2010 SEOAL Previews: Gallia Academy Blue Devils

[loganlocos]

2010 Gallia Academy Blue Devils

Head Coach: Mike Eddy (2nd Year, 2-8 overall)
2009 Record: 2-8 (2-3)
Division: III, Reg. 12
Returning Starters: 10 (5 OFF, 5 DEF)
Key Losses: Jared Gravely (FB/DE), Nate Allison (RB/LB), Kyle Dingess (SE/CB), Shaun Pethtel (T/DE), Dylan Hunter (G/LB), Nick Roach (C), Xavier Lewis (OT/DT), Nathaniel Gordon (DL)
Key Returnees: Ethan Moore (QB/LB), Austin Wilson (WB/DB), Jared Golden (RB/LB), Branson Barr (OL/DL), Stephen Atkins (OL/DL), Josh Curry (OL/LB), Ben Saunders (LB), Brandon Taylor (RB/DB), Tyler Eastman (SE/DB), Drew Young (RB/LB), Joel Johnston (RB/DB), Dalton Jarrell (TE/DB), Zach Tackett (RB/DE)

2010 Schedule:
Aug. 27 - AT Athens
Sept. 3 - VS Hillsboro
Sept. 10 - VS Wellston
Sept. 17 - AT Marietta *
Sept. 24 - AT Ironton
Oct. 1 - AT Logan *
Oct. 8 - VS Chillicothe *
Oct. 15 - VS Portsmouth *
Oct. 22 - AT Warren *
Oct. 29 - VS Jackson *

Projected Line-Up:
Offense
QB - 05 - Ethan Moore - 6'1 - 190lbs - SR *
FB - 02 - Jared Golden - 6'2 - 215lbs - SR *
HB - 09 - Drew Young - 6'0 - 185lbs - JR
WB - 07 - Austin Wilson - 5'9 - 160lbs - SR *
TE - 13 - Dalton Jarrell - 5'10 - 175lbs - SR
RT - 69 - Branson Barr - 6'3 - 245lbs - JR *
RG - 55 - Dallas Moss - 6'1 - 190lbs - JR
C - 64 - David Saunders - 6'1 - 200lbs - SR
OG - 50 - Josh Curry - 5'10 - 190lbs - SR
OT - 74 - Stephen Atkins - 6'3 - 255lbs - JR *
Other Offensive Players:
RB - 10 - Brandon Taylor - 6'0 - 170lbs - JR
TE - 01 - Joe Jenkins - 6'4 - 190lbs - SR

Defense
DE - 53 - Zack Tackett - 5'11 - 180lbs - JR
DT - 77 - Codie Lloyd - 5'11 - 385lbs - SR *
DT - 69 - Branson Barr - 6'3 - 245lbs - JR
DE - 55 - Dallas Moss - 6'1 - 190lbs - JR
OLB - 02 - Jared Golden - 6'2 - 215lbs - SR *
ILB - 45 - Ben Saunders - 5'11 - 160lbs - SR *
ILB - 50 - Josh Curry - 5'10 - 190lbs - SR
OLB - 09 - Drew Young - 6'0 - 185lbs - JR
CB - 07 - Austin Wilson - 5'9 - 160lbs - SR *
CB - 10 - Brandon Taylor - 6'0 - 170lbs - JR *
FS - 06 - Tyler Eastman - 6'2 - 170lbs - SR
Other Defensive Players:
LB - 05 - Ethan Moore - 6'1 - 190lbs - SR
DB - 13 - Dalton Jarrell - 5'10 - 175lbs - JR
DL - 71 - Aaron Guisinger - 6'3 - 320lbs - JR
DL - 74 - Stephen Atkins - 6'3 - 255lbs - JR
DB - 11 - Joel Johnston - 5'11 - 170lbs - JR
LB - 15 - Bryant Bokovitz - 5'11 - 200lbs - JR
LB - 52 - Jacob Shockey - 5'9 - 190lbs - Soph
DE - 01 - Joe Jenkins - 6'4 - 190lbs - SR

2010 Outlook:
As bad as 2009 started for the Gallia Academy Blue Devils, it may have ended about as strong as they could hope for. To call Coach Eddy's first year at GAHS "character building" would be an understatement. Only 10 seniors started the season, and while almost all of them were contributors, the underclassman that return for Eddy's second year made vast improvements over the course of the 2009 season.

With a "return to basics" attitude that emphasizes defense and running the football, the Blue Devils are a shadow of the program Eddy took over from Matt Bokovitz.

Offensively, the Blue Devils will run the football right at you out of the wing-t. Ethan Moore returns at quarterback for his third season after completing 45 of 93 passes for 566 yards and 6 touchdowns against 5 interceptions last fall. Tyler Eastman is an experienced back-up for the blue and white.

Leading rushers Nate Allison and Jared Gravely will be missed, but speedy wingback Austin Wilson returns after gaining 392 yards on 57 carries for an average of nearly 7 yards per rush. Jared Golden, Drew Young, Joel Johnston, and Zack Tackett are top contenders to fill out the backfield.

Eastman along with Joe Jenkins should see time at split end while Jenkins and Dalton Jarrell are contenders for time at tight end.

A pair of juniors, Bransen Barr and Stephen Jenkins, both came on strong last fall on the offensive line and should be the anchors in 2010. Dallas Moss and Josh Curry have experience at guard while David Saunder should be the center.

Defensively, Golden, Ben Saunders, and Young are returning starters in strong linebacking corps. Johnston, Denison, and Dalton Jarrell add depth in the linebacking corps.

