By ERIC FORTUNE

sports@vindy.com

EAST LIVERPOOL

Never in East Liverpool coach Josh Ludwig’s wildest dreams could he have anticipated the season the Potters had in 2014.

The Potters gave up 34.2 points a game and managed just 7.5 points themselves in going 0-10.

“I had the thinking that we can do this in one year,” Ludwig said. “It’s no problem. It won’t be a culture change. We can do this. Unfortunately, the year I took over, we lost a lot of guys. We lost 15 to 16 seniors. It was one of those years where I couldn’t see it because I’m so optimistic thinking we’re going to win.

“In all reality, I should have seen it, but I didn’t. Last year was a tough transition. Leadership wasn’t there. We had difficulties and we ended up going 0-10. Should be have? No. Worst-case scenario, I was thinking after the year got going, 3-7, 4-6, but the truth of the matter is, we were 0-10.”

Offense

The Potters lost All-OVAC first-teamer Kade Reynolds to graduation but return skill players Austin Mayfield (quarterback), Dillan Reynolds (running back) and Austyn Dozier (fullback).

“Austyn Dozier is our leader,” Ludwig said. “He was our leading tackler last year. In my opinion, if there is a key returning player, he is that guy in the whole area, 0-10 or 10-0. He has everything. He’s a big, stout athletic kid. We’ll be running a lot with him.”

Ludwig believes Mayfield has made great strides during the offseason.

“Austin has gone to every camp this summer,” he said. “The Kehreses are really high on him at Mount Union. He was probably the No. 1 quarterback there for the last two summers. His decision-making skills were lacking last year as a sophomore, but as a junior, he’s making good decisions. He flies around. His legs are as good as his arm. His arm strength is pretty special.”

Defense

Ludwig felt the Potters’ defense was going to be stout last year.

It didn’t turn out that way with the Potters giving up at least 40 points to six of their opponents.

Before taking over for Rick Prescott, Ludwig had served as the defensive coordinator but gave it up for the first three games. He felt it didn’t work out that well.

“So, I took over Week 4 through Week 10,” Ludwig said. “I’ll be running my defense again. That’s always been my strength. I feel like we are going to fly to the football this year.”

The Potters return three starters on the defensive line and will have a platoon of individuals in the secondary led by Kyle Walker.

Special Teams

The Potters have a new kicker in Dylan Kidder. He’s the first soccer player on their roster in five years and should help with field position, Ludwig said.

Mayfield will handle punting duties.

“You always have to be ready with your quarterback being back there,” Ludwig said. “Honestly, he’s our best athlete on the field.”

Outlook

After last season, there is nowhere to go but up.

“After going 0-10, the morale was down,” Ludwig said. “The morale was terrible. We started Dec. 1 and said this isn’t going to happen to us again as a staff and as players. We re-implemented everything. The offense is completely different. We re-did the entire offense. Everything is different about us. We started over fresh. It’s a new Potter football team.”

After talking with Frank “Digger” Dawson, president of the Lou Holtz-Upper Ohio Valley Hall of Fame, Ludwig felt it was necessary for the Potters to look back at the teams they once played and embrace that history.

“We went back to a schedule that is [Ohio] Valley heavy, Ludwig said. “We went back and looked at who we used to play. Salem is supposedly like 90 some years. That is a lot out of 117 years. That is crazy to think we’ve played them that many times. We need to play teams in Division III, IV, and V. I want us to play similar quality teams.”