2016 Snapshot: Edgewood

Last season’s finish with losses to Mount Healthy and Harrison left Edgewood on the outside looking in at the playoffs after starting 7-1. That has left head coach Scott Clemmons and his Cougars hungry for their share of post-season pie. Having only been to the playoffs once in the last seven years, Edgewood has the talent to not only get back to the post-season but do some serious damage once November starts.

Edgewood RB Devon Garrett (photo by Mike Noyes/TriStateFootball.com)

“Team depth and numbers will be key this season. We will have some great competition and the team has worked hard in the weight room. Speed and size will be a great factor for us. Confidence will also be a strength. We have a lot of seniors who have started since their sophomore year. We had a lot of underclassmen who got some key playing time last year in big games,” Clemmons says of a squad that has all the makings of being special.

The Cougars return 10 of 11 starters on a Wing-T offense that scored 31.1 points per game in 2015. Returnees account for all but five of the 2,389 rushing yards that Edgewood amassed last season.Players who accounted for 91.7% of the 3,772 yards of total offense are back. This team can beat you in so many different ways with so many different weapons.

Outscoring the Cougars will be difficult but expect some shootouts as Edgewood has holes to fill on defense. “We lost a lot of key players and senior leadership on the defensive side of the ball. A lot of underclassmen will have to step up and fill these positions,” Clemmons states.

With so many players bidding for snaps the problems for Clemmons and the defense should be minimal. The play on this side of the ball could mean the difference between a good and a great season. All signs point to the latter being in Edgewood’s favor.

Division II Region 8
2015 RECORD: 2-8, 1-5 SWOC
COACH: Scott Clemmons (18-23 at Edgewood, four years; 18-23 overall)

HONOR ROLL

Edgewood QB Drew Reckart (photo by Mike Noyes/TriStateFootball.com)

Drew Reckart, Sr, QB – In his first year starting under center, Reckart showed that he was a great decision maker who had confidence in the players that surrounded him. He threw for 1,372 yards and accounted for 18 touchdowns (12 passing, six rushing) on his way to First Team All-SWOC accolades.

Bryce Couch, Sr, OT – The 6-foot-2, 255 pound Couch had a stellar junior campaign and was named First Team All-SWOC for his hard work.

Dylan Crouch, Sr, SS – The leader of the secondary, Crouch has started since the final three games of his freshman year. He was a First Team All-SWOC performer in ’15.

Devon Garrett, Sr, RB – Garrett proved to be a handful in the open field rushing for 654 yards to go along with eight catches for 159 yards and 11 touchdowns (nine rushing, two receiving) in ’15. He was named Second Team All-SWOC for his efforts.

Quinn Jones, Sr, DL – Jones had a breakout season as a junior earning Second Team All-SWOC honors. He is the Cougars only returning d-lineman and the leader of the group.

Julian Pletz, Jr, K – Pletz was a Second Team All-SWOC performer as a sophomore after connecting on 40-43 extra points, 3-5 field goals including a 42-yard bomb and had eight touchbacks on kickoffs. “Julian has a strong leg and is a patient kicker,” Clemmons says of this three-year starter.

Greg Dingledine, Sr, OG/LB – A three-year starter on both sides of the ball and backbone of the team, Dingledine was a Special Mention All-SWOC selection a year ago.

OTHER RETURNEES
Hunter Boggs, Sr, OG/LB – A physical player who loves to hit people, Boggs is back for his third year as a starter on both sides of the ball.

Eli Lohrey, Sr, OT – Lohrey is back for his third-year as a starter up front for the Cougars.

Thomas Lindsay, Sr, Wing – Lindsay really took off after the first three weeks last season. He ran for 486 yards, averaged 12.8 per carry and scored two touchdowns in the Cougars last seven tilts. He had five consecutive games with at least one run of 40 yards or more in that span.

Dakota Schramm, Sr, FB – Injuries forced Schramm to miss the last four games of ’15. He was averaging 94.3 yards rushing per game with eight touchdowns before his season ended after Week 6. The last two games he played Schramm ran for three touchdowns in each.

Nate Fryman, Sr, TE – More of a blocking tight end, Fryman does have the propensity to come up with the big catch. He reeled in six receptions for 136 yards as a junior.

Edgewood LB Garrett Gabbard (photo by Mike Noyes/TriStateFootball.com)

Garrett Gabbard, Jr, OLB – Gabbard moves from strong safety to his more natural position at outside linebacker. He has all the tools to be a future all-league performer.

Eddie Driskell, Sr, WR/DB – A huge target who can run like the wind the 6-foot-5 Driskell led the Cougars with 25 receptions for 540 yards and seven touchdowns as a junior.

Jake Paulsen, Jr, RB/LB – Paulsen gave Edgewood great effort on both sides of the ball as a sophomore. He ran for 310 yards and found the end zone three times. He is a staple at linebacker as well.

Nick Noble, Jr, WR/DB – Noble is a great athlete who plays fast and loves contact. He was rock solid as a sophomore role player seeing action in all 10 games.

NEWCOMERS
The Cougars will have no problem with depth and can expect help from seniors OL/LB Colt Downard, OL Bradley Kincaid, TE/OLB Ethan Allen,
WR/DB Louis Cody and FB/LB Carroll Moore.Downard has transferred back to Edgewood after being at Middletown Christian.

The junior class will see contributions coming from DL Rob Vogel, OL/DL Chris Lane, OL/DL Seth Phipps, TE/OLB Seth Longworth, TE/DL CJ Broughton, OL/LB Koby Schmidt, RB/DB DJ Whiles, RB/DB Logan Schweder and WR/DB Austin Scott. Phipps and Scott each had an interception a year ago.

Sophomores RB/DB Julius Hayden, FB/OLB Evan Brown and TE/DL Justin Hiltbrand will also be in the mix for playing time. Hayden showed his impact in last season’s finale carrying the ball 16 times for 77 yards and a touchdown in a 20-16 loss to Harrison.

PLAYOFF HISTORY
(11 appearances, 12-11 overall) – 2012, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2003 (2nd), 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999 (Regional Champions), 1998, 1997

Edgewood K Julian Pletz (photo by Mike Noyes/TriStateFootball.com)

2016 SCHEDULE
Edgewood should be 3-0 to start the year by overpowering smaller squads Monroe, Franklin and Badin. The Cougars playoff audition starts in Week 4 with the SWOC opener versus Northwest followed by three straight road games against Harrison, Ross and Columbus DeSales. Two or three losses in those affairs could end Edgewood’s post-season dreams.

FAMILIAR FACES UP FRONT
“The offensive line will be the heart and soul of the team. These boys are big, physical and they can run. Dingledine, Boggs, Couch and Lohrey have all started since their sophomore year. They have been the offensive line for this class since junior high football,” Clemmons states.

BIG PLAY PASSING GAME
When you have a Wing-T team that can throw the ball effectively it can pose some major problems for opposing defenses. Edgewood averaged 17.7 yards on 75 completed passes. One in every 5.8 Cougar completions went for touchdowns (13). Four returnees averaged 18.0 yards or more per reception in ’15 – Fryman (22.7), Driskell (21.6), Garrett (19.9) and Lindsay (18.0).

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