Marysville High School’s varsity football team is pictured from left, front row, Andrew Bentz, Jack Blumberg, Hayden Davis, JJ Rigsby, Andrew Seiltz, Gavin Rohrs, Gabe Powers, Tyler Weber, Trace Mahood, Kaden Hogan, Tanner Powers, Cameron Jones, Richard Nielsen, Mason Reed, Marcus Belt and Griffin Rigel; second row, Daquise French, Jerry McNeil, Blayke Powell, Jordan Anspach, Jared Larriuz, Braden Deere, Brady Seger, Colton Powers, Erryl Will, Ethan Musel, Benjamin Bickerstaff, Drew Montgomery, Evan Collins, Connor Raybould, Coy Nickelson and Jordan Jones; third row, Joe McNeil, Matt Krutowskis, Nick Johnson, Sam Harrington, Clayton Smith, Cayman Chandler, Braedon Gray, Griffin Johnson, Cole Pombert, Morgan Kern, Will Grubbs, Mack Hamilton, Dylan Harper, Ethan Moeller, Jameson Best and Matt Eley; fourth row, Damon Wade, JT Hiltscher, PJ Patterson, Cole Steele, Zach Straham, Joe Bates, Chris Wilson, Richard Willis, Luke Bonczak, Terry Toops, Hunter Keller, Andrew Howard, Christian McCartney, Stephen Garcia and Cole Clarridge; fifth row, Mason Kinney, Trace Heminger, Drew Fraker, Henry Anontvechrucks, Jared Shock, Vanyn Fultz, Luke Montgomery, Xander Angelas, Nathan Potter, Ryder Fishbaugh, Josh Anliker, Liam Wilder, Carson Overbey, Cooper Woodson, Keegan Allen, Aiden Seibers and Sam Brickner; sixth row, managers and trainers Ashley Dutcher, Audrey Watson, Lilly McCarty, Kennedy Heard, Carly Connolly, Olivia Ross, Calla Best and Darren Clancy; seventh row, equipment manager Larry Fox, coaches Tony Brake, Eric Brack, Scott Freeland, Aaron Rossi, Mike Young, Mike Powers, Aaron Peitsmeyer, head coach Brent Johnson, Kevin Brandfass, Joel Metzger, Paul Devine and Steve Devine. (Journal-Tribune photo by Sam Dillon)
There is a wealth of experience returning in 2021 for the Marysville High School football squad.
There are 10 returning lettermen who helped guide the Monarchs (6-2) to the Ohio Capital Conference Capital Division championship during the 2020 campaign.
MHS played six regular season games during a COVID-19 shortened regular season.
The Monarchs then went 1-1 during the Division I playoffs.
Veterans on this year’s roster include Gabe Powers (running back-linebacker), Gavin Rohrs (offensive tackle), defensive linemen Erryl Will and Ben Bickerstaff, defensive end Richard Neilson, quarterback Ethan Mussel, running back Griffin Johnson, linebacker-running back Colton Powers and Cam Jones and Tanner Powers (running back-wide receiver and defensive back).
Head coach Brent Johnson feels the Monarchs will especially be strong on the defensive side of the ball.
“We’ve got eight starters back from last year on defense,” he said.
The Monarchs yielded just 102 points a year ago and finished with three shutouts.
The defensive line will be deep with nine athletes able to fill those spots during any given game.
“That will allow us to keep fresh legs on the D-line,” said Johnson.
Newcomers to the line include Andrew Bentz, Christian McCartney and Mason Reed.
There will be no drastic changes on the defensive side of the ball as MHS will go with its long-standing 4-3 alignment.
“Our defense plays to our strength, which is pursuit to the football,” said Johnson.
Additional newcomers to the varsity roster include linebackers Ethan Moeller and Brady Seger, center Mo Kern and guards Evan Collins and Nick Johnson.
The Monarchs will continue to employ their Wing T offense.
Gabe and Colton Powers and Johnson should supply a good portion of the ground attack.
The team, however, hopes to add a dimension to its arsenal.
“We have been working in the preseason to put more of a passing package into our Wing T,” said Johnson. “Last year, we averaged fewer than 10 passing attempts per game.
“This year, we’d like to increase that to 15,” he said. “If we can do that and complete 10 or 12, that’s really going to help loosen up opposing defenses for our running game.
“We have some very good running backs.”
The Monarch coach said there are just a couple areas of concern heading into the 2021 campaign.
“We will just need to see how quickly our offensive line can grow this year,” said Johnson. “However, I can tell you our guards are already ahead of where they were a year ago.”
The Monarch boss knows his squad will face stiff competition in its quest to defend the divisional crown.
“The division is once again going to be very competitive,” said Johnson. “Olentangy Berlin returns a solid group of players and Hilliard Darby (Marysville’s lone regular season setback) is going to be solid.
“We owe Darby for that (31-28) loss last year.”
Johnson said Olentangy will be an athletic squad and also feels Dublin Jerome will be much improved.
The Monarchs beat the Celtics twice last year, including once in the post-season.
Jerome has a new head coach in former Jonathan Alder boss Brett Glass.
“Jerome is going to be more of a physical team with Brett at the helm,” said Johnson. “They were more of a spread team a year ago.”
The Marysville freshman football squad is pictured from left, front row, Gage Counts, Jacob Schiffer, Cameron Wallace, Eli Helmuth, Carson Marrs, Jackson Sloan and Haven Herbst; second row, Justin Severance, Jayson Bickerstaff, Charles Cunningham, Rocco Marchetti, Brandon Dunn, Austin Bennett and Christian Wells; third row, Micah Walls, Julian Marcum, Brody McSwords, Zachary Cooper, Griffin Scheiderer, Michael Barnes and Michael Bates; fourth row, manager Emma Eades, Drake Boatright, Landyn Hustead, Brenden Willis, Nathan Wood, Gage Voiles-Young and Justin Tompkins. Top, coach Steve Powers. Not pictured, coaches Jimmy Applegate, Austin Pfarr, Jamie Collins, Jason Heard and Jim Hodakivic and Tate Dyal, Gavin McCormack and Gabriel Earles. (Journal-Tribune photo by Sam Dillon)
Marysville High School’s football managers and trainers are from left, front row, Lilly McCarty, Kennedy Heard, Audrey Watson and Emma Eades; back row, Darren Clancy, Larry Fox, Carly Connolly, Calla Best, Olivia Ross and Ashley Dutcher. (Journal-Tribune photo by Sam Dillon)
Marysville’s varsity football cheerleaders are from left, front row, Julia Patterson, Ella Weller and Rylie Tigner; second row, Brionna Michalak, Piper Kidd, Lizzie Robles, Chloe Baschnagel, Irelyn Lyon, Chloe Carvour, Bella Beany and Hannah Thompson; back row, Ailyn Martin, Grace Stevens, Mason Walls, Lucy Johantges, Madalyn Coleman, Taylor Fenby, Bethanie Shorr. (Journal-Tribune photo by Sam Dillon)
Monarch junior varsity cheerleaders are from left, front row, Tamara Saliba, Mia Carder, Abbey Bates and Monica Lamb; back row, Cadence Pauk, Bella Grimm, Ellie Palermo, McKenna Boger and Gina Rebello. (Journal-Tribune photo by Sam Dillon)
Freshmen cheerleaders for Marysville are from left, front row, Ava Bonsiglio and Morgan Pfarr; back row, Natalie Jordan, Lilliana Wolford and Paige Hayes. (Journal-Tribune photo by Sam Dillon)