CEDARVILLE — Experience may be more on Cedarville’s side than its youth may indicate.

The 2023 team had a large sum of its contributions come from the 12 seniors who have since graduated, but some speed bumps during their journey have helped put this year’s squad in a better starting position.

“Kind of the benefit of the injury bug last year was a lot of these younger athletes got an opportunity to get some valuable varsity experience,” head coach Brian Bogenschutz said. “So even though we are a very young team, we are bringing back, you know, some good amount of experience and they’ve been putting in the effort in the offseason.”

The Indians have recently enjoyed their best two-season run in decades and are coming off their most successful year since 2001.

The 8-4 season saw them produce a second straight winning record in Ohio Heritage Conference play for the first time. Cedarville both hosted and won the school’s first postseason game since the ‘01 season before being defeated by the eventual Division VII state champions for the second straight year.

This year’s team has only one senior on the roster, but he may be its most important player.

Colt Coffey helped the Cedarville offense produce its highest scoring output since its last winning record in 2013. He rushed for more than 1,100 yards despite missing nearly all of the division title-deciding game at Greeneview. His absence in that game caused the passing attack, which had one of the two highest per game averages in OHC play, to be held to its fewest yards all season.

“Coffey is definitely a leader,” Bogenschutz said. “He’s the senior of the group. He wears a lot of hats for us. … We all stay healthy, he’ll have a pretty good year.”

His line will surely play a role in his success. Cameron Lloyd heads the group up front that combined with Coffey’s efforts may allow new quarterback Will Mossing to get settled.

Mossing was part of the young group getting experience at the end of last year when starter Jackson Pyles went down before the playoff win against Lehman Catholic. He will have an entirely new group of receivers catching his passes, as more than 98 percent of the team’s receiving yards from the 2023 season have graduated.

“Will has been doing a great job this offseason,” Bogenschutz said. “He has handled everything in stride and this year we can put more on his plate. He’s having to identify a lot more, making sure that he knows where reads are to make sure he’s properly identifying the coverages and that we’re in the right pass pro and all that type of stuff.”

On the defensive side, Isaiah Christian returns at the middle linebacker position as Cedarville’s leading tackler. Derek Orr in the secondary had several key interceptions last year as well.

The schedule lines up similarly to the way it did a year ago. Two non-conference games are winnable before heading into a tough run of opponents from the OHC North. Three of the five division games will be on the road, with the Battle of 72 rounding out the regular season at home.

For the first time since the Jim Villinger era of the 1980s and 90s, Cedarville has reasons to remain optimistic on the football field. Bogenschutz said he recognizes the challenge of keeping participation numbers up, but believes the work being put in by his players have them heading in the right direction.

“I think they have a really good team culture,” he said. “They celebrate together, and they don’t get down on each other, so that togetherness is going to lead to success for them. They work incredibly hard in the offseason, especially in the weight room. Especially with all our multi-sport athletes to just find ways to get in and get lifts in and study a little football on top of what they were already doing academically.”

SEASON OUTLOOK

Cedarville Indians

Coach: Brian Bogenschultz (3rd year, 13-10)

2023 record: 8-4 (OHC South 3rd, regional quarterfinals D-VII playoffs); Points Per Game: 27.8 (Off.) 18.7 (Def.)

What to expect: “They should expect to see a team that players hard and runs fast.” — Brian Bogenschutz, head coach

Key Players: Isaiah Christian, Jr, LB (52 tkls, 20 solo, 3 sacks, 11 TFL, 1 FR, 1 PD); Colt Coffey, Sr, RB (200 att, 1,108 yards, 16 TD; 53 tkls); Will Mossing, Jr, QB (19-29, 249 yds, 4 TD, 1 INT); Derek Orr, Jr, DB (53 tkls, 28 solo, 3.5 TFL, 1 FF, 3 INT, 5 PD); Nathan Terrell, So, DL (25 tkls, 12 solo, 1 sack, 2 TFL, 2 FR); Nathan Van Loo, Jr, WR (1 rec, 9 yds)

Captains: Will Mossing, Colt Coffey

Schedule (all games 7 p.m.)

(Home games in ALL CAPS)

Aug. 23 — at Fayetteville-Perry

Aug. 30 — EAST CLINTON

Sept. 6 — FAIRBANKS

Sept. 13 — at Mechanicsburg

Sept. 20 — NORTHEASTERN

Sept. 27 — at Madison Plains

Oct. 4 — CATHOLIC CENTRAL

Oct. 11 — at Southeastern

Oct. 18 — at Greenon

Oct. 25 — GREENEVIEW

Contact Steven Wright at 937-502-4498 and follow on X (formerly Twitter) @Steven_Wright_.