Preview: Football has high hopes for 2014 campaign

By Tim Glon

ADA — The Ohio Northern football team returned to its winning ways in 2013 and looks to build on that momentum in 2014.

The Polar Bears, under 11th-year head coach Dean Paul, welcome back 52 lettermen, 13 starters and three kickers from last year's squad that went 6-4 overall and finished fourth in the OAC with a 5-4 mark.

"We feel optimistic about out upcoming season," Paul said. "We took a step forward last year and got better as the year went on. We had a very strong finish and hope to carry that momentum into 2014. On offense, we need to run the ball better. Defensively we need to limit the big plays. We need to be more consistent on special teams. These things will be key to our success.

"Our early season schedule is very difficult, but we have many seniors and returners that are good football players and we expect to be up to the challenge."

It seemed like feast or famine for ONU in 2013, as the Polar Bears scored at least 38 points in each of its six victories, but just 51 points in its four losses.

Northern returns nine starters on the offensive side of the ball.

On defense, nine players with starting experience are back.

Depth abounds on special teams as two kickers and a punter return.

Here is a breakdown of the 2014 Ohio Northern football team, by position:

Offensive Line

The Polar Bears return five players that combined to start 37 games on the offensive line last year.

Senior Steve Dembowski is the most versatile of the returners, having started eight games at three different positions a year ago. He started the season opener at right tackle, the next three games at right guard and the final four games at left guard.

Senior Michael Howell started nine games at right tackle and senior Grant Brand started four games at right guard.

Junior Ethan Joseph started all 10 games at center and junior Rody Seballos started the first six games of the season at left guard.

Five others, senior Cameron Alexander and juniors Don Musser, Auston Reaser, Logan Shell and Curtis Warren, also lettered to give the Polar Bears 10 lettermen on its offensive line.

"We have a tremendous amount of depth and experience," Paul said. "The talent level is solid. What we need from this group is for a couple of guys to step up and be difference-makers. Be guys that go from being good players to great players - First Team All-OAC players. That is the challenge entering the season."

Offensive Backfield

Juniors Will Bodden and Justin Magazine shared the starting duties in 2013, combining for 1,077 yards and 16 touchdowns between them.

Junior Tony Davis and sophomore Kevin Davis also return after lettering at running back last year.

Magazine started the final six games at tailback, allowing for an off-season move to switch Bodden to cornerback.

Senior Patrick Angle started all 10 games at quarterback a year ago, throwing for 1,979 yards and 16 touchdowns and earned Honorable Mention All-OAC honors.

Junior Connor Devine threw for 270 yards and three scores as backup quarterback.

"We have good talent and depth returning in the backfield," Paul said. "Pat Angle really came on at the end of the season and we hope he picks up where he left off. He completed a high percentage of passes and made good decisions. Magazine was solid for us and we fell like we have some good depth to challenge him."

Receivers / Tight End

Junior Devon Price enjoyed a breakout season in 2013, catching 62 passes for 757 yards and four scores and earning Second Team All-OAC honors.

Sophomore Matt Craven started seven games at receiver and caught 17 passes for 172 yards and two scores.

Senior Shaile Chamberlain got three starts at receiver and caught eight balls for 75 yards and two touchdowns.

Junior Tyler Habony and sophomore Reed Allen are also returning lettermen at the receiver position.

Senior Justin McCray moved to from quarterback to tight end last fall. He finished second on the squad with 27 catches for 283 yards and tied for the team lead with four receiving TDs.

Junior Nick Hensley and sophomore Logan Ray also return as lettermen at tight end.

"This group has the potential to be one of the best we've ever had at ONU," Paul said. "We have guys with outstanding speed. We have good athletes that can make plays and have experience. We get a couple of guys back that missed last season with injuries that could have an impact as well."

Defensive Line

Nine lettermen, including four with starting experience, return on the defensive line in 2013.

Senior Steven Kenny was named Honorable Mention All-Conference in his first season at defensive end after switching from linebacker after an All-OAC year in 2012.

Sophomore Mike Cunningham (five times) and sophomore Matt Brewer (once) each started at defensive tackle last year, while senior Adam Best started eight games at end as a sophomore in 2012.

Seniors Josh Chenault, Brad MacLeod and Joel Perry and sophomore Scott Rapps are also returning lettermen up front and will be in the battle for the remaining two starting positions.

"Out front four have a chance to be very good," Paul said. "Kenny was very good in his first season at defensive end and Brewer and Cunningham had very good freshmen seasons. The competition for the open starting positions should be fierce."

Linebacker

Senior Dillon Kwiat and sophomore Cody Cox are returning starters at two of the three linebacker positions.

Kwiat led the team with 111 tackles and earned Second Team All-OAC honors at middle linebacker.

Cox had 46 tackles while starting nine games at outside linebacker.

Junior Allen Boss got one start at outside linebacker and will battle senior Malcolm Burrell and sophomores Trent Stout and Mark Aguilar for playing time in 2014.

"We have an experienced group back at linebacker," Paul said. "We have two very solid starters returning and have some others that are back healthy who were playing well when they got hurt last year."

Secondary

Four starters in the secondary have graduated, but three players return with starting experience.

Senior Justin Tello started the season opener against Alfred State at safety and juniors Darnell Bloom and Melvin Williams started games at cornerback last year.

Bodden, seniors Austin Hostetler, Cheron Jenkins and Jeff Podolsky and sophomores Dan Eller and Nick Rezek are all lettermen that will all battle for starting positions in the secondary.

"The secondary is probably our biggest question mark," Paul said. "Four starters are gone and that will be a challenge to replace the entire unit. That being said, we feel like we have players that will step up to that challenge. We have three returners who have starting experience and several others who have waited their turns as seniors to get into the starting lineup."

Special Teams

The Polar Bears kicked and punted by committee in 2013 and three of those six lettermen return in 2014.

Junior Andrew DiMario handled the short field goals and the extra points and junior Matt Chaney kicked off and provided good consistency.

Sophomore Kyle Bergman split time at punter last year and will battle with Chaney to handle those duties full time this fall.

Devine returns as the two-year starter as the long snapper.

Price was named First Team All-OAC and First Team All-Central Region as a kickoff returner.

"We are fortunate to have a wealth of talented kickers returning," Paul said. "DiMario is a very accurate kicker and Chaney has more distance. Each man has strengths and needs to work on his shortcomings, but as a group they provide us with options. Bergman had moments of brilliance as a freshman and Chaney has some strong upside in their battle to be the punter."