Mid-State League Cardinal – Conference Preview
By: Charlie Ihlenfeld
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Fairfield Christian Academy:
The Knights are just two years removed from winning the MSL-Cardinal behind a blistering offense. But last season, Fairfield Christian Academy saw their fortunes reverse, falling to 3-8. They ended the year with a playoff loss to Conotton Valley, 46-7. The Knights lost their coach, Marcus Pardon-Dudash to Crooksville. Now, FCA is led by first-time head coach Craig McGruder Jr.
McGruder most recently coached for Pickerington North High School as an assistant coach from 2017-2024. He looks to continue the spread offensive style of the Knights prior to his arrival, and they have the size and talent to punish teams through the air. First-year quarterback Brayden Stem will have a lot of height to target, 6’4 Orlando Coleman and 6’4 Cayden Pena. Zack Price stands at 6’2, and the team’s captain T.J. Blair brings speed across the middle of the field.
McGruder has brought the numbers of the Knights up to 25 from below 20 at the end of the year. Nine of their players are seniors while FCA will rely on contributions from a significant sophomore class. But, some players like Coleman are still in their first year of football. He lauded the culture McGruder has built.
“He’s brought more of a family than just a team,” said Coleman. “He’s brought a lot of love into the sport for the people here.”
The Knights start their season hosting the Portsmouth Notre Dame Titans.
Bishop Rosecrans:
The Bishops earned their first winning season since 2017 last year, but they missed the playoffs for the first time since 2019. The squad moves back down to Division Seven this year, and they return talent across the roster, particularly on offense.
Hayden Purdue returns at quarterback, who passed for nearly 1,000 yards in nine games last season, finishing with 15 touchdowns. Coen Grandstaff and Nicolas Bernath return in the receiver corps. Most importantly, the engine for the offense returns in the form of Brody Zemba.
Zemba was the team’s leading receiver and rusher. He finished with 1,047 rushing yards last year and 10 touchdowns on the ground. In the air, he had 26 catches for 503 yards and seven touchdowns. He, Purdue, Grandstaff and Bernath all enter their senior seasons.
On defense, the Bishops will have more new players to take the places of graduated. Leading tackler, Landon Hartman, graduated alongside leading sacker Ben Jackson. But, head coach Chris Zemba is confident in the younger players taking their place on defense.
“It’s always next man up,” said Zemba. “Defensively, we have a lot of young leaders. We got our Pierce Tillman, Jacoby Bello’s in the middle. They’re gonna have a big job this year.”
Grove City Christian:
Grove City Christian ran away with the MSL-Cardinal last year, outscoring conference opponents by a total score of 236-21. That suffocating defense will have a different look this year, smaller and without a lineman over 300 pounds for the first time in head coach Ben Schall’s tenure.
But, they do have the standout linebacker who commanded their defense last season. Landen Sams returns fresh off a campaign wherein he finished with six interceptions and nearly 90 tackles. The Eagles will returns some talent on offense, but they will have to contend with the departure of their longtime standout running back, Cayden Carroll. The graduated back rushed for over 1,000 yards in three consecutive seasons for GCC.
Now, the keys to the offense will be in the hands of senior Douglas Housley. Housley wrapped up an excellent junior campaign with over 1,200v yards. GCC fell just short in their playoff game last year, their first home playoff game since 2009, because they were without the standout under center. He will have one of his top targets, Josiah Harmeyer back this year alongside emerging target John Gibson. Harmeyer and Gibson will have to fill the role of the now graduated Austin Dahmer.
Giovanni Cotton, standout defensive end last year, will work to take the place of Carroll in his junior campaign. Sams and the squad know they have a lot of tough battles ahead with the new and returning faces, but they are ready to meet them head on.
“God’s going to put us through trials,” said Sams. “God’s going to put us in the valley because nothing grows when you’re on the mountain top. You always have to be in the valley to grow.”
The Eagles start their season on the road against Miami Valley.
Miller:
Coming off the best season in program history last year, the Miller Falcons have talent returning in almost every position to bolster this year’s squad. Zander Bice returns after leading the Falcons in rushing yards and tackles in 2024. BIce compiled 1,563 yards rushing last year on 8.4 yards per carry and 21 touchdowns with an even 100 tackles on the season. Nick Thompson is back after totaling 28 catches for a hair under 500 yards receiving, three interceptions and 47 tackles from last year’s campaign. Maddox Bolyard returns to terrorize offensive lines and running backs alike as he will shift more to linebacker after finishing the 2024 season with 69 tackles and leading the team in sacks and tackles for loss. He had five and nine respectively.
