Highland football began the new scholastic year with a new coach and new faces.
Actually, the coach is not so new. Ty Stover has been an assistant in the Highland football program for some years. In addition, he has been a basketball coach at the middle school and varsity level.
After last year’s 4-5 (3-3 KMAC) finish, the Fighting Scots hope that this final season in the Knox-Morrow Athletic Conference (KMAC) will see them battle for the conference crown before they rejoin the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference (MOAC) in 2022.
The Scots will bring back 14 players, including eight seniors. At least one senior, quarterback Cooper Merkling, is facing varsity competition for the first time. He edged out junior Zach Schmidt for the starting QB job. The Scots lost quarterback Kadin Johnson (1,212 passing yards and 11 TDs), who graduated last spring.
“Cooper has worked hard in the preseason for us, adapting to what we do,” Stover said. “Some of it is new to him, of course, being in the program for the last three years, with a different head coach. He's done a good job studying and getting in the film room and doing what he supposed to do to learn exactly what our concept is.”
Senior Cody Matthews and sophomore Dane Nauman (464 yards, 4 TDs) will run the ball for the Scots.
“They will get most of our snaps in the backfield,” Stover said. “We do use an H-back (hybrid back). That would be Eli Grandstaff, who is also a senior. That position is, basically, the mixture of a fullback and a tight end.”
Sophomore Ethan Taylor will start at center and will be rotated with Caden Holtrey, who is a senior. The guards will be Turner Harmon and Ladon Hayes. Kyle Anderson will be the left tackle. The right tackle will be Landon Pedigo.
“Four out of the five are new this year,” Stover said. “We've got a lot of new guys that are experiencing Friday night football for the first time, so that's always nerve-wracking, but they worked their butts off all summer and in the preseason to get ready to go. (When they are new), you try to keep it simple and make them play as hard as they can. You try to get their body position right. Their body position and their footwork is the most important thing.”
Senior Jay Melchioi (12 catches, 150 yards, two TDs), is Highland’s top receiver, coming back from last year. The Scots will rely on Melchioi, due to the graduation of speedy wideout Landon Albanese (17 catches, 240 yards) and last year’s top receiver, Landon Remmert (30 catches, 599 yards, eight TDs).
Also at receiver will be Zach Schmidt, along with senior Mason Duncan.
“That helps with Zach, because he knows the windows the quarterback is trying to find and he can distribute that knowledge to those other guys,” Stover said. “When they're running routes, when to move ahead after reading a defender and those type of techniques that will help them to get open.”
Grandstaff will play one of the inside linebacker positions in Stover’s 3-4 defense and will call defensive signals. Layton Shafer will join Grandstaff at the other inside linebacker spot. The outside linebackers will be Nauman and Jon Jensen, who is a senior. Holtrey will play up front at nose tackle. Kadin Murta and Chandler Stevens will be the defensive ends. It’s a combination that Stover expects to bring tough pass coverage, put some heat on opposing QBs and stop the run.
Free safety Melchioi leads the speedy secondary corps. Junior Gavin Hankins is at strong safety. Mason Duncan and Cory Matthews will play the corners. The versatile Schmidt might see action at both safety and corner.
“We have had a good summer preparing for the upcoming season,” Stover said. “We will play hard, play smart, play together, and we’ll have fun competing and representing our community in a manner that is deserving of their respect.”
