Midseason report: Van Wert Cougars (2-3)

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent sports editor

After a 2-3 start (0-3 WBL) and three consecutive losses, the Van Wert Cougars are hoping to get back on the winning track this Friday night.

The Cougars opened the season with wins over Bryan and Defiance and have since dropped tough games against Wapakoneta (13-7), St. Marys Memorial (24-14) and last Friday’s 35-28 overtime loss to Ottawa-Glandorf.

“We need to get back to where we were earlier in the season in regards to big plays,” head coach Keith Recker said. “We have given up too many big plays the last three games and have not created enough offensively.”

“When we don’t give up big plays, we are one of the best defenses in the league,” Recker added.

The Cougars are allowing 269 yards per game, including just 94 yards passing per outing. Parker Conrad has 48 tackles, while Owen Treece has 41. Keagon Hammons has a team-high eight tackles for losses and five sacks, while Conrad has sacked opposing quarterbacks four times.

Van Wert suffered heavy graduation losses along the defensive and offensive lines, but Recker is pleased with progress made by those units – tackles Colin Place and Ryan Pratt, guards Cullen Dunn and Conrad, and center Turner Witten.

Witten and Dunn also play along the defensive line, along with Hammons and Holden Reichert.

“With the number of guys we lost up front from last year, I am very proud of the way those guys are not only holding their own, but really playing well against typically bigger opponents,” Recker explained. “It’s not uncommon for use to be outweighed by 20-50 pounds up front, but our guys use their athleticism and strength to tilt the matchup in their favor.”

On offense, Van Wert has displayed a balanced offense by averaging 177 yards passing and 166 yards rushing per game.

Treece has completed 75 of 129 passes for 886 yards, seven touchdowns and six interceptions, and the junior quarterback has rushed for 497 yards and four touchdowns on 90 carries.

Tanner Barnhart leads the team with 25 receptions for 297 yards, while TJ Reynolds has 18 receptions for 114 yards. Connor Pratt has seven catches for 156 yards and two touchdowns.

Recker also noted that due to some injuries, some reserves stepped up during the first half of the season.

“I am so happy for guys like Levi Newell, who got a chance to play quite a bit on Friday nights because of injuries,” Recker said. “Being his senior year, he filled in admirably for Jake during the first three games of the season.”

“It is a good thing for those backups who typically wouldn’t get a lot of snaps during a game, now they are seeing more action and showing what they can do. We have been forced to put more young guys on special teams as well, which gets them good experience on Friday nights as well.”

While looking at the Western Buckeye League standings, Recker noted the challenges so far as well as the ones that lie ahead.

“We have such a balanced league which makes Friday nights so much fun and so challenging,” Recker said. “There are no off weeks in our league and it’s a shame with as many good teams in our league that some will be left out of the playoffs because of only having one non-league game.”

The Cougars will kick off the second half of the season Friday night at Shawnee. After a 3-0 start, the Indians have dropped back-to-back games against Wapakoneta (28-14) and St. Marys Memorial (28-9).

“Shawnee will through a lot of different formations at our defense, including unbalanced line, one back, two back and empty formations,” Recker said. “They have a lot of experience with multiple guys being three or four year starters. Peyton Wilson seems like he’s been playing at Shawnee for 10 years and he is a very good player on both sides of the ball.”

When the two teams met last year, Van Wert posted a 39-6 win.

Friday’s Van Wert at Shawnee game will air live on WERT 1220AM/104.3FM.