Staff photo / Greg Macafee LaBrae head coach Jon Elliot, black sweatshirt, coaches his team during a recent practice at LaBrae High School. Elliot is entering his second season at the helm of the Vikings football program as they look to rebound from a 1-9 season.

LEAVITTSBURG — Evaluation + changes = anticipation.

Following a season in which LaBrae finished with a 1-9 record, first-year coach Jon Elliot evaluated the program. The deep internal dive led to implementing several changes which have the players anticipating a much-improved campaign.

Among the changes was a staff overhaul. Several newcomers — Tony Stephens, Greg Barnhart and Chris Drake — have Vikings’ blood running through their veins.

“I had to find experienced coaches, so I reached out and Tony Stephens was the first one to say he’d come back,” Elliot said. “He played here and his kids played here on some great teams. Chris Drake came back and I got Greg Barnhart, whose kids all went to LaBrae. He had coached here before and I coached with him at Harding.

“Plus I got Jordaan Simmons to come on board from Kennedy. I also coached with him at Fitch and Howland. He’s a great motivator and is our defensive coordinator.”

Elliot said those changes will allow him an opportunity to breathe a little.

“They have experience and are great teachers,” Elliot said. “I don’t have to tell them what to do, they just do it. The quality of minutes and getting reps are so much better, and the kids have responded very well. They are so much more focused this year.”

Gabe Greene, a running back and linebacker who is one of only five seniors on the roster, concurred.

“We’ve got more energy and I think practices seem sharper and crisper because of the new coaching staff,” he said. “This is a fresh start, a do-over for us.

“I think the staff is doing a good job teaching everyone up, and not just teaching up three or four guys. It’s more spread out. Everyone is getting reps and looks. They’ve also moved people into different positions where they can help the team.”

The Vikings lost their first nine contests last season before beating Campbell 34-8 in the finale to finish 1-6 in the MVAC-Gray Tier.

“That gave us belief that if we play as a team, we can win,” said senior slotback-cornerback Jay McGarry. “It was a positive going into the offseason and things kept getting better from there. We have a new staff and new schemes that we think will lead to more success. We have a new energy and more discipline. We’re motivated and determined to not repeat last season.”

Senior Davin Derry, a tight end and linebacker, said he notices a tougher mentality in the staff that permeates throughout the team.

“The coaches are pushing us harder to help us turn things around,” he said. “I felt last year that the coaches wanted us to like them because we were all in new situations. Now I feel like anyone who’s here wants to be here, wants to put the work in, wants to be pushed and wants to succeed. We welcome being pushed and motivated.”

LaBrae also has implemented schematic changes on offense and defense. Offensively, the Vikings have moved from the spread to a wing-T. On defense, they have switched from a 4-2 base alignment to a 3-3 stack.

OFFENSE

Six starters have returned and the new scheme should enable the Vikings to be more productive after getting shut out four times last season and scoring just 100 points.

“Having a year to evaluate, I didn’t think it was fair to the kids to make them fit into my scheme, so we’ve moved into a wing-T spread because it suits us best,” Elliot said. “It’s deceptive and we have a lot of scat-back kids who should have more success now. I talked to coach Bill Bohren who had a lot of success in this offense and I went to some clinics.

“We can still jump into a spread, into shotgun, but with wing-T principles. We’ve shrunk the offense in terms of formations. The kids have improved and really caught on to what we want to do.”

The returnees include McGarry, Derry, junior Trenton Stehura at quarterback and junior linemen Nicholas Lipinski (6-1, 250), Travis Prokop (5-8, 170) and Riley Yoho (5-10, 305).

“Trenton is a returning quarterback who has gotten better,” Elliot said. “He got bigger, faster and stronger in the offseason. He’s a good runner and has improved his throwing.

“Davin probably has the best hands on the team. We’ve got to get him the ball more this year. He’s improved his blocking. Jay has also played quarterback and receiver. He just did everything for us and was first-team all-league. I’m really looking forward to seeing what he can put together this year. We want to get him as many touches as possible in different capacities.”

Junior Treyton Derry will see time with McGarry in the slot. Sophomore Eric Riebold (6-2, 190) and junior Ethan Magoulick (6-0, 185) are expected to spell Davin Derry (6-1, 205) at tight end.

Greene and sophomore Elijah Harper will be running backs, with Magoulick also working in there.

“Gabe Greene was a lineman a few years ago, but got sick with COVID and lost a bunch of weight,” Elliot said. “Last year we had a lot of linemen, so we put him at tight end. He maintained his weight and then I clocked him at 4.7 (seconds) in the 100 (meters) in track this spring. I said, ‘You’re going to be a running back.'”

Fullbacks include junior Bransen Hawkins (6-1, 245) and sophomore Easton Armstrong (5-10, 165). Among projected receivers are senior Michael Henderson, junior Owen Boone and sophomore De’marriyae Jackson. Henderson and Boone both got ample playing time at receiver last season.

