By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

High school football preview capsule for the Southeast Pirates’ 2022 season.

Head Coach: Patrick Youel, 13th year; 68-55 career record.

Coaching Staff: Mike Stiles, offensive coordinator; Rick Reynolds, defensive coordinator; Elliott Thomas, special teams coordinator; Brett Butcher, assistant head coach; Bready DeRemer, co-special teams coordinator; Marc Frisone, co-defensive coordinator.

2021 Recap: 9-2 overall record; Portage Trail Conference co-champions.

Returning Lettermen (13): Michael Phillips, sr.; Matt Donovan, sr.; Case Myers, jr.; Randy Williams, sr.; Austin McLean, sr.; Carson Dunn, sr.; Joe Kline, sr.; Nate Muncy, jr.; Brady Corley, sr.; Roo Hose, sr.; Preston Bello, jr.; Kyle Booher, jr.; Evan Riffle, sr.

Lettermen Lost (16): Brandon Clint, Xavier Cowles, Ryan Ramser, Aidan Fischer, D’Angelo Bardelli, Mason Amodio, Jaidyn Sapp, Carter Ault, Levi Willett, River Flaitz, Vinnie Sanderfer, Jaiden Knoch, Nate Buckeye, Spencer Mesaros, Andrew Kelchner, Brendan Danes.

Offensive Outlook: Southeast returns depth on the offensive line, but they will be replacing its entire backfield.

“We have guys ready to step up,” head coach Patrick Youel said.

The Pirates’ offense will be run out of a single-wing.

Quarterbacks: The trio of Randy Williams, Nate Muncy and Antonio Mejia are all working toward gaining the edge as the starter.

Running Backs: Michael Phillips returns for his senior season after a season-ending injury in 2021.

Muncy, Mejia, Case Myers and Aiden McClelland are also expected to get time in the backfield for the Pirates.

Offensive Line: The team’s most experienced position, with returners Evan Riffle, Roo Hose, Brady Corley, Zack Tessean, Kyle Booher, Caleb Miller and Preston Bello.

Wide Receivers: Phillips and Myers will line up outside, along with Jack Muldowney and Zack Balk.

Defensive Outlook: “We bring back two of our starting linebackers and three defensive backs from last year. We feel that we have some depth up front on the defensive line.”

Defensive Backs: This group will be filled out by Phillips, Matt Donovan, Carson Dunn, along with Austin and Antonio Mejia.

Linebackers: Muncy, McLean, Joe Kline and Dylan Donnell are in line to start.

Defensive Line: The Pirates will rely heavily on the same group that fills out its offensive line: Riffle, Hose, Corley, Tessean, Booher, Miller and Bello.

Special Teams: Dunn returns for his fourth season as the team’s starting kicker.

The long-snappers will be Muncy and Riffle, while Williams will handle the punting.

From the Coach’s Eyes: “I am proud of my OTOV (One Team, One Vision) Dudes every day for being them. They embrace the OTOV Culture we strive for and understand the program’s mission. It is an honor to be their coach and every day I am thankful for that.”

Senior Captains: Michael Phillips, Carson Dunn, Evan Riffle, Austin McLean, Brady Corley.

“This is my core group that I got to know when they were in the third grade because of my position at Southeast. Not often the high school assistant principal and football coach gets to know third graders, but they always seemed to be around the high school hanging out. To watch them grown and develop over nine years is cool. They are a great group of kids and a special class.”