Redskins eager to bounce back

Editor's note: This story appears in the Sandusky Register and Norwalk Reflector's 2023 football preview special section. The 32-page edition will be received automatically by home subscribers and is available Friday, Aug. 18 on newsstands and at our offices. PORT CLINTON — After losing a number of key playmakers from the 2021 team that won the program's first-ever regional championship, Port Clinton took a step back in '22, going 5-6 while losing three games by six points or fewer. Those three losses came in the final five weeks of the regular season, costing the Redskins a chance at some valuable computer points. Instead, Port Clinton snuck into the Division V, Region 18 playoffs as a No. 16 seed and fell to top seed Liberty Center, 61-20. Second-year coach PC Eric Leuthold has 14 returning starters — eight on offense and six on defense. Leuthold is employing a similar offense to the one he used last season. "I would say we're still very multiple in what we do. We've had to adjust to fit the personnel," he said. "We lost a big senior class. We want to be multiple in what we do and how we do it." He wants to mix things up on offense and keep opponents off balance. Leuthold also wants to have interchangeable parts on offense and defense. Fatigue could be a concern as many players are going both ways. "I think the biggest thing is we have put each kid in an opportunity to be successful and contribute," said Leuthold. "We have a lot of kids playing both ways, and we have to create opportunities to be successful at what they do well. That's what we, as a staff, focused on. You always try to solve some of those problems. "Last year being my first year, there's always some unknowns transitioning into a new position. You notice things that need to be fixed with the game plan. "High school football is always kind of interesting. We have a group, a new group, and we're building a system, which starts from the ground up. I think a lot of credit goes to the seniors and handling that transition from last year to this year. The players understand what's going on. I would say in year two, there's a little more of an easier transition for the players on offense and defense." Offense Two players stand out as being potential X-factors for the 'Skins — QB/DB Gabe Koskela and RB/LB Dagan Meyers. "Gabe has done an excellent job in his roles as captain," said Leuthold. "He's handled that role and leadership (that comes with) being the quarterback. Gabe was our No. 2 receiver last year. We moved him to quarterback, which he had played his entire career until last year. We moved him to receiver because Cam Gillum was the quarterback, the most decorated quarterback in program history." Koskela caught 22 passes for 311 yards and two touchdowns last year. Meyers was one of the SBC's top running backs last year. He carried 126 times for 1,053 yards and 18 touchdowns, averaging 8.4 yards per carry. "Dagan, obviously, you tip your hat to the clout he carries with the team," Leuthold said. "He's also the leader of our defense." Briar Rohrer will also see action at running back. There are a whole new sets of receivers in Ronnie Turner, Gavin Cornell, Josh Cornell, Josh Oliver and Ryan Caris. The tight end will be split out or on the line. Right now, it's being done by committee following the graduation of Adam Thorbahn (51 catches, 749 yards, eight TDs). Thorbahn is now at the University of Findlay. Wyatt Siefke, the favorite to become the starter, Steele Joseph and Zach Spears are all rotating in at tight end. The offensive line includes the likes of Samari Smith, a three-year starter that Leuthold said is playing very well. The rest of the line includes Bryce Copeland, who is playing center, as well as Travis Yarnell, Taylor Shierberg and Aiden Hayes. If the line can block like it did last year for Meyers, it should help take pressure off Koskela. Leuthold believes that if his club can stay healthy, they'll be able to compete. When Port Clinton was successful two years ago, a lot of it had to do with the play of Gillum, running back Garrett Cornell and the offensive line, but the speed on the perimeter with wide receivers