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2016 Snapshot: Lebanon

Offense won’t be a problem for Lebanon this fall. The Warriors will be a highly entertaining scoring machine. The question is can they stop opponents from matching and bettering their point totals on the scoreboard.

Head coach Shawn Lamb likes what he sees. “The offense will put up big numbers again in 2016. Dakota Allen is one of the best quarterbacks in the state and will lead the passing attack.” Lamb’s only worry on this side of the ball will be some inexperience on the offensive line. Those fears should be eased as confidence will build early for the boys up front as a proven core of skill player’s return from a squad that averaged 38 points per game in ’15.

Lebanon QB Dakota Allen (photo from Lebanon HS)

Lebanon QB Dakota Allen (photo from Lebanon HS)

“The defense is returning seven players. If our defense can improve we have a shot to win every week. We must protect Dakota and improve our running game. This could be a fun year for Warrior fans,” Lamb states.
Lebanon will have opportunities to avenge losses to peers and rivals that took them down last season. The Warriors went 1-5 against teams that finished above .500 in ’15. This team has the pieces to flip those numbers into positive territory. Reversing that trend will see the program make the playoffs for the first time in 14 years and first under Lamb.

Division I, Region 4
2015 RECORD: 4-6, 2-3 GWOC South
COACH: Shawn Lamb (66-34 @ Lebanon, 11 years, 66-44 overall)

HONOR ROLL
Dakota Allen, Sr, QB – Allen shattered the Lebanon passing record books as a junior. He threw for 2,844 yards with 30 touchdown passes. For good measure he ran for another 305 yards and six scores on his way to being a Second Team All-GWOC South honoree. Six times he threw at least three touchdown passes in a game last season.

Xander Haley, Sr, K – One of Southwest Ohio’s premier kickers Haley was a Second Team All-GWOC South selection as a junior. He connected on 47-49 extra points and 9-13 field goals for 74 points. Haley has scored 148 career points including hitting on 15-19 field goal attempts.

Dawson Wolf, Sr, RB – Wolf has run for 1,136 yards with nine touchdowns over the past two campaigns. The First Team All-GWOC South member in ’15 could easily double those numbers as a senior.

Nate Obringer, Sr, DE – Led the Warriors with 64 total tackles and had a pair of sacks as junior. He was named First Team All-GWOC South for his efforts.

Olin Keil, Sr, DB – A solid junior season saw Keil walk away with Second Team All-GWOC South honors.

OTHER RETURNEES
Nick Taylor, Sr, TE – Taylor became a force the last two weeks of ’15 averaging six receptions and 118 receiving yards in those affairs. He finished the year with 31 catches for 508 yards and three touchdowns.

Zack Barsala, Sr, WR – After averaging four receptions and scoring four touchdowns in the Warriors first five games last season, Barsala cooled off with just nine catches and one score the final five weeks. He will be a more consistent and a top target of Allen’s this fall.

NEWCOMERS
Seniors WR Eli Ruggles and TE/LB Gerron Elam, a transfer from Butler should add depth to the receiving core. Classmate OL Josh Straw who stands 6-foot-4 and weighs 250 pounds gives the Warriors girth up front.

Junior DB Jake Tewart and senior LB Zach Edwards will look to slide into starting roles and solidify the defensive unit.

PLAYOFF HISTORY
(eight appearances, 11-7) – 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998 (State Champions), 1997 (Regional Champions), 1988, 1980 (State Runner-up)

2016 SCHEDULE
The song remains the same for Lamb and his Warriors. Lebanon’s schedule is loaded with playoff caliber teams that are capable of doing serious damage once they get to the postseason – Kings, Loveland, Springboro, Centerville and Miamisburg present big obstacles but also great rewards if conquered.

DAKOTA DOMINATION
In his last 14 starts Dakota Allen has thrown three touchdown passes on seven occasions. He has thrown at least one scoring strike in 13 of those affairs and has 36 total touchdowns tosses in that span.

BLACK-EYE 71
Last fall, Lebanon and its opponents combined for 71 points per game (Lebanon – 38.0, Opponents – 33.0). The Warriors played six tilts in which the two teams combined for 71 or more points while going 1-5 in those contests. All of Lebanon’s games had at least 52 total points scored.

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES
In 2014, the Lebanon defense posted three shutouts and held another opponent to just six points. The Warriors allowed just 14.9 points per contest and gave up more than 27 just once (37 to Trotwood-Madison).

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