With SBC future in sight, Margaretta focuses on now
CASTALIA – If the prospect of playing in a new league against like-sized opponents is the light at the end of a tunnel, Margaretta football coach Andy Zuk wants his players to avoid looking at it.
While the Polar Bears have had their share of dark times competing in the Sandusky Bay Conference in recent years, only by continuing to make progress in that darkness can Margaretta reach the light.
"We can't, as coaches, and we can't, as players, be looking ahead two years, we can't be looking for the light at the end of the tunnel," Zuk said. "We have to be worried where we're at in the tunnel right now. Otherwise, we're never getting to that light."
When the Sandusky Bay Conference announced last December it would expand in the fall of 2016 to a two-division league split by size of enrollment, no school was happier about the move than Margaretta. As enrollment has dropped over more than a decade, so too did the Polar Bears' level of competitiveness in the conference.
Since dropping to Division V in 2005, Margaretta — entering its first season as a Division VI program — has had just one winning season (6-4, in 2010) and seven seasons of three or fewer victories. A year ago, Margaretta went 4-6, winning all its non-league games yet winless in the SBC.
With the expansion of the SBC, and the addition of schools from the Sandusky River League such as St. Joseph Central Catholic, Lakota, St. Mary Central Catholic and St. Wendelin, Margaretta is eager for the chance to play teams closer to its size.
"When we're playing schools our own size, we were competitive last year," Zuk said. "We feel, had we been in the SRL last year, we maybe win that league and maybe we're in the playoffs. Instead, we're 4-6 because of who we're playing."
With the SBC expansion still a year away, Margaretta must first navigate through 2015 with a team comprised of mostly underclassmen. With so little experience returning to the lineup from last season, Zuk and his coaches know their team has plenty of work to do long before it can be competitive this year or next.
"We're concerned about taking the guys we have and making them better," Zuk said. "You don't always judge your season by wins and losses. You judge it by what was your potential going in and did you achieve that potential. That's never going to change for us and that's what we're going to focus on."
Margaretta will play out this season as a non-football member of the SBC. The league allowed the Polar Bears to play as a football independent as a way to transition to the league's new format. Though Margaretta will play most of its league opponents anyway, those games will not count in the SBC standings. The independent status also allowed Margaretta, with its male enrollment of 110, to change its schedule, replacing SBC power Clyde (male enrollment of 269) with Lakota (male enrollment of 99) in Week 10.
While any notion of playing for a championship is off the table for 2015, the Polar Bears possess plenty of incentive.
"It's going out and surprising people," senior lineman Ed Huber said. "Go out and play football. What else can we do?"
When his team goes out and plays football, whether it's against Clyde, Lakota or the Cleveland Browns, Zuk and his staff will give the same message to his players.
"Our approach is doing things the right way, not so much who we're playing or what league we're going to be in," Zuk said. "Just focusing on yourself. For 14-, 15-year old kids, that's a difficult thing. I think that's where we're at and if you look at good programs, you look at good programs in our area, that's what they do. They know who they're playing, but they're focused on getting better and doing stuff right.
"We can't allow ourselves to look forward and I can't allow my kids to buy into 'There's light at the end of the tunnel.' because that means we're not prepared now. We're not going to be ready for the moment. Part of being able to receive that light at the end of the tunnel is being prepared for the moment."
2015 Margaretta schedule
8/28 at Willard
9/4 vs. Western Reserve
9/11 vs. Monroeville
9/18 vs. Port Clinton
9/25 at Edison
10/2 vs. Huron
10/9 at Sandusky Perkins
10/16 vs. St. Mary Central Catholic
10/23 at Oak Harbor
10/30 at Lakota
All games at 7 p.m.
AT A GLANCE: MARGARETTA POLAR BEARS
Coach: Andy Zuk (third season, 7-13 career)
Last season: 4-6 overall, 0-6 Sandusky Bay Conference
Who's back: Tyler Henderson (Sr., 5-10, QB/DB), Ed Huber (Sr., 5-10, OL/DL); Austin Emmons (Sr., 5-8, WR/DB); Logan Graffin (So., 6-0, RB/LB); Troy Karbler (Jr., 5-9, OL/LB); Collin Lane (So., 5-11, OL/LB); Noah Hilton (So., 5-11, WR/DB).
