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2016 Snapshot: Talawanda

After an exciting 7-3 season that saw the Braves make it to the playoffs, Talawanda dropped significantly in the standings in 2015, going winless throughout the season. The Braves came within a touchdown of tying or winning only twice, to division foes Northwest and Ross.

Talawanda OL/DL Tanner Orona (photo from Facebook)

Talawanda OL/DL Tanner Orona (photo from Facebook)

The Braves return many players from both last season and the 2014 playoff year. According to Head Coach J.D. Vonderheide, they also have some inexperience at some key positions on both sides of the ball.
“Our success will rely on how quickly the players in those positions can acclimate to the varsity game.”

The Braves have worked hard this offseason and they “are committed to not letting what happened last year happen again,” Vonderheide said. Talawanda will look to compete in the SWOC again and attempt to compete for berth into the Division III playoffs. If the players can rebound from last season and the new players can acclimate to the varsity game quickly, the Braves could see a few wins this season.

Division III, Region 12
2015 RECORD: 0-10, 0-6 SWOC
COACH: J.D. Vonderheide (12-29 at Talawanda, four years; 12-29 overall)

HONOR ROLL
Tanner Orona, Sr, OT/DT – First Team All-SWOC as a junior. Orona is a big, strong, athletic, powerful lineman that will be a force on the line on both sides of the ball.

Luke Croucher, Sr, WR/LB – Second Team All-SWOC as a junior. With the top three receivers graduating, Croucher will lead the receiving corps in 2016. He had 10 receptions for 68 yards in 2015.

Talawanda TE/DE Andrew O'Donnel (81) & WR/LB Luke Croucher (40) (photo from Facebook)

Talawanda TE/DE Andrew O’Donnel (81) & WR/LB Luke Croucher (40) (photo from Facebook)

OTHER RETURNEES
Andrew O’Donnel, Sr, TE/DE – Big, athletic, productive senior who played in six games last year and recorded a sack and forced fumbled.

Kyle Broshear, Sr, OT/DT – Big, mmart, fundamentally sound player that will team up with Orona on the line.

Logan Kamphaus, Sr, QB – Smart, talented, student of the game, game manager. Kamphaus finished with 345 yards and a 42% completion percentage. QB rating was 80.2. He was primarily a backup to Kyle McIntosh.

Kevin Engelhard, Sr, FB/LB – True team player, efficient blocker, good hands out of the backfield. He is a force on defense who recorded a fumble recovery. Engelhard also is the main kicker and punter.

Sam Wespiser, Sr, LB – Smart, productive who had two interceptions, returning them for a combined 45 yards. He should be a leader in the secondary.

Braden Baker, Jr, OL/DL – Big, strong player who will look to carve out a big role on a defensive line that needs to step up and stop the run.

Blake Bryan, Jr, RB/DB – Athletic, fast player who will have a chance to lead the backfield in a run game that collectively ran for over 1,300 yards a season ago.

Lucas Snell, Jr, QB/WR/DB – Smart, versatile player who can make a difference on either side of the ball with big playmaker ability.

NEWCOMERS
Tyler Prater, So, RB/DB – The sophomore has a chance to make his mark in a backfield that is looking for someone to be the go-to guy.

PLAYOFF HISTORY
(Three appearances, 1-3) – 2014, 2000, 1991

2016 SCHEDULE
The first three games of the schedule directly resemble the 2015 schedule with games against Middletown Madison, Badin, and Eaton. New to the schedule this year is an away game against New Richmond.

REBOUNDING FROM DISAPPOINTING 2015
Not many teams can go from 7-4 to 0-10 in two seasons. But Talawanda did and the Braves will look to collect the pieces from the wreckage and come out on top in 2015. With the starting quarterback, running back, and top three receivers from 2015 graduated, the Braves will turn to young talent to lead them to victories in 2015.

CLOSING THE POINTS GAP
In 2015, Talawanda gave up 392 points and only scored 139, the second largest such gap in SWOC history. The defense will have to step up and keep teams from seeing the goal line if the Braves want any chance of getting a W for the first time since 2014.

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