Up front Aaron Guisinger and Codie Lloyd provide big bodies while Tackett, Curry, Moss, and Jenkins will all fight for time at defensive end.

In the secondary, Wilson, Taylor and Moore are returning starters with Jarrell, and Eastman adding depth.

The Blue Devils will be challenged in the first 4 weeks, but all 4 games are winnable for a resurgent program. Consecutive road games with Ironton and Logan will be too of the Devils biggest challenges but league favorite Portsmouth and rival Jackson both travel to Memorial Field.

[JChipwood]

Good post ^^^

Major improvements were made in attitude and toughness last year as well as physicality. This could be a much better year with a schedule that is more like previous years rather than last year and year of learning working on fundamentals again under Coach Eddy.

Good outlook especially from an outsider! I think every team beyond Athens last year saw a difference in the way the kids played compared to years past.

[BBallin fool]

The O-Line will make or break this team??? GOOD LUCK GA.

[GAHS83]

The O-Line will make or break this team??? GOOD LUCK GA.

Offensively, the O-Line is key. The unit as a whole is significantly bigger, stronger and quicker. The question is can they grasp the scheme and get the assignments straightened out.

Defensively, they should be stout against the run. I would expect Lloyd to start at DT instead of Potter (didn't he transfer?). He played almost not at all last year after breaking his ankle, but should have started most of last year. The area for concern on defense will be defending in space, both on outside runs and defending the pass. The speed is there, but they struggled to make plays last year.

I would expect drastic improvement over last year. The schedule is a little easier and the whole team seems to have a very workman-like attitude regarding the upcoming season. Their efforts this off-season should pay off this fall.

[Paladin]

Looking for a 5 -5 year at worst and maybe 6-4 if they get it together. Lighter schedule helps.

[Daniel Larusso]

Good to hear the blue devils are getting back to the basics. I missed watching those hard hitting, sure tackling, defensive oriented teams from the past.

I will miss the spread on offense, but I trust coach Eddy knows what he is doing with the offense. If he wants to run the wing-t that's fine with me.

The schedule looks pretty good overall, but I hope this is the last year that Point Pleasant and Meigs remain absent from it. I guarantee those 2 games bring in way more money than Hillsboro and Wellston. Not to mention they are long time rivalry games.

I think it's going to be a succesful year in blue devil land. My prediction is anywhere from 6-4 to 8-2. I really think coach Eddy has the program going in the right direction.

[BBallin fool]

83 !!! I heard Potter is at RV??? Thats where Austin Smith went.

[loganlocos]

Few updates.

I did hear that Potter has left he program.

[noreply66]

Call me crazy but I saying 7 and 3

[Mighty Mighty Devils]

From the cheap seats, and observations made more from watching game DVDs than actually being able to be in attendance, I would opine that the two biggest areas the Devils need to make MAJOR improvements if they are to have a winning season would be in turnovers and special teams.

Without a doubt special teams directly cost us the Portsmouth game (understatement), and certainly turnovers were fatal in the Hillsboro and Jackson games to name just a few. The Logan, Zanesville, and Ironton games were mismatches; the other seven were competitive (yes even the Athens game that we lost 21-0). We could have won 4-5 games last year, but coulda-woulda-shouldas never beat anyone.

With Zanesville and Hartley off the schedule this year replaced by Wellston and Warren (league game), I believe the Blue Devils will be more competitive this year and 4-6 should be attainable with possibly 6-4 or better not out of the question.

Ironton, Marietta*, Warren*, Athens, Logan* AWAY
Hillsboro, Wellston, Portsmouth*, Chillicothe*, Jackson* HOME

At Portsmouth 3 onside kicks in a row not special teams cost us the game that one is on the coaches

[javagt]

I agree with noreply - 7 and 3 Gallia is never down very long ...

[superblue]

'At Portsmouth 3 onside kicks in a row not special teams cost us the game that one is on the coaches...How true.....' I listened to the game last year and what struck me as odd was that The radio anouncers were calling 90% of Portsmounths plays in the second half & we still could not stop them.... Coaches never made any adjustments.... How about the Hartley game??? We take the lead in the second half and then kick the ball to the best running back they have and takes it inside our 5 yard line..... That's #2 on the coaches.......LOL

[GalliaGrad78]

..........

[81dendmhs74]

I HOPE GA HAS A REBOUND YEAR AND SHOWS THE SEOAL THAT THEY ARE BACK .
YOUR MEIGS CO. BUDDY

[A-Town Big Dog]

I think GAHS will have a much better grasp on what it takes to run the wing this year. The O-line is the most important piece to this offense especially the guards, if the guards are athletic and quick they'll be fine, if the are big lumbersome kids they'll struggle. If there is one thing I've learned about GAHS in all my time living in the area it's that they usually have a group of athletic kids willing to work hard so I'm gonna guess they'll do much much better this year. I can't wait to see you in Athens week 1!

[Mighty Mighty Devils]

MMD: Onside kicks ARE a part of special teams; both in the play calling and especially EXECUTION

I know they are part of special team just saying our special team play was'nt that bad but three onside kicks in a row killed us!!! we were actually up by a score when they started the kickfest

[CLane]

fake counter....bootleg pass...backside post...Moore to Wilson...touchdown...all night long...Go Blue!

[frosty]

yeah as long as nobody shoots the duck out of the sky...ARM STRENGTH is the key and i think his is just strong enough to throw a couple halfback tosses..maybe???

[superblue]

What time does the scrimmage start this Sat?

[Fun in the Sun]

Lots of Love from frosty ..........

Talking about " Frost " , I would say after this heat wave , the two a day practice are getting HOT , and the young men would like to have some " Frost " on the ground !!