DELPHOS – Four straight Northwest Conference football championships.
That’s what first-year head coach Brandon Behnfeldt inherited when he was promoted from Delphos Jefferson assistant coach to fill the void for coach Chris Sommers leaving for Spencerville.
The Wildcats (10-2, 7-0 NWC) reached the second round of the playoffs before falling to Mechanicsburg.
“This senior group has been around for three of them (NWC titles),” Behnfeldt said. “They know the expectations. And we’ve laid it out. That is our expectation again this year.’’
Behnfeldt is a former two-way lineman at Napoleon High School. He spent the last 12 years as an assistant football coach, including three at Jefferson.
He’s also logged assistant coaching stints at Napoleon, Upper Scioto Valley, Archbold and Shawnee.
Behnfeldt has coached the offensive line, along with tackles and tight ends at Jefferson. He’s well aware that only 10 lettermen return.
In all, three starters are back on offense and six on defense.
“One of the challenges that we’re having is we had a very experienced group that just graduated,” Behnfeldt said. “That’s 15 kids. So we’re very inexperienced right now. We have guys who have the ability, but they haven’t played much varsity time.’’
Among the graduated were the top two players in the NWC last year, running back/linebacker Hunter Binkley and quarterback/defensive back Jace Stockwell.
Binkley ran for 1,656 yards in regular season and was the NWC offensive player of the year.
Stockwell threw for 744 yards and had five interceptions. He was the NWC defensive player of the year.
A key returnee is Brenen Auer, who ran for 984 yards during the regular season. He also had eight receptions for 257 yards.
“He’s (Auer) our halfback so he will get the good bulk of the carries,” Behnfeldt said. “He can play fullback, too, if he has to.’’
Also back are center Jordan Bonifas and guard Dylan Nagel.
The new quarterback will be Tyler Bratton, who started at free safety last year.
“He is a gunslinger. He is not afraid to throw the ball in space,” Behnfeldt said. “He’ll just thread it in there and he does a good job of running the offense. He’s learned from Jace (Stockwell).’’
When the Wildcats do throw, Bratton will look to wide receiver Kole McKee and tight end Davion Tyson.
Also expected to run the ball will be Darius Shurelds, who takes Binkley’s spot at fullback.
Conner Anspach will play wingback and should get a few carries, as well.
Behnfeldt said the offensive line will be a big key. Bedsides veterans Bonifas and Nagel, defensive lineman Tyler Shrider will start at offensive tackle.
“We want to focus on the run game. That’s the number-one priority,” Behnfeldt said. “We’re trying to get the O-line fired out the right way. I know the backs can run the ball.’’
Defensive starters back on the line are Tyson and Shrider.
Other returning starters are McKee at defensive back, Bratton at free safety, Evan Poling at linebacker and Shurelds at linebacker.
Auer will also play linebacker. Troy Dudgeon and will take over at middle linebacker.
“We’re going to try to get these young guys developed and ready to roll,” Behnfeldt said.
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