Eastwood defensive back Austin Maize takes down a visiting Genoa back near the sideline.
PEMBERVILLE — There is a strong football championship tradition at Eastwood, but without a Rutherford family member at the helm for the first time in decades, a new chapter is getting started.
Enter Sam Cotterman: the new head coach arrived at Eastwood after two years as an assistant coach at the University of Findlay and 16 years as an assistant at Perrysburg High School.
Cotterman inherited a program that finished 12-1 overall last year and won a Northern Buckeye Conference championship with a perfect 7-0 record.
Cotterman has 19 lettermen returning, including senior tight end and defensive end Kaiden Sanchez, senior quarterback and linebacker Andrew Badenhop and senior offensive and defensive lineman Ian Sibbersen.
Sibbersen was a second team tight end and Badenhop a second team linebacker in the coaches’ NBC all-league voting last year.
“We have a lot of skill,” Cotterman said. “We are very athletic due to our strength and conditioning program.
“We have three great quarterbacks but Badenhop is going to lead our defense so it’s between Kadyn Donnell and Drew Luidhardt.”
Whoever takes over at signal caller, they are going to have big shoes to fill, taking over for Cade Boos, who ran for 1,595 yards and 28 touchdowns last year, averaging 132.9 per game and 9.7 per carry.
Boos also completed 26-of-43 passes for 631 yards and eight TDs and he finished the season with 2,226 offensive yards, averaging 185.5 per game.
Donnell did throw three passes, completing two for nine yards and he carried the ball twice and Luidhardt had four carries.
“Our receiving core is getting some depth, but Andre Lewis and Dayquan Oliver have stood out during camp. And Caiden Maize and Kevin Lewis will split time at running back,” Cotterman continued.
Maize carried the ball 20 times for 159 yards and two TDs, Kevin Lewis had 30 carries for 283 yards and one TD, Andre Lewis had 14 carries for 97 yards and one TD, and Dayquan Oliver had eight carries for five yards.
Kaiden Sanchez caught six passes for 152 yards and three TDs, Oliver caught three passes for 108 yards and one TD and Kevin Lewis caught two passes for 17 yards last year. Andre Lewis also returned a kickoff 91 yards for a TD last year.
“All these guys have big play potential and have had a great summer learning the new system.”
Cotterman is confident that the Eagles will be strong at the line of scrimmage, too.
“Ian Sibbersen and Colin Clarke will anchor the offensive line. Both are seniors who have shown great leadership,” Cotterman said.
“They will also play on the defensive line with Braden Bowdle coming back in. I also have to say that Kaiden Sanchez could be mentioned here or at the skill (skilled position). He is a great blocker, he plays defensive end, and he also catches the ball well.
“Badenhop (one interception and return for 19 yards last year) will lead our defense. He will have help with Austin Maize returning as well. They have both been great leaders over the summer.”
Since Cotterman is new on campus, he adds that he has “a number of guys who could get their name in those conversations quickly.”
“We want to continue the Eastwood tradition and be playing for a league title,” Cotterman said.
“I think (new NBC members) Maumee and Oak Harbor will just strengthen an already tough league. I believe the teams in this league have workers and tough kids. You must be ready each week.”
Cotterman admits there could be some growing pains because things are changing under new coaching leadership.
“Learning a new system and having trust in the little things will be key for us to develop into the best team we can be,” Cotterman said.
EASTWOOD SCHEDULE
Aug. 18 OTTAWA-GLANDORF
Aug. 25 @ Elmwood
Sept. 1 WAUSEON
Sept. 8 LAKE
Sept. 15 @ Maumee
Sept. 22 ROSSFORD
Sept. 29 @ Fostoria
Oct. 6 @ Otsego
Oct. 13 OAK HARBOR
Oct. 20 @ Genoa