“We have some guys who are real weapons,” Stehura said. “I feel more confident in my receivers, and I’m a lot more comfortable throwing the ball. I think it’s due to the new offense. I get a chance to roll out more and that can lead to easier throws or a chance to run. We’re still young and we still have a lot to learn, but it’s exciting.”

Looking to bolster the offensive line are junior Owen Meeks (5-7, 165) and sophomores George Hasler (5-9, 240) and Jaxon Lancaster (6-0, 200).

“Jaxon Lancaster is an athletic, smart kid, a technician who had success in basketball last year, and Hasler and Meeks are hard workers and much improved,” Elliot said.

Staff photo / Greg Macafee
LaBrae quarterback Trenton Stehura throws a pass to a receiver during a practice earlier this month at LaBrae High School.

DEFENSE

LaBrae allowed 382 points last season and was outscored 142-18 by the four opponents which advanced to postseason play (Valley Christian, Mineral Ridge, Garfield and Brookfield).

“We thought the change to the 3-3 stack would allow us to spread our top players over the field more,” Elliot said. “Last year we used a four-man front, but it’s not a good fit for our personnel.”

Returning at linebacker are Greene and Davin Derry. Magoulick will join them.

“Gabe led the team in tackles last year,” Elliot said. “He edged out Davin by like one. He’s got a good nose for the ball. He’s fast and can run things down. Davin also has great instincts and just gets to the football. With those two and Ethan Magoulick, we feel very solid there.”

Up front, Hawkins and Riebold return as starters. However, Hawkins may be moved to nose guard from an end. Meeks likely would be the other end in that scenario.

Expected to start at outside linebacker are Henderson and Stehura. Armstrong and sophomore Dillon Bate are expected to get playing time there as well.

“Henderson wasn’t a starter last year, but played a ton,” Elliot said. “We were looking for the right spot defensively to place him. I don’t think he knows how good he can be. We’re hoping he gets senioritis, realizes this is his last go-round and has a great year.”

McGarry and Harper will man the corners, with Boone working in on rotations. Treyton Derry will be at safety.

The Vikings entered camp with 34 eligible players, which was down four from last year.

“We have five kids ineligible, and we lost another one to health issues for a year,” Elliot said. “With our numbers, we have to be smart with the way we utilize our players. We’ll work in some rotations and give them some breathers here and there. We need to use more players and have them prepared to step in on rotations or if we have injuries.”

SPECIAL TEAMS

Senior Max Young (6-3, 170) returns as kicker and is being tasked with punting chores this season.

“Max is a third-year kicker from soccer, but he didn’t get many opportunities last year because we didn’t score much, unfortunately,” Elliot said. “He’s improved his punting. He’s a good athlete, too. At 6-3, I wish we could have talked him into playing some receiver.”

Stehura will be the long-snapper and sophomore Kenny Yoho will be the holder. McGarry and Treyton Derry will get the bulk of kick and punt return duties.

2023 Schedule

Aug. 18 Lakeview 7 p.m.

Aug. 26 at Valley Christian 7 p.m.

Sept. 1 Niles 7 p.m.

Sept. 8 Garfield* 7 p.m.

Sept. 15 at Newton Falls* 7 p.m.

Sept. 22 at Champion* 7 p.m.

Sept. 29 Brookfield* 7 p.m.

Oct. 6 at Liberty* 7 p.m.

Oct. 13 Campbell* 7 p.m.

Oct. 20 at Crestview* 7 p.m.

*Conference game

2022 Results (1-9)

at Lakeview (3-7) L 7-34

Valley Christian (10-1) L 12-40

at Jackson-Milton (7-4) L 0-34

Garfield (9-3)* L 0-34

Champion* (3-7) L 14-37

at Newton Falls* (3-7) L 0-27

Crestview* (4-5) L 7-22

at Brookfield* (10-2) L 6-34

Liberty* (4-6) L 20-48

at Campbell* (2-8) W 34-8

*MVAC-Gray Tier

Coaching staff

Head coach: Jon Elliot, 2nd season, 1-9

Staff: Greg Barnhart, Chris Drake, Jonny Elliot, Austin Higley, Jordaan Simmons and Tony Stephens

Team facts

Division VI, Region 21

MVAC-Gray Tier

Players on roster: 34\ Returning letterwinners (14): Easton Armstrong, Owen Boone, Davin Derry, Gabe Greene, Elijah Harper, Bransen Hawkins, Michael Henderson, Nicholas Lipinski, Ethan Magoulick, Jay McGarry, Travis Prokop, Trenton Stehura, Riley Yoho and Max Young.

2022 season: After losing to Lakeview in the opener, the Vikings dropped consecutive contests to playoff-bound Valley Christian, Jackson-Milton and Garfield. With injuries mounting, they never got in the win column until beating Campbell 34-8 in the season finale. LaBrae, which lost to four playoff teams overall, was outscored 382-100.