Fairfield Union set to take on difficult opening schedule with a young team
By: Charlie Ihlenfeld
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LANCASTER, Ohio (WOUB) – While Fairfield Union has made it a tradition to start with a grueling non-conference schedule under head coach Andy Clark, this year might be the most extreme example of it.
Their first three opponents won a combined 30 games last year, and they play their first four games on the road. First, the Falcons travel to New Lexington, a team that made a run to the regional semifinals last year. Then, perennial division six powerhouse Colonel Crawford who won nine games last year. Last, Fairland, the reigning OVC champions that won 10 games last season. Then, they face Hamilton Township, Logan Elm and Bloom-Carroll to start conference play. They won 22 games. It is hard to find a harder start in Southeast Ohio.
“I’m not sure we picked it,” said Andy Clark, Fairfield Union head coach. “That’s just what we were able to get at the top of our schedule. It does help you. You get thrown into the fire quick. You see who you can count on quick.”
Fairfield Union will be doing a lot of figuring out their contributors this year with their departures from the year before. They have only four seniors on this squad, but Clark is confident in the juniors stepping up for the squad, especially after their junior varsity squad finished last year undefeated.
“I like how everyone is working hard and keeping each other accountable,” said senior running back Brady Andrews. “That’s a big thing we’re doing every year, more and more at Fairfield Union.”
The talent will be very different on offense this year. Their three leading rushers, the focus in an offense that only threw for 674 yards last year, all graduated. Owen Ruff, Hunter Clark and Isaiah Saleh rushed for 911, 618 and 566 yards respectively. Saleh was the team’s leading receiver, finishing with 379 yards. Clark was the quarterback, and he was second on the team in tackles. Ruff was also third in tackles for the Falcons.
While Clay Markwood, Fairfield Union’s leading tackler last year, graduates, the Falcons have a lot to build around on defense. Keaton Webb and Zach Berry, one and two in sacks on the team last year, return to anchor the defensive line. Alongside them, Grant McPherson returns, but he will be featuring more in the linebacker corps instead of the defensive line.
“We love to compete,” said McPherson, a senior. “Then, all the other guys we try to make them better.”
While they have a younger offense, they still have a lot of experience. Four of five are returners, but Grant McPherson moves from the line to fullback. Andrews will be in the backfield too, alongside new quarterback Dean Clark. Dean takes over for his brother Hunter.
In a physical conference, coach Clark expects his group to play tough, gritty football.
“We’re going to play physical,” said Clark. “Hopefully, at a high level of execution. Obviously, we’ll have to tweak it a little bit to fit the personnel this year. Hopefully with a higher level of execution, but the same effort and physicality.”