Football Preview | Expect a lot of excitement this season in Crawford County

The football season is finally here!

Let's take a look at how all six Crawford County schools will look this fall.

Buckeye Central

• Conference: Northern 10; Division VII

• Coach: Chad Jensen (fifth season, 8-32)

• Last Year: 3-7 (0-7)

• Base Offense/Defense: Spread; 3-3 Stack

• Notable Returners: Derex Dean, sr., QB/DB; Heath Jensen, sr., WR/DB; Landon Sherwood, sr., C/LB; Bren Jones, sr., OG/DT; Jonathan Stander, sr., OT/DT

• Breakout Candidates: Jack Phillips, so., WR/DB; Alec Phillips, so., WR/DB; Gabe Bellamy, so., WR/DB; Matthew Heefner, jr., OG/DT; Brady Flood, jr., OT/DT; Mason Clay, jr., LB

• Notes: Bucks are one of just two Division VII teams in the Northern 10 and because of that rarely have the numbers most of the other schools have. But they prove season-after-season when they play similar sized schools, they can compete with anyone in the state. This is a team that can start the season strong in non-league play then hope to pick up another win or two in the league to qualify for the postseason where Buckeye Central really has a shot to shine.

• Coach's Comments: "Our strengths on offense include three year starting QB Derex Dean, and three year starting linemen Landon Sherwood and Bren Jones (along with) effort, coachability and the ability for players to play multiple positions … Defensive strength is athleticism at multiple positions … Weakness is lack of depth on both sides and some inexperience at skill positions … Our goal is to improve each week and compete every game, we want to play our best football at the end of the season … The Northern 10 is an absolute meat grinder, anyone can beat anyone on a given night."

More: Crawford County Football Power Poll: Galion on top in preseason rankings

Bucyrus

• Conference: Northern 10; Division VI

• Coach: Jon Butchko (first season, 0-0)

• Last Year: 2-8 (1-6)

• Base Offense/Defense: Spread; 3-3 Stack

• Notable Returners: Malachi Bayless, sr., QB/P; Blayne Barto, sr., RB/DB; Kam Lewis, sr., WR/LB; Kavan Combs, sr., KR/DB; Jacob Green, jr., LB; Jarryn Brown, sr., OG/DE

• Breakout Candidates: Trevor Kirgis, sr., WR; Taricus Cosey, sr., WR/DB; Brayden Campbell, so., WR/DB/K; Hayden Butcher, fr., OL/LB; Carson Witten, fr., OL

• Notes: Bucyrus boasts arguably the top quarterback in the county with Bayless entering his fourth year as a starter. He'll have plenty of weapons to choose from on offense, but a handful of them are new faces. If the defense can improve, this is a team that can surprise teams.

• Coach's Comments: "Malachi Bayless has turned into one of the most prolific passers in the history of the area and has familiarity with a the new system, we have depth at skill positions … We have the ability to be athletic at all three levels of defense, Kavan Combs leads the secondary … We're young and inexperienced up front, many players on the line or in skill positions were forced into duty early which stunted growth … We strive to compete and improve each day, games against area rivals are very important to us and we'd love to beat each of them … There appears to be two distinct tiers in the Northern 10, we are fighting to work our way to the top of the second tier. Carey, Colonel Crawford, Upper Sandusky and Seneca East were in that top tier and we hope to work our way into that as quickly as we can."

Colonel Crawford

• Conference: Northern 10; Division VI

• Coach: Jake Bruner (second season, 10-3)

• Last Year: 10-3 (5-2); lost 14-7 (OT) to Columbus Grove in regional semifinal

• Base Offense/Defense: Wing-T; 4-2-5

• Notable Returners: Trevor Vogt, sr., QB/DB/KR; Micah Thomas, sr., RB; Ryan McMichael, sr., WR/DB; Kaden Bruner, jr., TE/LB; Jacob Lucius, sr., OG/LB; Braxton Morton, sr., K/WR; Lucas Foy, jr., WR/DB/KR; Tim Faulkner, sr., DT

• Breakout Candidates: Connor McMichael, so., RB/LB; Payne DeGray, so., TE/DE; Jude Thew, sr., OG/DT; Brennan Reber, jr., DT; Levi Johnson, sr. OT; Brady Hill, jr., DB

• Notes: The Eagles have been one of the best teams in the area over the last few years leaning on a dominant rushing attack with a stifling defense. There's never any shortage of talent at Colonel Crawford and the goal is the same every season — compete for a league title and make a deep playoff run. This is a team capable of battling for the N10.

• Coach's Comments: "We return players on both sides of the ball that played more of a role last year but will need to step up and help carry the load for this team … We have some youth and inexperience that must continue to grow … (Our goal) is to continue the fine tradition and consistency in what we do at Colonel Crawford … Carey, Upper, Seneca East and Wynford bring back the most in the league and we are focusing on daily improvement so that we can challenge them."

