An Early Look at the SEOAL: The 2008 GAHS Blue Devils

[loganlocos]

2008 Gallia Academy Blue Devils

Head Coach: Matt Bokovitz (7th year, 45-21 overall)
2007 Record: 4-6 (2-5)
Division: IV, Reg. 15
Returning Starters: 11 (7 OFF, 4 DEF)
Key Losses: Jeff Golden (QB/DB), Nick Stevens (K), Cody Noble (WR/DB), Shawn Thompson (QB/WR), Chris McCoy (HB/DB), Butch Marnhout (RB), Rusty Ferguson (FB/LB), Mike Brown (LB), Luke Watts (DB), Nate Stevens (OL/DL), Dave Rumley (OL/DL), Sam Shawver (OL/DL), Aaron Carpenter (LB), Cole Jones (TE/LB)
Key Returnees: Beau Whaley (WR/DB), Jared Golden (HB/LB), Kruize Wandling (QB), Tyler Grimm (RB/LB), Jon Kyger (OL/DL), Clint Saunders (C/LB), Jared Gravely (OL/DL), Robert Daniels (OL/DL), Xavier Lewis (OL/DL), Quinton Nibert (WR/DB)

2008 Schedule:
Aug. 22 - AT Athens
Aug. 29 - VS Point Pleasant
Sept. 5 - AT Ironton *
Sept. 12 - AT Logan
Sept. 19 - VS Jackson *
Sept. 26 - VS Portsmouth *
Oct. 3 - AT Chillicothe *
Oct. 10 - VS Wellston
Oct. 17 - VS Zanesville *
Oct. 24 - VS Marietta *

Projected Line-Up:
Offense
QB - Kruize Wandling - 5'10 - 170lbs - JR
RB - Tyler Grimm - 5'9 - 175lbs - SR
FB - Demetrius Garnes - 6'1 - 235lbs - JR
H-B - Jared Golden - 6'1 - 185lbs - Soph
WR - Beau Whaley - 6'1 - 165lbs - SR
WR - Quinton Nibert - 6'0 - 165lbs - SR
OT - Jon Kyger - 6'1 - 235lbs - SR
OG - Jared Gravely - 6'3 - 225lbs - JR
C - Clint Saunders - 5'11 - 180lbs - SR
OG - Robert Daniels - 6'1 - 230lbs - SR
OT - Xavier Lewis - 6'3 - 275lbs - JR
Other Offensive Players:
WR - Kyle Bays - 5'8 - 150lbs - JR
RB/WR - Kyle Dingess - 6'1 - 185lbs - JR
WR - Shawn Pethtel - 6'4 - 200lbs - JR
WR - Ian Dressel - 6'2 - 200lbs - SR
WR - Terry Smith - 6'0 - 180lbs - JR
RB - Nate Allison - 5'10 - 175lbs - JR

Defense
OLB - Ian Dressel - 6'2 - 200lbs - SR
DT - Jon Kyger - 6'1 - 235lbs - SR
NG - Demetrius Garnes - 6'1 - 235lbs - JR
DT - Robert Daniels - 6'1 - 230lbs - SR
OLB - Jared Golden - 6'1 - 185lbs - Soph
ILB - Tyler Grimm - 5'9 - 175lbs - SR
MLB - Clint Saunders - 5'11 - 180lbs - SR
ILB - Nate Allison - 5'10 - 175lbs - JR
CB - Beau Whaley - 6'1 - 160lbs - SR
CB - Kyle Bays - 5'8 - 150lbs - JR
FS - Quinton Nibert - 6'0 - 165lbs - SR
Other Defensive Players:
DB - Kruize Wandling - 5'10 - 170lbs - JR
LB - Kyle Dingess - 6'1 - 185lbs - JR
LB - Terry Smith - 6'0 - 180lbs - JR
LB - Shawn Pethtel - 6'4 - 200lbs - JR
DL - Nick Roach - 6'3 - 220lbs - JR
DL - Jarrod Wray - 6'0 - 325lbs - SR

2008 Outlook:
After injuries plagued the 2007 Blue Devils football season, Coach Matt Bokovitz and co. hope that those same injuries can help make the 2008 campaign more successful. How is that possible? The experience gained by underclassmen, especially at quarterback and the offensive and defensive lines, should help the GAHS Blue Devils in 2008.

Kruize Wandling (5-10, 170) returns after starting the second half of 2007 at quarterback and will lead the Blue Devils potent spread offense. As a sophomore, Wandling completed 40 of 76 passes for 483 yards with 6 touchdowns and 6 interceptions. He also scored twice and gained 137 yards on 57 carries running the football.

Top ground gainers Butch Marnhout, Chris McCoy, and Rusty Ferguson were lost to graduation, but senior Tyler Grimm (5-9, 175), junior Demetrius Garnes (6-1, 235), and sophomore Jared Golden (6-1, 185) should form a formidable trio. Golden averaged nearly 6 yards per carry last year as a freshman while Garnes gained nearly 6 and a half.

Beau Whaley (6-1, 165) was second on the team in receptions in 2007 and returns for what should be an outstanding senior season. Golden will also be a top target along with senior Quinton Nibert (6-0, 165) and junior Kyle Bays (5-8, 150). Look for juniors Kyle Dingess (6-1, 185), Shawn Pethtel (6-4, 200), Terry Smith (6-0, 180), and Terry Smith (6-0, 180) to fight for time at receiver as well.

