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Coach:
Richard Dewitt
31-22,
4 year |
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2002
Record: 8-3
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| CAREY |
WON
6-0 |
| at
BUCYRUS |
WON
26-0 |
| at
BUCYRUS WYNFORD |
WON
33-26 |
| SHELBY |
WON
27-13 |
| at WEST HOLMES |
WON
28-8 |
| WILLARD |
LOST
20-26 |
| at
BELLEVUE |
WON
28-24 |
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TIFFIN |
LOST
23-30 |
| NORWALK |
WON
42-10 |
| at GALION |
WON
41-0 |
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PLAYOFFS |
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| at
EASTWOOD |
LOST
6-35 |
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Headcoach Richard Dewitt
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2003
Outlook
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Hero time in Upper Sandusky. Is this a little too dramatic? Ask football fans around Ramville and they won't think so. Numbers are once again an issue. There are a total of 48 kids playing football in Upper Sandusky this season. That number includes 17 freshmen. As of right now, Upper is still anticipating having a freshman football program. That means on Friday nights, the Upper Sandusky Rams will be dressing 32 total players. Does this mean that the team is too small to be successful? Absolutely not! That number has gone up since last season. What it does mean is that certain players are going to have to step up and become heroes. With the returning experience, those certain players are fully capable of heroism.
Dick DeWitt returns as the head man for Upper Sandusky. In his six years at Upper Sandusky, DeWitt has compiled a 25-32 record. Looking back at it, 14 of those 25 victories have happened in the last two seasons. In both of the previous two seasons the Rams have made the playoffs. The trip in 2001 was the first in school history. DeWitt's system is taking shape and his players have the dedication, ability and discipline to be successful. Those are the qualities of heroes.
Media's 2003 Predicted League Finish :
3rd
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RETURNING
LEADERS
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Passing:
No One Returning
Rushing: Blake England
70 att., 684
yds., 7 and Brian Hahn, 100 att., 450 yds. 10 tds
tds
Receiving: Greg Micheli
52 rec.,
761 yds., 5 tds
Scoring: Brian Hahn
10 tds,
114 pts.
Punting: Greg Micheli
33 att., 37.9 avg.
Kicking: Nate Blair
21 XPT and 1 FG
Tackles: Brian Hahn
106 and Zack Morral 90 tackles
Sacks: Jake Thiel
6 sacks
Interceptions: Brock England
3 ints
Kickoff returns: Blake England
6
ret., 30.7 avg.
Punt returns: NA
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Upper Sandusky Rams |
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OFFENSE
- 7
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----RETURNING
STARTERS----
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DEFENSE
- 7
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KEY
LOSSES
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| OFFENSE:
Ross Niederkohr-QB, David Berg-WR, Eric Rellinger-OT, Aaron Beidelschies-OT
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| DEFENSE:
Ross Niederkohr-DB, David Berg-DB,
Eric Rellinger-DE, Aaron Beidelschies-DT |
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2003
OFFENSE
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Written
by Rambini
Quarterback:
Hero number one will have to be Greg Micheli. Micheli is returning for his junior season after a sophomore season as an All-Conference, All-District, All-Ohio Special Mention selection. Did I mention that was at wide receiver? The 6'2" 180lb former receiver will be calling the signals in Upper's backfield in 2003. Maybe Coach DeWitt will put in a play for Micheli to loop passes - to himself. He will be replacing Ross "the boss" Niederkohr. In 2002, Niederkohr threw for 1,529 yards and five touchdown passes. He also ran for 286 yards and eight touchdowns. Micheli has his work cut out for him. Those are tough shoes to fill.
Micheli will be backed up by sophomore Aaron Wetherell.
Running backs:
Once again there are some big shoes to fill. David Berg leaves from the flanker position and takes his 317 yards and four touchdowns with him. Berg also caught 13 passes for 138 yards and one touchdown. Although running the ball is not the primary option in Coach DeWitt's offense, the bulk of the load will be carried by 5'8" 160 lb senior, ballistic missile, Blake England. Once he gets through the line he's tough to catch. Catching England from behind is the equivalent of War Admiral trying to catch Seabiscuit in the horse racing world.
Speaking of horses, 5'10" senior fullback Brian Hahn will be the Clydesdale of this backfield. Hahn carried the ball 100 times for 450 yards and scored ten touchdowns. He also caught 23 passes for 230 yards and two touchdowns. Hahn was honored as a first team All-NOL selection.
Receivers:
This is where there is one of the biggest holes to fill. Micheli lead the NOL in receiving yards last season with 716 yards and five touchdowns. The loss of Berg at flanker hurts also. Brock England, the 6'0" 165lb junior brother of Blake England, will have to be the filler. Brock is not quite the burner his brother is but not many are. Brock can still run and he has some size to go with his speed. He caught 19 balls for 177 yards in 2002. With the speed and athleticism in the backfield, expect a lot of balls to be going to backs.
Offensive line:
By far the biggest holes to fill for this year's squad are on the line. Bookend tackles Aaron Beidelscheis and Eric "Rellzilla" Rellinger are gone. Rellinger was an all state selection. The middle of Upper's line should be fine returning Zach Morral, Mike King and all NOL selection Matt Swinehart. All are seniors and have plenty of experience. Trevor Davis, a 6'1" 225lb sophomore, also picked up valuable playing time last season and will help on the offensive line. Justin Swartz, a 5'11" 215 lb sophomore will also help out.
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2003
DEFENSE
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Written
by Rambini
Defensive line:
The holes that are there on the offensive line are also there on the defensive. Beidelschies and Rellinger are gone. Returning are 6'3" 200 lb senior Jake Thiel and 6'2" 225lb senior Matt Swinehart. Mike King, a 6'1" 250 lb senior, will aid in plugging the holes. Senior leadership is the key to this unit.
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Linebackers:
This will be the cornerstone of the number one rated defense in the NOL from last season. Returning is senior All-NOL, All-District and All-Ohio Special Mention linebacker Brian Hahn and senior All-NOL linebacker Zach Morral. Both are bigger and stronger than last year and with that year of experience reads will come faster and tackles will pile up. Hahn lead the team in tackles last year with 106 tackles. He also had four and a half sacks. Morral was second on the team with 90 tackles. He also had one sack
Secondary:
Gone are Ross Niederkohr and David Berg from last year. Returning are Brock England and Greg Micheli. England led the team in interceptions last year with three. Micheli picked off two passes. Look for sophomore Aaron Wetherell and junior Greg Kimmel to step in and help in the secondary.
Special teams:
Micheli will be returning to his duties as punter. Last season he averaged 37.9 yards per punt in his first season as a punter. Nate Bair, a 6'0" sophomore, will be returning to his kicking duties. In his freshman year, Bair scored 21 points for the Rams.
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"How They Look"
- An opposing NOL team's head coach sizes up the Rams
"They are coming off back to back playoff seasons and this could be their best team yet. They only lost four Seniors so things look good for the Rams. One key player lost last year was their QB but he will be
replaced with one of the league's best athletes in Greg Micheli. They should make it to the post season again this year in Division IV but can they compete with the big boys and league favorites?
If they are to ever win the NOL, this could be the season they do it, but the league is very tough and balanced this year. With all their returning players, they have to be considered one of the favorites."
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| Returning Lettermen |
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