Correspondent file photo / David Dermer Western Reserve’s Cole Dotson (17), Hunter Taylor (54) and Dominic Ricciardi combine for a tackle against Springfield on Oct. 4 during a game against Springfield in New Middletown.

BERLIN CENTER — Success has been the word to describe the Western Reserve football program over the past two decades. Since 2006, the Blue Devils have won 159 games (an average of more than 8.3 per season) and qualified for the playoffs 14 times.

Last season, Western Reserve went 10-2 – their most victories since 2014 – and advanced to the second round of the postseason for the eighth time in 19 seasons before falling to Cuyahoga Heights 7-6 in a heartbreaking defeat.

“Our seniors have been part of two very good teams and they want to leave their legacy, and our young kids want to help them do that,” Coach John Armeni (22-12 in three seasons) said.

The Blue Devils must replace several standouts, including All-Ohio first team linebacker Nathan Hemberger, defensive line standout Isaac Burnett and 1,500-yard rusher Jack Darney, but the return of 20 letter winners and a strong offseason participation has the Blue Devils’ expectations as high as always.

“We challenged our seniors in 2024 to prove the naysayers wrong, and we’ve used pretty much the same message this year,” Armeni said. “Everybody is going to count us out but we have some good young guys who are working hard.”

Western Reserve faces a gauntlet to open the season with non-conference games against Crestview, Garfield Heights Trinity and Columbiana. Last season, the Blue Devils went 6-2 against playoff opponents.

“We play a meat-grinder schedule,” Armeni said. “The best team we play may be our Week 1 opponent, so out of the gate we have to be ready to go.

“Our kids and our community really like that difficult schedule. They get up for those games and there are [also] some big rivalry games. It’s been a while since we beat Springfield but everybody loves playing them, so it’s a really good measuring stick for us.”

OFFENSE

The Blue Devils were dealt an early blow when returning starting quarterback Christopher Pater suffered a season-ending injury in a June team camp at Youngstown State. While surgery to repair Pater’s injury was successful, Armeni said the senior will miss the entire season.

“Chris was really our engine, our leader, and being able to replace his voice in the huddle, those leadership capabilities, has been really difficult,” Armeni said.

Pater was a two-dimensional force on offense last season, rushing for 824 yards and 16 touchdowns, and passing for 623 yards and five scores.

That unfortunate circumstance has elevated Dominic Krut, a sophomore, into the starting role.

“He’s a hard-working, very smart, very athletic football player,” Armeni said. “He’s a little green but we always thought he was going to be a special one. He’s already further ahead than I thought he might be.”

The Blue Devils aren’t writing off 2025, however, because they return four starters to the offensive line and one of the top skill position players in the Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference, Nate Alexander.

The left side of the offensive line may be the best in the area, with seniors Jackson Young (left guard) and Dylan Krut (left tackle), both of whom are four-year letter winners. Seniors Alton Young (right guard) and Joe Rovnak (right tackle), the biggest at 6-foot-4, 330 pounds, are both three-year letter winners.

Junior Mikey Blair, a two-year letter winner, will get the nod at center. Carter Raines and Dresden Jennings, a pair of juniors, will provide depth.

“Having those big, tough, strong guys up front should help with Dom’s development,” Armeni said. “We’ve told him, ‘You don’t have to be Superman. Let the people around you help you.'”

Nate Alexander is officially listed as a wide receiver, but Armeni is quick to point out that “We’ve got to get him touches,” so he’ll line up everywhere. Armeni didn’t rule out seeing him take snaps in a Wildcat formation.

“He’s our best player,” Armeni said. “Pound for pound, he’s our strongest kid, our fastest kid.”

Other projected starters will be running backs Timmy Serensky, a sophomore, and Carson Myers, a junior, and wide receivers Josh Potts (senior) and sophomores Jayden Goddard, Cole Dotson and Shane Ashburn.

Seniors Noah Gonzalez and Hunter Taylor, along with junior Wyatt Len, will likely share time at tight end. All three have experience at the position and are also starting linebackers.

DEFENSE

The first question is how to replace Hemberger and Burnett (and their 230-plus combined tackles), but there are some returning starters who appear up to the challenge.

Caleb Sinn, a senior, led the team with 13 tackles for loss last season and will anchor the defensive line. Young, Dylan Krut and Blair are also expected to take the majority of snaps.

“They are guys who like contact,” Armeni said. “The number one goal is always to stop the run and I think they are up for that challenge.”

The linebackers are a deep group, led by Dotson, Gonzalez (64 tackles) and Taylor. Myers and Wyatt Len will provide depth.

“It’s going to be a little easier to manage [playing time for two-way starters] at linebacker and the lines because we have more guys we can trust,” Armeni said.

The secondary is being adjusted to account for Pater’s absence. Potts, Goddard, Alexander and Brady Baclawski will all be considered on the corners, with Dom Krut and Ashburn penciled in at the safety spots.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Andriy Chuta Suy, who handled all of the kicking and punting duties, has graduated. Last season he averaged 35.6 yards per punt and converted 40-of-49 extra points.

Dotson and Dom Krut are battling for the punting duties, while Ramsey and Serensky are being tried on kickoffs.

“We’re going to have to be more creative in our coverages,” Armeni said.