By DAN HINER

sports@vindy.com

Wellsville

Derrick Spann is entering his first season as the head coach of the Wellsville football team. Wellsville finished last season with a 7-4 record and finished with back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 2008-09.

The Tigers are entering the season with 38 players on the roster. Depth has become an issue already, and the season hasn’t started. Spann said the team is suffering from injuries on the offensive line including losing starting offensive tackle Austin Baker with a leg injury.

“That’s what we continuously tell them ‘next man up’ because you’re one injury away from being on the field,” said Spann, who replaced Rich Wright as Wellsville’s coach.

Wright is now the head coach and an assistant principal at Southern.

Spann believes that a change in mindset and confidence will help the team continue to improve going into the upcoming season. With the lack of depth on the roster the coaches have tried to instill that in every player on the team.

“Coach gotta believe you can win them all. You don’t go into a game thinking you’re gonna lose,” Spann said. “I tell them that we’re going 10-0. You have to get that in your head. You can’t have a kid thinking that you’re afraid of a team or going into a game thinking you are going to lose. We want to be competitive in every single game.”

Offense

The Tigers will have a vacancy at quarterback to begin the season. Last year’s starting QB, senior Alik Bradford, will be taking snaps at running back this year. Fellow senior Vinny Giordano will start at fullback and will try to open run lanes for Bradford.

The QB will be either sophomore Will Grodhaus or junior Justin Miller, who is also making a position change, transitioning from wide receiver.

Wellsville has a group of playmakers at receiver who have the speed to help create big plays in the passing game. Sophomore Andrea Sloan and junior Michael Shope are returning players at wideout.

Defense

Many of the offensive starters will see time on the defensive side of the ball. Spann said the team will utilize an “attacking defense” this season. Spann said the defensive line and linebackers will be aggressive and the success of the defense will depend on the playmakers in the secondary.

Shope and Grodhaus will see significant time on both sides of the football. Both are key contributors to the offense, but will play cornerback and will be expected to play big roles in the secondary.

“We’re not going to sit back and wait for anybody,” Spann said. “We want to make the play. Our cornerbacks are going to allow us to do that, and we have a safety that can cover the field.”

Special Teams

Senior Kurt Rosenbaum will be the starting kicker and punter. Multiple players could see time as kick and punt returners throughout the season. Spann is confident that his special teams unit is one of the best in the area.

“I believe we have one of the best punters and kickers in the area,” Spann said. “He’s pretty consistent from 45 yards. Punting, he’s one of the best punters I’ve seen in my lifetime at the high school level.”

OUTLOOK

The Tigers will open their season on the road with an non-conference matchup with Toronto. Wellsville has kicked off the season with Toronto in four of the past five seasons and have won each time.

Wellsville is coming off a 7-4 season that saw the team reach the playoffs for a second straight year. The Tigers finished third in the ITCL (Tier Two), behind Western Reserve and McDonald. The change in the coaching staff potentially could re-energize the program.