Who's gone: Dylan Bailey (QB/DB); Derek Abbott (RB); Caleb Stockmaster (WR/DB), Drake Reed (OL/DL); Mason Dye (OL/LB), Caleb Wiedenheft (WR/LB); Tyler Tucker (OL/LB); Tristan Scott (WR/DL); Troy Smetzer (DB/WR); Ryan Green (RB/DL); Chris Cheek (DL); Jude Hacker (LB); Maverick Keller (DL).
Who's new: Nate Dauch (Sr., 5-10, OL/DL); Dakota Moore (Sr., 6-2, WR/DB); Darren Ewing (Jr., 5-8, OL/DL); James Fischer (Jr., 5-11, RB/LB); Simon Kromer (Jr., 5-11, WR/LB).
2014 Season highlight: While it came long after Margaretta's playoff aspirations were dashed, the Polar Bears' Week 9 win over St. Mary Central Catholic not only provided a respite during a challenging stretch of games, but also served as validation for what the team could do against a similar-sized opponent. After a 3-0 start to the season, success was fleeting for the Polar Bears against their Sandusky Bay Conference foes. The smaller Polar Bears were outmatched in the SBC and, after five losses in a row, the good feelings created by the strong start were becoming faded memories. Margaretta, however, won a thriller against its former league rival, SMCC. The Polar Bears got a huge fourth-quarter interception return for a touchdown and appeared to put the game away with a 34-yard touchdown run by Tyler Henderson to take a 28-13 lead with 3:41 to play. SMCC, however, did not go away, and scored on a deep pass less than 30 seconds later. The Margaretta defense made a final stand with 90 seconds to play to finally ice the game and get the Polar Bears back into the win column.
2014 Season lowlight: While none of the conference portion of Margaretta's schedule was easy, no game had to be more disappointing for the Polar Bears than their Week 10 loss to Oak Harbor. While starting quarterback Dylan Bailey could not play due to injury, the Polar Bears offense could not have expected to be held to just 70 yards of total offense in his absence against an Oak Harbor defense that often struggled last season. Margaretta managed just 49 rushing yards, 21 passing and only six first downs in a 16-8 defeat to end the season on a sour note.
Outlook: No team in the area is going to be as young as Margaretta. How quickly the Polar Bears' excess of youth and inexperience can learn on the job will determine how competitive Margaretta can be. A season ago, Margaretta had 21 seniors on its roster — and just five juniors and five sophomores, with the balance being comprised of freshman. A year later, with precious few upperclassmen remaining, the Polar Bears will be relying on a large, and mostly unproven, sophomore class. Among the youngsters expected to see a vast upgrades in role are sophomores Noah Hilton, Collin Lane and Logan Graffin, all of whom contributed as freshmen a year ago. Offensively, senior Tyler Henderson becomes the full-time starter at quarterback. With Dylan Bailey injured last season, Henderson played three games under center, completing 25-of-37 passes for 213 yards and a pair of touchdowns and two interceptions. He also ran 61 times for 290 yards and four touchdowns. The loss of running back Derek Abbott (973 yards) and receiver Caleb Stockmaster (32 receptions, 474 yards) will require the Polar Bears to find new go-to playmakers in the skill positions. While much of Margaretta's running back depth and receiving corps from a year ago is gone, the offensive line returns a pair of two-year starters in Branden Yates and Ed Huber.
MARGARETTA'S OFFENSIVE HOLES TO BE FILLED BY YOUNGSTERS
CASTALIA – When a senior class of 21 players graduates from a program, two things remain: A lot of holes to fill and a host of young players to fill them.
While Margaretta's 2015 football team will have a lot of fresh faces, 24 players out of 38 listed on the roster are freshmen or sophomores, the Polar Bears believe those players are capable of growing up along with the program.
"We have to grow up fast, there is no doubt, but a lot of the sophomores who are going to be playing this year played for us last year," Margaretta coach Andy Zuk said. "Logan Graffin lettered, Collin Lane lettered, Noah Hilton lettered. They were freshmen playing in the SBC last year and they lettered and we think that will pay dividends."
