For the last four seasons, the Allen County Athletic Conference has sent a team to the state finals. But so far it has come up with no titles.
Could that change in 2024? Will the Flying Jets of Adams Central have a chance to contend now that they are in Class 2A? Was the field able to close in with AC graduations and advancements in their own programs?
THE FAVORITE
ADAMS CENTRAL FLYING JETS
Aaron Hirschy returns as the running back for the Flying Jets after finishing 2023 with 53 rushes for 564 yards and 10 touchdowns while averaging over 10 yards per carry. The 5-foot-11, 175-pound senior will be relied upon quite often this season, especially after his 2nd team all-conference nod. Last season, Adams Central averaged 271.4 rushing yards per game and 101.1 passing yards per game.
The offense will be buoyed by sophomore quarterback Jamison Roach, who brings an electric arm and significant athleticism to the spot. Expect to see the Flying Jets open things up a bit in their offensive scheme to take advantage of Roach’s abilities. Along the offensive front, it will be up to the veteran leadership from offensive guards Cam Fravel and Nate Geerken to protect the playmakers. Fravel, Geerken, and Hirschy are the only offensive returning starters.
Max Kaehr is coming off a 2nd team all-conference and First Team All-State 2023 campaign. Last season, he recorded 131 tackles, and 2.5 sacks. He will be one of the primary receiving targets for the Flying Jets as well, but he will lead a young core of linebackers where he is the only returning starter. Kaehr, along with Hirschy, will be a tough linebacking corps for many opposing teams on the schedule. The other two returning starters on the defensive reside in the secondary with seniors Drew Kaehr and Jaret Smith. Smith led all Flying Jets last season with five interceptions, while Kaehr finished with one.
THE CONTENDER
BLUFFTON TIGERS
Sophomore running back Cooper Craig returns from last year’s Sectional champion team and looks to build off his 583 yards and 12 touchdowns last season. Craig led the team in both rushing yards and touchdowns. Keep in mind, Craig split a ton of carries last season with Tucker Jenkins (graduated) and returning junior Khamel Moore, who missed the majority of the season due to injury. Craig and Moore will provide a scary one-two punch that will be an issue for many opposing defenses. Last season as a team, Bluffton rushed for 1,811 yards, averaging 139.3 rushing yards per game, 6.3 rushing yards per carry and 27 total rushing touchdowns.
The Tigers will welcome a new starting quarterback this season, but a familiar face. Sophomore quarterback Axton Beste will look to impress in his first season starting behind center. Junior wide receiver AJ Streveler finished second on the team last season in receiving yards and will be the leading target for Beste.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Tigers return just one starter – junior linebacker Griffin Morgan. Last season, he finished second on the team in tackles (39 tackles), and was tied for third with six tackles for loss. There will be four juniors that fans should get to know as well. Two linebackers – Jake Boots and Declan Grieser – hope to give Morgan some support in the middle of the field. In addition to them, two defensive backs, Aaron Jessup and Alex Mechling, hope to make the best of their new roles this season.
THE OTHERS (LISTED ALPHABETICALLY)
HERITAGE PATRIOTS
The Patriots are one of the teams in the ACAC to undergo a coaching change but with the replacement being internal with Jeremy Hullinger, things may not change too much in Monroeville. Hullinger is, after all, a coach with 18 years of experience at the school.
Charlie Riddle, a two-time All-ACAC player who had 80 pancakes, is the star returner for a team that has started to be a consistent contender in the conference; Wyatt Bortsch (36 pancakes) will return with him along the offensive line. The offense will look a bit different with Eli Tigulis taking over at quarterback after being an all-conference receiver. He will look to get the ball to Braden Walter at receiver and Zeke Litchfield (410 yards, 8 touchdowns) at tight end. Lucas Webber and Nasir Martin will likely work out of the backfield.
Defensively, the Patriots will lean on a lot of the same people as the offense. That includes a defensive back core led by Walter (7 interceptions) and Webber (4 INT). Gerry Gerber, Lantae Cassell and Martin will all add to the defensive backfield.
