By STEVE WILAJ

sports@vindy.com

BELOIT

Last season, West Branch suffered through a 1-9 season. However, there weren’t many Warriors seniors to take those losing ways with them into graduation.

“For the most part, we have nine returning starters on both sides of the ball and about 22 returning lettermen,” fourth-year head coach D.J. Dota said. “So I think guys are eager not only to show up every day and work hard, but also to get some games won.

“I can tell that our guys want a little redemption from last year.”

Offense

After playing only 21/2 games last season due to an injury, a healthy Corey Snyder returns at quarterback. The senior, who still threw for a team-high 479 yards last year, will be backed up by 2013 fill-in quarterback Bryce Butcher.

“Corey’s a guy that’s very eager to get on the field and prove what he could do,” Dota said. “I definitely feel better than I did a year ago at the position just with them being healthy.”

Snyder will be joined in the backfield by tailbacks Logan Nagy and Mason Hughes. Both are seniors. Nagy was the team’s leading rusher a year ago.

“Both of those guys are tough guys that run the football hard,” Dota said. “Nagy’s more of an outside guy that runs a little between the tackles, but not as much as Mason Hughes will.”

Senior wideout Kip DeShields, who led the team in receiving yards in 2013, should be another playmaker for the Warriors.

DEFENSE

West Branch allowed 41.8 points per game last season. Dota chalked that up to inexperience. This unit — which returns six sophomore starters — has improved, he said.

“I think we have a better idea of what we need to do,” he said. “I feel like we’re at a much better point than we were at the end of the season last year.”

Butcher, Logan Berger, Trae Hillyer and Nagy will start in the West Branch secondary. Justin Stowe will lead the linebackers and Youngstown State recruit Jake Zinni anchors the defensive line.

“Those are the crucial guys on ‘D’ that we have that are coming back,” Dota said.

Special Teams

After losing their top two kickers from last season, junior Matt Manley may handle kids. Stowe, the returning punter, is another option.

Outlook

Whether or not the Warriors can compete atop the Northeastern Buckeye Conference, Dota first wants his squad to focus on getting better daily.

“It’s gonna be about the improvements that we have as far as technique, effort, work ethic and being a good teammate,” he said.