Sports

Unioto Not Backing Down After 8-2 Season


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Even after a successful season Unioto wants more.

Unioto’s team shirts read, “Toughness, technique, tempo, trust, and team.” First-year head coach Jeff Metzler harps on all five characteristics.

“We’re trying to build off of last year’s 8-2 season,” Metzler said.

As the team’s former defensive coordinator, Metzler said the transition to head coach went smoothly, but noted the additional responsibility that accompanies the title.

“Being a head coach there’s more paper work,” Metzler laughed.

Some of that paperwork relates back to Unioto’s offense, which is designed to be deceptive and fluid.

“We want to incorporate a more up tempo style of offense,” Metzler said. “We have to control the line of scrimmage. We are not going to be successful if our offensive line and defensive line do not do their jobs.”

When crunch time calls, Metzler said he looks to his skilled guys to make the big plays. Austin Houser is one of the Sherman Tanks’ skilled players.

Standing at 6’5 and weighing in at 270 pounds, Houser, a.k.a “House” to his teammates, is not only a monumental physical presence, but a team captain. Houser said his teammates have a couple games circled on their calendar, including Zane Trace and Paint Valley.

And his message to these schools, “Be ready, because we’re coming.”

Before Unioto will see Zane Trace and Paint Valley, it will kick off their season Friday at Vinton County.