By Ryan Buck

sports@vindy.com

GREEN TOWNSHIP

Perhaps no football team in the area will enter the 2015 season having to replace so much value and production in its offensive arsenal as the South Range Raiders.

For two seasons — which saw South Range win 19 of 22 contests — reliable center Evan Schaefer snapped the football to quarterback Ryan Miller, who could choose to either throw or hand the ball to fullback David McCabe or more likely Division VI Player of the Year Joe Alessi.

Alessi, now a freshman running back at Youngstown State, broke every school rushing record in a little more than two seasons, Miller became the steadying force behind center and the Raiders averaged 45 points per game in 2014.

The Raiders of last season, however, fell to Inter-Tri County League foes Western Reserve and Crestview and forfeited a victory over East Palestine after it was found the team used an ineligible player. They concluded the year with four straight wins to claim a share of the ITCL Tier One title.

Coach Dan Yeagley, in his 21st season coaching high school football, says a complete team effort must supplement the departures of quality players.

“You don’t replace those guys,” Yeagley said. “Those guys move on and they’re all playing college ball. We’re excited for them. The big thing now is we have to go and replace it with a team. Our team has to come in and they have to produce.”

Offense

Yeagley knew this day would come. A solid offensive line led by Ryan Sympson, Mario Buzzaco, Jake Plunkett and Pierce Baird paved the way for Alessi’s 2,500 yards last season and will have to shoulder the load early in their final seasons.

“We have a group of running backs who will have to make up the difference there. We have a couple quarterbacks fighting it out now to replace that and we do have to replace some linemen,” Yeagley said. “The new kids are going to have to step up and play.”

Senior wide receiver Greg Dunham returns and will have to be a security blanket for the ascending quarterback.

Defense

The defense returns nine starters from a season ago, but McCabe was also a difference-making defender.

“That’s huge,” Yeagley said. “Those kids are very important, and that’s a good base to start on. We have a good D-line coming back, a good secondary and linebackers.

“We’re going to rely on them and that’s going to have to be the strength of our team, especially early.”

A number of two-way players like Sympson and defensive backs Nick Stanton and Dunham will be tasked with great responsibilities.

Special Teams

South Range graduated both its kicker and punter from a season ago. Stanton looks to have solidified the punter position, Yeagley said.

Several younger skill players will have to emerge in the return game as well.

Outlook

Yeagley’s group will be well-coached and well-versed in a system that has forged great success since his arrival.

The graduations on offense will be very difficult to overcome, but a veteran defense will enable the Raiders to compete in every game.

The Inter Tri-County League will make for riveting drama as the season unfolds. As always, the Crestview and Springfield games will be must-see. The Raiders and Rebels have combined for 189 points in their last two meetings alone.