Millersport looks for their first postseason appearance in almost three decades
By: Charlie Ihlenfeld
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MILLERSPORT, Ohio (WOUB) – The Millersport Lakers have their largest team since reviving their football program in 2021. Their goal for this year?
“The team motto is banner,” said Millersport head coach Jack Trenish. “We haven’t been to the playoffs in almost three decades, so that’s their goal.”
The Lakers’ one and only playoff game was a 20-9 loss at Shadyside in 2002. Millersport has never hosted a playoff game since the program started in 1957.
OHSAA playoff standards changed before the season, reducing the field for the playoffs from 16 teams per region to 12. That could make it more difficult for the Lakers, but they return talent across the roster.
“We’ve definitely gotten stronger,” said senior Brock Wright. “It’s great to have more guys because we just have more places we can put guys.”
The Lakers graduated quarterback Jacob Eiginger, and Nick Yingling will fill his role after playing at middle linebacker and punter last year. If not for injury, Yingling would have led the team in tackles for three consecutive years, but he still finished second last year. Wright was their leading rusher and tackler from the year before.
Jason Wells was a force for the Lakers on both sides of the ball. Wells tied the school record for interception in a season while compiling over 1,400 yards on offense and special teams. Not to mention, junior Cash Inman on the offensive line. Coach Trenish said he graded out as their best lineman as a sophomore last year. Millersport will return a lot of their players in the trenches. Gage Evans will return at defensive end, Brady O’Neil enters his second year at center and Hunter Grimm, a four-year starter, returns on the offensive line. These returners have Millersport excited about what their ceiling could be this year.
“A lot of potential, a big beautiful team with a lot of potential,” said Yingling. With Yingling taking over at quarterback and more depth for the Lakers, Trenish said they have one goal on that side of the ball.
“Mayhem is what I would say our offense will be,” said Trenish. He jokingly referred to his offensive coordinator as his “mayhem coordinator.”
Millersport broke out of a two year slump without a win after a 52-12 rout of Vanlue, and their second win came in a 30-20 thriller over Federal Hocking. But, the Lakers have not beaten a conference team since September 22nd, 2017. The Lakers are not worried about who they are playing, looking to earn wins as they go.
“All of them,” said Wright after being asked who he wanted to beat.
For a school like Millersport, the hope is this season can be the catalyst to build a consistent winner into the future.
“Success breeds success,” said Trenish. “This year is kind of pivotal for us.”