“The strength of the team is the 19 seniors and and their experience,” Hullinger said.
JAY COUNTY PATRIOTS
The Patriots got a shot in the arm with the return of AJ Myers for his senior season despite the fact that word was that the leading Patriot rusher from a season ago would not play. He rushed for 104 yards per game last season, scoring a team high 11 touchdowns in the process. Included in that was a 251 yard, five touchdown effort against Woodlan. Myers also threw four passes and went for over 1,000 total yards last season as he will be the shining spot for Jay County.
Sean Bailey threw for 887 yards and 10 touchdowns last season and is back for his third season in a row as the Patriot quarterback. His continued leadership and willingness to step up for Jay County will be crucial.
Benson Ward is part of the big returning defensive side of the ball after having 46 tackles and an interception last season. Essentially the entire defense returns as well as a lot of starts on the offensive side of the ball as well.
SOUTH ADAMS STARFIRES
The Starfires are about half returners and half new people in new positions to start the season and that leads with Tytus Lehman‘s move to quarterback. The junior will be looked at to lead this team offensively after only throwing 11 passes as a backup last season. He will have three returning starters to line up wide however in fellow juniors Derek Mckean (203 yards receiving) and Manny Juarez, as well as senior Caiden Neuenschwander. Look for yet another Wanner, this time Jax Wanner, to be included some too as sophomore. Wes Summersett is back at running back while the offensive line leads with experience from Grant O’Dell, Luke Bauman, Noah Hunley and Nathan Plattner.
Defensively, those four offensive linemen will also return as starters on the defensive line or at linebacker including Bauman (3 sacks), while all-conference defensive lineman Dillion Ramirez will join them, as will Ethan Schwartz, Uriel Guttierez and Summersett. The defensive backfield returns experience too with Juarez (2 INT), Neuenschwander and Kaleb Minger.
“We lose some very big playmakers but return a lot of our Line . We have put a large focus on the basic fundamentals of blocking and tackling,” South Adams coach Grant Moser said. “We must continue to work hard and have a high standard if we wish to continue to string winning seasons together and put a product on the field that our community can be proud to support.”
SOUTHERN WELLS RAIDERS
Blake Blaker will take over and try to right the ship of Southern Wells football. Blaker has said in interviews he wants to get the ball to playmakers in space and have things look different than it has for Southern Wells.
Quarterback Trey Slusher is the main one dealing with how they have altered things offensively. Slusher threw just 22 passes last season while the team ran the ball around 400 times. That change from a run heavy team to one who wants to pass the ball will be something to watch with the Raiders after the graduation of Case Boxwell and his 562 yards rushing.
Sophomore twins Leeland Goodnight and Levon Goodnight are likely to factor more into this style of offense after each only logging a few carries last season.
WOODLAN WARRIORS
The Warriors take off with a new look as Brock Rohrbacher takes over the head coaching position. But that change doesn’t mean they won’t rely on their senior class, especially on the offensive end, but with so many key players playing on both sides of the football.
Ty Loudon (706 yards) returns at quarterback while Drew Fleek (506 yards rushing) is back to run the ball and Carter Fleek will return as a tight end. They will return a lot of the offensive line as well to be the first point of attack. Gavin Vachon, Ryan Kline, Bryce Dunfee and Alex Piedra all return to both lines. Woodlan will also bring back Mason Moore (RB/CB), Brandon Stauffer (RB/DE), Ashtin Jacquay (RB/OLB), Jake Ley (RB/ILB) and Oliver Adams (TE) to the fold.
Emerson Spieth will be a newcomer to keep an eye on. The sophomore is expected to add a lot to the defense from an inside linebacker position. Drew Fleek (38 tackles) will also return to the defensive side of the football.
“We are looking forward to the season and will be looking to our senior class for leadership. We hope to play a very physical style of football in all three phases of the game. We are working to develop tough and selfless individuals who will put their teammates and team ahead of themselves,” Rohrbacher said.
ACAC PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
1. Adams Central
2. Bluffton
3. Heritage
4. South Adams
5. Jay County
6. Woodlan
7. Southern Wells
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