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By MIKE MORRISON
SARAHSVILLE -- Shenandoah enters 2017 looking to put together its first winning season since 2009 and, according to third-year head coach Jesse Wells. "Its Time."
"It's Time" is the team slogan for the Zeps as they look to improve on back-to-back 4-6 seasons with a team loaded with both experience and talent.
"I felt like last year we were going to be close and a couple of midseason injuries may have cost us a game or two," Wells said. "I feel like with nine starters back on offense and nine back on defense and with many of them being multiple-year starters that we have the chance to do some good things."
Junior Boone Jones (6-foot-2, 180 pounds) will again be the starting quarterback for the Zeps after passing for nearly 700 yards and eight touchdowns last season.
"Boone is a great decision-maker and is very athletic," Wells said of his two-year signalcaller. "He can run really well and really understands what we are trying to do. He's a fantastic leader for our football team."
Senior Christian Bond (6-0, 205) provides Wells with a more-than-capable backup as he fired four touchdowns in limited action a season ago.
Joining Jones in the backfield will be a solid group of dual-purpose running backs led by senior Nick Miller (6-0, 205) who is all capable of running and catching the football.
Miller rushed for more than 800 yards and 10 touchdowns in his junior season despite missing the better part of three games because injury.
Juniors Chase Chicwak (6-0, 180) and Ethan Wiley (5-8, 160) and sophomore Kendal Sherman (5-8, 160) are all experienced backs that Wells looks to make a big impact.
"They are all guys who have started for us for multiple years and each one has a lot of physical assets," Wells said. "We feel like our backs are a real strength for our team."
Senior wide receiver Hunter Graham (5-8, 150) transferred to Shenandoah from Barnesville and figures to be one of the primary passing targets along with senior Clint Wickander (5-9, 160).
Senior tight end Austin McPeek (5-11, 215) returns after lettering his first three seasons and provides Jones and the offense with yet another weapon.
"Austin McPeek is a great pass catcher who really understands what we are trying to do," Wells said of his tight end, who will be joined by junior Jayden Porter (5-9, 150) and sophomore Briggs Schafer (5-9, 170).
The Zeps return four of five starters on the offensive line and also have several capable candidates to take over the final spot.
Senior Cash Presnel (6-1, 220), juniors Tanner Brown (6-4, 240) and Dalton Rice (6-0, 220) as well as sophomore Easton Hitchens (6-2, 280) each return after starting in the trenches last season.
"We feel like our line is one of our strengths. We feel like we have big, physical athletic kids," Wells said. "We feel like we have great depth and eight or nine kids who can play varsity football."
Senior Mitchell McClay (5-10, 205) and sophomores Logan Waers (5-11, 215) and Branson Van Sleet (6-0, 275), as well as a strong freshman class could also see time on the line.
The Zeps scored an average of 27.6 points per game last season and allowed 26.3, a number Wells and his coaching staff would like to see reduced this fall as they will likely switch from a 4-3 defense to a 4-4.
Chiwak will return as a linebacker and captain for the Shenandoah defense after being named second-team All-Ohio last year and will likely be joined by some combination of Jones, Wiley, Miller and Bond.
Sherman, who led the Zeps with five interceptions as a freshman last season when he was selected special mention All-Ohio will return at free safety while Wickander, Graham, sophomores Wesley Guy (5-2, 120) and Jason Flaitz (5-10, 150) and freshman Cade Denius (5-6, 135) all could see time in the secondary.
Wells feels that his team's game experience as well as the hard work they have put in during the offseason will pay big dividends once the season begins Friday at Frontier.
"The sweat equity that we have put in and all the hard work through out the year have given us confidence," Wells, a Shenandoah graduate, said. "We have a lot of guys who have been playing the same roles for multiple years and understand the in's and out's of their position and I really think they are ready to take that next step."
Aug. 25: at Frontier 7 p.m.
Sept. 1: River 7 p.m.
Sept. 8: at Southern 7 p.m.
Sept. 15: at Barnesville 7 p.m.
Sept. 22: Cameron 7 p.m.
Sept. 29: Van 7 p.m.
Oct. 6: at Monroe Central 7 p.m.
Oct. 13: at Morgan 7 p.m.
Oct. 20: Fort Frye 7 p.m.
Oct. 27: at Caldwell 7 p.m.
PREDICTION
Win 6, Lose 4
Seniors
Christian Bond, Hunter Graham, Mitchell McClay, Austin McPeek, Nick Miller, Cash Presnell, Clint Wickander
Juniors
Tanner Brown, Chase Chicwak, Boone Jones, Jayden Porter, Dalton Rice, Ethan Wiley
Sophomores
Laramie Giesey, Wesley Guy, Easton Hitchens, Aden Laipply, Luke Rataiczak, Anthony Santostasi, Briggs Schafer, Kendal Sherman, Branson Van Sleet, Logan Waers