By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

High school football preview capsule for the Streetsboro Rockets’ 2022 season.

Head Coach: Pete Thompson, 11th year (5th at Streetsboro); 79-39 career record.

Coaching Staff: Coular Clendenning, defensive coordinator and linebackers; Jim Lovejoy, running backs; Pete Smith, quarterbacks; Jared Tuma, wide receivers; Ben Cipa, offensive line; Wezlee Spence, defensive line; Brandon Boyette, defensive backs; Dominic Love, offensive and defensive line; Matt Helm, special teams and defensive backs.

2021 Recap: 9-3 overall record; 5-2 Metro Athletic Conference; 3rd MAC.

Returning Letterman: 16.

Lettermen Lost: 9.

Offensive Outlook: The Rockets will run a multiple-spread option system.

“We will rely on the overall speed and athleticism of our skill players and returning three-year starters on the offensive line (Colin  Swanson and Zach Edington).”

Preston Hopperton will once again be an offensive focus after a breakout season last year as a sophomore, which he scored 22 touchdowns.

“We need to stay health, win the turnover battle and continue to develop on the defensive side of the ball,” said Thompson on his team’s chances for a successful season.

Quarterbacks: Colby Benjamin and Jackson Gula have emerged as the candidates to take over the starting role for the graduated Maysun Klimak.

Running Backs: There is plenty of depth and speed for the Rockets, who will rotate Cohen Klimak, Kylan Rue, Jermaine Price and Donovan Paes.

Hopperton, who will also line up as a receiver, is expected to still get touches out of the backfield as well.

Offensive Line: Swanson and Edington are the veteran leaders here. Both, now seniors, have been starters since their sophomore seasons.

A group of others are searching for the opportunity to start, including Jake Maxwell, Jon Eckron, Alex Light, Joey Fedor, Dakari Reese, Joey Neal and Arthur Scott.

Wide Receivers: Hopperton (783 receiving yards) will line up mostly outside, but will be joined by Micah Schuster, Jackson Gula, Colby Benjamin, Jake Marshall, Omari Steeve, Gerret Tiller and Eric Tiller.

Defensive Outlook: By the end of the 2021 season, the Rockets featured six starters that were either sophomores or freshmen.

Coular Clendenning, who joins Streetsboro’s staff after previously spending time as the head coach at Meadowbrook.

The new addition to the coaching staff is in the process of implementing a new multiple 3-4 scheme.

Defensive Backs: There is athleticism here with Gula (team-high 87 tackles), Schuster (65), Hopperton, Benjamin and Eric Tiller.

Also working for time will be Steeve and Carter Baab.

Linebackers: Klimak (81 tackles), Rue (85 tackles) and Paes are all returning starters. Also in the mix are Jermaine Price, Akron, Garret Tiller and Hunter Smith.

Defensive Line: Fedor and Swanson highlight the D-Line. Newcomers Dakari Reese, Brian Nobles, Leeland Derovich and Arthur Scott are all also competing for a starter’s role.

Special Teams: Dom Incorvatit and Garret Tiller will share the kicking duties.

Paes and Edington are the team’s long-snappers.

Eric Tiller and Benjamin will be the holders.

Hopperton, Klimak, Steeve and Rue will all handle kick-returning duties.

From the Coach’s Eyes: “We are proud to lead the Rockets’ program, as it has developed and grown over the last several years. The growth and success of our program and the young men in it have become a source of community pride that the community has rallied around.”

Underclassmen to Watch: Sophomores Cohen Klimak and Jackson Gula were the leading tacklers last year as freshmen.

“Both should be primed to have significant roles and make contributions on both sides of the ball.”

Arther Scott, a freshman, had a “Good summer and might compete for varsity time early,” according to Thompson.