Coach: Hawkins
38-18, 5 years
2003 Record: 6-4
at BAY VILLAGE WON 13-7
at ONTARIO WON 14-6
MARGARETTA WON 21-14
SHELBY WON 13-6
FOSTORIA WON 17-14
at BELLEVUE LOST 14-21
at NORWALK LOST 19-21
UPPER SANDUSKY LOST 7-18
TIFFIN LOST 8-24
at GALION WON 73-0


Headcoach Chris Hawkins
2004 Outlook

   The Flashes have a big, strong offensive line, good depth and talent at running back with All-NOL first team selection Brandon Oney. Ryan Loar is a quick, talented quarterback, but very inexperienced at this point. Defensively, Willard could be a very good team much like the past two seasons, as long as they keep pressure on the quarterback and contain the opponent's running game, which is nothing new to the Flashes defense, which had the NOL's top defense verse the run last fall. Nobody expected Willard to come out of the gates at 5-0 last season after the talent they lost the year before. Then, nobody expected a 4-game losing streak to follow. That will be the KEY to their season. Another fast start is needed, but they must sustain it, or any hopes at a league title are dashed by week 8. They have talent and numbers (57 kids grades 10-12). If they continue to get better and they stay healthy, they could be contending for the NOL title and a playoff spot.

Media's 2004 Predicted League Finish:  4th
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RETURNING LEADERS

Passing: Ryan Roar,
10 att. 5 comp., 76 yds, 1 tds 1 ints

Rushing: Brandon Oney,
192 att., 879 yds., 5 tds
and
Jake Rosso,
109 att., 403 yds., 6 tds

Receiving: Brandon Oney
31 rec., 418 yds., 6 tds

Scoring: Brandon Oney,
11 tds, 66 pts.

Punting: no one returning

Kicking: NA

Tackles: Colby Nuhfer, 67 tackles - Dan Hammond, 61 tackles - Chris Fuller, 64 tackles - Brandon Oney, 63 tackles

Sacks: Brandon Viock, 6 sacks - Rosso, Hammond and Holden each with 5 sacks

Interceptions: Chris Fuller,
4 int's

Kickoff returns: Brandon Oney,
6 ret., 21.8 avg.

Punt returns: Brandon Oney,
11 ret., 19.6 avg.

 
Willard Flashes
OFFENSE - 7
----RETURNING STARTERS----
DEFENSE - 6
KEY LOSSES
OFFENSE: Hiram Smith-OL, Aaron Martin-OL, David Hammond-OL, Jeff Willoughby-QB, Dan Gospodarek-RB
DEFENSE: Hirman Smith-LB, David Hammond-DL, Dan Gospodarek-DB, Brock Carr-DB, Chad Rogers-DB, Mike Homan-P
2004 OFFENSE

Written by TheOutsider


Quarterback:
 The Flashes' will have a new quarterback for the second straight season, as junior Ryan Loar (5-9, 160) is the signal caller in 2004. He saw limited action in 2003, completing 4-of-9 passes for 70 yards with one touchdown and one interception. This will be a key position if the Flashes' are to be a success this season. Loar will have to make the quick adjustment to the varsity level and take the pressure off Brandon Oney by passing the ball down field to keep teams honest. Head coach Chris Hawkins plans on throwing the ball downfield more and going for the "home run" while still managing to balance the run and pass. The plan is to throw more on first downs to keep teams off-balance. Loar is quick, and can scramble if in trouble, but will still need to throw down field consistently to keep teams honest.

 

Running backs:
 The strength of the Flashes' offense is no surprise. The focal point of their offense is returning 1st team NOL running back Brandon Oney, who rushed for 900 yards and 5 touchdowns as a sophomore in 2003. Oney was a big part of the 5-0 start and pretty much every game last season, and teams will key on him. The Flashes are going to have to make sure Oney can still grind it out while being the focal point of opposing defenses. At the same time, Oney came up big in some tight games, and one could argue his performance against Fostoria was a one-man wrecking crew. Another back that will see time is junior Tyler Thorton (5-10, 175). In limited time, he had 8 carries for 53 yards and a touchdown. Jake Rosso (6-0, 195lbs) ran for 406 yards and six touchdowns last season, but he will be moving to tight end for his senior season.

 

Receivers:
 This is the most inexperienced position on Willard's roster. Just 11 catches for 202 yards and 1 touchdown return receiving-wise from last year's team, and all of those numbers belong to senior Bret Kessler (5-10, 160). Out of the running back position, Oney also led the team in receiving with 31 catches for 421 yards and 7 touchdowns. He will again be a threat on every single play, whether running the ball, catching the ball, or returning punts. Two other seniors are looking to step up and fill the void. Andrew Adams (5-10, 160) and Wes Jester (6-0, 170) both lettered last season, and will be the 2nd and 3rd options for Loar when throwing the ball. A player to keep an eye on is Rosso, at the tight end position. He will be a nice target to have in the flats, and a good blocker for Loar and Oney both. He is the darkhorse of the offense. The Flashes will need to develop a possession receiver in order to throw downfield more like Hawkins wants.

 

Offensive line:
 The Flashes' strongpoint on offense is clearly on the offensive line. Oney can't get his yards without these guys, and it all starts with 3-year starter Ryan Stevens (6-2, 280). Stevens was 1st team All-NOL, 1st team Northwest District, and also earned All-Ohio honors. He will be the expected "anchor" of the offensive line. Stevens will be joined by two other returnees on the line, including Bryan Holden (6-3, 220), and heavyweight wrestler Brandon Viock (6-1, 255). Mike Sebolt (5-11, 275), Scott Zdroik (6-0, 215), and big Jimmy King (6-2, 295) will round out the rest of the line. King and Sebolt both lettered last season for the Flashes'. "We have a big, strong offensive line with a lot of depth this season," Hawkins said.

 
2004 DEFENSE

Written by TheOutsider


Defensive line:
 While the offensive line is the strongpoint on offense; the defensive line also appears to be the best overall position of the defensive unit. Viock returns at DT where he made 62 tackles and 5 sacks in 2003. Danny Hammond (5-11, 180) also returns to the line, and he contributed 59 tackles and 5 sacks as well last season. Both will both be 3 year starters for the Flashes. Holden is the third returning lineman, and he made 19 tackles and 4 sacks a year ago. Said Hawkins of his defensive line…"Our front five need to step up and stop the run and put even more pressure on the quarterback this year. This is a group of guys that loves to hit, which is always nice to see."

 

Linebackers:
 Chris Fuller is the leading returner at linebacker, where he made 64 tackles, 2 interceptions, and registered a QB sack in 2003. He will be joined there by Jared Wiles, and Thorton. Hawkins feels the team needs one more consistent inside linebacker to be successful. The linebackers are going to have to gel and make plays when the likes of Upper, Norwalk, and Bellevue are on the schedule, as all three teams can pass effectively, while the Redmen also have a proven running attack. This will be vital for the Willard defense in 2004.

 

Secondary:
 "Our secondary must continue to improve," Hawkins said. "I feel they've done a nice job so far, and our safety is one of the best athletes in the league. We need our secondary to step up for us this year." Oney is of course the athlete coach Hawkins is referring to, as he made 63 tackles and had an interception last season. He will be joined there by the three receivers on offense…Jester, Kessler, and Adams. The three are inexperienced, however, as the trio combined for just 15 tackles a year ago.

 

Special teams:
 Brandon Oney will again be the teams premier punt and kickoff returner after averaging 19.6 yards per return as a punt returner and 21.8 returning kickoffs.

 
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2004 Team Captain's