By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

THE TEAM

• Coaching Staff: Mike Mager, offensive coordinator/offensive line; Jake Lieberth, offensive coordinator/; Brandon Civitarese, defensive coordinator/linebackers; Dave Lieberth, defensive coordinator/defensive backs; Jack Blasiole, special teams coordinator/running backs; Andrew Mertz, wide receivers; Tim Bilsza, running backs; Jarek Manners, defensive line.
• League: Chagrin Valley Conference Valley Division.
• Playoffs: Division V, Region 17.
• 2024 Record: 5-5 overall; 3-4 league.
• Returning Lettermen (11): Jake Eyerman, sr.; Mike Hager, sr.; Wyatt Januska, sr.; Brody MacLearie, sr.; JJ Myers, sr.; Everett Baynes, jr.; Tye Berquist, jr.; Jake Devlin, jr.; James Lancaster, jr.; Michael Kalista, soph.; Chris Mory, soph.
• Lettermen Lost (15): Nate Blasiole, Charlie Sommer, Bryce Giel, Zephaniah Beverly, Mason Saterlee, Tommy Georger, Tristen Addis, Noah Horne, Jackson Rattray, Stephen Heritage, Landon Keener, Corey Barnauskas, Bryce Bennett, Fred Haney, Daniel Doering.

THE OFFENSE

The Red Devils will run out of the Single Wing once again, with a plan to remain run heavy and use a variety of ball-carriers and misdirection. New opportunities will be available because of the graduation of Nate Blasiole, who rushed for 1,871 yards last season. He also finished his career as the program’s all-time leading rusher with 4,779 yards.

The team will also debut a new quarterback this season.

QUARTERBACKS

Sophomore Michael Kalista lettered last year as a wide receiver, but will make the move to quarterback this season to replace the graduated Charlie Sommer, who was a three-year starter. The 5-foot-8 signal-caller will operate out of the Single Wing, looking for opportunistic passing downs to catch defenses off-guard.

RUNNING BACKS

The Devils’ identity will shift dramatically. As stated above, Blasiole’s graduation leaves a major hole in production to be filled. Blasiole’s career rushing total ranks as the seventh-best in Portage County history. He also scored 18 touchdowns last season and 52 for his career.

Stepping in to fill the void will be the group of Bobby Bradley, James Lancaster, Chris Mory and Jo Baker.

OFFENSIVE LINE

Two starters return in Jake Eyerman and Mike Hager.

Also pushing for starting spots and adding depth are Brody MacLearie, Austin Rivera, Ethan Marshall, Clayton Mullins, David Howell, Jaxon Gill and Tiesen Shorts.

WIDE RECEIVERS

& TIGHT ENDS

Januska is the top returning target in the air. He finished with nine receptions and 158 yards last year as the team’s leading receiver.

Other options will emerge as well, with Luke Zauszniewski, Angelo Dinardo, Tye Berquist, Jake Devlin, Everett Baynes, JJ Myers and Jack Patton all working to get in the mix.

THE DEFENSE

The Devils’ base defense will be set out of a 4-3, but will continue to offer varieties, including blitz packages, based on game circumstances.

LINEBACKERS

Eyerman is the leader here, returning after making 37 tackles and leading the county with three fumble recoveries last year. He also had three sacks.

Hager, Bradley, Lancaster and Mory will all also be moving into the inside and outside positions to cover sideline to sideline.

DEFENSIVE LINE

The group will consist of Dinardo, Berquist, MacLearie, Rivera, Marshall, Mullins, Howell, Gill and Shorts.

Keeping players fresh will be the key for the Devils in order to put pressure on opposing quarterbacks.

DEFENSIVE BACKS

Januska was the top receiver on offense and the top receiver on defense, finishing the 2024 season second in the county with his four interceptions. He now has six career interceptions, which already ranks him sixth all-time in program history.

The career interceptions leader is Jordan Fabry (2013), who had 13.

Zauszniewski, Kalista, Devlin, Baynes, Patton, Myers and Baker will round out the rest of the group getting time in the secondary.

UNDERCLASSMEN TO WATCH

Tye Berquist, jr.; Luke Zauszniewski, jr.; Michael Kalista, soph.; Chris Mory, soph.; Everett Baynes, jr.; Jake Devlin, jr.; James Lancaster, jr.

CAUSE FOR CONCERN

“Replacing 15 impact seniors is no small task. That is a lot of leadership and production that walked out the door,” D’Amato said. “But we’ve got guys who have been grinding, getting reps and battling for those spots and now it is their time. Depth is always a challenge at a smaller school, so staying healthy and developing our younger players will be key as the season rolls on.”