The Falcons lose help on the offensive line with the graduation of Wyatt Porter, but their biggest departure is quarterback and safety Logan Doughty. Doughty finished his senior season with 965 yards passing, 1,046 rushing, 27 total touchdowns, 53 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and seven interceptions. Four of those interceptions came in the Falcons’ first ever playoff win over the Southern Tornadoes.
But, there are plenty of capable players looking to fill his shoes. Noah LeMaster will take over for Doughty at safety while commanding some wildcat snaps as he did the year prior. Bo Dorsey and Anthony Adkins are still vying for snaps for the Falcons. Head coach Dominic Scott said he was excited to see what they can do in the scrimmages and practices before the start of the season.
With the history behind them, the Falcons have their largest squad since the 2017 season. It is something the players and the coaches credit to the success they had the year before.
“It’s awesome, it’s heartwarming,” said Thompson. “We keep producing good numbers and good seasons, (and) this will carry on as a domino effect throughout our program.”
Miller starts their season with a tough test on the road with the Division Five Alexander Spartans in week one.
Fisher Catholic:
The Irish took some time to find their footing last season, but in the back stretch of their schedule, Fisher Catholic was able to win two of their final three games in the regular season. Their week 10 matchup against Grove City Christian was the closest any team got to unseating the runaway conference champions, as the Irish fell 20-14 in the final moments.
But, the Irish will lose almost all of their offensive production from last year’s team. Running back Gage Armstrong, wide receiver/tight end Hyde O’Rielley and quarterback Grant Keefer all graduated. Head coach Luke Thimmes called it about “95% of their offensive production.”
On the bright side, the Irish have a large and experienced offensive line. Four of five starters return along the offensive line, anchored by senior Caleb Delabar. The Irish could feature a two-quarterback system as senior Jared Welsh and sophomore James Wilkinson, and both will compete for reps. At running back, Leo Hampshire and Ethan O’Rielley will take carries. In the receiver corps, the Irish will rely on Luke Cairns alongside tight end Anderson Cook.
The Irish are still searching for their first winning season since 2019 and their first playoff win since 2006. But, according to Thimmes, they just need to work on getting better day-to-day.
“It’s win the day,” said Thimmes. “From day to day, you can get better, you can get worse. That’s it.”
Fisher Catholic starts its season at home against the Belpre Golden Eagles.
Berne Union:
The Berne Union Rockets are much younger this year after two seasons of struggles in and out of conference play. In the last two years, the Rockets have won only five games, but with just four seniors this year, they will have a significantly different look than in years past.
On player that will continue to anchor the Rockets is senior running back Dylan Finefrock. In the backfield, Berne Union will also rely on Mason Mullins. The duo will help to bolster first-year starter and sophomore Carson Kieger. Mason Walton could seem carries too and will be fixture for the Rockets secondary.
Their team will be smaller as a whole, making the return of senior offensive lineman Kenny Boetcher vital. He will help to solidify a changing offensive and defensive line. As always, the Rockets will face a difficult non-conference slate. They will play up several divisions in their week one match against River Valley, then hit the road to face the Tomcats.
While the Rockets lead the all-time series 4-2, Berne Union has not beaten Trimble since the 2007 season. Later in the year, Berne Union will take on a solid Division Five school and former conference rival Worthington Christian.
As always both sides of their storied rivalry with the Fisher Catholic Irish want that game, but the Rockets are looking for revenge after letting it slip away over the past two seasons.
But despite the recent struggles, head coach Tony Hurps has been pleased with the effort the teams have put forward throughout those years.
“Our guys never quit,” said Hurps. “A lot of times it’s how you win and how you lose and how you carry yourself.”
Millersport:
The Millersport Lakers broke through at last in 2024, winning two games for the first time since 2021. With their program restored and the squad back in the win column, the Lakers are seeking more this season.
Millersport has not won a conference game since 2017, and they have not been to the playoffs since 2002, losing to Shadyside 20-9. But, with the largest class since reviving the program, the Lakers are confident in their potential with the talent on the roster.
Any conversation about the Lakers has to begin with Jason Wells. The senior do-it-all player tied the program record for interceptions in a season last year, and he was one of the most productive players all over the field. In his junior year, Wells finished with over 1,400 yards on offense, rushing and receiving.
The team also returns Nick Yingling. Fresh off another productive year at linebacker, Yingling takes over for Jacob Eiginger. He would have finished first in tackles if not for an injury at the end of the Lakers second win over the Federal Hocking Lancers. Their leading tackler and rusher, Brock Wright, also returns.
On the line, the team returns Cash Inman alongside Gage Evans on the defensive line. Brady O’Neil enters his second year on the offensive line alongside a four-year starter, Hunter Grimm.
With a lot of turnover for many of the other teams in the conference, the Lakers are excited for the possibilities for their season.
“A lot of potential, a big beautiful team with a lot of potential,” said Yingling