Bulldogs ‘reloading, not rebuilding’
Trending
EAST PALESTINE -- Is there life after Owen Juravcic? The East Palestine Bulldogs senior standout quarterback graduated last spring following a record-breaking career for the Bulldogs, leaving a huge hole in their offensive production and leadership.
"Absolutely," Bulldogs head coach Michael Demster said. "Not only was he a great player statistically, but he was one of the best leaders we have had since I have been here. The guys followed him. He made sure that things were done the right way, and he made sure that the seniors all stepped up and held all the underclassmen accountable. So, it's his leadership that we will miss the most."
But with a new season, new leaders and new players are going to be counted on to provide the 2025 version of the Bulldogs some excitement on Friday nights at Reid Memorial Stadium.
"We have guys stepping up. (Juravcic's) productivity will be missed, but again, we like to say that we are reloading, not rebuilding. The seniors have been in this program for four years, and they know the system. So, they are very comfortable, and our JV team had a good season last year and they are ready to step into their roles on Friday night," Demster said.
This year, the Bulldogs will rely on a group of leaders rather than any one single player. The eight seniors on the Bulldogs roster will try to push them forward and build on the success that they enjoyed last season.
"That's what we always want," Demster said of the seniors leading the program forward. "We kind of have a saying that we don't want the issues coming to the coaches, if you know what I mean. We want the kids to handle it. The seniors need to step up and help things run smoothly. That's what we want from all of our guys, and we are seeing that more and more as we enter August. We know what good practices look like, and we know what bad practices look like. The commitment that it takes to win, and that's up to our seniors to make sure that we are upholding that every single year."
In addition, Demster feels that the community and the administration are providing great support for the program, making it possible for the Bulldogs to reload for another successful season.
"We are very fortunate here in East Palestine to have support from not only our administration, but also the parents and our community. Everyone is backing us, and everybody is out there on a Friday night, and it has been a very positive thing for us," Demster said.
There is no question that the Bulldogs have some big shoes to fill this year, as they lost all five of their starting offensive linemen and their standout quarterback. But on the flip side, there are numerous starters and experienced players back to help Demster and the coaching staff.
"On the plus side, we have the other five guys that are back, who we are really going to lean on," Demster said. "We want the mentality to be to compete every day. The cream rises to the top when you do that. We will find the best combination of five linemen, and we will be ready to go."
OFFENSE
The Bulldogs feature a group that has speed and athleticism, something the coaching are building around going into 2025.
"It will be a different look, but we are excited," Demster said. "The goal this year will be to spread the field more than last year and get the playmakers in space."
Sophomore Clark Rutledge will take over as the Bulldogs' signal-caller, bringing a different skill set to the quarterback position, as Demster described him as a hard-working, three-sport athlete who is very intelligent.
Senior Zach Schnelle returns at running back along with junior Peyton Rutledge. Junior RJ May will be a versatile skill performer, seeing action at receiver, wing back and occasionally at quarterback. Junior Tanner Morrow will also start at receiver, while junior Braydon Plum and senior Kaleb Holly will split duty at tight end.
Senior Ayvre Klingensmith will anchor the offensive line at tackle, along with juniors Lucas Inman at guard, Michael Morrison at center, with Ashton Trosky and Vince Powell, all looking to settle into the starting offensive line for the Bulldogs. Demster pointed out that Inman, Trosky and Powell put a lot of extra time into the weight room in the offseason in preparation for this year.
DEFENSE
The Bulldogs' defense, much like their offense, will rely on their speed to make plays. However, they are more experienced on the defensive side of the ball than on offense, so Demster is counting on the defense to carry the team early in the season.
Klingensmith and Inman will be the anchors of the defensive line, along with junior Cody Nahar. Morrison, Trosky and Powell also look to rotate on the defensive line. Schnelle is going to be the "Sam" linebacker with junior Jaxson Robb and Peyton Rutledge returning as inside linebackers.
The entire secondary returns for the Bulldogs this year, as Morrow and May will start at cornerback. Plum returns at strong safety, while sophomore Brad Bartels returns at free safety after starting as a freshman last year.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Junior Nate Mead and Bartels split time with the kicking duties last year and are both battling for the opportunity to take over the duties again this season.
Since Juravcic did the punting last year, look for Schelle, who handles kickoff duties, to probably also do punting.
May, Plum, and Morrow will share the return duties for the Dogs.