Yappi
Go Buckeyes
Ayersville Pilots
Defiance, OH
Defiance County
OHSAA Division VII, Region 26
Defiance, OH
Defiance County
OHSAA Division VII, Region 26
2023 Overall Record: 8-3
2023 Playoff Results: 0-1
Points Scored: 294 (26.7)
Points Allowed: 256 (23.3)
League Affiliation: Green Meadows Conference
Head Coach: Andrew Mickey
Years Head Coach (current school): 3
Record (current school): 15-8
Years Head Coach (overall): 3
Record (overall): 15-8
Assistant Coaches:
Austin Fritz (OL/LB)
Bill Zartman (WR/DB)
Dave Trevino(RB/LB)
Raf Manriquez(TE/DB)
Jeremy Snider (WR/DB)
Paul Siebert (Special)
Team's style of offense: Power
Top players returning on offense:
- RB Taurean Knueven (3x Letterman, GMC 1 st Team RB, HM All Ohio)
- TE Eli Berner (1x Letterman, GMC 2 nd Team TE)
- OL Kaden Booher (2x Letterman, GMC HM OT)
- OL Levi McConnell (1x Letterman)
- RB Garrett McConnell (1x Letterman)
Top players lost on offense:
- OL Noah Bodi (4x Letterman, GMC HM)
- OL Ethan Courtaway (4x Letterman, GMC 1 st Team OT)
- OL Trenton Florence (4x Letterman, GMC 1 st team C)
- OL Brady Clark (4x Lettermamn, GMC 1 st Team Guard)
- WR Ray Wolfrum (4x Letterman)
- ATH Abe DeLano (2x Letterman, GMC 1 st Team Rec, 3 rd team all ohio Rec)
- QB Lucas Fishpaw (4x Letterman)
- WR Jacob Miler (2x Letterman)
Probable starters on offense:
Quarterback: Ryne Maag (Sr, 5’10” 175) – Owen Lloyd (Jr 5’9” 170)
Running backs: Taurean Knueven (Sr 5’10” 195) Garrett McConnell (So 5’7” 190)
Tackles: Kaden Booher (Jr 6’4” 290) Eli Fredrick (Sr 6’3” 315)
Guards: Hayden McConnell (Sr 5’6” 220) - Levi McConnell (Jr 5’8” 175) – Joe Eitinear (Sr 5’9” 180)
Center: Ben Meuleman (So 5’7” 195) – Brady Thomas (Jr 5’ 8” 220)
Receivers: Ryan Johnson (Jr 5’8” 150) – Loden Clark (Sr 5’11” 175)
Tight end (if used): Eli Berner (Jr 5’10” 205)
Team's style of defense: 3-4
Top players returning on defense:
- LB Taurean Knueven (3x Letterman)
- DL Hayden McConnell (1x Letterman, GMC 1 st Team DT)
- DL/LB Eli Berner (1x Letterman)
- LB Garrett McConnell (1x Letterman)
Top players lost on defense:
- DL Noah Bodi (4x Letterman)
- LB Brady Clark (4x Letterman, GMC 1 st Team LB, HM All Ohio)
- LB Abe DeLano (2x Letterman, GMC 1 st Team END)
- LB Leo Barraza (3x Letterman)
- DB Lucas Fishpaw (4x Letterman, GMC HM)
- DB Ray Wolfrum (4x Letterman, GMC 2 nd Team DB)
- DB Jacob Miler (2x Letterman, GMC HM)
- DB Dylan Hinkle (2x Letterman)
Probable starters on defense:
Ends: Loden Clark (Sr 5’11” 175) Garrett McConnell (So 5’7” 190) – Tucker Sprow (So 5’9” 175) – Owen Lloyd (Jr 5’9” 170)
Interior Linemen: Hayden McConnell (Sr 5’6” 220) – Kaden Booher (Jr 6’4” 290) – Brady Thomas (Jr 5’8” 220) – Joe Eitiener (Sr)
Linebackers: Taurean Knueven (Sr 5’10” 195) – Eli Berner (Jr 5’10” 205)
Cornerbacks: Ryne Maag (5’10” 175) – Elijah Davila (Jr 5’10” 170) – Kobe Brown (Fr 5’8” 140)
Safeties: Kolton Dockery (Sr 5’10” 170 – Ryan Johnson (5’8” 150)
Lettermen returning that are not mentioned above as returning starters:
- Sr Loden Clark (2x Letterman)
- Sr Ryne Maag (2x Letterman)
- Jr Ryan Johnson (1x Letterman)
- Jr Levi McConnell (1x Letterman)
- Jr Owen Lloyd (2x Letterman)
- So Tucker Sprow (1x Letterman)
- So Ben Meuleman (1x Letterman)
Promising newcomers:
- Sr OL/DL Eli Fredrick
- Sr Kolton Dockery
- Sr Talen Turpening
Probable starters on special teams:
Kick returner(s): TBD
Punt returner(s): TBD
Place kicker: Braylon Young (Jr 5’7” 140) – Jackson Stambaugh (So 5’6” 140)
Kickoff kicker: Braylon Young (Jr 5’7” 140) – Jackson Stambaugh (So 5’6” 140)
Punter: Jackson Stambaugh (So 5’6” 140)
Holder: TBD
Long snapper: TBD
Twitter:
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Final Comments:
Your assessment of 2023 season:
A very gritty 8-3 record. We were able to beat some teams that had more talent than we did because our kids play so hard. If we were able to avoid more of the mistakes (turnovers/penalties) the season may have been even better. Winning a share of the league title, and our 4 th strait playoff appearance is a very good year overall.
