Trojans to be led by 19-man senior class

FINDLAY – Stefan Adams isn't predicting a final destination, not just yet.Right now his focus is on the journey that's taking him there."I like the direction we're heading," Adams said."I think people miss a lot of times that building a program, turning a mind-set around, takes time. This is one of those years where I feel behind with some things, but our numbers are consistently there in the middle school programs, we have our biggest freshman class – almost 40 kids – coming in, we have the coaches in place …."I realize sometimes you have to go small to get bigger and numbers-wise I think that will pay dividends in the future. I like our culture. We have the right kids out and I like where we're heading."Adams, who has posted a 32-25 record and guided Findlay to five straight playoff appearances, enters his sixth season as head coach much like any other. Graduation cost the program some of its top talent on both sides of the ball, but there's a solid 19-man senior class returning and a deep enough pool of talented and experienced players ready to step up and make the most of their time in the spotlight.It starts, Adams says, with the veterans."You win with seniors," he said."Our best years we had a good group of seniors who stepped up and took the bull by the horns. Last year I don't think people thought too much of our chances, not after what we lost (to graduation)."What happened? We had a guy like Mile Bailey, a senior, who had been a linebacker, come in and play quarterback. The offensive line, those guys were almost all seniors."If you have good senior leadership, good seniors in your program, you're going to be okay."Bailey ended up completing 106-of-188 passes for 1,319 yards and 10 touchdowns. With his linebacker size – 5-11, 200 pounds —Bailey was also Findlay's top running threat, especially in short-yardage situations and plays in the red zone, adding 620 rushing yards and 16 TDs.Three players – senior Riley Korkos (5-10, 170), junior Tate Richards (6-1,185) and sophomore Marcus Bishop (5-10, 180) are in the quarterback rotation for 2026.Korkos (11-23, 55 yards) and Richards (11-22, 118 yards) saw some varsity action last season. Bishop quarterbacked the freshman squad and was later the leading scorer on the varsity basketball team."Riley's kind of a dual threat, like Miles Bailey was," Adams said. "Tate (Richards) is more of a pocket passer but has shown the ability to do a little of both."The guys are really getting after it and pushing each other."With the graduation of Bailey, Sonny Hines (275 yards, 2 TDs), Griffin Lane (131 yards, 2 TDs) and Lance Miller (153 yards, 1 TD) Findlay graduated most of its running game. Ramier Williams returns, though, and Adams feels the 5-11, 200-poumd senior who rushed for 223 yards and three TDs last year, may have a breakout kind of season."Ramier is the guy," Adams said."He's done everything right as far as the off-season goes. He's got his body right, he's still strong as an ox and his feet (quickness) is still there."I think he's due to tap into his potential."Aidan Lomeli, a 5-8, 190-pound junior, and Tre'Von Whitaker, a 5-11, 185-pounder who played freshman football, then displayed impressive athletic talent on the basketball floor, will give Adams more running game options than past seasons."I think those three right there give us one of the better running back rooms in my time here," Adams said."When we had Isaac James, Dallas DeLaCruz, Matthew Guthrie … All those guys were great for us, but at the time we were not as deep as we wanted to be."Findlay's depth at running back may alter the