High School Football Countdown: No. 9 Waynedale counting on experience in 2023
Waynedale has one of the strongest historical football traditions in the Wayne County Athletic League, winning multiple league titles in the '70s, '80s, '90s and '00s.
The Golden Bears are striving to get back to that kind of consistent success, and with key players back all over the field, they have a good chance to get back on the right track.
A preview of the 2023 Waynedale Golden Bears:
Offense
From skill positions to lineman, the Golden Bears return a handful of key players on the offense side of the ball. Combine that with a year to grow and learn coach Zach Golec's system, which will be a power-spread this season, and a much more efficient attack should be in order for a Waynedale team that was shut out three times in 2022 and averaged just 12.8 points a game.
With its top rusher and two of its three top wideouts back, this offense has the makings of being one of the more productive units in the WCAL. Senior running back Marquel Troyer rushed for nearly 700 yards last fall, picking up 688 yards on 147 carries, scoring four touchdowns. He will be joined by juniors Jayden Schlabach and Josh Yoder in the backfield, next to first-year starting quarterback Cole Lewis. Lewis, a 5-foot-9, 165-pound senior, takes over from recent graduate Jaiden Barnes.
Lewis will have his share of weapons on the outside, too, with three letterwinners in the four-receiver look. Jeremy Reber, fresh off his All-Ohio season as a hurdler, is back for another season. The athletic senior, who also was an all-state selection on the gridiron for his punting abilities, caught 41 passes a year ago for 331 yards and a pair of scores, joined by returnees Jaden Zuercher (20 catches, 220 yards, TD), Tate Venables and newcomer Ethan Garrod.
Giving Lewis time to find those playmakers is a talented, battle-tested offense line led by tackles Cade Herman and Sam Harrold, each of whom weigh over 250 pounds and stand 6-4 for better. Ian Sarver and Alex McCartney are slated to start at the guard positions, with Liam Mitten at center.
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Defense
Like the offensive side of the ball, Waynedale's defense also returns starters and has its share of playmakers. In its 3-3 stack defensive look, the Bears will use a host of talented linebackers and athleticism in its secondary to limit talented offense like Dalton, Norwayne and Hillsdale.
The inside linebacking trio of Troyer, Schlabach and Yoder all have experience and will be looked upon by Golec to make help organize the group as it plans on changing its look to keep opposing teams off balance. Troyer was among one of the top defensive players in the area last season with 80 total tackles. Seniors Jake Coblentz and Mason Lowe will start on the outside.
Like Troyer, Zuercher was a playmaker for Waynedale a year ago and will be joined by newcomer Ethan Garrod at the safety position. The senior had a team-best five interceptions in 2022, along with 63 tackles. Speedsters in Reber and Venables will be on the corners for the Bears. Reber also is back for his second season at punter.
Sarver and Harrold will start at the defensive-end spots in the team's three-man front, along with McCartney at noseguard.
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Gamebreaker: Marquel Troyer, RB/ILB, sr.
If Waynedale is going to make any noise this season, Troyer will have a lot to say about it. A key cog on both sides of the ball, the 5-9, 170-pounder is coming off of an impressive junior campaign. Troyer not only rushed for nearly 700 yards and should be a go-to back for the Bears again this year, but his play on defense is just as important. That kind of impact will play a key role for a Waynedale team eager to break into the top half of the WCAL.
Outlook
There's something to be said about trusting the process. It's an attitude that Golec, who enters his second season after coming to Apple Creek from West Holmes, has watched play out through the offseason and weeks leading up to the team's season opener against Tusky Valley on Aug. 18.
"Coming into year two of a system, the kids have really bought into what we are teaching and believe in the culture," said Golec "We had a great offseason in the weight room."
Not only has that work ethic shown in the weight room and on the field this preseason, just the simple fact of having a roster of guys who logged minutes a year ago should pay dividends in 2023.
After having one of the youngest rosters in the area in 2022, this season's edition of the Bears has a host of experience in the skill positions and on the line, both offensively and defensively.
"We have a much bigger senior class and upperclassman that have experienced Friday night football," Golec said. "Just like any school our size, depth can be a concern at certain places, but we are pleased with how our younger guys are progressing.
"In a league as good as ours, and with a tough non-conference schedule, our expectations are to come out and compete and be the best version of ourselves, week-in and week-out."
Schedule
Aug. 18 TUSKY VALLEY
Aug. 25 GARAWAY
Sept. 1 at Triway
Sept. 8 DALTON
Sept. 15 at Rittman
Sept. 22 SMITHVILLE
Sept. 29 at Norwayne
Oct. 6 HILLSDALE
Oct. 13 at Chippewa
Oct. 20 at Northwestern
Quick Hits
Last year: 3-7 (2-5 WCAL), missed playoffs
Head coach: Zach Golec (second season, 3-7)
Playoff region: Division VI, Region 21
This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Football: a season preview of the 2023 Waynedale Golden Bears
