NEWTON FALLS TIGERS

NEWTON FALLS — Josh Franke knew it wasn’t going to be easy. The second-year coach of the Newton Falls Tigers saw the lack of numbers in the upper classes last season and was resigned to the probability that some hard lessons were about to be learned.

By the end of the 2015 season, the Tigers had a 0-10 record, with an average yield of 52 points a game.

This season, the Tigers will dress just five seniors and six juniors. There will likely be more growing pains as Franke tries to add to the roster numbers and change the culture of the program.

“It’s a never-ending circle,” said Franke, whose football roots are grounded in football-rich Steubenville. “We have a lot of kids that don’t play football because of the losing tradition, but in order for us to succeed we need those kids out.”

OFFENSE

The good news is that four of the linemen started last season as sophomores, which means the front will be counted on heavily to help junior Braden Bungard, a first-year quarterback. Each of the four returners weighs more than 240 pounds. Nick Gibson (267 pounds) will start at center. William Sigley (263) will be the right tackle. Chris Rankin (255) and Jacob Whisonant (257) are the guards.

Bungard replaces the graduated Josh Walters, who accounted for 76 percent of the offense in 2015. Bungard will be busy handing off to 170-pound junior Bill Wright. Colton Hunt, a 230-pound junior, will provide blocking help at fullback.

Ben Simpson, a 232-pound senior, will be the tight end. Simpson, a 4.00 student, has received interest from several Ivy League universities. Franke has told Bungard that Simpson will be his best friend on game night.

Senior Steve Womer, sophomore Preston Rapczak and sophomore C.J. Berry are the split ends. Senior Mitchell Champion and talented freshman Jordan Edmondson, who rushed for close to 2,000 yards in eighth grade, will man the slot position.

DEFENSE

L.D. Hartman, a talented player for LaBrae High School in the early 1980s, was added to the staff to coordinate the defense. Hartman will base much of the defense around Hunt at middle linebacker. Hunt had 117 tackles last season in earning all-state honorable mention. Hunt will be joined at linebacker by senior Justin Sahli, a Southeast transfer, and Simpson.

The linemen in the 3-3-5 look will be senior nose tackle Brandon Moore, with Rankin and Sigley at the tackles.

Champion will be one of the cornerbacks. Franke was deciding among freshman Jacob Wright, Berry and Rapczak at the other corner. The three safeties will be Womer, Bungard and Wright.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Franke hadn’t decided on a kicker as of early in camp. Hunt will be the punter, with Simpson handling long snaps. Champion and Edmondson will be the return specialists.

OUTLOOK

There’s a bit more experience than last season, but the lack of seniors and juniors will place considerable pressure on 19 sophomores and a few freshmen from a class of 21.