By Charles Grove

cgrove@vindy.com

BROOKFIELD

It was a successful campaign last year and there are hopes of more of the same in 2016 for the Brookfield Warriors.

The team bounced back from a Week 1 loss to Springfield (41-31) and then rattled off 10 straight wins before falling to Kirtland 27-17 in the second round of the playoffs.

Playoffs have been a consistent standard the Warriors have met in recent years, but a conference championship is the top priority for Brookfield head coach Randy Clark.

“The number one goal is to win the AAC Blue tier,” Clark said. “We’ve made the playoffs four of the past five years and we want another trip to week 11. Those are our goals.”

offense

There’s plenty of experience coming back from a year ago. Seven starters return to help move the ball downfield.

Xavier Bailey moves from wide receiver to quarterback and will give the Warriors a serious dual-threat capability. His main target will likely be Brian Hiner, who returns to wide receiver.

“We did lose five really good seniors,” Clark said. “We lost a quarterback and two top receivers so there’s some holes to fill, but there’s a lot coming back, too, so I think we’ll be all right.”

The Warriors offense threw for almost 3,000 yards a season ago, but with Bailey now taking the snaps, Clark expects a true running threat at quarterback.

“It’s going to be totally different than last year,” Clark said. “We were really pass heavy last year. We’re going to have more of a running quarterback this year.”

The line boasts plenty of returners as well. Carmen Furillo, Bailey Litz and Trevor Pegg will make up one of the largest offensive lines in Division VI.

“We’re big and strong,” Clark said. “We’re going to average 275 pounds across the front. It’s the biggest I’ve ever had.”

defense

Stability and experience describe Brookfield’s defense this year. The Warriors gave up only 12 points per game during their 10-game win streak a year ago, and plenty from last year are back.

Carmen Litz, Luke Bender and David Swope will be three key members of a defensive line that all saw playing time a year ago. Swope moves from linebacker last year to defensive end this year.

The secondary is also filled with experience. Hiner and Bailey will be playing both ways once again and Alex Bell will be patrolling the air again. Chad Filipovich moves from outside linebacker last year and moves to free safety this fall.

special teams

Kicker Kasey Tingler has graduated and that leaves a hole on the roster in terms of kicking and punting this year.

“We lost our kicker and punter from last year so we’re going to be more of a Division VI kicking team this year,” Clark said.

OUTLOOK

Brookfield’s schedule features two playoff teams from a year ago in Berkshire and LaBrae, both games the Warriors won.

Week one is at Springfield, the only team Brookfield fell to the regular season. Home games include Valley Christian, Berkshire, Newton Falls, Girard and Campbell, teams with a combined 12-39 record a year ago.