COLUMBUS GROVE – If the old saying that it starts up front for football teams has some validity, Columbus Grove could enjoy this season.
The Bulldogs have four returning starters on the offensive line, including three who are three-year starters, and have four returning lettermen on the defensive line. Overall, they have eight starters back on offense and six on defense from last year’s team.
“The offensive and defensive lines are kind of what we’re going to hang out hats on this year,” Columbus Grove coach Andy Schafer said.
Along the front line offensively, the Bulldogs are led by three-year starter at tackle, Rece Roney, who has attracted attention from Division I college programs.
The 6-foot, 3-inch, 260-pound Roney, Logan Ridenour and Adam Birkemeier are three-year starters. And Enoch Jones is a two-year starter.
Roney was first-team All-Northwest Conference, first-team All-Northwest Ohio and honorable mention all-state.
Quarterback Reid Stechschulte threw for 1,493 yards and 13 touchdowns and rushed for 749 yards last season as a junior. Reid Stechschulte, also a senior, rushed for 585 yards last fall.
“I think our run game is probably going to be our strength offensively,” Schafer said.
The biggest question mark at this point might be at receiver, where last year’s top three pass catchers – Aidan Fortman, Baily Clement and Brandt Follas – all graduated.
Fortman (33 catches, 542 yards, 6 touchdowns) was first-team All-NWC. Clement was honorable mention All-NWC at receiver and Follas was second-team all-conference as a defensive lineman. They combined for 79 of the 104 catches by Columbus Grove last season.
Columbus Grove started well in 2015 when it won its first four games over Pandora-Gilboa, Leipsic, Patrick Henry and Crestview. But losses in the next four games against Ada, Spencerville, Delphos Jefferson and Allen East meant the Bulldogs had to win one of their last two games to finish at 5-5.
One of the things Schafer decided when he looked back at last season was that the team needed to pay more attention to leadership. So, he established a leadership council.
“That was something we started back in January meeting every couple weeks, reminding them of our core values as a team,” Schafer said.
“I just noticed I kept saying we needed good leaders. I’ve been saying that for the last few years. I was it kind of leadership is something you need to teach. You can’t just expect kids to do it,” he said.
Schafer called the Northwest Conference “pretty even” this season.
“Everybody is pretty even. You can go right down the list. Congratulations if somebody goes undefeated in the Northwest Conference this year. It’s going to be a tough schedule for anybody,” he said.
Columbus Grove opens at home Friday night against Pandora-Gilboa.
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