The Grand Valley football team improved from one to five wins in Matt Rosati’s first season as head coach.
The Mustangs, to be sure, have designs on more improvement this year.
One of the most important aspects to a better record will be the continued development of the GV defense.
Last season, during a 5-5 season, the Mustangs allowed an average of 27.7 points per game. Many of the key players from that squad are returning, including senior linebacker Luke Giddings, who was forced to sit out the last five weeks of the season.
“Luke is one of the hardest workers I’ve ever experienced in 30 years of coaching,” Rosati said. “I’ve never seen a kid work and be as determined as Luke Giddings. He is poised to be a dominant player. He had to sit out five games last year and he is extremely anxious to get back on the field.”
Giddings will be one of the inside linebackers, along with sophomore Lukah Mramor. Junior Nick Crouser, sophomore Caden Rowland and freshman Turner Hejduk are competing for the outside positions.
“Crouser is going to be really good for us,” Rosati said.
The defensive line features seniors Bryce Meeker and Max Thirion, junior Jeremiah Corll and sophomores Dexter Plott and Gunner Zetlaw at the tackles.
The ends will rotate among seniors Forrest Portman and Kingston Barnes, and juniors Jesse DeLisle and Ashton Lampman.
“Again, young, but they’re very, very athletic,” Rosati said. “There are a lot of sophomores who we’re counting on, but they’re ready. The sophomore class is a complete class. The freshman class is small. There are only six or seven of them, but three of them are going to start for us, which is not an easy thing to do. But, they’re really, really talented.”
The secondary will feature sophomore Tony Williams and junior Hunter Doing at the corners, along with freshman JT Yuhasz.
The safeties will likely be Mason Demshar, a sophomore, and Hank Liplin, another freshman.
“We’re going to have freshmen and sophomores in the secondary, but, like I said, they’re not your normal freshmen or sophomores,” Rosati said. “They’re talented, really talented kids.
“So, big picture, this year will be a good year for us. We’re going to lose Giddings [to graduation], who is a major impact guy.”
But these sophomores will become juniors and Rosati has confidence the young players will be ready for the bright lights on Fridays.
“Physically, I believe they are ready,” he said. “The sophomores already have that experience. They’ve all already played varsity football.
“And the freshmen, like Hejduk and JT and even Hank [Liplin], they’re not going to be stunned at all. Turner is one of the best basketball players in the state of Ohio; he’s played around the country in AAU. Same thing with JT; he’s a phenomenal baseball player and has been everywhere in big situations.”
The kicker will be either senior Adam Hylton, a soccer player, or Liplin. Hylton has experience from last season. Hylton and Nick Crouser are competing at punter.
“We don’t plan on punting much, but in all reality, in the world of analytics today, you think, ‘why bother? Just keep going for these four downs and get what you can get,’” Rosati said.
Giddings and Caden Rowland will handle the majority of returns.
“Like I said, Luke missed five games last year and I’m going get his five games back for him,” Rosati said, “Meaning, I’m going to play him every single play. He’s not coming off the field.”
Defending Northeastern Athletic Conference champion Fairport Harding has departed for the Chagrin Valley Conference, but the Mustangs will still play the Skippers as a non-conference opponent in week 3.
Windham has transitioned to 8-man football and is replaced on the schedule by University School.
McDonald, another non-conference opponent, has been replaced by Warren JFK.
Brooklyn and Southeast are the opening two opponents, and Leetonia has joined the NAC.
“I’m sure Pymatuning Valley will be a very competitive team, so that’s what our focus is on, competing with them,” Rosati said.
Rosati said the team’s goals include winning the NAC and hosting a playoff game.
“One-and-nine to 5-5 is a step in the right direction,” he said. “Last year was a good experience for the team, the community and the program. They want to win again.”