By Curtis Pulliam

cpulliam@vindy.com

New Middletown

A 7-3 record is not a bad year in the record books. Although the Springfield Tigers did not make the playoffs, head coach Sean Guerriero is excited for this season.

“We learned a lot from last year,” Guerriero said. “There were some key games that we needed to win that we didn’t end up winning. We need to fix a couple of key mistakes we ended up making.”

The Tigers lost a few important players in Gabe Crowe and Zach Cain on the offensive and defensive lines. Jake Ohlin, Mike Allgower and Anthony Scandy are receivers who also were lost to graduation.

The Tigers do have three-year starters coming back in seniors Mark Schuler and Brian Swansinger on both sides of the ball.

Offense

Springfield will look to use running back Ryan Kohler as much as they can. Kohler had 1,300 yards in nine games for the Tigers last season.

“I would hope to think our strength is going to be able to run the ball,” Guerriero said.

Graham Mincher will be the quarterback.

“I think we got some big targets and we’re going to try and spread some people out with a power running game,” Guerriero said.

Some of those targets include tight end Schuler and wide receivers Ian Grdina and Nate Simboli.

On the offensive line, Swansinger, Schuler and Austin Snyder will lead the way for Kohler and others.

“Being a tight end, I can score touchdowns; that’s great,” Schuler said. “At the same time I have to block and that gives an opportunity for the running backs to score touchdowns. At the end of the games, that’s going to give us the W.”

Guerriero said they will look to be “a time-possession type team.”

Defesne

The defensive line will be led by Snyder and Schuler.

“I’ve got to try and set the tone for the defense,” Schuler said. “I’ve got to be the anchor if I can because I’m a three-year starter at defensive end.”

Linebackers Corey Stouffer and Tim Vinkler return. Grdina and Kohler are back in the secondary.

Guerriero believes the pace of the 4-4 defense will be important.

“We just got to run to the football,” Guerriero said. “Hopefully we can create a couple turnovers in the game.”

Special Teams

Grdina will handle kickoffs and extra points. Schuler will be the punter. Kohler will handle most of the returns, but Guerriero said others will battle for opportunities.

Outlook

Guerriero says this team has depth and will try to build on last season. The schedule for Division VI Springfield will include Brookfield and McDonald and South Range and Crestview as part of the Inter Tri-County League’s Tier One.

“Those two teams [Brookfield and McDonald] are going to come out ready to fight,” Guerriero said. “It’s going to count toward the playoffs whoever wins those games.”

Schuler was disappointed with missing the playoffs last year. He is already anticipating the regular-season finale.

“Ending with South Range, our biggest rivals, Week 10 at home, that’s just something special,” Schuler said. “That doesn’t happen very often.”