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By KIM NORTH
BYESVILLE -- Jeff Twiddy's first two seasons as football coach at Meadowbrook have been like night and day. The Colts enjoyed a fantastic 2015 season in which they went 9-1 and qualified for the Ohio Division IV state playoffs. However, last fall saw them drop to 2-8.
"We don't have as many players this year, but the ones here have lifted all year and done all of the off-season stuff we've asked," Twiddy said, "So maybe for the first time we finally have it down who the football players in the school are.
"Offensively we return just two starters, but defensively all but one or two are back. We scored a lot of points last year … we just couldn't stop anybody. Last year, our offense was our veteran group and our defense was all freshmen and sophomores, so the tables have turned a little in that respect.
"We've got a new quarterback; a new offensive line all but one and all new receivers but one. It's a young group (offensively), but they work hard and they're starting to pick up on things. We'll start mostly juniors on defense and that's definitely the strength of our team right now."
Junior Davis Black (6-4, 185) will be the quarterback this season. Running backs are classmate Brady Blattner (5-9, 190) and sophomore Timmy Ferguson (5-10, 160). Senior Easton Black (6-2, 158) is the top receiver with more than 400 yards in receptions a year ago. Senior Bryson Eubanks (6-2, 320) is the lone returner along the offensive line.
"Our offense will come around … I'm not worried about that," Twiddy said. "We have skill and size, it's just getting them used to playing varsity football on the offensive side of the ball as far as knowing what they need to do and timing."
The defense returns 9-10 starters. Blattner had nearly 100 total tackles. He earned special mention all-Ohio. Easton Black had nearly 70 total tackles and a trio of interceptions.
Meadowbrook opens the season Friday night by playing host to John Glenn on Dom Capers Field.
Other home games include Barnesville, Shadyside, Union Local, St. Thomas Aquinas and Cambridge.
Road contests are at St. Clairsville, River, River View and Coshocton.
Seniors
Easton Black, Kyle Blair, Wade Colvin, Bryce Eubanks, Matt Fedorke, Bobby Feyko, Elijah Martin, Thomas McCulloch, Wyatt Rossiter
Juniors
Davis Black, Brady Blattner, Timmy Higgins, Jeg Huff, Kyle Jennings, Devon Norman, C.J. Moore, Josh Tomplait, Draven Walker
Sophomores
Addy Black, Boston Black, Chase Carpenter, Timothy Chesar, Garrett Clendenning, Timmy Ferguson, Dayton Hupp, Kayd Lacroix, Hunter Loy, Tyrek Mitchell, David Peoples, Caleb Wilson
Freshmen
Rhett Dyer, Jared Finton, A.J. George, Cody Lauffer, Javier Maldonado, Eric McCulloch, Dillon Savage, Davis Singleton, Anthony Swartz, Kyle Valentine
MEADOWBROOK
Aug. 25:John Glenn 7 p.m.
Sept. 1:Barnesville 7 p.m.
Sept. 8:at St. Clairsville 7 p.m.
Sept. 15:Shadyside 7 p.m.
Sept. 22:at River 7 p.m.
Sept. 29:at River View 7 p.m.
Oct. 6:Union Local 7 p.m.
Oct. 13:at Coshocton 7 p.m.
Oct. 20:at Bishop Ready 7 p.m.
Oct. 27:Cambridge 7 p.m.
PREDICTION
Win 3, Lose 7