2024 Snapshot: Bethel-Tate

There has been no quit in Bethel-Tate during head coach Jeff Essig’s tenure. The Tigers have earned a reputation of being fighters and not to be taken lightly. The evolution of the program under Essig was on full display at the end of 2023 as Bethel-Tate knocked off rival and previously unbeaten Williamsburg in Week 9. Then, in the first round of the playoffs, they avenged their only SBAAC National loss (Week 8) knocking off Blanchester by 15 points. Riding that wave of mojo, the Tigers are out to take the next step forward and get to the regional finals.

That goal is going to take a monumental effort to achieve as Bethel-Tate moves up to the loaded and very challenging Division IV, Region 16 from Division V, Region 20. Region 16 has a bevy of schools that can lay claim to small school royalty on the football field, Wyoming, Alter, Clinton-Massie, Taft, Indian Hill, Springfield Shawnee. Add in former Region peers, New Richmond, Oakwood and Valley View (who beat the Tigers in round two of the postseason last fall in route to its second straight regional championship), the region is a gauntlet.

Essig believes his 2024 squad has more than enough to compete with the upper echelon teams in Region 16. “We have multi-year varsity experience at every position group, except quarterback. Our offensive and defensive lines look to be a strength for us this year. The numbers in these  two positions groups has been some of the highest in my nine years here. Our receiver and defensive back positions have always been filled with great players, but it is awesome to see our most important position groups, the offensive and defensive lines, have some good athletes in them as well.”

One of the big question marks for Bethel-Tate will be under center. “We have experience at each position group, except the quarterback position. Our offseason and preseason development of that position is a main goal of ours. We are excited to see how this position improves and develops. We don’t want to think of it as a weakness, but rather a big upside for improvement. We have had some great quarterbacks come through our program lately and we are excited to help develop another talent,” Essig states.

Bethel-Tate will face five teams in the first seven weeks that had losing records in 2023. That should give the situation at quarterback time to settle in and grow confidence. If that comes to fruition, the Tigers will be playing to host a playoff game, down the stretch of the regular season.

Division IV, Region 16
2023 RECORD: 7-5, 4-1 SBAAC National
COACH: Jeff Essig (55-29 at Bethel-Tate, eight years; 55-29 overall)

HONOR ROLL
Troy Harris, Jr, WR/DB – Expectations are high for Harris, one of Bethel-Tate’s top playmakers on offense. He was named OPSWA Division V Third Team All-Ohio after catching 37 balls for 853 yards (23.0 yards/rec), and 13 touchdowns as a sophomore. He currently sits at #4 all-time in Bethel-Tate history with 1,406 yards receiving on 62 receptions with 16 touchdown catches. Defensively, Harris has 54 total tackles, three forced fumbles and three interceptions in his career.

Eli Welch, Jr, OL/DL – Back for his third year as a starter, the Tigers will lean on Welch for his experience and leadership on the offensive line. It will be one of the keys to this teams success.  The 6-foot-1, 315-pound Welch was named OPSWA Division V Honorable Mention All-Southwest District as a sophomore.

Talon Armacost, Sr, RB/DE/LB – The heart-and-soul of the Tigers who will be a candidate for the SBAAC National Defensive Player of the Year. Armacost is on pace to be the all-time sack leader in school history. He currently has 19 sacks and needs 10 more to top the leaderboard. Armacost was a Second Team All-SBAAC National selection as a junior and OPSWA Second Team All-Southwest District as a sophomore, when he had 14.5 sacks. He heads into his senior year with 97 total tackles, 19.0 sacks, four forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries. Offensively, Armacost has 836 yards rushing, 24 receptions for 186 yards receiving and seven touchdowns (four rush, three rec).

Bethel-Tate RB/DE Talon Armacost (photo by Evan Shepherd/betheltateathletics.com/photos)

Joe Kilgore, Sr, DE/S – Had a breakout junior year and was stellar in big games. Kilgore has emerged as one of the Tigers offseason leaders in the weight room. He had 68 total tackles, six sacks, seven tackles for losses, a fumble recovery and an interception last fall. He sacked J.J Miller (2023 OPSWA Division VI First Team All-Ohio and SBAAC National Offensive Player of the Year) four times in that Week 9 upset of Williamsburg. Those efforts earned Kilgore Second Team All-SBAAC National honors.

Landen Schultian, Jr, WR/DB – A fine compliment to Troy Harris at receiver. Schultian was named Second Team All-SBAAC National as a sophomore. He has 54 receptions for 504 yards and a touchdown, at the varsity level.

Bethel-Tate WR/DB Landen Schultian (photo by Evan Shepherd/betheltateathletics.com/photos)

OTHER RETURNEES
Brayden Seibert, Sr, OL/DL – A returning starter on an o-line that paved the way for the Tigers to average 330.5 yards of total offense per game in 2023.

Conner Hounshell, Sr, OL/DL – Will be a vital cog on both sides of the line. Hounshell had 13 total tackles, a sack, two tackles for losses and two fumble recoveries as a junior.

NEWCOMERS
Sophomore linemen OL/DL Michael Giwer and OL/DL Sebastian Chandler will compete for starting positions and see their share of snaps this season. The duo of WR/DB Kai Harris and WR/DB Caleb Harris saw their junior campaigns cut short due to injuries. They will have their share of big moments in 2024. Junior QB/LB/K Jax Pryor is out to create his own legacy at quarterback after the graduation of Tigers all-time leader in passing yards, Cameron Snider. Pryor has throw one touchdown pass in each of the past two years.
Breakout Performers for 2024

PLAYOFF HISTORY
(five appearances, 4-5) – 2023, 2021, 2020, 2017, 2015

2024 SCHEDULE
Fri – 08/23/24 – at New Richmond (5-6 in 2023) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 08/30/24 – LOCKLAND (5-6) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 09/06/24 – WYOMING (12-2) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 09/13/24 – at Miami Trace (7-5) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 09/20/24 – at Batavia (3-7) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 09/27/24 – at East Clinton (4-6) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 10/04/24 – at Clermont Northeastern (3-7) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 10/11/24 – BLANCHESTER (7-4) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 10/18/24 – at Williamsburg (10-2) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 10/25/24 – FAYETTEVILLE-PERRY (2-8) – 7:00 PM

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