Sylvania Southview Cougars
Head Coach: Steve Hardy
Years Head Coach (current school): 1st
Record (current school): 0-0
Years Head Coach (overall): 1st
Record (overall): 0-0
Assistant Coaches:
Jim Mayzes
Chris Etts
Mike Vogelsong
Isaiah Keefer
Jim Beach
Charlie Young
Scott Lewis
Dylan Moores
Josh Meek
Ken Baum
Ryan Lause
Zach Loudenslager
Michael Miller
Austin Valdez
Shaun Joplin
Record last season: (3-4) (4-7)
League Affiliation: Northern Lakes League
Last year's playoff results: Lost in 1st round
Team's style of offense: Mulitple
Top players returning on offense:
Isaac Sexton - Running Back – Junior – 5’9” 173lb - Started 1 game as a Freshman and 11 as a Sophomore – 2 year letter winner – (183 Rushes, 770 yds, 10 TDs, 20 receptions 245 yds 1 td) Sexton looks to have a break out year in the NLL. Sexton will also contribute at Safety this season.
Emite Lamb - Receiver – Junior – 5’9” 160lb - 1 year starter – 2 year letter winner – 2nd Team NLL Receiver, Honorable Mention All-District Receiver – (23 Receptions, 467 yds, 4 tds) Lamb returns as top tier receiver in NW Ohio. Lamb will also contribute as a Cornerback and Return Specialist this season.
John Thompson - Full Back / Tight End/ Defensive End – Senior - 6’1” 245lb – 2 year offensive and defensive starter – 3 year letter winner – Thompson is a dominate force on both sides of the ball.
Jace Rowland - Offensive Guard – Junior – 6’ 1” 244lb - Started 2 games as a Freshman and 11 as a Sophomore – 2 year letter winner – Rowland will anchor a strong returning offensive line ready to pave the way for Sexton.
Avery Offenberg – Quarterback – Junior – 6’3” 191lb – Started 1 game as a Freshman and 11 as a Sophomore – 2 year letter winner – (75 Comp – 176 Attempts -1106 yds – 7 TDs / 47 Rushes 251 yds 1 TD) – Offenberg will compete with Mayzes for snaps at QB
Roman Christie - Offensive Tackle – Junior – 6’2” 287lb – Started 5 games as a Sophomore – 1 year letter winner – With tremendous size Christie will play a huge role in an improved offensive line.
Top players lost on offense:
Dylan Buganski – Center – 2 year starter and 2 year letter winner – 2nd Team NLL Center, 2nd Team All District Center
Cameron Moran – Receiver – 2 year starter and 2 year letter winner
Kade Draughon – Receiver – 1 year starter and 2 year letter winner
Jermaine Lamb – Receiver – 1 year starter and 2 year letter winner
Zack Harshman – Full Back, Tight End, Defensive End – 3 year starter and 3 year letter winner – 1st Team NLL Tight End, 3rd Team NLL Defensive End, Honorable Mention All-District
New impact players on offense:
Seth Baden – Senior – Tight End / Defensive End – 6’5” 230lb – Baden is a first-year senior who’s size and strength is impressive, look for him to have a greater impact as the season progresses.
Will Mayzes - Sophomore – Quarterback – 5’11” 180lb – Mayzes will compete with Offenberg for snaps at QB with tremendous speed, athletic ability, and football IQ.
Zack Steinhauser – Senior - Receiver – 6’5” 200lb
Jordan King – Junior – Receiver – 6’2” – 160lb
Team's style of defense: 3-3-5
Top players returning on defense:
Elijah Thomas - Cornerback – Senior – 5’10” 160lb – 2 year starter and letter winner – 1st Team NLL Cornerback, 1st Team All-District Defensive Back, Honorable Mention All-State Defensive Back - (48 tackles, 11 passes defended) – Thomas is the Cougars most decorated defender as a lockdown corner.
John Thompson - Full Back / Tight End/ Defensive End – Senior - 6’1” 245lb – 2 year offensive and defensive starter – 3 year letter winner – Thompson is a dominate force on both sides of the ball.
Akil Jones Jr - Nose Guard – Senior – 5’9” 200lb – 2 year starter and 2 year letter winner – 3rd Team NLL Interior Defensive Linemen – Jones Jr is one of the strongest athletes that has ever played at Southview. – 26 tackles 5 TFL.
