SPENCERVILLE – Even with a new team, Spencerville head coach Chris Sommers finds himself in a familiar place and that is atop the Northwest Conference with a 4-0 mark.
But the road to the top has been a tough and gradual process for Sommers and his coaching staff and he hopes the hard work and dedication continues into the last four games of the regular season.
With injuries and inexperience, Spencerville opened the season with back-to-back losses after dropping a 36-21 decision to Lima Central Catholic followed by a 14-13 defeat to Parkway.
But since that one-point loss, Spencerville’s fortune began to change when handled Perry 56-41 in its last non league affair and then followed it up with a 27-20 win over Allen East to open the NWC.
A big four-point victory over Ada and a major 49-34 win over Crestview capped off the impressive win streak. Not only did they bump off a Knights’ team that was undefeated in the NWC but it also gave the Bearcats sole possession of the top spot.
Sommers said garnering first place in the NWC began at the beginning of the season when he jumped from Jefferson to Spencerville to take over the heading coaching chores. He added that he felt blessed to take over a top notch program left behind by current athletic director John Zerbe and even though the cupboard was not completely full it had plenty of quality players returning.
“It was apparent that he (Zerbe) put good ideal and morals into this team and if anything I just wanted to come in and do a good job and keep the program going the right way,” Sommers said.
Yes, the two losses got Sommers’ Spencerville career off to a rocky start but by getting healthy coupled with the players learning the new coach’s style, the Bearcats have transitioned into the team to beat in the NWC.
“We opened 0-2 and the thing I kept noticing about the team is they kept coming coming back to work each week,” Sommers said. “We were disappointed by the outcomes but I did not see a change in the work ethic or working to prepare.”
Due to injuries, Sommers said several young players were put into play and grew up quick when they were thrust into the varsity world.
Sommers added that he gained even more respect for the team after the two losses because he did not see a drop in enthusiasm or effort.
“I think the one thing they continued to do was to buy into the process,” Sommers said. “If you keep working hard some success is going to find you.”
Offensively, the Bearcats are averaging 38.2 points in their current win streak. For the year, Spencerville is third in the NWC averaging 31.2 points per game.
The Bearcats are first in the NWC in total yards with 2,126 and first in yards rushing with 1,957.
Spencerville Chris Picker, who was hurt early in the season, rushed for 232 yards and three touchdowns against Crestview. Picker is second in the NWC in rushing with 675 yards and seven touchdown.
Picker is just one of a number of Bearcats in the Spencerville stable. Joel Lotz is fourth in the league in rushing with 494 yards and six touchdowns and Logan Rex is 18th in the NWC rushing with 145 yards.
“Our offensive line is getting better each week and we are starting to come together,” Sommers said. “I think we have developed a number of running backs too. Each game we have four running backs that get a majority of the carries and that is good to have that depth. Getting Chris back healthy has been huge for us. He runs very hard and a great leader for our team.”
Defensively, the Bearcats are sixth in points allowed and are giving up an average of 27 points per game. Spencerville is third in total yards allowed (1,698) and first in yards allowed rushing by giving up 85.3 yards a game.
“It is just a process,” Sommers said about his team’s four game win streak. “We continue to grind away and work hard and build off each week and work to get better. Some young guys have gotten older these past weeks and have got good experience. I think we continue to get healthy which is a plus. I am very proud of our players and our assistant coaches have done an awesome job in preparing them.”
Even though the big win over Crestview puts them in the driver’s seat to win the NWC, Sommers said the primary focus on their Friday opponent, Columbus Grove.
Sommers added that Crestview was a good team that challenged the Bearcats but said the celebration was short lived.
“It was a big win for our program and a big win for our team and I was very proud of our guys but you turn the page quickly and prepare for Columbus Grove,” Sommers said. “They are a very well coached team and getting better each week so our focus quickly turns.”
In other NWC action this week, Crestview faces (5-1, 2-1) another tough test when they play host to Ada. The Bulldogs (4-3, 2-1) are coming off a 37-0 win over Columbus Grove. Delphos Jefferson (4-3, 2-1) travels to Bluffton (3-3, 2-1) to take on the Pirates. Allen East (1-5, 0-3) square off against Paulding (5-1, 0-3).\
WESTERN BUCKEYE LEAGUE
St. Marys (5-1, 5-0), the lone team in the Western Buckeye League, with an unblemished league record, will play host to Bath (1-5, 0-5). The Roughriders flexed their first place muscles last week with a 63-21 win over Elida. Bath was blanked by Wapakoneta 31-0.
In a battle of second place WBL teams, Celina (4-1, 4-2) travels to Wapakoneta (4-2, 4-1). Celina handled Defiance last week 42-14.
Elida, which suffered its second loss in the league to St. Marys last week, looks to return to the win column when they tackle Van Wert (3-3, 2-3). The Cougars dropped a 25-27 decision to Kenton. The Wildcats (2-4, 2-3) look to return to their winning ways when the face Shawnee. The Indians (3-3, 2-3) lost to Ottawa-Glandorf 30-16 last week. The Titans (2-4, 2-3) await Defiance.
OTHERS
Lima Central Catholic (5-1) is coming off a huge 27-20 win over state ranked Woodlan of Indiana. The Thunderbirds will face another tough test when they battle Wynford (5-1). The Royals, coming off 7-0 win over Mohawk, come into the game averaging 28 points a game and giving up 17.5 points a game.
Delphos St. John’s (4-2, 2-2), who cracked the top 10 in the Division VII poll, is coming off a huge 61-28 win over New Bremen and will travel to Fort Recovery. The Indians (3-3, 2-2) fell to Versailles 35-21 last week.
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