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2016 Snapshot: Bethel-Tate
- Updated: June 9, 2016
One of the great stories of 2015 was Bethel-Tate overcoming great odds on its way to the school’s first ever playoff appearance. They would bow out of the postseason in round one with a loss to eventual state champion, Coldwater.
The Tigers went 0-10 in ’13 and limped into the ’14 season on a 14 game losing streak. From that point on things started to change as wins came and confidence began to soar. Now Bethel-Tate finds itself set up ever so nicely to build upon its recent success.
Bethel-Tate RB/LB Stephen Cooper (photo from Bethel-Tate athletic dept.)
Former assistant Jeff Essig takes over as head coach replacing Bill Jenike who stepped down after leaving a solid foundation for the program to continue building upon. Essig will have the Tigers pointed in another direction with a spread offense and new defense. No more Wing-T.
“Look for Bethel-Tate to have a new look on both sides of the ball. There are no returning members from last year’s football staff. With the increase in numbers look to see some new faces competing on the field as well,” Essig says.
One of the things that made last season’s run to the playoffs so amazing is that Bethel-Tate did it with a roster of just 26 players of which only two were seniors. The Tigers avoided the injury bug and a ton of underclassmen played a lot of snaps on each side of the ball. That bodes well for this falls squad which is reaping the benefits of last year’s accomplishments.
Essig is seeing the excitement and buzz created by a winner on the field. “We have had an increase in numbers from 26 to now having 50+ in the weight room or currently in other sports who have made the commitment to Bethel-Tate football. Players who were only basketball, baseball, track or wrestling are now going to add football to the sports that they are playing. Excitement of a new coaching staff and offensive philosophy has led to an increase in skilled position players coming out for football.”
Adding depth and talent to a core that has experience and yearning to be even better gives Bethel-Tate a great base for ‘15. The Tigers can not only get to the playoffs but will be more than capable of doing some damage once they are in.
Division V, Region 20
2015 RECORD: 6-4, 3-1 SBAAC National
COACH: Jeff Essig (1-1 at Bethel-Tate, first year; 1-1 overall, first year)
HONOR ROLL
Steven Cooper, Sr, RB/LB – One of the premier players in Region 20 and arguably all of Division V. Durability and productivity have been Cooper’s calling card at Bethel-Tate. He has run for more than 1,000 yards in each of the past two years. Cooper enters his fourth season as a starter with 2,543 yards rushing, 22 touchdowns on the ground, 239 total tackles (171 solo), nine-and-a-half sacks, eight forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries during his career. Cooper was a Second Team All-Southwest District selection as a junior.
Caleb Bastin, Sr, OL/DL – A First Team All-SBAAC National honoree as a junior, Bastin is a Tigers leader up front on both sides of the ball. “Caleb is working hard in the weight room to make an even bigger impact for our team than he did last year,” Essig states.
Kermit Beckworth, Sr, OL/DL – Along with classmate Bastin, Beckworth was named First Team All-SBAAC National a year ago. Essig raves about his seniors saying, “Kermit and Caleb will be our leaders in the trenches. Their senior leadership will be important to the strengths of our line play.”
Austin Carter, Jr, WR/DB – Look for Carter to play a prominent role as a receiver this fall. “He is one of the hardest working players I have coached,” Essig says. Carter was Second Team All-SBAAC National member in ’15.
Cooper Dunn, Jr, WR/DB – Dunn will be an important component for the Tigers on both sides of the ball. He led the team last year with four interceptions and was named Second Team All-SBAAC National. The junior will be taking on a larger role on offense.
Drake Dockery, Jr, DB – A key member of the secondary Dockery was a Second Team All-SBAAC National selection as a sophomore.
OTHER RETURNEES
Chris Wheeler, Jr/QB – The frontrunner for the Tigers starting quarterback job Wheeler only threw the ball twice last season. He will fling the ball far more than that in Essig’s spread offense.
PLAYOFF HISTORY
(one appearance, 0-1) – 2015
2016 SCHEDULE
There are plenty of opportunities to pick up Level I Harbin points with five games against larger division schools (Amelia, Goshen Norwood, Batavia and Western Brown). Seven wins for Bethel-Tate versus this schedule means no less than two wins over bigger schools which should be enough to get the Tigers back to the postseason. Six home games in seven weeks from Week 2 through Week 8 should will be a welcomed aid to the playoff quest.
TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS
Over the past two years Bethel-Tate has combined for 11 wins. Six of those victories have come against three teams – Manchester, Clermont Northeastern and Goshen. The Tigers have beaten them each once in ’14 and ’15.
STAYING GROUNDED
The past two seasons under Jenike, Bethel-Tate ran the ball 654 times and threw just 63 passes (completing 39 for 486 yards and four touchdowns). The Tigers ran the ball 88% of the time amassing 5,137 yards and 62 touchdowns on the ground in that span.
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