Danny Nusbaum – Linebacker – Senior - 5’8” 185lb – 2 year starter and 3 year letter winner – 3rd Team NLL Linebacker – Nusbaum is finally healthy and ready to lead the defense and contribute at running back this season.
Logan Howe – Safety / Receiver / Kicker – Junior – 5’10” 160lb – 2 year starter and letter winner – 2nd Team NLL Kicker, Honorable Mention All-District Kicker – Howe is an amazing athlete that can do it all; he will be a contributor in all three phases of the game.
Andrew Wernert - Defensive Tackle / Offensive Guard – Junior – 5’11” 240lb – 1 year starter and 2 year letter winner – 26 Tackles 8 TFL 3 Sacks – Wernert has tremendous strength and will contribute on both lines this season.
Michael Alexander - Cornerback –– Senior – 5’8” 152lb – 1 year starter and letter winner – Alexander is a very athletic and perfect counter punch to Thomas at cornerback.
Top players lost on defense:
Zack Harshman – Full Back, Tight End, Defensive End – 3 year starter and 3 year letter winner – 1st Team NLL Tight End, 3rd Team NLL Defensive End, Honorable Mention All-District
Logan Moores – Outside Linebacker – 3 year starter and 3 year letter winner – 3rd Team NLL Outside Linebacker
Colin Paterson – Safety – 2 year starter and 2 year letter winner
Paul McGowan – Corner / Nickel, Punter – 2 year starter and 2 year letter winner.
New impact players on defense:
Andrew Schroeder – Senior - Linebacker – 5’10” 200lb
Ru Selmon – Senior - Linebacker – 5’9” 200lb
Kyle Fenter – Senior – Nickle/Receiver – 5’5” 170lb
Carson Adamczyk – Junior - Defensive Line – 6’ 220lb
Drew Young – Sophomore – Linebacker – 5’11” 195lb
Expected starters on special teams:
Kicker - Logan Howe
Punter Jake Schule
PR Emite Lamb
KR Isaac Sexton
Final Comments:
Our strength is in the size and experience of our offensive line led by Jace Rowland and the speed and strength of Isaac Sexton pounding the football combined with creatively getting the ball to Emite Lamb in the passing game. Another strength is having John Thompson available to step in for Zack Harshman at the Fullback/Tight End position and some great size at the receiver position in Zack Steinhauser and Seth Baden. Also having the speed of the District Champion 4x100 meter team of Will Mayzes, Akil Jones Jr., Lamb and Jordan King along with Sexton and Howe give us size, speed and power on offense.
Experience is the strength of our defense. We have eight returning starters on defense and four returning two-year starters on defense. That experience along with consistency should create the confidence our players need to make stops and big plays on defense. With two-year starters John Thompson and Akil Jones Jr. along with Andrew Wernert manning the defensive line, a healthy Danny Nusbaum running the defense at LB and a group of capable cornerbacks anchored by all state senior Elijah Thomas; all three lines of defense are experienced, improved and ready to dominate.
Our biggest concern is leadership on the offensive line. With two-year starter and leader at Center Buganski graduating, we are left with a huge hole in our line. With nine players with varsity experience competing for the five positions we hope to construct a solid line. Also, Offenburg and Mayzes will compete for, or split time at quarterback; competition is important at this position as we look to eliminate turnovers.
Linebacker play and leadership are our biggest concerns on defense. Injuries riddled our linebacker core last season which led to a lot of players gaining varsity experience at that position. Consistency is key to the success of our defense and that starts with our group of linebackers. It’s hard to lose leaders like Harshman, Moores and Patterson at all three lines of defense and it will be a challenge for Thomas, Nusbaum, Jones, Alexander and Thompson to step into that role and lead our defense to success.
With a mix of experienced seniors, a dominate junior class and a few key contributors in the sophomore class combined with a rejuvenated coaching staff; we have the potential to lead the Cougars back to top of the NLL. This team checks all the boxes; size, strength, speed, experience, playmakers, and most importantly they are great kids who work hard in the classroom, the weight room and on the field. With this being the last year of the current NLL, it would be an honor to compete to win the conference although Perrysburg and Anthony Wayne will be dominate, we feel we are up to the challenge. We are beyond excited for this season!