Highland Fighting Scots football coach Ty Stover looks to take on a new conference this year and will rally his troops with the slogan/focus: “Being 11."
Stover said, “We are focused on ‘being 11.' It is being better than a rating scale of 10; making it to Week 11 (the playoffs); and putting the best 11-player unit on the field. When we break huddle, we shout, ‘Stay 11.’ It is our focus.”
Coming off an 8-4 season, their last in the KMAC, which they dominated with a 6-1 conference mark, the Highland Fighting Scots return to the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference (MOAC) with high expectations. The Scots were MOAC members from 1990-2017 before a five-year stint in the KMAC.
They ended last season with a playoff blowout win, 41-6 over Linden McKinley (Columbus), followed by a blowout playoff loss to Bloom-Carroll, 31-3. For the year, they outscored their opponents 340-230, led by freshman running back Dane Nauman’s school-record 2,532 yards on 262 carries for 9.7 yards per carry, 211 yards per game, and 25 touchdowns. The best news for Highland and a true concern for MOAC opponents is that Nauman will be back.
The 2022 Scots have 14 returning lettermen, including eight seniors, and the experienced players returning include first-team KMAC selections Nauman and Chandler Stevens.
In 2021, senior QB Cooper Merckling ran the offense, completing 48.7% of his passes for 643 yards and 8 TDs against only 3 INTs. Junior Zack Smith completed 16 of 25 passes (a .640 clip) for 245 yards and 2 TDs last year, but the Scots are working with sophomore quarterback candidates to assume the leadership role as Smith moves into a prominent role in the receiving corps.
On the ground, the go-to guy is Nauman, but Stover sees a number of Scots competing for running back carries.
Offensively, Stover focuses on a spread offense to expand the box.
“This allows us to get the ball into ‘42’s’ hands [Nauman] and widens the box for our passing and runs,” he said.
The Scots’ top trio of 2021 receivers, Jay Melchiori, Mason Duncan and Cody Matthews (also the No.2 rusher last year), all graduated, but a group of younger players is expected to step in this year as Stover looks to present a balanced offense and a tough defense, led by linebacker Stevens, Nauman and a cohesive unit of defenders.
Stevens was second in Scots’ solo tackles last year with 37 and in total stops with 67, and Nauman had 33 solos and 26 assists for 59 total tackles.
Defensively, Stover employs “moving parts.” Many players are competing for defensive snaps, and he chess-moves and strategizes to contain or outmaneuver the opponent.
Stover is in his fourth year at the school after coaching at Big Walnut and Westerville North. He said the Highland program is different because the kids are and the community is.
“Our kids are different. They are tough kids. They don’t complain when it is hot and will do extra work – whatever it takes to win. From the kids to the parents to the community, we are blue-collar hard workers. It is a winning attitude,” he said.
Stover said he has learned from his coaches, particularly the ones with whom he battled.
“They taught me the right and wrong way to do things and the importance of building player relationships,” he said. “I lead our players the way I expect them to lead their teammates.”
Stover’s expectation for the upcoming season is to compete.
“As a team, we represent our community in a manner that is deserving of their respect. And we now have a new group of teams to face, and we will try to earn their respect. We are moving into a new league (MOAC) with great teams, and even our nonconference schedule is tough. I expect the kids to compete, to enjoy themselves, the games and the process, and I expect to give them everything I’ve got, because they give us everything they’ve got. They work hard at being 11.”
The Fighting Scots finish their 2022 preseason with a scrimmage against Fairfield Union, Aug. 11 and start the regular season with a home-opener against Frederictown on Aug. 19.