Trojans' offensive schemes a bit."From more of a down field attacking with the screen game to more of an inside run game," Adams explained."We've added some elements to our run game where people have to defend every blade of grass, not just from a pass standpoint but from a run game as well."All-league end Carter Imke, a 5-8,160-pound senior who caught 51 passes for 602 yards and six touchdowns heads up a deep and experienced receiving corps that includes returning lettermen Greyson Geiser (24 recps., 286 yards, 1 TD), Jed Scott (14 recps., 130 yards, 2 TDs) and Nash Montgomery (8 recps, 81 yards).Senior Grant Emans (6-1, 190) and sophomore Max Best (6-3, 190) will man the tight end position.""The whole room is back and they look like veterans," Adams said."Better yet, I like how they practice. They practice like veterans."Division I college scouts may not be roaming the sidelines like they were when Luke Montgomery (Ohio State) and Baylor Wilkin (Indiana) were wearing the Blue and Gold. With the graduation of players like Geovani Ambrister, Max Inthavone and Brody Smith, Adams will be counting on a solid group of linemen to make the most of their opportunity."We say we can always get guys between 5-10 and 6-foot, 240 to 260 pounds," Adams said."I think that's pretty darn good for high school kids."It's hard to teach modern day kids to be linemen, but I think we have some kids who are very interested. Right now we're giving them, especially our seniors, every opportunity to win the job."Graydin Weinstein, a 6-0, 220-pound junior, returns at center for the Trojans."He's extremely smart," Adams said of the returning veteran. "He's the quarterback of the offensive line."Seniors Will Cook (6-0, 225, sr.) and Parker Nelson (5-8, 245. sr.) are competing for spots on the starting line, along with Ian Vargas (5-10, 234, jr.), Landon Berno (6-4, 282, soph.) and Kahle Gurthrie (6-0, 280, soph)."Those guys have waited their turn," Adams said. "They're worked hard to get to this stage, and I think we'll have a nice rotation of guys."A stout defense kept Findlay in some close games last season and will be a vital to Findlay's success in 2026."I think we have two of the best coordinators in coach (Matt) Best and what he's done with the offense and coach (Josh) Wade, who I thought brought in a defense that really fits our style," Adams said."That three down linemen (look), a lot of good athletes that can play that hybrid outside linebacker/safety position. It's hard to go out and find four to six or four to eight dominate defensive linemen but that defense fits us like a glove. He (Wade) brought an identity, a style of play that's fun and the kids love it."We did some really good stuff last year. I'm excited to see how we can grow from year one to year two."Spearheading that defense will be seniors Trace-son Hyde (6-2, 241) and Jack Young (6-3, 225). Hyde had 37 total tackles and nine tackles for loss; Young had 32 tackles, including seven sacks."The two bash brothers, the bushwhackers, whatever you want to call them, they are two of the best in the league," Adams said of the bookend defensive ends."They both have high IQs, they're physical and they're tough to block. The thing we have to do better is make sure we develop some depth around them. It's a long season and we want to keep those guys healthy because they are two dominant players."Raevyn Talley, a 215-pound junior, will likely man the nose guard spot in the three-man front. Caleb Kanney, a 5-11, 201-pound junior who had 51 tackles last season, returns at linebacker with some new attire."We have donned him the next guy to take on No. 5," Adams said of