CONVOY – Crestview has qualified for the state playoffs the last three seasons and hopes that what was learned and the confidence gained from a postseason loss will carry over to this season.
Entering last year’s playoffs despite a record season record of 4-6, the Knights gave McComb all it could handle before falling 27-26. McComb went on to reach the state semifinals.
Crestview has 12 returning starters, including sophomore quarterback Drew Kline and senior running back Payton Knitte to lead its offense.
“We will operate out of the spread and I-formation and will be looking for more balance,” Crestview coach Jared Owens said. “Kline has developed physically but identity-wise we want to run the football.”
Kline started two games and passed for 400 yards and five touchdowns as a freshman. Dylan Grandstaff, listed as a wide receiver this year, was the starting QB for nine games a year ago and rushed for 563 yards.
The Knights have also have four returning starters on their offensive line – Nick Henry, Joel Germann, Emilio DeLeon and Alec Ingram.
On defense, Luke Gerardot and Braden Brecht return at linebacker and Henry, Germann, DeLeon and Ingram are back on the defensive line.
“We will operate defensively out of a combination of both man and zone coverage,” Owens said. “We will use odd front defenses, depending on what our opposition is trying to do.
“We will try to build off what we did well last year. We played well in the playoffs and got some confidence from that performance,” Owens said.
The Crestview coach said the NWC will be strong at the top with Delphos Jefferson an Spencerville leading the way.
“I told our kids a year older doesn’t necessarily mean a year better,” he said. “Hard work and discipline will allow us to become better.”
