By Spencer Waugh
Logan Daily News
LANCASTER — They say it takes both teams to win to have a rivalry. But two wins would erase all doubt.

Logan finally broke through with a win against the Lancaster Golden Gales last fall, and they did so in dominating fashion, opening Logan Chieftain Stadium with a 35-10 win.

Lancaster would scrap its experiment with the spread offense just a few weeks later and rebounded to a 6-4 record.
The Golden Gales are hoping a youth movement, along with a return to their vaunted wing-T offense, will bring the program back toward the top of the Ohio Capital Conference Ohio Division.

Coach Rob Carpenter’s squad failed to make the playoffs for the first time since 2002 last fall.

Lancaster’s wing-T will be led by quarterback Nolan Flowers (6-3, 190, junior), who helped the Gales average over 300 yards of offense and over 30 points per game the second half of last season.

Matt Shinn (6-1, 200, senior) will be the fullback, while Connor Smith (5-10, 180, junior) and Nathan Carpenter (5-11, 190, senior) are returning starters at the halfback posts. Christian Long (5-7, 160, junior) adds depth in the Blue and Gold backfield.

Split end Raheem Kerens (5-9, 165, junior) and tight end Jayme Aksterowicz (6-3, 225, senior) will be the top receiving targets. T.J Alexander (6-2, 220, senior) adds depth at tight end, while Mitch Harding (6-1, 160, senior) and Joe Joe Knecht (5-10, 165, junior) add depth at split end.

Up front, Kevin Lorenzi (6-5, 290, senior) and Austin Kerns (6-1, 275, senior) are the tackles, Nathan Cheek (6-2, 250, senior) and David Hartranft (5-9, 225, sophomore) are the guards, and Brandon Peters (5-8, 185, junior) is the center. That’s an average of 245 pounds per man, and Derek Roby (6-0, 250, junior) adds depth on that line.

The Gales’ 4-3 defense hopes to improve on some of their 2008 struggles. Four starters return, and two sophomores are expected to crack the starting lineup.

Aksterowicz and Cheek are returning starters on the defensive line and should serve as anchors to one side. Kerns and Kyle Miller (6-0, 195, junior) will rotate at the other defensive tackle spot, while sophomore Aaron Woosley (6-4, 230) should start at the other end. Woosley is already receiving attention from Division 1 scouts.

Zach Knecht (5-10, 170, senior) and Luke Roberts (6-1, 210, sophomore) are the outside linebackers. Junior Christopher Seymour (5-11, 225, junior) is the middle linebacker. Caleb George (5-9, 175, sophomore) should rotate at outside linebacker.

Smith returns at one cornerback spot and Carpenter returns at safety to anchor the Gale secondary. Joe Joe Knecht is a likely starter opposite Smith, and Harding is the other safety. Kerens will see time in the secondary as well.

Spencer Waugh of loganfootball.com offers his scouting report of the Chiefs’ opponent every week in The Logan Daily News.