By Ryan Buck

sports@vindy.com

BEAVER TOWNSHIP

A three-year movement came to a rousing culmination in 2013 for the South Range football program.

Triumphant clashes with rivals Crestview and Springfield propelled the Raiders to an Inter Tri-County League Tier One championship and a thrilling home playoff win.

Coach Dan Yeagley, in his 20th season as a high school head coach, says, “And that’s what you talk about all year; how you build off of that and continue it.

“You’re working on continuation of that success and learning from those past seniors and continuing to grow and get better as a team.”

Speaking of which, the Raiders saw a talented senior class depart, especially in running backs/wide receivers/defensive backs Billy Goodall, Bryce Allen and Zach Thorpe and two-way linemen Zach Baird and Garrett Sorley.

South Range went 10-0 in the regular season and beat Cuyahoga Heights in the Division VI playoffs before the Raiders fell to state power Mogadore by seven points in another offensive shootout.

“We have to replace these two-way starters and great leaders and great football players,” Yeagley said. “Somebody has to step up and fill those gaps.”

A year of playoff experience, which Yeagley said aided perennial participant Mogadore, will certainly help.

“We got two extra weeks of practice, which is huge especially for our younger kids,” Yeagley said. “All of a sudden now we can use that in Week 1.”

OFFENSE

If there is one obvious offensive strength for South Range, it is any time the Raiders attack from an I-formation. Evan Schaefer is the trusted center in front of senior quarterback Ryan Miller, fullback David McCabe and backfield dynamo Joe Alessi.

Alessi, a junior and the son of a U.S. Army Infantry Officer, emerged as an All-Ohio performer a year ago after starting the season as the backup. Behind an earth-moving line and McCabe’s blocking, Alessi’s speed and vision propelled his team to a headline-making win over Crestview and a flawless regular season.

Now 20 pounds heavier and noticeably stronger, he could set every Raider record by the time he’s done.

When defenses contain him, Miller can burn anyone with his precise play-fakes and strong arm. Alessi’s four touchdown runs battered Cuyahoga Heights in the playoff win in 2013, but a Miller play-action strike doomed them.

“We’ve got a nice core back,” Yeagley said. “We have the interior set and we have to fill in on the outside and that’s huge for us that we have those key people back. They’re good leaders and not just good football players.”

The Raiders averaged 43 points last season. With Miller’s command, Alessi’s fireworks, McCabe’s raw power and the apex Schaefer all returning, scoreboard engineers from Columbiana to Cleveland might want to be kept on retainer.

DEFENSE

McCabe has Yeagley’s trust and the team’s attention as a playmaking linebacker.

Goodall’s range in the secondary will have to be made up for as well as Allen and Thorpe’s experience.

SPECIAL TEAMS

A new kicker must emerge to replace the graduated Tyler Rothbauer.

OUTLOOK

The Raiders are loaded in the offensive backfield and will surely put up points.

They lost much at key spots at receiver and in the defensive secondary. How they replace that production will be critical. They are well-coached, however, and a group of eager underclassmen will have been taught well.

“Last year’s group was so ‘together,’” Yeagley said. “They played for each other and they played as a team. For us to be successful, we have to do that again.”

Key contests with Western Reserve, new to the schedule, and Campbell will be must-see matchups.