The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
2016 schedule
at Lutheran East, 1 at St. John (at Spire), 7 Richmond Heights, 7 Waterloo, 7 Jackson-Milton, 7 Grand Valley, 7 at Southington, 7 at Windham, 7 Pymatuning Valley, 7 Vienna Mathews, 7 Homecoming .480 1 Richmond Heights will provide a barometer for the Black Knights in Week 3, when they play their first home game against Division VI competition.
Outlook: offense
Newbury will look to run the ball as often as possible, as the Black Knights’ most talented players are in the backfield. Fullback Tom McKale and running back Kade Marker will provide senior leadership, and the bulk of Newbury’s offensive production. With a smaller offensive line, the Black Knights will rely on misdirections and counters. Johnny Chambers moves from running back to quarterback out of necessity. He will be a viable option to tuck the ball and scramble, although his throwing ability may surprise teams this season. His primary targets will be a pair of freshmen in receiver Anthony Harley and tight end Mitch Sanders, who each bring decent size for their class.
Outlook: defense
Like the offense, McKale and Marker will provide the leadership for the defense at the team’s two starting linebacker positions. Newbury will look to generate enough of a pass rush with five down-linemen, led by 255-pound tackle Joe Ule, who must be disruptive out of an interior line spot. As on offense, Sanders is one to watch. He’ll line up at nose tackle despite his 190-pound frame. Chambers will also help quarterback the defense out of a safety spot. He and fellow returning starter Mike Weston will need to provide steady play in a secondary that features two freshmen corners in Harley and Noah Parsons, who possesses projectable size at 6-foot as a first-year player. Seven starters return for the defense. But all seven play offense as well, which will require quality play from reserve tackle Ryan Mansfield and safety Dylan Hamilton.
Player to watch
Kade Marker takes over as the team’s lead running back as Johnny Chambers moves to quarterback. The Black Knights will run the ball more often than not, and many of those carries figure to go to the 220-pound senior.
Underclassman to watch
Johnny Chambers moved from running back to quarterback this offseason, putting the ball in Newbury’s most dangerous player in 2015 more often. The Black Knights need his arm to pose enough of a threat for their rushing attack to be effective. In the team’s first scrimmage, Chambers threw four touchdown passes.
Projected lineup