The Andy Schob-led Ohio football team continued practice Monday in preparation for the 19th Annual BACF Football Classic on Friday.
"We're still getting comfortable," Schob said. "We've got 34 kids, and we're gonna try and start 22 of them. Out of the first seven series, we'll get everybody in at least four of those series. But we're gonna continue to evaluate this week."
Schob is still trying to figure out who most of those 22 starters will be, but one position that has been locked down is quarterback. Marietta's Justin Futrell will handle the play calling duties, and is hoping to enjoy his final high school football game.
"It's a good last game," Futrell said. "We get to go out and play with our friends, so it should be a good time."
Schob figures to run a spread and I-formation offense. When Futrell was asked if he is familiar with those types of offense, he laughed and said "Well, I've had three head coaches in four years, so I'm familiar with just about everything."
Futrell will have plenty of options to work with, as Ohio will have four running backs on its roster that topped the 1,000 yard mark this season. Jeffrey Rousch, of Meigs, Shane Crum, of Shenandoah, Kole Hogue, of Monroe Central, and Dustin Baker of Marietta all reached the 1,000 yard plateau, and will split carries on Friday.
Crum and Hogue were both All-PVC selections, while Rousch was an All-TVC selection and Baker was first team All-ECOL.
Mitchel Gearhart from Marietta and Michael Leasure from Shenandoah will also get into the mix in the backfield. Gearhart was selected as a second team All-ECOL choice while Leasure was first team All-PVC.
Ohio will not be short on receivers, either, as Jeremy Fivecoait and Jeremy Hastie of Warren were both first team All-SEOAL selections. Zachary Sayre from Meigs, who was an All-TVC selection, will likely see plenty of snaps from the wideout position.
Jimmie Buck from Warren and Logan Postie of River will lead the offensive line, and a number of others will see playing time there.
Austin Henthorn, an All-SEOAL selection from Warren, will headline the linebackers on defense. "It's always a rivalry when you play a team from across the river," Henthorn said. "We don't usually get to play those teams, like from Parkersburg, so you always wanna beat them. It's our last chance to play, and we know all the guys here, so we want to do well."
The defense will likely line up in a 3-5, which is a defense Henthorn thrives in. "I loved it," Henthorn said. "It keeps the offense on their toes, because your always sending someone on a blitz and moving guys around. It just rattles the offense."
Jacob Milligan from Morgan, Austin McConn from River, and Blake Crow from Meigs will also see time at linebacker, as well as Brandon Kring from Frontier.
On the defensive line, Brian Sawyer from Caldwell has performed well in practice. Sawyer was an All-Ohio pick in 2011. Kendrick Schwendeman from Waterford, an All-TVC selection, Joey Lane of Warren, and Jonathan Scott of Fort Frye will all be in the defensive line rotation as well.
In the secondary, Crum and Rousch will see playing time, as well as Hastie and Fivecoait.
"We're still evaluating and seeing who's most comfortable where," Schob said. "I think we're coming along, though."
