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HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
Many unknowns face young Rock Hill squad
2008 Rock Hill Football team
Purchase this photoPEDRO, Ohio -- Rock Hill coach Todd Knipp knew how Wes Pierson, Drew Kuehne and Seth Kuehne would perform when the lights went on.
Those players are gone from the Rock Hill attack, so Knipp won't know until tonight how the new faces on offense stack up under the gun.
"We lost a lot of experience in the skill positions," Knipp said at media day. "You never know how kids will perform until you put them in game situations."
Rock Hill's roster shows just five seniors. The Redmen have four starters back on offense and defense. They went 7-4 a year ago, losing in the first round of the Ohio Division IV playoffs.
Knipp is counting on fullback Corey Bamer and halfback Josh Malone, the new faces in the backfield, to step up as play makers.
"He's got himself in shape. He's the most powerful runner," Knipp said of Bamer. "He's turned into a good leader.
On Malone, Knipp said; "He's got great vision in the open field. He catches ball well out of the backfield. We hope he can be the big-play guy like we've had in the past."
Mitchell Davenport is back at split end.
"He's a big-play guy on offense," Knipp said. "The things coaches want from a wide receiver he's got. We've got to get him the ball."
The most-watched position in preseason was quarterback because freshman Will McCollister is directing the attack.
"It's a unique situation he's stepped into," Knipp said. "He's handled the transition well. The kids have rallied around him. We've scaled things back a bit. He just needs experience."
Jake Brown is the No. 2 quarterback.
Up front, Rock Hill shapes up like this: Left tackle, Jordan Fuhr; left guard, Adam Fradd and Josh Phillps; center, Chris Lemasters and Brandon Guy; right guard, Herbie Butterbaugh; right tackle, Shayne Wilds; tight end, Sam Cooke and Cody Wilds. Fradd and Butterbaugh are returning starters.
"Up front they all started a least a game," Knipp said. "There's experience there. They jelled pretty well in the off season."
On defense, ends are Shayne Wilds, Cody Wilds, Phillips and Guy. Tackles are Wayne Jenkins, Fradd, Fuhr and Jason Howard. Bamer and Butterbaugh are inside linebackers. Outside linebackers are Coty Davis, Jesse Lyons, C.J. Justice and Cody Massie. Corners are Malone and Jake Brown. Davenport is the safety. Brown will punt and Davenport will handle placekicking.
"We've got to clean up some technical things and get our timing down," Knipp said of the offense. "We've got to get angles and techniques down (defense). We've made some changes on the way and we have to make sure we execute."
Rock Hill met Symmes Valley in one scrimmage and River Valley in the Ohio Valley Conference preview. In the OVC, Knipp gives an edge to Coal Grove.
"They've got the most people back," he said. "Fairland's got talented skill kids everywhere. South Point won a part and they've got some players back. River Valley's probably the most experienced. Chesapeake can scare anybody. They've always got speed."
Knipp believes the first five games will get the Redmen ready for league play. They open at home against Zane Trace.
"Teams we play have a lot of experience," he said. "We're working to get better each week and see what happens. A lot depends on how we match up."
