Experience key for Stars

The South Adams football team lost six games last season. That number was better than any year since 2001, but there were chances to improve on it much further.

Four of those six losses, including in the opening two games of the season against state-ranked Class 3A schools Bellmont and Eastbrook, came by seven points or fewer.

Coach Jason Arnold is hoping experience can help turn such games in his team's favor this year.

South Adams brings back five starters on both sides of the ball to go along with eight other returning letter winners. Perhaps most importantly, the team returns four of its five starting offensive linemen.

"The biggest question our team is going to have is are we going to be able to use our experience to our advantage," said Arnold, whose team finished 4-6 a year ago. "I feel we return a good number of starters. I hope that we can take advantage of that. I hope our starters are getting to the point now where they know what we want them to do."

Offensive linemen Trevor White, a junior, and Tyler Taing, a senior, and quarterback Nick Teeter, a senior, will all be in their third year as starters.

Jim West and Heath Moser, both seniors, will also be back on the offensive line.

Teeter tossed for 1,796 yards and 17 touchdowns a year ago and earned all-state honorable mention from The Associated Press.

The defense boasts similar leaders returning as Nick Taylor (92 tackles) and White (74 tackles) will each be in their fourth year as starting linebackers. Roman Smith, a safety, will be in his third year as a starter.

Other returning starters on the defensive side of the ball are West (55 tackles) and Moser (78 tackles, six sacks).

The experience on the field will also be helped by the team's overall familiarity with its coaching staff. This will be just Arnold's second season after Kirk Sorg coached the team from 1985 through 2007.

"It's made a huge impact already," said Arnold "The tone that we've had at camp this year was leaps and bounds better than it was last year. ... This year camp has been pretty intense. It's been pretty physical. There's been a lot of energy at this year's camp."

Other returning letterman are seniors Nick Baumgartner (tight end/defensive end), Alex Habegger (tight end/defensive end) and Stuart Poulson (fullback/linebacker), and juniors Taylor Smith (receiver/defensive back), Curtis Mitchell (defensive end), Sam Amstutz (running back/linebacker), Taylor LeFever (running back/defensive back) and Adam Hofstetter (running back/linebacker).

Arnold said Poulson, Taylor, Smith, Moser, West and Teeter have taken a leadership role thus far.

"(Poulson) is one of the definite vocal leaders that we have," he said. "We've got a lot of guys right now who are definitely leaders by example.

"I see them helping the younger kids, encouraging them and teaching them."

One of the keys, Arnold noted, would be how some of those younger kids are able to perform in key roles. He'll especially need contributions at the running back and receiver positions.

South Adams lost almost all of its experience at those spots, especially receiver, as 131 receptions from the 2008 season left with the graduating class. Gone are AP all-state honorable mention receiver Chris Stutzman and Allen County Athletic Conference second-teamer Mark Farris.

The squad also lost first-team all-ACAC running back Kyle DeArmond, although Arnold said his squad's depth at running back will remain a strength.

The ultimate goal for the Starfires is to get back on the winning side of the ledger. They had back-to-back winning campaigns in 2000 and 2001, but are currently mired in a stretch of seven straight losing seasons.

"For us right now, we want to be better than last year," said Arnold. "I definitely think a realistic goal for us is at least .500. We want to continue that march to a winning record at South Adams. ... I definitely think that we have the athletes to do that this year.

"I think we're going to be very competitive. ... I don't see any reason why South Adams can't ... be in a situation like that."[[In-content Ad]]