FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[rscl70]

We need two place kickers.  With all the PATs and Kick Offs one guy wears out too quickly.

[Blutarsky]

I felt, last year, that the one "chink in the armor" was the placekicking.  After the injury to the #1 kicker, MUC seemed to struggle with extra points and field goals (I know, the % was good).  It just seemed that they struggled to make it over the cross bar, and our kickoffs were not very deep.  My fear was that, in a close game (i.e., playoffs) that it might come back to haunt us.  I'm really glad that TWO kickers are being brought in.  The more competition, the better!

[beenhit2hard]

MUC has a Coach who works only with kickers,,has been there a while. He will keep those kickers busy all practice,,learning to tackle as well as just kicking,,

[SaintsFAN]

MUC has a Coach who works only with kickers,,has been there a while. He will keep those kickers busy all practice,,learning to tackle as well as just kicking,,

I think if a kicker tackles somebody after he actually kicks the extra point.... it would be a dead ball penalty --- correct?

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

MUC has a Coach who works only with kickers,,has been there a while. He will keep those kickers busy all practice,,learning to tackle as well as just kicking,,

I think if a kicker tackles somebody after he actually kicks the extra point.... it would be a dead ball penalty --- correct?

I think that they are allowed to participate in tacking after they Kick Off though, right?  LOL

[SaintsFAN]

I think that they are allowed to participate in tacking after they Kick Off though, right?  LOL

Thats true... I didn't think of that.  Probably because the ones that I knew were big va-jay-jays and wouldn't be the first down field.  But now that I think of it, I do remember seeing on ESPN this year --- a couple shots of a "kamikaze kicker" running down the field.

[beenhit2hard]

Muc lost a kicker a few years ago,,broke a leg,, when he made a "tackle" with his lower body,,on a kickoff,,the player missed the last two games and all of the playoffs,,so  now they know how to avoid blocks and to tackle properly,,

[HScoach]

All this talk of kickers is making me sick, but another one is coming too.  More recruits released today:




West Branch High School Senior TJ Snyder to Play Football at Mount Union

(ALLIANCE, OH)—West Branch High School senior TJ Snyder has committed to attend Mount Union College and compete on the football team this Fall.

Snyder, a 6-4, 320-pound offensive lineman, was the team captain and won the school team leadership award for coach Bob Altenhof at West Branch High School.

Snyder, who plans to study political science, is the son of Steve and Jodi Snyder of Alliance.




Cleveland Benedictine High School Senior Marty Sweeney to Play Football at Mount Union

(ALLIANCE, OH)—Cleveland Benedictine High School senior Marty Sweeney has committed to attend Mount Union College and compete on the football team this Fall.

Sweeney, a 6-2, 215-pound slot receiver and linebacker, is a two-time All-Ohio and all-district selection for coach Art Bortnick at Benedictine High School.

Sweeney, who plans to study engineering, is the son of Tom and Laura Sweeney of Cleveland Heights.




West Branch High School Senior Chad Butcher to Play Football at Mount Union

(ALLIANCE, OH)—West Branch High School senior Chad Butcher has committed to attend Mount Union College and compete on the football team this Fall.

Butcher, a 6-2, 175-pound wide receiver, was an all-conference, all-district, all-county selection and team captain for coach Bob Altenhof at West Branch High School.  For his career, Butcher caught 104 passes for 1,541 yards and 15 touchdowns.

Butcher, who plans to study sport business, is the son of Mike and Darla Butcher of Salem.




Warren Howland High School Senior Matthew John Cash to Play Football at Mount Union

(ALLIANCE, OH)—Warren Howland High School senior Matthew John Cash has committed to attend Mount Union College and compete on the football team this Fall.

Cash, a 6-2, 310-pound lineman, is a four-year letterwinner for coach Dick Angle at Warren Howland High School.

Cash, who plans to study pre-med, is the son of Kenneth and Kimberly Cash of Warren.




Blackhawk (PA) High School Senior Zach Hayward to Play Football at Mount Union

(ALLIANCE, OH)—Blackhawk High School senior Zach Hayward has committed to attend Mount Union College and compete on the football team this Fall.

Hayward, a 6-4, 175-pound quarterback, was an all-conference selection and two-year letterwinner for coach Joe Hamilton at Blackhawk High School.  He passed for 3,006 yards in his career with 37 touchdown passes. 

Hayward plans to study education and is the son of Greg and Barb Hayward of Beaver Falls, PA.




Woodridge High School Senior Josh Cunningham to Play Football at Mount Union

(ALLIANCE, OH)—Woodridge High School senior Josh Cunningham has committed to attend Mount Union College and compete on the football team this Fall.

