Backfield stable full of horses ready to lead Knights to battle in 2012
West Holmes Varsity Football Front: Braylon McFarland (L), Brant Burgett, Clay Martin, Cale Ogi, Kadyn Evans, Manager—John Miller, Keaton Macaulay, Grady Hay, Bubba Hay, Nate Fair and Kyle Maltarich. Row 2: Taylor Nussbaum, Jordain Bellville, Ryan Neer, Aryn Lay, Tyler Singleton, Colton Shane, Keaton Leppla, Andrew Rose, Dakota Wells, Benton Smith, Barry Phillips, Amber Stutzman and Olivia Boley. Row 3: Chloe' Dial, Kiana Austin, Brock Macaulay, Gabe Snyder, Bob Taylor, Cody Mackey, Wyatt Gardner, Garrett Mackey, Brady Arnold, Lukas Geib, Mitch Sheely, Grant Hay, Felicia Messner and Tiffany Mullet. Row 4: Olivia Mirich, Justin Markley, Josh Neer, Luke Ogi, David Cagle, Joshua Carsner, Layne Perone, Alex Wengerd, Clay Stutzman, Grayson Miller, Zach Mullet, Colt Tennant, Jeff Young and Abby Johnson. Row 5: Levi Kinstle, Logan Gallion, Alex White, Matt Casey, Bryce Burgett, Logan Campbell, Austin Hebb, Sam Young, Brody Miller, Wyatt Snow and Levi Jones. Row 6: Cara Hartley, Jordan Gilstrap, Jordan Lint, Coach Trevor Littleton, Coach Craig Piatt, Coach Tom Eastep, Head Coach Kevin Maltarich, Coach Ron Hay, Coach Kelly Camacho, Coach Tony Roberts, Brittany Rodriguez, Morgan Clark and Kaci Martin. Missing from photo: Breanna Zemrock.------
A horse, a horse! My kingdom for a horse!
Those famously quoted words from King Richard in Shakespeare's play Richard The Third purposefully and directly shouts out the need for a worthwhile steed.
West Holmes Knights head football coach Kevin Maltarich knows the feeling, but his stable contains not one but many horses, horses who run, dip, dive, drive over and around defenders each Friday night.
Maltarich's horses include a stable full of running backs, running backs with capable legs and steady hands, whose guile and determination help grind outs hundreds of yards on the ground against each nightly foe.
While many teams sport one or maybe two worthy running backs, Maltarich's troops can run able-bodied runners in and out of the ranks like ants swallowing up a leftover piece of cake at a picnic.
Even with the loss of erstwhile Joey Gonzalez from last year's squad, the Knights have plenty of ammo to go around in the backfield to lessen the burden of the passing game led by quarterback Gabe Snyder, who can turn into a pretty solid running back himself if need be.
Last year's leading rusher, Garrett Mackey, returns again this year as a senior, ready to produce what he hopes will be a memorable season. He is joined by classmate Grant Hay as well as junior Layne Perone, who stepped into the lead role when Mackey was injured early on in the Madison game last season and ripped off 160 yards in just 12 carries. Even junior wideout Brady Arnold will sometimes line up in the backfield, serving as a change-of-pace runner with breakaway speed. Add to that mix young sophomore Luke Ogi, a runner who Maltarich called the most explosive back of the bunch. He only needs to gain some experience before "he becomes a name people will know," according to Maltarich.
The stable of horses in the backfield is ultimately what will drive Maltarich's offense, and he understands the value of keeping fresh legs on the field as a game grinds along.
"With the way we run our offense, having multiple backs who are capable of performing is huge," said Maltarich. "We've got to have a number of kids who can go in and step up and take charge.
"As defenses wear down, we have the ability to throw runners at them who are healthy and fresh. We want to be at a point where we want to give our horses a rest, and we have go to guys ready to perform behind them. The biggest thing for us is having fresh legs. You get a woozy defender out there, and we send a guy who is fresh at him, you'll see a big difference."
Getting the back-ups plenty of experience is one way Maltarich is able to continue to groom new backs to replace those who graduate, thus creating a revolving door of gifted runners to carry the offensive running attack from year to year.
Maltarich starts three backs, who this year will be Mackey, Perone and Hay, all three bringing their own unique set of gifts to the backfield.
Last season Mackey and Perone shared fullback duties, but Maltarich slid Mackey to running back to replace Joey Gonzalez, who graduated. Not only can Mackey hit the middle, he can bounce outside with his speed, as can Hay. Perone is a bruising fullback who doesn't feel at home unless he is putting a hurt on a defender at the end of his run. Maltarich said that Ogi is the fastest back of the bunch, and the 190-pounder will be a nice complement to the other runners. Clay Stutzman and Josh Carsner will also add nice depth to the system, and will more than likely see a share of carries, with the way Maltarich likes to run and keep guys fresh.
With the stable full of running backs continuing to roll out of West Holmes, Maltarich said that the reason it seems like they have so many good backs is due to a combination of the system and the style of play, together with a work ethic and drive to improve.
With a bunch of guys, Maltarich and his staff can alter an attack to fit their game plan, whether it is pounding away inside or bouncing outside to utilize their speed.
"Some of these spread offenses have five receivers," said Maltarich. "I guess we are run-happy. That's our system and the kids are going to get chances. But nothing is a good substitute for good old-fashioned hard work, and these kids have put the time in on the field and in the weight room and made themselves better football players."
But not only do these guys run the ball, they all can catch the ball out of the backfield, making them double threats when the need to throw the ball arises.
And even with a host of running backs, Maltarich said the best runner in the backfield may be the one taking the snaps. At an athletic 6-feet-5-inches, and 210 pounds, quarterback Gabe Snyder provides just one more runner with which defenses must deal.
"Gabe might be the fastest back we have actually," said Maltarich. "He can get up the field like crazy and make people miss. When he gets outside the pocket, he isn't afraid to tuck the ball and run. He is kind of like Tim Tebow with his size and strength."
Yes, like King Richard, teams would give anything to have a horse.
Maltarich has a stable full of them.
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With a team of horses in the backfield on offense, success for the Knights may come down to the defense putting the hurt on the many spread offenses littering the Ohio Cardinal Conference.
"Much of the time you focus not on stopping them but just containing them," said Maltarich. "Everybody runs that spread offense these days, and as a defense, you're going to give up some big plays.
"We've got to do our very best on every single play to stay focused and stop that from happening," said Maltarich of the big plays.
As a third-year starter at middle linebacker, leading tackler Keaton Leppla will spearhead the defense. With the many spread offenses they face, Knights cornerbacks Hay and Arnold will be asked to make plays and keep opposing playmakers off the corners.
That will only happen if a young defensive line can put pressure on opposing quarterbacks.
"We have got to be able to put pressure on the quarterback and force him to throw the ball before he is comfortable back there," said Maltarich. "At the same time, we have to make sure we aren't putting ourselves in a position to weaken up the secondary. Depending on what we see will dictate a lot of what we do."