Coach: Jordan Horowitz
8-22, 3 years
2002 Record: 3-7
EDISON LOST 7-0
at HURON LOST 21-14
at PERKINS LOST 55-14
LOUDONVILLE LOST 21-14
at WILLARD LOST 39-12
GALION WON 40-20
at SHELBY WON 18-13
BELLEVUE WON 28-27
UPPER SANDUSKY LOST 42-10
at TIFFIN LOST 41-7


Coach Horowitz
Headcoach Jordan Horowitz
2003 Outlook

A great skilled team. Easily the best way to describe the 2003 version of the Norwalk Truckers, who are coming off a season in which big strides were made. But don't tell that to head coach Jordan Horowitz. "I know a lot of people like to bring up the Bellevue win, along with Shelby, Horowitz said. "But the past will not equal the future, this is a different year, with a different team, and we are simply just playing the name Bellevue, and the name Shelby. I know it's big from a community standpoint, but I can tell you not one player or coach on this team have thought about those two wins at all, we are only concerned with what's in front of us." Horowitz was of course making reference to back to back home wins last season over Shelby and Bellevue. Norwalk had not beat Shelby since 1989, and Bellevue since 1980. But this is a new team, and more importantly, a new year. On with the show. Two BIG keys will dictate the Truckers season, and two only. Pass protection from the offensive line for Smith to work his magic, and stopping the run on defense.  If the Truckers can do a good job of protecting Smith, and giving him the time he needs, a lot of fireworks WILL HAPPEN on offense, this kid is a smart QB who has proven to be one of the most durable and accurate quarterbacks in the league the past two seasons WHEN GIVEN TIME. Biller and Olanyian in the open field along with Freriks are going to be awfully tough to stop, and rest assured no matter the record, some teams are not going to want to face this offense when they get in a groove. Norwalk can put up as many points as they want, but it will mean very little if the defense continues to struggle with tackling and stopping the run. The pass defense IS THERE, that has been proven, but the runs up the middle cannot continue, the Trucker defense must contain the middle of the defense.  If the Truckers can make improvements in BOTH these areas, there is simply no reason they cannot have their first winning record in 25 years. Last year proved that there are some good things happening here, and now the task at hand is to continue to build off it, and go another step higher. Will the Truckers be able to pull it off ? Stay tuned...

Media's 2003 Predicted League Finish :
7th
RETURNING LEADERS

Passing: Cornell Smith
87 comp., 194 att, 1,425 yds, 10 td's, 10 int's

Rushing: Mike Biller
3 att., 10 yds., 0 td's

Receiving: Corey Olanyian
19 rec., 304 yds., 2 td's and Mike Biller, 14 rec., 300 yd's, 4 td's

Scoring: Mike Biller
4 td's, 24 pts.

Punting: Mike Biller
2 att., 31.5 avg.

Kicking: NO ONE RETURNING

Tackles: Dustin Kuhlman
54 tackles

Sacks: Dustin Kuhlman
2 sacks

Interceptions: Mike Biller
2 int's

Kickoff returns: Olaynian
15 ret., 15.2 avg. and Biller, 8 ret., 21.6 avg.

Punt returns: NA

 
Norwalk Truckers
OFFENSE - 6
----RETURNING STARTERS----
DEFENSE - 6
KEY LOSSES
OFFENSE: Scott Gibson-RB, Paul Gardner-RB, Ben Borgeson-WR, Matt Leber-OT, Bill Marett-OL
DEFENSE: Ryan Stanford-LB, Scott Gibson-LB, Matt Leber-DE, Ben Borgeson-DB, Paul Gardner-DB
2003 OFFENSE

Written by tdtruckers

Quarterback:
The least of Horowitz's worries lie at QB, where signal caller Cornell Smith will return for his third year at the helm, looking to break several, if not every passing record in school history. Smith was 3rd in the NOL in passing last season behind Strance from Willard and Niederkohr from Upper when he threw for 1,425 yards, 10 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions while completing 45% of his passes. With the entire running back unit gone from a year ago, look for those numbers to only increase. This is by far the most experienced position on the roster, and considering the importance of the position, this is ALWAYS a good problem to have.

