Nelsonville-York scouting report: Buckeyes bouncing back well from disastrous 1-9 season
- By SPENCER WAUGH for The Logan Daily News
Dave Boston, who won a state championship in 1981 and whose name is on the school’s football stadium, led the program until his son-in-law, Kevin Meade, took over in the early 1990s.
Dave Boston Jr. (Davy) followed and was only the school’s third head coach until halfway through last season.
But after a disastrous 1-9 campaign in 2015, new head coach Rusty Richards has the Buckeyes back on track. While Richards has no family tie to the Boston family, he is no stranger to the Nelsonville community or Athens County football fans.
A graduate and star at Trimble High School, he was the co-architect of a Trimble defense that won nine playoff games in four seasons, including a state runner-up finish in 2013. Richards has taught in the N-Y school district for 14 years.
He takes over a team with plenty of talent, and despite their 2-2 record, a TVC Ohio Division title and playoff berth are still very much within reach.
On offense, the Buckeyes’ “three-headed monster” of quarterback Hunter Edwards (6-3, 185, senior), fullback Noah Andrews (5-10, 200, senior), and tailback Alex Mount (6-1, 200, senior) leads the way.
Mount averages an astounding 11 yards per carry, leading the Buckeyes with 610 yards on 54 carries with four touchdowns. Andrews shares the team lead with four rushing touchdowns.
Edwards has gained 268 yards on 40 carries with his feet while completing 20 of 55 passes for 406 yards, including four touchdowns against six interceptions.
Chris Cook (5-10, 150, junior) leads the receiving corps with six catches for 150 yards and a pair of scores. Garrett Maiden (5-10, 160, junior) adds five catches for 111 yards and one touchdown.
Other receiving threats include tight end Aron Davis (6-1, 190, senior), Ronnie Wend (5-11, 150, junior), and Keegan Wilburn (5-9, 160, freshman).
Donovan McCollister (6-3, 230, sophomore) is the center while Caden Chilcote (5-11, 275, senior), Matt Carter (6-0, 210, senior), and Chris Yinger (5-10, 275, junior) move between guard and tackle.
On defense, the linebackers lead the way headlined by Andrews, Mount, Garrett O’Nail (5-11, 175, senior) and Christian Berry (5-10, 185, senior).
Tyler Speelman (5-10, 175, junior) and Davis are the ends while Skylar Canter (6-0, 285, senior) and Matt Carter start inside at tackle. Conner Blake (6-3, 230, senior) adds depth.
In the secondary, Cook and Shakim Williams (5-10, 160, junior) are the corners while Wend and Jonathan Richards (6-1, 150, junior) play safety. Maiden and Wilburn add depth.
Maiden handles the kicking duties for N-Y. He converted a pair of field goals for the orange and brown last week.
Logan football historian Spencer Waugh of loganfootball.com previews the Chiefs’ opponent every Thursday in The Logan Daily News.
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