The New Philadelphia Fighting Quakers finished their first season playing in the Ohio Cardinal Conference in 2022, after competing in the East Central Ohio League for 18 seasons. Under second-year head coach Mike Johnson, the Quakers finished with a 6-5 overall record last year, for the second straight year. Last season they were outscored 191-145, but 60 of those points against came in one game: a 60-7 loss to West Holmes. Take that one game out of the equation and the Quakers held a 138-131 point advantage. NP finished their season with a 27-10 playoff loss on the road at Canfield despite being down only 14-10 into the fourth quarter.
Johnson, who is a New Philadelphia graduate with two years at the NP helm after 12 years as an assistant coach and sideline time as offensive coordinator, said the 2023 season’s successes will depend on senior student-athletes. “We are graduating a lot of key contributors on offense and defense, and we have a large senior class excited to step up.”
The Quakers lost three all-OCC conference first-team selections from last year: OG Cameron Clarkson, OLB Thad VanArsdale and C-WR Dakota McCune. Also graduated include second team OCC honorees LB Trevor Bean, LB Konnor Tetzloff, QB Kurtis Tetzloff, and WR Willy Wallace, as well as Honorable Mention selection FB-NG Elijah Forrest. OG Tate Casper also graduated.
Returning are All-OCC first-team starter LB Jaiden Boltz and Honorable Mention selections QB Keaton Fausel and RT Garrett Dillon-Rine. Coach Johnson said that those returning vets are key this year, along with the returning skillsets of LT Boston Crowell on offense, and LB Zach Rothrock and DE Owen Schoelles on defense. Special teams will be keyed by returning long snapper Pete DiDonato and returning holder Carson Long.
Coach Johnson is looking forward to a new opponent, when they face Louisville on week one (Aug. 18) at Woody Hayes Quaker Stadium. Louisville was 3-7 last year. “They have a new coach, Chris Kappas, and will be energized,” Johnson said. “We are excited for our players to step up and compete. On Week two, we travel to Steubenville, then begin our OCC schedule Sept. 1 at home against Wooster, and finish off the season at our rival Dover, Oct. 20.”
NP finishes their OCC conference schedule Oct.13, hosting West Homes.
