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Aviators fly by air and ground

There is bad news for teams in Division II, Region 6 as Sycamore joins their party this fall. The Aviators move down from Division I and instantly become one of the favorite to vie for a regional title this fall. Getting to the post-season still isn’t going to be easy for Sycamore. They still must figure out a way to manage enough wins in GMC play to muster enough Harbin points to ensure a playoff berth.

Scott-Dattilo-Sycamore

The Aviators have some question marks but also have some talent. “We graduated three offensive and seven defensive starters. We will be inexperienced and young defensively. Our overall depth is always an issue. We will be very experienced on offense and should have a more athletic defense than in recent years. We also return all key aspects of our special teams,” head coach Scott Dattilo states.

Dattilo always has this program well-prepared and 2015 will be no different. If last year’s blowout of Mason in the regular season finale is a precursor of what lies ahead this Aviators team is going to be a handful to reckon with.

Division II, Region 6
2014 RECORD: 6-4, 4-3 GMC
COACH: Scott Dattilo (64-31 @ Sycamore, nine years, 81-45 overall, 12 years)

TOP RETURNEES
RaVon Bonner, Jr, RB – Bonner gets better as the game goes on. He was the Aviators workhorse running for 1,120 yards (5.1/carry) and 16 touchdowns (nine scores in his last three outings). He ran for 125 yards or more five times (four of those on the road) in Sycamore’s last eight games on his way to being named First Team All-GMC. In four of those affairs he carried the ball at least 27 times. He already has an offer from Cincinnati.

Clarence Dawson, Sr, RB – Dawson is a handful for the opposition. He finished his junior year with 1,022 yards (7.1/carry) and eight touchdowns rushing. Four times in the last six games (All versus GMC schools) he ran for 125 yards or more. He was named First Team All-GMC for his efforts.

Justin Backus, Sr, OL – A First Team All-GMC selection Backus earned his accolades by opening holes for Bonner and Dawson.

Jake Borman, Jr, QB – Showed how valuable he was as a sophomore throwing for 998 yards, had nine touchdown passes, two rushing scores, kicked extra points and averaged 37.4 on 42 punts. That effort earned him Second Team All-GMC honors.

Chris Stoy, Sr, OL – Another key cog up front for the Aviators Stoy was a Second Team All-GMC pick as a junior.

Gary Traub, Sr, LB – Lead the defense by example Traub topped the Aviators with 47 solo tackles as a junior. He was named Second Team All-GMC for his work.

Andru Waters, Sr, DL – Waters was in on 42 total tackles on his way to Second Team All-GMC accolades as a junior.

Jovon Cobbs, Sr, DB – Cobbs came on late in ‘4 and was a Second Team All-GMC selection as a junior. Cobbs has an offer from Morehead State.

PLAYOFF HISTORY
(five appearances, 1-5) – 2012, 2011, 2007, 2006, 1996

2015 SCHEDULE
The good news is that Colerain isn’t on the GMC portion of the schedule. That doesn’t mean life will be easy for the Aviators who play Mount Healthy (D II, Region 6 runner-up in ‘14), Covington Catholic, Trotwood-Madison (D III, Region 10 champion), Fairfield and Lakota East to start the season. The first four of those games are at home.

RUSHING TITLES
In Dattilo’s nine seasons at Sycamore the Aviators have had the GMC’s regular season rushing leader – Mitch Allen in ’06, Bud Golden in ’08, Kyle Sess in ’11 and Greg Simpson in ’12. All had more than 1,200 yards on the ground in 10 games. Ironically three of those players – Allen, Sess and Simpson were quarterbacks. Dawson, Bonner and Borman have to like the odds of one of them being the next to win a crown.

THE DYNAMIC DUO
Bineer and Dawson did some of their best work together, teaming up for some monster Friday nights. At Hamilton they combined for 380 yards rushing (Bonner – 188, Dawson – 192), 340 yards (Bonner – 169, Dawson – 171) against Mason and another 251 at Middletown (Bonner – 126, Dawson – 125). Three other times they combined for more than 200 yards on the ground in ’14.

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