Mansfield Senior football expecting to carry on tradition, rely on leadership in pursuit of OCC title
MANSFIELD — It's an annual tradition.
The Mansfield Senior Tygers graduate star player after star player and every year they bring in a replacement that more than lives up to expectations. And 2023 will be no different.
The Tygers graduated seven from last year's 8-2 squad including All-Ohioans Ricky Mills and Mekhi Bradley as well as defensive staples Leo Hess and Aaron Thornton just to name a few. So, the Tygers have their work cut out for them replacing some of the best players in the program in the last decade, but they are always up for the challenge and ready to prove doubters wrong.
With 12 lettermen on offense, including 10 starters, and six on defense, five starters, returning to the lineup, Mansfield Senior is locked and loaded to make another deep playoff run after making it to the Division III Region 10 semifinals last season.
"We have created an expectation within our program that we believe we should always compete for an Ohio Cardinal Conference title and then for a state title," Mansfield Senior coach Chioke Bradley said. "That is where we are at as a program and the work we have put in reflects that."
Bradley is entering his 14th season in charge of his alma mater after spending two years as an assistant. And this might be one of his best offensive teams in recent memory.
Senior Duke Reese returns under center after earning All-Ohio honors last year. During the 2022 regular season, Reese threw for 1,507 yards and 14 touchdowns with just five interceptions. He returns as the true leader of the entire team and seems poised to take the next step after a standout junior year.
Jemir Petty will start at running back after running for 169 yards and two touchdowns last season as he will look to thrive in a much bigger role on offense. Zyion Brown joins him in the backfield at fullback. He led the Tygers in rushing last season with 602 yards and a TD and will form one of the most dynamic two-man running back crews in Richland County with Petty.
The Tygers have speed to burn on the outside with All-Ohioan Amarr Davis returning for his senior year. Davis caught 35 passes for 708 yards and seven touchdowns during the first 10 weeks of the season. He is joined by future star Nate Dismuke who was second on the team in receiving last year with 291 yards and three touchdowns during the regular season.
Senior Elias Owens returns at tight end. He caught 15 passes for 251 yards and a touchdown last season. So, Reese will have his three favorite targets coming back along with two standout running backs behind him.
Ahead of him, he will be extremely well protected. The Tygers return four of their five offensive linemen from last year including left tackle Jehmere Dotson, left guard Carmelo Smith, center Jaden Jones and right tackle, All-Ohioan, Ahmaan Thomas. Kevin McDowell is expected to take over at right guard.
Quinton DeBolt will handle the kicking duties while speedsters Davis and Dismuke will return kicks.
Maurice Bradley is expected to see time at tight end while Jermaine Bradley and Davion Mack play some wide receiver, Isaiah Darson at running back and Lamar Ruth on the offensive line will all bring depth on offense.
"We are going to be very explosive at the skill positions," Chioke Bradley said. "We also bring back a solid offensive line with a ton of experience so we expect to be very sound offensively. Isaiah Darson, Davion Mack, Jemir Petty, Maurice Bradley Jr., Carmelo Smith and Carter Kessler will all be new names to remember. Those guys are the next wave of Tygers."
Defensively, the Tygers bring back their 4-3 scheme made famous by defensive coordinator Sean Adams, who departed the program for the head coaching job at Arcadia High School. Chioke Bradley has absorbed the defensive coordinator duties along with his head coaching responsibilities as he was always extremely involved in the defensive gameplan.
Owens and DJ Corbin will start at defensive end. Owens had 45 tackles with 3.5 going for a loss and two interceptions last season and will have a huge role this year after earning some Division I college interest. Corbin will see his first varsity action this year.
Symir Phillips and Ahmaad Thomas will be the defensive tackles. Phillips had a breakout year last season with 41 tackles, 5.5 going for a loss, and 1.5 sacks with a fumble recovery. Thomas played well last year with 40 tackles, six going for a loss, and two sacks and those two will be tasked with filling the void left by Mills.
The linebacker positions will feature new faces. Daylin McGinty and Maurice Bradley will start at outside linebacker with Smith at middle linebacker. McGinty had 15 tackles last year in a limited role while Smith and Bradley will see their first action.
The secondary is absolutely loaded in 2023. Davis finished last year with nine interceptions including four in the playoffs to earn first team All-Ohio honors. Ja'Ontay O'Bryant returns for his senior year after earning All-Ohio honors as a sophomore. He had one interception last year. Darson will start at strong safety and Jaiden Grose will play free safety.
Smith will do the punting while Dismuke will return punts as he may never leave the field. Guy Trader, Kessler, Petty and Brown will all see expanded roles on defense this year.
"We are going to be young and inexperienced at some positions, but we expect our guys to play like stout and stingy veterans," Chioke Bradley said. "We have two ball-hawking corners in Amarr Davis and Ja'Ontary O'Bryant that should shut down the opponents' pass game. We as a staff are very excited at the potential of this defensive group. Amarr Davis, Elias Owens, Jaden Jones, Duke Reese, Nate Dismuke, Ja’Ontay O’Bryant and Symir Phillips will be our veteran leaders who will be tasked with making sure we are ready to play every week."
The Tygers are looking to get back on top of the OCC standings for the first time since 2017.
"Our league will always be very competitive from top to bottom," Bradley said. "We should fall right into the mix with the rest of the teams in our league with the goal of winning a championship."
To do that, Bradley will be relying on veteran leadership to get the team to that point.
"Duke Reese is our captain and will lead our team," Bradley said. "With that being said, he will be the X-factor. Defensively, we are losing a lot of impactful players from last year's team. Being able to fill those voids on that side of the ball will be an X-factor."
The Tygers have one of, if not the, toughest nonconference schedules in the state. They travel to St. Vincent, St. Mary in Week 1 before welcoming the defending Division III state champs to Arlin Field in Canfield before heading to Massillon in Week 3.
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This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Mansfield Senior Tygers looking for Ohio Cardinal Conference football title
