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2016 Snapshot: Sycamore

Sycamore is not accustomed to losing. The Aviators 4-6 finish last season was the program’s first non-winning campaign since 2009. The team lost games by one, six, two and four points to three schools that went to the playoffs and another who finished 7-3. That’s how close head coach Scott Dattilo and his squad were to making the post-season.

Sycamore RB Ra'Von Bonner (photo by Mike Noyes/TriStateFootball.com)

Sycamore RB Ra’Von Bonner (photo by Mike Noyes/TriStateFootball.com)

The latest version of the “fly boys” has the closers on offense to turn their luck around. “We have experience and team speed on offense,” Dattilo states. Defensively a young group on the line will have to gel quickly. Sycamore gave up three touchdowns and a game winning field goal in the last five minutes of tilts last fall. When things start to spiral out of control the Aviators must avoid the crash. Mental toughness will get this team back to the playoffs.

Division I, Region 4
2015 RECORD: 4-6, 3-4 GMC
COACH: Scott Dattilo (68-37 @ Sycamore, 10 years; 85-51 overall, 13 years)

TOP RETURNEES
RaVon Bonner, Sr, RB – This two-time Second Team All-Southwest District selection was special as a junior. Bonner ran for 1,429 yards, had 20 receptions for 267 yards, amassed 1,855 all-purpose yards and found the end zone 29 times (27 rushing). He is within in reach of the school records for rushing yards (has 2,549 needs 3,368) and rushing touchdowns (has 43 needs 55). Bonner has offers from Cincinnati, bowling Green, Buffalo, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Ohio, Toledo, Western Michigan and Miami (OH).

Jake Borman, Sr, QB – Borman is on pace to become Sycamores all-time leader in passing yards (has 2,319 needs 3,372) and passing touchdowns (has 16 needs 24). He also earned Division I Special Mention All-Ohio and First Team All-District honors as a punter in ’15. He averaged 41.8 on 25 punts, placing eight inside the 20 and a long of 70 yards.

Khadim Fall, Sr, WR – Fall led the Aviators with 33 receptions and 446 yards and had a touchdown catch as a junior. He earned Second Team All-GMC acclaim for his work.

Zack Richardson, Sr, OL – The 6-foot-5, 290 pound Richardson was named Second Team All-GMC after a very good junior campaign.

Sycamore OL's Zach Richardson (74) & Josh Feld (76) (photo by Mike Noyes/TriStateFootball.com)

Sycamore OL’s Zach Richardson (74) & Josh Feld (76) (photo by Mike Noyes/TriStateFootball.com)

TOP RETURNEES
Myron Williams, Jr, WR – Don’t be surprised if Williams doubles his output of 19 receptions for 299 yards and two touchdowns as a sophomore.

Josh Feld, Sr, OL – The 6-foot-5, 300 pound Feld has all-league talent.

Christian Kelly, Jr, DB – An outstanding varsity debut saw Kelly get in on 31 tackles and intercept three passes.

Tate Goodyear, Sr, DL – The leader of the d-line, Goodyear is a three year starter who has 83 total tackles and two and-a-half sacks at the varsity level.

Grant Young, Sr, LB – Back for his third year as a starter, Young has 97 career tackles and three-and-a-half sacks.

JD Locke, Sr, K – Locke connected on 40-42 extra points including a school record 10-10 against oak Hills. He also went 1-4 on field goal attempt and finished with 43 points as a junior.

NEWCOMERS
Jonathan Malek, Jr, WR – Playing alongside of Williams and Fall opportunities for Malek will be plentiful.

Chad Galinari, Jr, DL – The young Galinari gets his shot to win a starting spot on the defensive line.

Kyle Fehr, Jr, LB – Fehr showed shades of his talent as a sophomore with 12 tackles and a sack.

Jonny Bothen, Jr, LB – There is a bright future for Bothen who recorded 26 tackles as a sophomore.

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

2016 SCHEDULE
Sycamore starts with two-time defending Division II state champion, La Salle at Nippert Stadiuma. Then comes a pair of road games across the river at Covington Catholic then up north to Fairmont. Going 2-1 in this stretch is not going to be easy. The GMC portion of the schedule will see the Aviators avoiding Lakota West and Middletown. Road tilts in Week 5 at Colerain and Week 6 at Fairfield will test this team’s depth and durability.

Sycamore QB Jake Borman (photo by Mike Noyes/TriStateFootball.com)

Sycamore QB Jake Borman (photo by Mike Noyes/TriStateFootball.com)

GROUND KINGS
In Dattilo’s 10 seasons at Sycamore the Aviators have had the GMC’s regular season rushing leader five times – Mitch Allen (2006), Bud Golden (’08), Kyle Sess (’11), Greg Simpson (’12) and Bonner (’15). All had more than 1,200 yards on the ground in 10 games. Ironically three of those players – Allen, Sess and Simpson were quarterbacks.

RARE AIR
Jake Broman threw for 1,321 yards last season. He became the first Sycamore quarterback to throw for more than 1,000 yards during the regular season since Casey MacLean did it in ’07. Borman just missed the mark by two yards as a sophomore.

BONNNER’S BIG DAY
Friday, October 9th, 2015 will be a day Ra’Von Bonner will remember the rest of his life. Sycamore defeated Oak Hills 78-50 as Bonner found the end zone a school record eight times in the shootout. He carried the ball 19 times for 191 yards with seven rushing scores, He also had 14-yard touchdown catch. All of his touchdowns came in the first three quarters of the contest and only one was longer than 14 yards.

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