 

Running backs: Gone are Scott Gibson, Paul Gardner, Larry Shoemo, and the 1,200 yards they take with them. Back are well...nobody.  Nobody that is from an experience standpoint, as the Truckers will return 5 attempts for 14 yards of team rushing from a year ago. Now stepping in for the Truckers will be junior Dustin Kuhlman, who also starts at linebacker for the Truckers. Dustin is not new to the position, having played it throughout grade school, and the past two years on JV.  "This is a big year for me from an individual standpoint, and I have to step it up a notch," Kuhlman said. By far the biggest concern from a numbers standpoint, but Kuhlman is more than capable of handling the challenge. Junior Kevin Stoll will spell Kuhlman at running back, and sophomore Mario Ramos will play Fullback when the Truckers line up a formation using the fullback position.

 

Receivers: An abundance of talent returns to this position in the fall, with two playmakers leading the pack. Senior Mike Biller (19 catches, 300 yards, 4 TD's) and junior Corey Olanyian (19 catches, 304 yards, 2 TD's) are the two featured receivers, and junior tight end Tyler Freriks (6'3, 190lbs) will provide a big target, as well as having great hands and playmaking ability as well. The Truckers lost Ben Borgeson's 36 catches for 615 yards and 4 touchdowns to graduation, where he will be continuing his career at John Carrol this fall. But the potential of this year's corps is best described as lightning in a bottle. "We have an extremely great skilled team this season, it's going to be fun to watch," Horowitz said. Biller and Olanyian have blazing speed, and showed the flashes of it last season, meanwhile the big tight end Freriks has the best hands on the team, just an all around athlete who will give teams fits as well. By far the most talented position on the team, which helps make Smith that much more dangerous.

 

Offensive line: "There isn't much depth on the offensive line, so the guys we are going with are going to have to work very hard and stay healthy," Horowitz said. The Truckers also took a big hit on the line from graduation, as they lose two All-NOL linemen in Matt Leber and Bill Marett. Leber is continuing his career at Baldwin-Wallace this fall. Getting the call for Norwalk this season are senior Ross Spino at LT, junior Jordan Vislay at LG, junior Jake Wasniak at C, senior Nick Kovach at RG, and senior Dave Heidelberg at RT. Wasniak, Heidelberg, and Kovach return from a year ago to lead the Truckers, and the key to the ENTIRE season will be protecting their quarterback Cornell Smith. The season literally hinges on it.

 
2003 DEFENSE

Written by tdtruckers

Defensive line: This will be an exact same comparison as the offensive line, very little depth, and they will have to work hard. Almost the same group returns on this side of the ball, as it will be Wasniak at DT, junior Brandon Alley at DT, and the Ends will be Freriks and junior Jon Lambes (5'9, 190lbs). Again the other big key to the season for Norwalk, stopping the ground game, something they have not done well in past years, and last season was no different, as the Truckers gave up over 1,200 yards rushing, good for last in the league. If that improves, it will make things that much easier on the rest of the defense.

 

Linebackers: This would be the other huge hit from graduation, as the Truckers lose Scott Gibson and 107 tackles, and Ryan Stanford and his 56 tackles, along with 8 sacks. Leading the charge again will be the junior Kuhlman, who will be the leading tackler returning from a year ago, with 54. Joining him will be Heidelberg, who was a defensive lineman a year ago, where he made 34 tackles. To round out the 4-3 defense, Ramos will get the call. The biggest key to the linebacking core is replacing the 163 tackles lost, because they MUST go somewhere. 

 

Secondary: Easily the strongest position on the team, the Truckers return quite possibly the two best cover corners in the league, and to no one's suprise....it's Biller and Olanyian. They return at the two corners, along with junior Kevin Stoll at Safety, where he made 31 tackles last season. The other Safety spot will be manned by junior Brad Marcum, who is making the position switch from corner. The Truckers gave up just 811 yards through the air last season, which is less than 100 a game, and good for second in the NOL last season. With the two top corners returning, look for those numbers to be about the same.

 

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"How They Look"

- An opposing NOL team's head coach sizes up the Truckers

"I really like Coach Horowitz as he's brought energy and enthusiasm to the program..... they won some big games last year and were in the thick of things for a league title until week 9..... they have some good skilled kids and a three year starter at QB in Cornell Smith..... I beleive they could build on last season..... they've had a numbers game in Norwalk for awhile and this year looks no different not having a Freshmen team....."

 
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Returning Lettermen
Returning Lettermen