Season Preview: Football looks to continue upward trajectory in 2016
By Tim Glon
ADA — In each of the past three seasons, the Ohio Northern football team has increased its win total from the year before.
After a 4-win season in 2012, the Polar Bears won six games in 2013, seven games in 2014 and posted a 9-3 record with a playoff victory last year.
Thirteenth-year head coach Dean Paul hopes his group can continue that upward trajectory again in 2016.
ONU returns 32 lettermen and 13 starters from last year's team that finished second in the Ohio Athletic Conference with a 7-2 mark and advanced to the second round of the NCAA III Playoffs.
Prognosticators in several national publications also have high regards for the Polar Bears, as the Sporting News College Football magazine has ONU ranked No. 10 and Lindy's Sports College Football Preview magazine has Ohio Northern ranked No. 11 in their preseason polls.
ONU is also ranked No. 22 in the D3football.com preseason poll.
"We feel optimistic about out upcoming season," Paul said. "We have improved each of the past three seasons. Both in the number of wins and how competitive we were as a team, we were better each year. The challenge for this year's team is to continue to build.
"We have the opportunity and we believe the talent and depth to do that. It's up to the players and coaching staff to work hard and execute and get it done."
Northern returns five starters on the offensive side of the ball, seven starters on defense and All-Conference honorees at punter and kick returner.
Depth abounds on special teams as two kickers, a punter return and both returners are back.
Here is a breakdown of the 2016 Ohio Northern football team, by position:
Offensive Line
The Polar Bears return two starters on the offensive line positions, led by senior Sam Shook at right tackle.
Shook started all 12 games last season and sophomore Kyle Gonterman started the final five games at right guard.
Seniors Aaron Honious, Garrett Newman and Dan Warren and juniors Cody Clayton, Austin Hale and Carter Kemper lead a list of 12 returners and some newcomers who will also vie for a starting position.
"We have a good group of returning guys up front," Paul said. "The talent level is solid. We have two established guys back and have some other guys that we believe are ready to take advantage of their opportunity to grab the other three spots."
Offensive Backfield
Sophomore Will Freed returns at quarterback after throwing for 1594 yards and 10 touchdowns in seven games a year ago, including an ONU freshman-record 439 yards in a season-opening victory against Utica (N.Y.)
Freshman transfer Christian Williams leads a strong list of players that are expected to battle for the starting running back position vacated by the graduation of All-Region honoree and two-year starter Justin Magazine
"We have good talent and depth returning in the backfield," Paul said. "We have highly talented returner at quarterback and we are excited about our young running backs in our program."
Receivers / Tight End
Senior All-Conference receiver Reed Allen and senior All-Conference tight end Logan Ray lead a talented list of targets for Freed to throw to.
Allen leads all returners with 30 receptions for 599 yards and five scores last year and Ray caught 13 passes for 220 yards and three touchdowns in 2015.
Juniors Riley Bransteter and Malachi Nolletti and sophomore Chad Rex are also back as lettermen on the outside.
Junior Teryl Mershon also returns at H-Back after an injury plagued 2015 campaign.
"This is a talented group that has big-play ability on the outside," Paul said. "We have guys with outstanding speed. We have good athletes that can make plays and have experience. We also have outstanding run blockers at both the receiver and tight end positions."
Defensive Line
Three starters and seven lettermen on the defensive front four return, giving ONU a great deal of depth here.
Seniors Mike Cunningham and Scott Rapps return as starters at tackle.
Cunningham is a two-year starter inside, while Rapps drew rave reviews at tackle late in the season after starting the first eight games at end last season.
Junior Jason Hundley is back after starting the last four games at end last season.
Senior Nate Bracy, junior Mark Aguilar and sophomore Justin Croswell also return as lettermen on the defensive front.
"Our front four have a chance to be very good," Paul said. "We have three starters and a great deal of depth returning."
Linebacker
All three starters return at linebacker, making this potentially the strongest position on the squad
First Team All-OAC and preseason All-America junior Zach Schmerge and senior outside backers Cody Cox and Trent Stout all return in 2015.
Schmerge led the team and was second in the OAC with 111 tackles in the middle last year.
Cox has started 31 games and has 132 career tackles and Stout and has 105 tackles and 12 starts in his career.
Senior Nathan Kaszei, juniors Landry Hostetler and Zach Meronoff and sophomore Kyle Rowe also return as lettermen.
"We are really excited about this group of returners at linebackers,"
Paul said. "Cox is a four-year starter, Schmerge had a break-out year and Stout has been a steady performer for us."
Secondary
Graduation hit the ONU secondary hard, but seven lettermen return in what may be the most competitive positions on the squad.
Senior All-OAC safety Dan Eller is a three-year starter and has 162 career tackles.
Junior Jason Lucas and sophomore Clay Miller are returning lettermen that will lead the battle for the other starting safety spot.
Senior Nick Rezek and junior Christian Randolph have each seen a great deal of playing time at corner and will battle returning junior Cyler Caldwell and sophomore Cole Martin to fill those starting slots.
"Although we lose three starters, defensive back will be one of our deepest positions entering camp," Paul said. "We have guys returning with quite a bit of experience and an All-Conference safety, so we are excited about this group."
Special Teams
A pair of All-OAC honorees return on special teams for the Polar Bears in 2015.
Senior Kyle Bergman is a four-year starter and is a two-time All-OAC performer at punter, averaging 39.4 yards per attempt a year ago.
Allen was named First Team All-OAC and First Team All-Central Region as a punt and kickoff returner.
Sophomore Joe French had an outstanding season as kicker for the junior varsity spot and leads the list of men that will battle for the starting place kicking spot.
"We have outstanding players at punter and returner," Paul said. "Bergman is an All-OAC punter and we have one of the best return men in the country back. Our kicking job is wide open, but we feel good about the young men that will compete in camp."
Schedule
The Polar Bears open the season with three consecutive road games for the second time in three seasons and have a long road trip to Empire-8 foe Utica (N.Y.) to kick off the campaign.
Road games at Heidelberg and Otterbein follow before Ohio Northern opens its home schedule against Mount Union on Oct. 1 at Dial-Roberson Stadium.
The Polar Bears will also host John Carroll under the lights on Oct. 15, Muskingum on Oct. 22 as part of Homecoming Weekend and Wilmington on Nov. 5 on Senior Day to complete the home schedule.