By John Bassetti

sports@vindy.com

BROOKFIELD

Coach Randy Clark rattled off sizes of his offensive linemen with heights and weights such as 6-4, 285 and 6-5, 310, then proceeded to pronounce the stature of his running back son, Alex Clark, as 5-10, before quickly downsizing to 5-9, 190 pounds.

Quite a discrepancy, but the tall-small ball combination is an ideal complement for success as proven by Clark’s 1,053 yards from his junior season.

But, without Xavier Bailey’s quarterback play that produced 1,683 yards on the ground and 555 yards in the air last season, coach Clark and running back Clark will rely on their big men to continue to provide the push.

OFFENSE

“We’re a very, very big team size-wise on both sides and, hopefully, powerful,” coach Clark said of players such as Trevor Pegg (6-5, 310), Bailey Litz (6-4, 285) and Hunter Baumiller (6-5, 290). Pegg, Litz and Baumiller are seniors.

“We’re going to rely a lot on our front seven on defense and we’re going to rely a lot on our offensive line with our running back [the back using the line’s strength],” Randy Clark said. “Without Xavier, we’ll run and pass when we have to and do a lot of play-action.”

In the battle for quarterback during Brookfield’s two-a-days, senior Noah Harnett (6-0, 160) was challenged by freshman Haden Gibson (5-9, 140).

Another key running back besides Alex Clark will be sophomore Tyler Briggs (5-10, 235).

Aside from the main receiver, Dionte Cowell (5-9, 165, Jr.), Luke Bender (6-1, 185, Sr.), Brice Randall (5-10, 185, Sr.) and Ryan Logan (5-10, 150, So.) are also receivers, while Gage Emery (6-1, 155, So.) and Dakota Feezle (6-1, 150, So.) will play as wideouts.

Offensively, the guards are Pegg and Anthony Yauger (6-2, 235), while the tackles are Litz and Baumiller. Drake Tingler (5-11, 240) is the center.

DEFENSE

Up front, defensively, are Pegg as tackle, Briggs as noseman and Litz as a defensive end. A battle for the other DE spot was between Bender and Hayden O’Brien (5-10, 235, Sr.).

In addition to both lines and the running back position as strengths, Brookfield’s linebacker corps carries the same designation with Clark, Yauger and Randall and J.T. (John Thomas) Misinay (5-10, 160, Jr.) battling for one of the three available spots.

In the secondary, Noah Harnett (Sr.) and Cowell are safeties with Gage Emery in the mix, while cornerbacks will be three-year starter, senior Alex Bell (6-1, 175), Gibson and Logan with Feezle battling as well.

SPECIAL TEAMS

The kicker will be senior Tim Squibbs (5-11, 170), while Feezle will punt.

OUTLOOK

The Warriors open with McDonald, Springfield, Division VI state runner-up Cuyahoga Heights, Liberty and South Range.

“We’re excited to play those first five,” Randy Clark said, “but we have to be at the top of our game and be healthy.”