High School Football Countdown: No. 7 Triway hopes for better luck in 2023

It rained, it poured, it thundered, it lightninged. It seemed like everything that could go wrong did go wrong for Triway in 2022.

The Titans have some major pieces to replace but they have some talent, and with better luck, should be able to compete in a wide-open PAC-7 this year.

A preview of the 2023 Triway Titans:

Offense

Graduated QB Zack Miller is the type of player who is almost impossible to replace. Triway found that out during the 2022 season when he went down with a season-ending injury, and now they go into Week 1 with a new QB for the first time in three years.

Wooster transfer Luke Snowbarger (1,021 yards, 10 TDs, seven INTs) and sophomore Brayden Holt look like the two frontrunners to take over the starting QB job. Snowbarger has one of the strongest arms in the area, while Holt brings more of the dual threat aspect.

"They're the first one there to pick each other up when someone makes a mistake," Triway coach Cody Kelly said. "They're competing out here. They're making it super hard on us. ... There's not contention there. They truly want to see the team succeed."

Receiver Cale Drown (30 catches, 317 yards, four TDs) will help whoever emerges at QB. He was well on his way to having a huge year at receiver before he stepped in midway through the year to play quarterback. He has the size and athleticism to be a matchup problem for opponents. Owen Walter (seven catches, 60 yards) is Triway's only other receiver with significant experience. Luke Starr could emerge as a big factor in the passing game, and Brody Snyder, Grayson Smith, Olley Krupp and Bruin Flinner all figure to compete for snaps. Austin Javorsky and Alex Shearer will play tight end.

Triway also feels much better about its running back situation heading into 2023. Last year's projected starter Tyler Sigler got hurt prior to Week 1, but he's back now and gives the Titans a physical presence (6-foot-2, 195) they can hand the ball off to. Vinny Mariola should see some carries as well.

Multi-year starting center Luke Belcher is the unquestioned leader of a line that features additional returning experience in Cylis Fleming and Ron Bricker. Gavin Hatfield, Roman Gilbert and Stephen Shickluna could all see playing time on the line as well.

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Defense

Belcher returns as one of the area's best defensive players and will be the leader of the linebacking corps and the defense as a whole. Hatfield, Mariola, Smith and Shearer all got playing time last year and make up a strong unit in the middle of the defense.

"They effort that he gives is tremendous," Kelly said of Belcher. "He does everything you want him to. He's perfect out on the field as far as effort and mentality. He's who you want leading your team by his action and by his voice as well."

Austin Javorsky is coming off a successful 2022 season (12.5 tackles for loss) and leads a group up front that also features Sigler, Fleming and Sam Bilinovich.

Drown and Starr will be the centerpieces of the secondary at the safety spots with Walter, Snyder, Flinner and Krupp getting snaps at cornerback.

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Gamebreaker: Cale Drown, WR/S, sr.

After a strange 2022 season, Drown is ready to make his mark as one of the area's top receivers. One of the best all-around athletes on the team, his instincts at safety make him an invaluable two-way player. He's ready to be the centerpiece of a team.

Outlook

First-year coach Kelly has some talent to work with as Triway attempts to return to the playoffs and get back into the upper half of the PAC-7 standings.

It won't be an easy road, however. While the league is wide open at the top, almost everyone in the conference is a potential playoff team, and Triway's season-opener at West Holmes could be its biggest challenge of the year.

"We're known for being a spread-out team," Kelly said. "(We need) the change in mentality that we can be physical with team. That we can be good tacklers. That we can be good blockers."

If the Titans' skill lives up to their potential and they can embrace the attitude of toughness the coaching staff has been preaching, it should be a positive year.

Schedule

Aug. 18 at West Holmes

Aug. 25 at Marengo Highland

Sept. 1 WAYNEDALE

Sept. 8 FAIRLESS

Sept. 15 at Tuslaw

Sept. 22 at CVCA

Sept. 29 CANTON SOUTH

Oct. 6 MANCHESTER

Oct. 13 at Northwest

Oct. 20 at Orrville

Quick Hits

Last year: 4-7 (2-5 PAC-7), lost Region 17 first round

Head coach: Cody Kelly (first season)

Playoff region: Division V, Region 17

This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Football: a season preview of the 2023 Triway Titans