The anticipation surrounding this years squad is greater than many past season's as the Redmen faithful are eager to see how they recover from their first four loss season since headcoach Ed Nasonti took over the program in 1991. What's more anticipated is the career 500th win mark that should be obtainable within the first half of the 2003 campaign. 500 all-time victories is a remarkable accomplishment as only about 20 out of the 816 school's throughout the State of Ohio can say they have 500 or more wins. Coach Nasonti while feeling good about 500 victories for his Alma Mater is more focused on the task at hand of winning his 10th NOL title in 13 years as Head coach. Nasonti and his staff will have a veteran group to work with in 2003 returning 24 letter winners which include 17 Seniors, 8 offensive starters, 4 defensive starters and 6 players who received All-League honors in 2002. Senior Matt Lepley who led the team with 1,587 all-purpose yards and 23 touchdowns last year while playing in only 9 games looks to lead a Redmen offense full of athletic players at the skilled positions. Lepley looks to help improve a running game that finished last in the NOL with 1,027 yards a season ago. On defense the Redmen coaching staff will stress disapline to a group that finished second in the NOL in total defense but gave up an average of 163 rushing yards a game. The key to both could be this years offensive and defensive line whom many feel could be the strongest unit in Redmen history. Winning the close games will be essential this season after losing 3 games by a total of 7 points in 2002. The wait is almost over... Only 93 more hours till kickoff for another great season of High School Football, yet in a town full of tradition and pride....What more can one ask for?

Media's 2003 Predicted League Finish : 2nd

Passing: Jon Journay
83 comp. 175 att., 1377 yds, 16 td's 8 int's

Rushing: Matt Lepley
90 att., 492 yds., 8 td's

Receiving: Matt Lepley
26 rec., 454 yds., 7 td's

Scoring: Matt Lepley
23 td's, 148 pts.

Punting: Scott Borchardt
1 for 24 yds

Kicking: Mike Snyder
14/21 XPA - 0/0 FGA

Tackles: Brian Palsa
66 Tackles

Sacks: Jordon Berberick
5 Sacks

Interceptions: Matt Lepley
2 ints

Kickoff returns: Matt Lepley
11 ret., 33.0 avg., 3 td's

Punt returns: Matt Lepley
8 ret., 33.3 avg., 4 td's

Written by XBellevueplayar

Defensive line:
  The Defensive line looks to replace 144 tackles and 12 sacks from 2003 graduates Jeremy Smith, Ben Malott and Bill Evert. The three of them which accounted for both defensive tackle spots and one defensive end spot averaged 5'10 186 pounds. Size returns to the Redmen defensive line in 2003 with Senior Aaron Decker being the lone returning starter at his Defensive end position. Senior Tyler Edgington looks to sure up the one defensive tackle spot and Junior Keith Didion looks to maintain the other tackle position. Senior Jordon Berberick who will be the smallest guy on the defensive line made one key play after another in limited action last year recording 11 tackles but also 5 sacks. All four projected starters would average out at 6'1 224 pounds, a HUGE improvement in size from a year ago. Seniors Tim Cooper, Mike Snyder, Mike Redd and Josh Bogner look for playing time along the defensive front.

Linebackers:
  Gone are 3 starters, 213 tackles and 10 sacks from last years line backing core. Senior Scott Borchardt (6'1, 185)returns as the only opening game starter at linebacker from a year ago as he finished with 49 tackles and 2 sacks. Senior Shane Hamer (5'11, 175) looks to start at one of the line backing spots from day one. Hamer tallied 54 tackles a year ago while only starting in about half of last years games. Junior Alex Malott (6'1, 190) will look to stop opposing running games this year after limited action last season while finishing with 20 tackles and one sack. Tyler Van Fleet looks to nail down the remaining linebacker spot. Senior's Robbie Smith, Tom Tinnel Junior Freddy Steinhauser and Sophomore Corey George look to push for playing time.

Secondary:
  The defensive secondary only took one hit from graduation, that being cornerback Ben Snyder who contributed 26 tackles and 3 interception's while returning 2 of them for touchdowns. Junior Brian Palsa (6'1, 180) returns at his safety position after recording 66 tackles a year ago and 1 interception. Senior Matt "Do Everything" Lepley (5'11, 185) returns at his corner position after receiving All-League 1st team honors as a defensive back while recording 15 tackles and 2 interceptions returning 1 for a touchdown. Junior Greg Keys (6'3, 200) takes over the other corner position as his 4.27 speed and athletic ability will surely improve a secondary that finished first in defending the pass last season. Junior's Cody Koselke, Jarrid Breyman and Sophomore's Dan Wollenslegel and David Foos look at being the backups.

Special teams:
  Senior Mike Snyder looks to retain his place kicking duties from a year ago in which he hit 13 extra points. Senior Jordon Berberick looks at handling the kickoff duties after working on it all summer. New comer Greg Keys appears to be the early favorite to handle the punting duties with Senior Scott Borchardt waiting in the wings. Matt Lepley will once again handle punt and kick returns after recording a total of 7 touchdown returns last year between the two. Junior Greg Keys will likely take his track speed and form a nice return group with Lepley.

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"How They Look"

- An opposing NOL team's Head coach sizes up the Redmen

"They always have strong numbers and it shows with all their league titles.... The Keys boy who transferred from Perkins could be one of the leagues best athletes..... They'll be hungry after a 6-4 season and have to be considered one of the favorites to win the league with a lot of returning players...The Lepley kid was an outstanding player for them last year and will be among the leagues best once again....Their loaded"