By DAN HINER

sports@vindy.com

SALEM

After a 10-2 season and a playoff appearance in 2015, the Salem football team finished 2016 with a 5-5 record. Salem’s 2016 season was filled with highs and lows. The Quakers featured one of the best offenses in the area, but the impressive numbers didn’t result in enough wins to return to the playoffs.

The Quakers started to gain some momentum in the middle of the season, but went 3-4 in the Northeastern Buckeye Conference and missed out on the postseason.

Salem head coach Ron Johnson said the Quakers ares talented enough to reclaim a playoff spot in 2017 and expects the team to bounce back.

Offense

The strength will be the team’s skill players. Salem returns seven starters on offense. Johnson said the offense needs to get the ball in the hands of its playmakers as often as possible.

Quakers quarterback Mitch Davidson is back after throwing for 2,500 yards and 20 touchdowns. Chase Ackerman, Zach Bezon and Turner Johnson all return at wide receiver. The trio of receivers accounted for more than 1,000 yards last season.

Salem also has two featured running backs Senior Eli Rothwell and junior Brock Madley will split carries during the upcoming season.

Salem lost its leading receiver and leading rusher, receiver Cooper Bezeredi (5,000 total yards the last two seasons) and running back Jake Humeniuk (77 catches, 1,122 yards, 14 TDs), to graduation.

Defense

The Quakers are rebuilding on defense after losing several key pieces to graduation. Salem has five starters returning from last season and the team needs to find replacements in the front seven.

Despite losing several key players in the front seven, the Quakers still have experience in their linebackers.

Johnson said senior linebacker Jake Maenz will be the “quarterback on defense” in 2017. Junior Robbie Sarginger, the team’s leading tackler, is returning 2017 season. Sarginger recorded over 100 tackles last season and will be rejoining Maenz at linebacker.

Ackerman and Bezon will also start on defense. Bezon will start at safety and Ackerman will return at defensive back.

Special teams

Brayden Gibson is returning as the kicker first fourth season with the Quakers. Johnson said Gibson is “a special player.” Davidson will be the punter in 2017.

Johnson said the special teams unit will feature a number of starters because he wants the best talent on the Quakers special teams units.

Outlook

Johnson said the Salem’s goal has always been to make the playoffs. He said the team has a lot to work on as the season approaches, but said the team has a successful mix of talent and experience.

“It’s nice to have a lot of starters back, a lot of maturity back. Our junior and senior classes are very strong,” Johnson said. “Our sophomores are extremely talented and if they stay together and play, I think they’ll have a successful season as well--fill in and spot play for us.

“We do have a good mix of guys who are invested in the program now and a lot of guys who are learning the right things from these upperclassmen.”