MOUNT GILEAD — The Indians are not new to high school football, but in 2022, they were new to playoff football.
Graduation gutted a lot of that breakthrough squad, but, while last year's record left Mount Gilead wanting more, the results on the field were encouraging. In the eyes of fourth-year head coach and 39-year veteran high school coach Mike Reid, they were competitive in 2023 like in 2022.
Now he wants to see his program take the next step, so here are three things to watch with Mount Gilead football in 2024.
Check out last year's Indians: Mount Gilead football guide: Indians know what to do for encore to historic season
The 2024 composite football schedule: When do they play? A list of every Marion-area high school football game for 2024
1. Mount Gilead wants to contend
In 2022, Mount Gilead enjoyed its first winning season since 2004, and last year despite being 3-7 overall and 1-6 in the Knox Morrow Athletic Conference, the Indians were rarely blown out, no matter the lofty record of opponents. This year Reid wants to see competitive football turn into contending football.
"We feel like we left some wins out on the field last year," Reid said. "We need to work to leave no unfinished business, no excuses. We need to leave no doubt. In order to do this, we must compete and insist on doing the little things right all the time and be more consistent in all our assignments.
"We have transitioned from being a somewhat dormant program to a competitive one. We want to transition from competitive to being contenders. We want to be playing very meaningful games at the end of the season, and we'll take that one game at a time."
The Indians have the pieces to take that next step this season.
2. Mount Gilead is big, experienced
The Indians graduated All-Ohio 255-pound offensive lineman Hayden Krinn, but their front five will be bigger than a lot in the KMAC this season. The tackles are Riley Cardwell (senior, 6-foot, 220 pounds) and Miguel Martinez (Sr., 6-0, 250), while the guards are Gauge Shipman (Jr., 5-11, 240) and Cody Meimer (Jr., 6-2, 265), and the center is Shane Carpenter (Sr., 6-4, 250).
"We developed a lot of depth on the offensive line last season," Reid said. "Although we lost some quality starters to graduation, we are able to get some guys back this year with a lot of game experience whether they were a starter or not. Still, depth is a concern, but I am excited about our experience up front and the return of most of our skill players."
The theme of size continues with some of those skills positions as Cam Vickers (Sr., 6-1, 200) and Carson Trainer (Sr., 6-3, 175) will line up at receiver, and Boe Sayers (So., 6-0, 175) and Wyatt Long (So., 6-2, 180) will go at tight end.
It's the same on defense with Shipman, Meimer, Carpenter, Brody Martinez (Jr., 6-1, 240) and Christian Overly (Sr., 5-11, 230) on the line, and Vickers and Carson Barnum (Jr., 6-0, 205) at linebacker.
Vickers is the team's bell cow on defense with 96 tackles, 16 for loss, 10 sacks and an All-Ohio nod as a punter after averaging 43 yards a year ago. Barnum had 57 tackles and 11 for loss, while Carpenter had 58 tackles, 10 for loss and five sacks as an all-league and district pick.
3. The Indians bring back experience at QB
In his first year as a starting quarterback as a sophom*ore last year, Cole Fricke (Jr., 5-11, 155) put up 862 passing yards and 648 rushing yards, throwing and running for eight touchdowns. Eliot Jones (Sr., 6-0, 170) was the top running back with 574 yards and five TDs.
Look for those numbers to improve for both as they gain more confidence as upperclassmen now.
"Cole Fricke has come into camp with one season under his belt with more more command and authority with the offense," Reid said. "Carson Trainer has shown some real promise on both sides of the ball for us as has sophom*ore Tyler Harr (So., 5-8, 145). Junior Brogan Pfleiderer has worked his way into the mix at both running back and outside linebacker."
On defense, Jones will likely play outside linebacker, and Fricke will go at cornerback, while Harr, Trainer and Kaden St. Clair (So., 6-2, 155) will round out the backfield.
"Inside the box I feel we are pretty strong, but we will need to develop depth at our secondary positions," he said, adding that they need to replace the production lost by linebacker Gabe Simpson and cornerback Logan High as both graduated.
Mount Gilead's outlook
The Indians should be in the mix with the elite in the KMAC as last year's newcomers get comfortable as veterans. Also with their size, they should control the line of scrimmage and the tempo of games. It could be a special season in the county seat of Morrow County in 2024.
"We expect to work to be one of the contenders," Reid said.
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Mount Gilead Football Primer
● League: Knox Morrow Athletic Conference.
● Playoff Division: VI, Region 23.
● Head Coach: Mike Reid (fourth season, 12-19).
● Assistants: Mike Reid II (offensive line, run game coordinator, linebackers), Joe Ulrey (defensive coordinator, linebackers, running backs), Joe Ruhl (special teams coordinator, receivers, defensive backs), Jared Ruhl (defensive line, assistant offensive line), Dustin Baker (interior defensive line, assistant offensive line), Dan Harr (quarterbacks, defensive backs).
● Playoff Appearances: 1 (2022).
● Playoff Record: 0-1.
● Last Year: 3-7, 1-6.
● Letter Winners Returning: 13 offense, 9 defense.
● Starters Returning: 6 offense, 5 defense.
● Base Offense: Power spread.
● Base Defense: Multiple.
2024 Schedule
Aug. 23 Triad
Aug. 30 at Upper Sandusky
Sept. 6 Grove City Christian
Sept. 13 at Danville
Sept. 20 at Fredericktown
Sept. 27 at East Knox
Oct. 4 Centerburg
Oct. 11 at Northmor
Oct. 18 Loudonville
Oct. 25 Cardington
2023 Results
Triad, W 15-8
Upper Sandusky, L 12-26
Grove City Christian, W 22-0
Loudonville, L 20-27
Fredericktown, L 7-26
East Knox, L 0-28
Centerburg, L 11-28
Northmor, L 3-31
Danville, L 20-53
Cardington, W 25-6
This article originally appeared on Marion Star: 2024 MG Football Guide: Indians moving from competitive to contenders