Up front, the blue and white return 5 players who started multiple games and look forward to the return of tackle Jon Kyger (6-1, 235) who missed 9 games last year after breaking his leg in the season opener. Senior Robert Daniels (6-1, 230) started nearly every game last fall. Senior Clint Saunders (5-11, 180) returns at center and sophomores Xavier Lewis (6-3, 275) and Jared Gravely (6-3, 225) both return at tackle and guard respectively.

Defensively, the Blue Devils made progress as the season went on and return enough bulk up front to be optimistic entering 2008.

Replacing Dave Rumley, one of the league's top D-linemen a year ago, will be tough but look for Kyger, Daniels, and Garnes to get the first shots up front. Junior Nick Roach (5-11, 220), Gravely, and senior Jarrod Wray (6-0, 325) will all fight for time up front as well.

The Blue Devils five-man linebacking corps lacks experience outside of inside linebacker Grimm and middle linebacker Saunders. Senior Ian Dressel (6-2, 200) and Golden are likely to get first crack at the outside linebacker spots, but Dingess, Smith, and Pethtel will be in the running as well. Nate Allison (5-10, 175) should also see time at inside linebacker with Dingess, Smith, Pethtel, and Gravely fighting for time as well.

In the backfield, Whaley, Bays, and Nibert should be the early front runners with Wandling adding depth.

The Blue Devils league schedule includes games at Chillicothe and Ironton, but home games with Marietta, Zanesville, Portsmouth, and Jackson along with non-league games with Athens (away), Point Pleasant (home), Logan (away), and Wellston (home) give the Blue Devils a real chance at 6-7 wins if the talent can make the strides the coaching staff expects.

[91blue14]

i look for austin wilson to challenge for playing time in the defensive backfield and at wideout

[1987chieftains]

hopefully the blue devils have shook the injury bug this year.

[91blue14]

SHOULD HAVE DECENT GROUND GAME IF GARNES CAN BLOW OPEN SOME HOLES. AND GET SOME CARRIES HIMSELF A LOAD. GOTTA LEARN THE PLAYBOOK

[Mighty Mighty Devils]

gahs should have some realy nice returning juniors come fb season and sophmores that will be lookin for playing time hope to see gravely return healthy along with lewis they will be key players on the line

[91blue14]

for sure what is the win prediction

[BBallin fool]

gravely is a back he never did play much line !!! From 5th grade to fr, He was a back, they played him alittle on the line his fr. year not much!!! and after coming back his soph. year he ran the ball some!!! and for big man he better start hitting the books/

[BBallin fool]

Experience wise on line play!!! graverlydoes not have much at all. But on the D side of the ball he is one hell of a linebacker!!!

[Mighty Mighty Devils]

I agree about hittin the books we cannot afford to lose any kid to grades this comming year the big man and a few other freshman and sophmores that played need to realize that they were out there to learn and take there lumps early so they could deal them out later in there career

[jiveturkey]

will lead the Blue Devils potent spread offense.

isnt that a bit presummptuious?

[Mighty Mighty Devils]

The Devils may return to a winning season, but not by much. Looking at the enemic non-league schedule, they will no doubt romp to lopsided wins there, embarassing themselves in the process. But when the league starts, a butt kicking awaits. Look for an at best finish of 6-4, which may let them slide into the play-offs, maybe. It will be close. Any injuries and 5-5 or worse is possible as they are thin with no depth. That would defintely mean no playoffs then. Another team where the glory days are behind them.

Just keep thinkin that way cause that's the way we want you too think

[GAHS7462]

Where you get that quote from Paladin? I don't see his post anywhere.

I hope the weight room is busy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[GalliaGrad78]

The Devils may return to a winning season, but not by much. Looking at the enemic non-league schedule, they will no doubt romp to lopsided wins there, embarassing themselves in the process. But when the league starts, a butt kicking awaits. Look for an at best finish of 6-4, which may let them slide into the play-offs, maybe. It will be close. Any injuries and 5-5 or worse is possible as they are thin with no depth. That would defintely mean no playoffs then. Another team where the glory days are behind them.

Just keep thinkin that way cause that's the way we want you too think

He should know about has-beens.. Oh wait, in his case it is "never was"

[Mighty Mighty Devils]

just bringin us back to the front page weight room numbers look good from what i ve seen drivin by hopefully a good season ahead

[Botcowa]

Is Jeff Goldens, little brother still planning on playing this year? I heard last year he had some injury problems as well? Thanks for any info.

[BBallin fool]

All I can say the weight room is full!!! And that is good news for the Blue!!!

[mrs.koolaid]

jacob white is going to be playing for jr high this year, so i promise they will have a great season

[91blue14]

didnt he play for the elks

[JChipwood]

Yeah Jacob was an Elk. Good luck Jacob!! Hopefullythey put a line in front of him and let him carry the load. Gonna be lots of Elks running around on Memorial for the next several years. I agree with mrs koolaid, with him on the field i would also guarantee a good year for the 7th grade team, one kid doesn't make a team but one Jacob White makes up for several mediocre players. He needs to carry the ball!!!!!!! That 7th grade class is talented, line play is the only ?? imho.

Botcowa, As far as i know Jared Golden is playing, talked to him a couple of weeks ago and he looks ready to go. Very tough kid, he's a hitter. He should have a good season this year.

[91blue14]

the blue is very quiet coming into july. they must be walking the walk.