Crestline

• Conference: Northwest Central Conference; Division VII

• Coach: Mike Winland (second season, 0-10)

• Last Year: 0-10 (0-7)

• Base Offense/Defense: Read Option; 40 Front

• Notable Returners: Carter Giesege, jr., QB/DB/PR; Parker Bowman, jr., RB/DB/P; Hunter Farrell, sr., C/LB

• Breakout Candidates: Caydin Jarvis, so., WR/DB/KR/P; Kevin Snyder, sr., RB/DB; Braylon Hale, so., RB/LB

• Notes: Numbers have been the Bulldogs' main enemy the last few years with small classes coming through not able to fill voids left by departing ones. There's always talent and athleticism on the field, the players are just typically never leaving it. Things are a little different this season with the roster in the mid-20's which should help with rotating players.

• Coach's Comments: "Offensively we have most of our line back and some skill to go with it, but will have to replace FB Jake Bruce and QB Trevor Shade as both were four year lettermen … We have speed on defense to match up with teams, but we're very young … The kids have made it their goal to be competitive in every game and win a few … We are expecting our O-line to lead the way for us, as our line goes, so goes the offense. We have speed and some talent in the backfield."

Galion

• Conference: Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference; Division IV

• Coach: Matt Dick (eighth season, 37-36)

• Last Year: 6-5 (5-2); lost 40-9 to Bellevue in first round

• Base Offense/Defense: Spread I; 4-3

• Notable Returners: Holden Hunter, sr., OT/DT; Landon Campbell, sr., TE/DE/P; Gabe Ivy, sr., RB/DB/KR; Carson Frankhouse, sr., FB/LB; Elijah Chafin, sr., WR/DB; Cooper Kent, sr., WR/DB; Coen Fuson, sr., WR; Alex Griffith, sr., OG; Braxton Prosser, jr., QB/DB; Hunter Miniard, sr., LB; Jimmy Hardy, jr., RB/LB; Linkon Tyrrell, sr., TE/DE; Caleb Grochowalski, sr., OT

• Breakout Candidates: Zach Sallee, so., OL/DL; Sam Evans, so., LB/DB; Ayden Schmidt, so., DB; Jacob Chambers, so., WR/DB; Landyn Prosser, so., WR

• Notes: This is a very special senior class at Galion with a ton of talented underclassmen to go along with them. On paper the Tigers are probably the best team top-to-bottom in the county, but they also play in the toughest conference around. It's unlikely the MOAC champion this season goes undefeated, so every game is just as important as the last.

• Coach's Comments: "The strength of our offense will be balance between run and pass, condensing and expanding, and game experience … Our skill players have made lots of plays in 7-on-7, we have experience on the line and Ivy is expected to take that next step … We have a very strong linebacker crew and we've done a great job developing depth in the secondary with six or seven guys rotating in … We are lacking depth on both sides of the line … We want to go 1-0 every week and win the MOAC … The league is going to be fun to watch this year because lots of teams can win the conference, I expect us to be in the mix and find ways to win close games."

Wynford

• Conference: Northern 10; Division VI

• Coach: Cyle Skidmore (second season, 2-8)

• Last Year: 2-8 (2-5)

• Base Offense/Defense: Wing-T; 3-4

• Notable Returners: Kalen Skidmore, sr., OG/DT; Kaiden Blair, sr., RB/LB/P; Anthony Evans, jr., RB/DB/KR; James Rindfuss, sr., WR/DB/PR; Ashton Warren, sr., WB/DB; Evan Wright, sr., C/LB

• Breakout Candidates: Kenneth Kotalik, jr., TE/DT; Jake Stover, so., WR/LB; Bryce Locker, so., OL/DL; Chandler Elchert, sr., WR/LB; Collin Hulsmeyer, so., K

• Notes: A storied program, Wynford endured one of its toughest seasons in school history last year featuring a 0-5 start, the worst open to a season since 1975. But the Royals improved over the final five weeks going 2-3 and return a ton of talent in key positions. Also, of the eight losses, five were by a single touchdown which shows how close the Royals were to a winning record and likely playoff berth. Expect Wynford to look more like the traditional powerhouse and compete with the top teams in the league.

• Coach's Comments: "Offensive strengths includes running the football, size and strength up front, and a loaded backfield with plenty of talent … We are very fast and physical on defense … 10 of 11 starters on offense also play defense, so it'll be hard for players to rest … We want to win the N10 and improve on both sides of the ball each week … It's a strong league Carey and Crawford are the teams to beat, Wynford is much improved and we will have the opportunity to compete at the top."

This article originally appeared on Bucyrus Telegraph-Forum: Expect a lot of excitement this football season in Crawford County