Cunningham, a 6-2, 185-pound kicker, was an all-conference selection for coach Eric Ervin at Woodridge High School.

Cunningham is an undeclared major and the son of Jay and Judy Cunningham of Cuyahoga Falls.




Jenkins (FL) High School Senior Clarence Sconiers to Play Football at Mount Union

(ALLIANCE, OH)—Jenkins (FL) High School senior Clarence Sconiers has committed to attend Mount Union College and compete on the football team this Fall.

Sconiers, a 6-2, 220-pound defensive end, was an all-county selection that was a four-year letterwinner at Jenkins High School in Lakeland, Florida.

Sconiers plans to study engineering and is the son of Clarence W. and Rachel Sconiers of Lakeland, Florida




Southwood (IN) High School Senior Nick Driskill to Play Football at Mount Union

(ALLIANCE, OH)—Southwood (IN) High School senior Nick Driskill has committed to attend Mount Union College and compete on the football team this Fall.

Driskill, a 5-9, 190-pound running back, was a three-time all-state, all-conference and county player of the year selection for coach Dan Snyder at Southwood High School in Wabash, Indiana.  He holds 16 school records as he rushed for 1,920 yards last season and 4,267 yards for his career.  He has also played safety on defense and as a sophomore led the state with 10 interceptions.

Driskill plans to study exercise science/pre med and is the son of Jay and Mary Jo Driskill of Wabash, IN.




St. Joseph (MI) High School Senior Matthew Mattox to Play Football at Mount Union

(ALLIANCE, OH)—St. Joseph (MI) High School senior Matthew Mattox has committed to attend Mount Union College and compete on the football team this Fall.

Mattox, a 6-3, 270-pound offensive lineman, was an all-state, three-time all-district and all-conference selection for  coach Elliot Vzelac at St. Joseph High School in St. Joseph, MI. 

Mattox plans to study business and is the son of Robert and Janet Mattox of St. Joseph, MI.




Jeannette (PA) High School Senior Cameron Baradziej to Play Football at Mount Union

(ALLIANCE, OH)—Jeannette (PA) High School senior Cameron Baradziej has committed to attend Mount Union College and compete on the football team this Fall.

Baradziej, a 6-1, 180-pound quarterback and punter, was a four-year letterwinner, team captain and took over at quarterback for Terrelle Pryor at Jeannette High School for coach Ray Reitz.

Baradziej plans to study sport business and is the son of Joel and Kathy Baradziej of Jeannette, PA.

[rocketraider]

Wow! Just looking at the info about the kids headed to Mount Union gets me excited. Lots of 6'3 of 6'4 220 pounders who will no doubt add some size as they get older. Very impressive group on paper.

[SaintsFAN]

at least this new one is 6'2'' 185 lbs and not 5'11'' 190 like the other two.  this guy will stick out a little bit. 

[HScoach]

I think I'm most interested in the Driskill kid (RB) from Wabash.  Not because I know anything about him or his potential, but it would be fun to imagine facing Wabash in the playoffs in a couple years if he turns out to be a stud.

It was fun beating ONU with a couple kids recruited out of their backyard (Micheli and Kmic) and it sounds fun to do the same thing to our friends in Crawfordsville, Indiana.   

[Dr. Acula]

I think I'm most interested in the Driskill kid (RB) from Wabash.  Not because I know anything about him or his potential, but it would be fun to imagine facing Wabash in the playoffs in a couple years if he turns out to be a stud.

I was excited because it looks like he comes from a small school not too far away from MAC country in western OH.  Maybe some of the small school talent made it's way across the border from Coldwater, Delphos, etc. into IN.  Below is a link to a write up in his hometown paper about his college choice:

Wabash PD Article

[HScoach]

Hmmm, here's a couple interesting statements from that article that caught my eye:

.....Driskill is also a four-year letter winner in track and field, where he owns the school record in shot put with a throw of 52-10

.....In his final season in the red and black, Driskill ran for 1,920 yards and 17 touchdowns while pulling down a state-best 261 tackles.


Sounds like a tough, strong kid that never left the field and made plays.  Sounds like the perfect D3 player.

Good luck to the young man!

[HScoach]

Here's an old article on the Hayward kid:

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/highschool/s_599459.html

[raiderguy]

Must have been intersting conversations between LK and Erik Raeburn on that certain RB choosing Mount?

"Awh come on Uncle Larry, can't I at least get the kids in my own back yard?"

"Shucks Erik, I didn't do nuthin' he just wanted to wear purple or wear a ring or somethin'. See you at Thanksgiving."