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Champion eyeying JFK
Champion focused on rematch after tough loss in 2018
By DANA SULONEN
CHAMPION
There’s a running clock in the Champion High School football locker room, counting down the minutes until the 2019 opener against John F. Kennedy.
A sight like this isn’t unusual.
But the opener against the Eagles is one with a big red circle around it. Because last year’s game between the two, had it gone the other way, could have changed the entire trajectory of Champion’s first season under head coach Tim McGlynn.
“We had our chances to win that football game, and it slipped through our fingers,” McGlynn said of the three-point loss. “When you lose a game like you lost to JFK, the air kind of went out [of the sails].”
The Golden Flashes lost to the Eagles on a touchdown in the final minute of the game. The season spiraled from there, ending in a 2-8 record.
But now it’s Year 2 for McGlynn. The numbers are up in terms of roster size, he says that at least 10 new faces came out for the team this year. He also has 13 seniors, up from six last season.
He hopes all of that, combined with the process he’s trying to build in Champion, will translate to success on the field.
“One thing about Champion kids, they come to work,” McGlynn said. “My staff did a really good job, starting from square one, we just kept building and building. You can already see the improvement.
“It’s a process. Yes, if you work, you’re going to benefit from it. But it doesn’t mean you’re going to win. So that’s one thing we keep trying to [say] ... every day we take it one day at a time.”
OFFENSE
The most experienced player on the team is the quarterback — three-year letter winner and starter Nick Stahlman.
“He is my veteran,” McGlynn said. “He has had a really good offseason, and I truly think basketball helped him. He became more of a leader in basketball. ... We’re excited (for him).”
The Flashes also return leading rusher Austin Willforth, who will have some help from Nick Costianes and Keegan McDermott. They will also be running behind an experienced offensive line, which returns four of five starters from last year.
“Last year, we couldn’t do as much as we wanted to do ... we couldn’t throw a ton of stuff at them,” McGlynn said. “Now this year, we’re going to have to throw the football. We can’t run the ball first, second, third down then punt the ball on fourth down like we did last year.”
DEFENSE
Last season was rough on the Champion defense, which allowed 32.9 points per game. While it didn’t help that the Flashes had to play a grueling three-game stretch against McDonald, Girard and LaBrae, McGlynn knows that the defense has to be shored up to have success this season.
Like the offense, many players return, including Nathan Royal at linebacker, Noah Vesey and Brandon Dykes at defensive back and Zach Scher on the defensive line.
“Our kids [last year] did a great job of staying on the rail and just coming to practice, learning, our kids are very coachable,” McGlynn said. “And I think that’s why we had such a good offseason.”
SPECIAL TEAMS
McGlynn headed to the soccer field for his kickers — and he has two.
Senior John Lipps, who McGlynn says has a strong leg, will do the kickoffs and punts. Freshman Preston Lefkowitz will handle PATs.
OUTLOOK
It’s not a secret that Champion has struggled for success in recent years. Since 2010, the program has a 27-63 record, with its only winning season coming in 2010, a 6-4 mark.
But that’s the past, and McGlynn hopes to change the future one day at a time. Maybe as soon as this season. After its opener against JFK, Champion welcomes in Rittman, then has back-to-back games on the road at Pymatuning Valley and Windham.
But again, it all starts with Kennedy on Aug. 30.
“Our kids have done a really good job. We’re trying to stay focused. We’re just trying to do our thing,” McGlynn said.