Mount Gilead's football program tasted success and it tastes great. The Indians rebounded from a rough 2021, going 0-7 in KMAC and 2-8 overall, to finish 6-5 and 4-3 in KMAC in 2022.
Season highlights include the first OHSAA playoff appearance in school history, the first winning season in the last 20 years, and head coach Mike Reid being named 2022 KMAC Coach of the Year,
“We have come a long way over the last two seasons,” Reid said. “Coming from no wins, and only four wins throughout four previous seasons, then winning two in 2021, then winning six last season, and qualifying for the playoffs for the first time in school history, but we still have work to do.”
Reid, who begins his 38th season on the sidelines -- his third with the Indians -- traces his coaching roots to the heyday of Mount Gilead football.
“My philosophy is certainly taken from my old high school coach, Paul “Bear” Bremigan, who really put Mount Gilead football back on the map,” Reid said. “I simply want to help restore this program at least close to where he had it back in the 1970s and early '80s.
Mount Gilead outscored its opponents 288-220 last season out of a power-spread offense that featured traditional power run series as well as “read options” which force the defense to defend the entire field. Ried will adapt his offense to the team’s personnel.
“We, like most programs, adjust our offense to maximize and highlight the strength of our personnel.”
Defensively, the Indians focus on a variety of looks in a basic system. “We run multiple fronts but our base is a 3-4. We run this because it best fits the variety of offense we see in the KMAC,” Reid said. “We can defend most formations without having to really complicate alignment rules or blitz/coverage schemes.”
The Indians lost nine players to graduation, however, Reid is comfortable with his returning players, particularly the seniors. “Our seniors have proven to be tremendous leaders over the past year,” Reid said.
“Their teammates respect them and they have done a tremendous job in workouts from our winter program up through our summer program.”
Returning seniors include Bryan Sayers, Mitchell Sayers, Hayden Krinn, Gabe Simpson, Mason Barnum, Logan High, Gavin Strubhar, and Hunter Meimer. Returning underclassmen include Carson Trainer, Shane Carpenter, Cam Vickers and Eliot Jones.
“We had great depth last year up front, and we return three starters, including third-team All-State lineman, Hayden Krinn, and three-year lettermen Bryan and Mitchell Sayers,” Reid said. Gabe Simpson, a two-year starter in the slot, and Logan High, a three-year starter at receiver, round out the offense.
Krinn and Shane Carpenter anchor the defensive front. Linebackers, Mason Barnum and Simpson (second team all-KMAC and Honorable Mention Central District) will team with Carson Trainer and Logan High in the secondary.
Building on the foundation established over the last two years, contending for the KMAC title, qualifying for the playoffs, and winning playoff games, that’s what this team hopes to achieve.
The group has come together and is united by maxims. “The boys have chosen to stick with 'Power of One' because they have really bought into each one making themselves better in knowledge, speed, strength, technique and mostly simply becoming a better human being,” Reid said.
"In doing so, as we all bring our developed skills into one TEAM, we become a very Powerful ONE.”
A road game at Triad High School started the season for the Indians. Details were unavailable at press time.
