H.S. football team capsules for Wooster, Triway
Among the standouts returning to play at Wooster High this season are seniors Jimmy Lyons, left, Micah McKee, Owen Roach, Ted Amstutz, Joey Lyons and Josh Henderson.
Get to know the high school football teams in the Wooster Weekly News coverage area:
WOOSTER GENERALS
2019 record: 7-4 (6-0 Ohio Cardinal Conference, outright champs).
Coach: Doug Haas, 51-34 entering his ninth season.
Players to watch: seniors Owen Roach (QB), Joey Lyons (RB/LB), Jimmy Lyons (G-DL), Josh Henderson (OL/DL), Ted Amstutz (OL/DL) and Koty Henry (OL/DL); junior Micah McKee (WR/DB). (NOTE: heights/weights not available.)
Revised six-game schedule: at Madison, Aug. 28; at Lexington, Sept. 4; West Holmes, Sept. 11; at Mount Vernon, Sept. 18; at Mansfield Senior, Sept. 25; at Louisville, Oct. 2.
Coach’s comment: “We always have high expectations,” Haas said. “I don’t think that’s gonna change here year in year out, but we’re certainly thrilled that we have such an experienced group. We have a bunch of kids that have played a bunch of football over the past three years. We have 17 seniors, and they’ve been in the playoffs two out of the last three years. They’ve had an opportunity to get the extra weeks of practice and learn what it takes to play at a high level.”
Scouting report: Wooster is a favorite to win a repeat OCC title and has the talent to make some noise In the playoffs. Loads of talent returns in the skilled positions and up front. Roach will try to build on a junior year in which he passed for 2,079 yards and 18 TDs and returns his favorite big-play target in 6-foot-5 McKee (39-620 rec., 9 TDs). This could be one of the Generals’ best O-lines in recent memory.
TRIWAY TITANS
2019 record: 6-4 (4-3 Principals Athletic Conference, tied for fourth).
Coach: Eric Brenner, 8-12 entering his third season.
Players to watch: seniors Tyler Davis (WR/ILB, 6-2, 205), Ty Durbin (QB/OLB, 6-1, 170), Brandon Miller (OT, 6-1, 250), Tyler Hostetler(WR/CB, 5-9, 170) and Kobe Garver (WR/ILB, 5-10, 175); junior Hayden Smith (OL/DL, 5-9, 265).
Revised six-game schedule: at Loudonville, Aug. 28; at Mogadore, Sept. 4; Northwest, Sept. 11; at Fairless, Sept. 18; Tuslaw, Sept. 25; at Orrville, Oct. 2.
Coach’s comment: “We return a majority of the starters from a team that took a major step forward last season,” Brenner said. “A big emphasis last season going from 2-8 to 6-4 was coming out and competing every week. Nine out of 10 games last season we either won or were in a one-score game in the fourth quarter. Our goal this season is to take the next step and win every game we play.”
Scouting report: All-Ohio WR Tyler Davis is the area’s premier receiver, returning after an All-Ohio season in which he caught 102 passes for 1,465 yards and 16 TDs. Durbin passed for 2,172 yards and 26 TDs while also leading the Titans with 394 stripes on the ground and eight scores. The Titans should challenge for the PAC title. Week six at Orrville shapes up to be a fantastic matchup to end the COVID-19 shortened regular season.
PLAYOFFS EXPLAINED: All teams qualify for playoffs starting Oct. 9. Teams may have the option to schedule games after they’re out of playoffs. Playoff seeding will be via a vote of the coaches the week of Sept. 28 (Harbin Ratings suspended for 2020 season).
All playoff contests through the regional semifinals (and possibly the regional finals) will be hosted by the higher-seeded team. Schools must commit to participate in the playoffs by 11:59 p.m. on Sept. 17. Playoff regions will be drawn on Sept. 18. Schools may withdraw from the playoffs without penalty until Sept. 24.
—Aaron Dorksen