last year include All-District Quarterback and Punter, 2nd Team All-State Punter, KMZU Dream Team and KKWK top 50 area team.

Other top players returning this season for Polo are WR/DB Ayden Baker (All-District & 2nd Team All-Conference Wide Receiver and Defensive Back), TE/LB Gage Gilbert (All-District & 2nd Team All-Conference Tight End), OL/DL Hunter Harris (Hon Mention All-Conference Offensive Lineman), and RB/LB Tommy Ross (All-District Linebacker)

Sophomores Dalton Gatrel RB/LB, Owen Horner RB/DB, and Cody Zeigler OL/DL will be new starters that will have an opportunity to have an impact for the Panthers.

Coach Kyle Ross said, "We were extremely young last year and it reared its ugly head in a couple of our games that came down to the last series or two.  Hopefully, those situations will help us be more prepared this year to win close games.  Our last game of the season was arguably our best game last year, and we need to build off of that experience.  We will still be a small team, but I think we are going to get back to playing as hard as we possibly can and that will keep us competitive.  I think that our passing game will continue to improve and that will also create more running lanes for our rushing attack.  Defensively we are going to try and compensate for our lack of size with tenacity to the football."

Coach Ross also wanted Panther fans to know that they are currently working to establish new handicap-accessible restroom facilities within their athletic facility.

South Harrison

South Harrison football is not used to losing seasons.  Last year's 2-8 season, including 2-5 in conference, was their first losing record overall in five years and the first time they finished below. 500 in conference since 2016.  The Bulldogs are trying to avoid a second consecutive losing campaign this year, but the coaches are not expecting them to improve on last season's record.

They will be only one of two GRC teams that will have to replace their quarterback this season with the graduation of Jad Cornett.  Other key players that they will have to replace are Grant Williams (2nd Team All-Conference Linebacker) and Beau Rainey (1st Team All-Conference Defensive End and 2nd Team All-Conference Offensive End).

Top returning players for South Harrison include Braxton Booth, Briar Hudlemeyer, Jarrett Eivins, Cooper Johnson, Crae Coffey, and Ruger Johnson.  

Some newcomers will get the opportunity to play under the lights this year including Joel McCall, who was a very good two-way player in 2022, and Mason Galloway, who has the potential to be the go-to guy at running back.

Coach Chris Schoning said, "My expectations this season are for us to get better each game. We will have a young group but it’s a group that loves football and loves working to get better."