such as Josh Hurst, Owen Auxter and Cashes Jackson, among others, allowed the team to make big plays on both sides of the ball. "As far as team speed is concerned, we're improving," said Leuthold. "I wouldn't necessarily have called that a strength of ours last year. Some kids are faster than others. We always want to improve, and that was a major focus in the offseason. We'll wait and see if we improved on that." Defense On defense, the leaders of the line are Smith and Yarnell. Shierberg, Copeland, Trey Armedaris and Dylan Boylard will also be factors at the line of scrimmage. "We're mostly a 3 front with some multiplicity," said Leuthold. "We'll have a couple of rotational kids that can play (multiple) positions." At linebacker, Meyers leads the defense, Siefke has looked good, Joseph is in the mix, as is Malachi Pinkelton. Gabe Koskela and Caris are the cornerbacks with Rohrer and Josh Cornell the safeties. Noah Knecht is the kicker and Knecht or Josh Cornell will handle punting duties. Landon Witte, who is currently banged up, could be in the mix, too. The 'Skins have a very challenging schedule that features the likes of Oak Harbor, Liberty-Benton, Clyde, Huron, Edison, Bellevue and Sandusky. "The SBC in general, whether it's the Bay or the Lake (in a crossover game) is tough football, good football," said Leuthold. "They are very, very challenging games to win and I think they hold some importance of making it to the playoffs. Oak Harbor returns quite a bit, Rossford graduated some, but they have some good players coming back. "It's a tough schedule, (and there's) the challenge we have week in and week out. In order to have a successful season, we have to stay healthy. "The seniors have done a great job of preparing themselves and us as a team. Our season and the whole thing is we've got to stay healthy throughout the course of it." 2023 schedule Aug. 18: at Toledo Waite Aug. 25: Rossford Sept. 1: at Oak Harbor Sept. 8: at Liberty-Benton Sept. 15: Clyde Sept. 22: at Huron Sept. 29: at Vermilion Oct. 6: Edison Oct. 13: Bellevue Oct. 20: at Sandusky 2022 results (5-6) Bellevue 24, Port Clinton 14 Port Clinton 58, Rossford 51 Perkins 49, Port Clinton 0 Port Clinton 54, Toledo Bowsher 14 Port Clinton 47, Toledo Rogers 16 Edison 13, Port Clinton 7 Port Clinton 41, Vermilion 0 Port Clinton 68, Willard 13 Huron 27, Port Clinton 26 Oak Harbor 25, Port Clinton 21 Playoffs Liberty Center, 61, Port Clinton 20 2023 roster No. Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Yr. 1 Gavin Cornell QB/DB 5-8 145 10 2 Gabe Koskela QB/DB 5-9 145 3 Malakii Pinkelton RB/LB 5-7 180 10 4 Romney Turner WR/DB 6-2 160 11 5 Wyatt Siefke TE/LB 6-1 175 10 6 Josh Cornell WR/DB 5-6 130 11 7 Aidan Meister WR/DB 5-9 130 9 8 Ryan Caris WR/LB 5-10 165 11 9 Zach Speer TE/DL 6-2 190 10 10 Cole Bishop RB/DB 5-3 120 12 11 Landon Witte K 5-9 150 12 12 Brody Bollinger WR/DB 5-3 120 9 13 Brody Schierberg WR/DB 5-11 150 10 14 Dagan Meyers RB/LB 5-11 195 12 15 Beckett Mizener RB/LB 5-7 150 9 16 Payton Meade WR/DB 5-8 122 9 17 Ernesto Urbina WR/DB 5-5 130 12 18 Martez Wilson WR/DB 5-8 120 9 19 Wyatt Yarbrough QB/DB 6-1 165 9 20 Steele Joseph TE/LB 6-2 170 11 21 Liam Johnson TE/LB 6-0 130 9 22 Lucas Bodie RB/LB 5-8 140 9 23 Zarion Stokes RB/LB 6-0 145 9 24 Jace Cornell RB/LB 5-5 120 9 25 Conner Cochran RB/LB 5-8 135 9 27 Noah Knecht K 6-1 145 11 28 Shadon Pollard RB/DL 5-6 140 9 31 Brayden Poole RB/DB 5-7 135 9 33 Briar Rohrer RB/DB 5-9 155 11 39 Adam Fitt K 5-7 120 9 47 Ayden Kozlok WR/DB 5-8 145 10 50 Carter Crum OL/DL 5-8 185 11 51 Cameron Borror OL/LB 5-7 130 9 52 Tre Armendariz OL/DL 5-8 170 10 53 Brayden Allen OL/DL 6-0 195 12 55 Bryce Copeland OL/DL 6-2 265 12 56 Caleb Spencer OL/DL 6-0 165 10 57 Dylan Bolyard OL/DL 6-0 200 12 59 Jonas Reyes OL/DL 5-9 170 10 61 Zeke Iiams OL/DL 5-11 225 10 62 Griffin Nelson OL/DL 5-11 200 11 64 Travis Yarnell OL/DL 6-3 225 12 66 Samari Smith OL/DL 6-4 315 12 67 Eli Cuevas OL/DL 5-6 155 9 70 Aidan Haynes OL/DL 6-2 205 11 72 Alex Blumensaadt OL/DL 6-3 260 9 73 Matthew Hofacker OL/DL 5-9 195 9 77 Cotey Saffran OL/DL 5-7 235 11 78 Julian Curry OL/DL 6-1 235 9 79 Taylor Schierberg OL/DL 6-1 220 12 81 Josh Oliver WR/DB 6-0 145