Beachwood's Experienced Football Squad Should Challenge for CVC Crown

Last season,  came into the year with youth and finished second in the Chagrin Valley Conference Metro division with a 5-5 record. Now that season provides the foundation for a potential breakout 2011 campaign.

Their youth turned to experience and head coach Ryan Williams expects the team to contend for the CVC title and accumulate enough computer points to qualify for a post-season bid.

“We’re able to advance along at a much faster pace in practice,” Williams said. “Experience makes life easy for everybody, the team plays faster.”

The Bison return nine starters on each side of the ball including Alex Hoal, who was The Plain Dealer’s pick for CVC offensive player of the year. Hoal is a three-year starter at quarterback and a team captain. His fellow captain Max Schoen looks to anchor both the offensive and defensive lines while the final captain David Shapiro returns at tight end and linebacker.

Senior running back Ari Sobel looks to balance out the offense as he amassed more than 1,200 rushing yards last season. Blocking for him will be a trio of talented fullbacks: senior Howard Sobel and juniors Brandon Rotsky and Mike Fields.

On the defensive side Corey Jones started in the secondary as a sophomore last season and figures to be a key contributor on the defensive side. He is also their back-up quarterback and sees time spelling Sobel at running back. Senior Anthony Valentine and sophomore Jordan Lane give the Bison depth at linebacker as returning starters.

“Corey worked very hard in the off-season. If he was good last year he looks twice as good this year,” Williams said. “When you have your best players there all the time working out it makes you a better team.”

Beachwood is not without holes to fill, most notably . Weiss played wide receiver and defensive end and was named to the 2010 East vs. West summer All Star game. Along with Valentine, seniors Jacob Fabrosf and Chris Lardie, sophomore Julio Stevens and junior Darrell Sullins are all vying for playing time.

“Someone is definitely going to have to fill his shoes this year. He was an excellent football player,” Williams said.

The Bison also lost offensive guard Alex Bruening, but gained Kemond Leggins. Leggins is a senior transfer from Euclid and should find a way to contribute to Beachwood’s offensive line coming down from Div. I.

The easiest way for Beachwood to make the post-season is to run the table and accumulate the maximum number of computer points, but the games that will boost the Bison’s regional ranking the most are Orange, Kirtland, West Geauga and Cuyahoga Heights, the defending CVC Metro division champion.

“We have to show up and beat those teams in order to make the playoffs,” Williams said.

Their quest for the post-season begins at 1 p.m. Saturday against Gilmour at Beachwood High School.