Can something new also be a throwback? Lima Senior could find out this football season.
The Spartans will be running a five wide receivers offense that first-year head coach Bill Lawrence learned as an assistant coach for Mike Mauk at Kenton.
If things work out as well as he hopes, there might be some nights when the Spartans put points on the scoreboard at a pace not seen since offensive standouts like Ruben Flowers, Darius Gordon, Jaden Walker and others were doing it in 2015.
“Our offense is going to be a steady work in progress all year but as far as what we have in, we’re little by little, getting close to having our system and our offense in,” Lawrence said.
“If you’re not familiar with it, it’s a high tempo, get the ball in, get the ball out, get it to your play makers and let them make a play offense. Get the ball side to side and get all those big guys running and try to tire everybody out. That’s what we’re going to do. We’re going to continue to do that. It’s in our DNA and that’s what we know,” he said.
The new offense has been received well by Lima Senior’s players, Lawrence said.
“For them to have an opportunity to be in this offense I think they’re loving coming to practice every day. Every day it just clicks more,” he said.
Lima Senior was 3-8 last season. Lawrence is the ninth head football coach at Lima Senior since Leonard Russ retired after the 2000 season and it has had only four seasons of .500 or better since then.
“The senior class the last three years, they remember. I think that does drive us. Our goal going into a new league (the Toledo City League) is to win the conference. The guys have prepared for that and they’ve had a phenomenal summer. That being said, they know that’s a big challenge. But it does drive them,” Lawrence said.
Sophomore Ja’niaus Hall will probably be the starting quarterback. He started against Findlay and played against Toledo Central Catholic last season.
“He’s had a great, great offseason. He did really well at the seven-on-sevens. He’s continuing to progress and grow as a leader. He is doing everything we’re asking him to do. He’s a guy who has a good arm and he’s starting to grasp the system really well and where he’s going with the ball and what he needs to do. And he’s got great legs, so if things break down he can get out and make some plays,” Lawrence said.
“He got his feet wet a little bit last year against two pretty good programs. I think it helped prepare him for this time and this moment.”
Aiden Howard, who got the majority of the starts at quarterback last season, is recovering from a shoulder injury.
Zaveon Garner, who scored touchdowns five different ways last season (interception, blocked punt recovery, 72-yard punt return, 60-yard fumble recovery, touchdown catch) could become the No. 1 receiver.
“He’s going to play split end and possibly return some kicks. He’s got great size, good hands, great speed. He fits well into our offensive system. We look to get him the ball and see what he can do,” Lawrence said.
Kaden Hampton, Sumarion Doughty, Chance Sanders and Kahliq Wash are among the other top receivers.
The Spartans have five returning letter winners on the offensive line – I’rell Farrow, Alex Waithe, Jon Tummel, Zaheim Austin and Izaiah Phalen. Garner, Hampton and Farrow were honorable mention All-Three Rivers Conference last season.
Defensively, Lima Senior will line up in a 3-4. Outside linebacker Kenyon Durr, linebacker Kam-Ron Nicks and cornerback Jamall Webster are two-year starters. Linebacker Tavion James was honorable mention All-TRAC and defensive lineman Javion Anderson lettered last season.
“A lot is talked about our offense but I’m telling you we look to be very stout on defense, starting with our linebackers. We’re going to put out some very strong, athletic linebackers. We’re going to be an aggressive, attacking defense.”
Lima Senior is beginning its first year as a member of the Toledo City League after the Three Rivers Athletic Conference ceased to exist at the end of the 2022-23 school year.
On paper it would appear Lima Senior will be able to be more competitive in the Toledo City League in football than it was in the TRAC.
Lima Senior has qualified for the Ohio High School Athletic Association state playoffs in 10 seasons, has won seven playoff games and was the 1996 Division I state champion.
The other six schools currently in the Toledo City League have reached the playoffs a total of 11 times and have lost in the first round every time. Rogers is 0-4, Scott and Start are 0-3 and Waite is 0-1. Bowsher and Woodward have not played a playoff game.
In its 12 years in the TRAC, Lima Senior was going against teams like Toledo Central Catholic (24 playoff appearances, four state championships), Toledo Whitmer (24 playoff appearances, 1 state championship), Toledo St. Francis (17 playoff appearances, 1 state championship), Toledo St. John’s (17 playoff appearances), Findlay (10 playoff appearances) and Fremont Ross (10 playoff appearances).
Lima Senior outscored the two Toledo City League teams it played last season, Bowsher and Rogers, 78-6.
The Spartans start their season with a game at Piqua (9-3 last season) on Aug. 18, then play Findlay and its 4-star quarterback Ryan Montgomery at home, followed by another road game at Cincinnati Withrow (8-4 last season).
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TEAM PROFILE
Coach: Bill Lawrence (first season)
Division: II
Last year’s record: 3-8 (0-7 TRAC)
Returning 2022 letter winners: Zaveon Garner (Sr., WR/DB), Chance Sanders (Sr., WR), Kaden Hampton (Sr., WR), Sumarion Doughty (Sr., WR), I’rell Farrow (Sr., OT), Alex Waithe (Jr., OL), Jon Tummel (Jr., C), Zaheim Austin (Sr., OL), Aiden Howard (Sr., QB), Izaiah Phalen (Jr., OL), Kenyon Durr (Sr., LB), Jamall Webster (Sr., CB/WR), Javion Anderson (Sr., DL), Tavion James (Jr., LB), Kam-Ron Nicks (Jr., LB)
Promising newcomers: Isaiah Wilson (Jr., DB), Dashad Greer (Soph., LB), Jermaine Maxwell (Soph., DB), Jaelan Webster (Soph., DB), Jalen Jones (Sr., LB), Keyon Smith (Jr., DB), Ja’niaus Hall (Soph., QB), Kahliq Wash (Jr., WR)
2023 schedule
(Kickoffs scheduled for 7 p.m. unless noted; subject to change)
Aug. 18 — at Piqua
Aug. 25 — Findlay
Sept. 1 — at Withrow
Sept. 8 — Northview
Sept. 15 — at Bowsher, 6 p.m.
Sept. 22 — Toledo Woodward
Sept. 29 — at Toledo Rogers
Oct. 6 — at Toledo Waite
Oct. 13 — Toledo Scott
Oct. 20 — Toledo Start