While many of the names that had become familiar over the past few seasons are gone, the Polar Bears believe the cupboard has not been left bare. True, there isn't a Derek Abbott to power his way out of the backfield or Caleb Stockmaster to catch a pass down the sideline. But Zuk said what Margaretta lacks in star power, they make up for with depth.
"Instead of one guy carrying the load, we're all going to carry the load," Zuk said. "Instead of having a mega guy like Stockmaster that we felt we could go to whenever we needed, we're now more balanced."
While the Polar Bears expect production from various places this season, getting those sources of production ready is perhaps Margaretta's biggest challenge. With precious few upper classmen and even fewer returning starters to either side of the ball, even the smallest of details were a challenge for the Polar Bears early in the summer. While there was, and remains, plenty to learn, the elder Polar Bears like what they've seen.
"As I'm looking around I do see kids and I'm like, 'Wow, despite their age, they really are buying into this and they want to be here and they want to play on Friday night,'" senior lineman Ed Huber said. "Seeing that gives me reassurance. Just because they're young doesn't mean they're not going to play for you."
But then there is the matter of getting the playbook down. While the Polar Bears will continue to run their spread offense, offensive coordinator Steve Hofacker is narrowing the scope of the playbook to fit his players.
"We're probably going to minimize," Hofacker said. "We just want to do things well enough so we can play fast and play aggressive.
"We have so many guys that just haven't played and they don't quite know the expectations and the speed they're supposed to play at because they're unsure of themselves," Hofacker added. "It's a feeling-out process."
The Polar Bears enter the season with senior Tyler Henderson taking over at quarterback. While he's new to the starting position, his comfort level running the offense predates his status as starter.
"I've been running these plays since seventh-grade," Henderson said. "I'm used to it all and I'm pretty comfortable with all the plays."
Zuk and Hofacker are tailoring the offense to extenuate the Polar Bears' strengths, which have changed from last season.
"I think, for example, our overall team speed is faster this year," Zuk said. "So we can say, 'If our strength is now our speed, and we're developing the strength on our line,' then it's not smart to do certain things inside the box as much. If we say our team speed is going to be faster than most teams we play, we have to utilize that and get kids out more in space than we did the year before."
rmcgowan@gannett.com
419-334-1043
Twitter: @RMcGowan1
2015 Margaretta roster
No. Name Grade Pos.
1 Noah Hilton 10 WR/LB
9 Seth Gasser 10 WR/CB
10 Tyler Henderson 12 QB/CB
11 Logan Graffin 10 RB/LB
12 James Fisher 11 RB/LB
13 Simon Kromer 11 WR/LB
20 Nick Leibacher 9 QB/FS
21 Brevan Moore 9 WR/CB
24 Austin Emmons 12 WR/LB
25 Collin Lane 10 WR/LB
27 Andrew Patterson 10 RB/LB
29/61 Zach Luma 9 RB/LB
30 Kaden Keegan 9 RB/LB
31 Anthony Wilson 12 WR/CB
40 James Weaver 9 WR/CB
50 Nate Dauch 12 OL/DL
52 Sam Pribanic 10 OL/DL
53 Darren Ewing 11 OL/DL
54 Jacob Huber 11 OL/DL
57 Troy Harbler 11 OL/LB
58 Rollie Kihn 10 OL/DL
60 Destiny Englund 10 K
64 Jacob Luma 11 OL/DE
65 Tim Schaffer 9 OL/JB
66 Matt Cheek 10 OL/DL
68 Tim Newton 9 OL/DL
70 Mark Miller 9 OL/DL
72 Dylan Warren 9 OL/DL
74 Josh Gilliam 10 OL/DL
75 Ed Huber 12 OL/DL
76 Trae Cullen 10 OL/DL
77 Jake Kromer 9 OL/LB
78 Bryce Graffin 9 OL/CB
81 Michael Marsh 9 WR/CB
82 Dakota Moore 12 WR/CB
84 Jacob Steager 11 WR/CB
85 Jordan Ayers 11 WR/DE
87 Ron Wilson 10 WR/LB