Keys to be successful offensively:
We need to get more disciplined in avoiding mistakes. Turnovers and penalties are very difficult to overcome. We had to many of those last year. For us to be successful this season we will need to be much better at avoiding those.
Offensive strengths:
Though we graduate a lot of experience in the trenches I still expect our line play and running backs to be the strength of the team. We have returning all state HM running back Taurean Knueven coming back to run the ball behind what should develop into a solid offensive line. That combination should be the strength of our offense.
Offensive concerns:
How quickly our new starters can work as a unit on the offensive line. We are replacing 4 starters on the offensive line, the players that emerge in those position battles will need to work quickly to develop that chemistry.
Also we will be having an open quarterback competition in the fall to determine who will be the leader or our offense. We have some upperclassmen options as well as some younger newcomers that may challenge for the position.
Keys to be successful defensively:
How hard we run to the football and how well we tackle. If we are able to run and tackle we will be able to play good defense.
Defensive strengths:
We will be strong in the front 7 (LB/DL) this season. We have good returning depth and experience up front.
Defensive concerns:
The back end will be a spot to watch for us this season. We have graduated 4 Sr starters in the defensive backfield. With so much to replace some younger players will need to step up fast.
Special teams strengths:
We should be strong in the kicking game with two young kickers that have been repping the positions. Having a couple good options should help us here.
Special teams concerns:
Having to replace the snapper, holder, kicker and punter is an unknown. We will have to find some players that are ready to step into those roles to help us to compete on special teams.
Conference outlook:
First of all I believe the other teams that shared the league title with us will continue to be strong again this season. Antwerp and Tinora both have talent returning and excellent coaching that will keep them in contention
Edgerton – Will be looking for a bounce back after 2-8 last season. They have play hard and lost some close games last season, so we will see if they can start out strong this season.
Fairview – This team will a challenger for a league title this season. They were very young and by the end of the season were playing very good football. I would look for them to take a big step this season with the young talent and level of coaching.
Hicksville – with only one win in 2023 I would anticipate some adjustments in 2024. I respect coach Davis and am excited to see what he does to get the Aces pointed in the right direction moving forward.
Paulding – This is another team that will be a challenger for a league title this fall. They were a young and highly competitive group last season. Coach Menzie does a great job getting the players to buy into playing physical football. I think he will have them ready to go to start the season out strong this year.
Wayne Trace – We will learn a lot about Wayne Trace really early in the season. They are a very tough team that always challenges themselves in the non conference season. How they make it through the first few weeks will let us know if they will be challengers for the league title this year or not.
As for us, our season will be determined by our senior leadership and ability to replace so much experience up front. We rely heavily on our offensive line and how quickly our new starters can be up to speed will tell us a lot, especially with how tough our non conference is.
2023 Schedule/Results:
08/18/23 | W | Delta (Delta) | 27 | 7 | |
08/25/23 | W | Jefferson (Delphos) | 42 | 26 | |
09/01/23 | L | Bluffton (Bluffton) | 0 | 42 | |
09/08/23 | W | Paulding (Paulding) | 20 | 17 | |
09/15/23 | W | Edgerton (Edgerton) | 35 | 7 | |
09/22/23 | W | Hicksville (Hicksville) | 38 | 14 | |
09/29/23 | L | Tinora (Defiance) | 8 | 14 | |
10/06/23 | W | Antwerp (Antwerp) | 30 | 24 | |
10/13/23 | W | Wayne Trace (Haviland) | 38 | 35 | |
10/20/23 | W | Fairview (Sherwood) | 36 | 28 | OT1 |
10/27/23 | L | Lima Central Catholic (Lima) | 20 | 42 |
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