Kanney, who was No. 44 on the roster last season."When I came here No. 5 was Sam Weihauch (Division II all-American at the University of Findlay). Then it was Nate Riegle (preferred walk-on at Ohio State). Last year it was Chase Harris. Some pretty prestigious names have been attached to that number."Jacob Gebhardt, a senior who had two interceptions before being injured early last season, is back, healthy and ready to return to the secondary. Jed Scott (5-11, 155, sr.) will move from corner to safety, with juniors Jake Neat (5-9, 170) and Aiden Chiow (5-9, 160) vying for starting spots as well.Findlay's kicking game is in good hands with Geiser and Scott returning. In addition to playing wide receiver, Geiser converted 32-of-35 PAT kicks and 6-of-9 field goals, the longest from 41 yards.Scott did the punting, averaging 33.8 yards per boot.Findlay went 2-3 in NLL Buckeye Division play, but those three league losses were by a total of seven points against Perrysburg (14-10), Toledo Whitmer (35-33) and Anthony Wayne (20-19).It was the type of competitive play Adams expects from his Trojans."We play in a tough, very competitive league," Adams said."I want the narrative to be that, yeah, there's a gauntlet to go through, and when our name comes up in the conversation, we want people to know that we're a part of that gauntlet, too." FINDLAY ROSTER No. Name Position Ht. Wt. Grade0 Trace'son Hyde OL/DL 6-2 241 121 Carter Imke WR/DB 5-8 160 122 Jacob Gebhardt WR/DB 5-10 152 123 Jed Scott WR/DB 5-11 150 124 Nash Montgomery WR/DB 6-2 182 115 Caleb Kanney RB/LB5-11 201 116 Ayden Brock WR/LB 5-10 170 128 Jack Young OL/DL 6-3 225 129 Greyson Geiser WR/DB/K 6-0 190 1110 Tate Richards QB/DB 6-1 185 1111 Ramier Williams RB/LB 5-11 200 1212 Adien Chiow WR/DB 5-9 160 1113 Marcus Bishop QB/LB 5-10 180 1014 Riley Korkos QB/DB 5-10 170 1215 Cole Hull RB/LB 5-10 195 1216 Kaidence Brubaker RB/DB 5-6 125 1117 Grant Emans WR/LB 6-1 190 1218 Max Best WR/LB 6-3 190 1019 Bishop Pfister QB/DB 5-10 195 1120 Aidan Lomeli RB/LB 5-8 190 1121 Jake Neat WR/DB 5-9 170 1122 Jameson Huelsman WR/DB 5-10 200 1023 Zay-en Fry WR/DB 6-0 162 1024 Tre'Von Whitaker RB/LB 5-11 185 1025 Deiondre Herrera LB 6-0 190 1226 Eason McRill RB/DB 5-7 150 1127 Kyvid Fuller WR/DB 5-11 150 1128 Ka'Shawn Lasenby WR/DB 6-0 150 1029 Marshall Rader WR/DB 5-10 185 1030 Isaac Hernandez RB/LB 5-9 160 1231 Brayden Ferguson WR/DB 5-9 160 1132 Cade McDaniel WR/DB 5-6 130 1033 Bryson Simon WR/DB 5-8 131 1035 Michael Bowman WR/LB 5-8 145 1138 Jeremiah Watkins WR/DB 5-7 125 1139 Grayson Bauman WR/DB 5-10 145 1040 Gavin Rader WR/LB 5-8 158 1242 Karmello Bonner OL/DL 6-0 175 1044 Taevyn Talley WB/LB 5-10 215 1145 Max Gunka RB/LB 5-7 175 1147 Ryder Bramel WR/DB 6-0 158 1151 Kahle Guthrie OL/DL 6-0 280 1052 Nate Brooks OL/DL 5-7 240 1254 Antonio Ortega OL/DL 6-0 325 1255 Landon Berno OL/DL 6-4 282 1056 Parker Nelson OL/DL 5-8 245 1257 Graydin Weinstein OL/DL 6-0 220 1159 Miko Hernandez OL/DL 5-7 170 1060 Carson Copus OL/DL 5-8 225 1061 Knox Wheeler OL/DL 5-8 220 1062 Julius Rudecki OL/DL 5-9 210 1063 Emerson Gonyer OL/DL 5-7 223 1164 Aden Smith OL/DL 5-9 210 1066 Henry Stanley OL/DL 5-11 210 1068 Christian Magee OL/DL 5-8 215 1170 Will Cook OL/DL 6-0 225 1171 Keiran Flowers OL/DL 6-0 190 1072 Ian Vargas OL/DL 5-10 234 1173 Gabe Bowser OL/DL 6-1 240 1279 Tino Tuiloma OL/DL 6-4 320 1080 Sevyn Dulaney WR/DB 5-7 145 1081 Evan Strable WR/DB 5-7 135 1090 Greyson Apple-Chiow OL/DL 5-8 220 12 FINDLAY – 2026 SCHEDULEDate Opponent Home/AwayAug. 21 Medina H 28 Lima Senior ASept. 4 Springfield A 11 Sylvania Southview H 18 Fremont Ross H 25 Oregon Clay* AOct. 2 Perrysburg* H 9 Toledo Whitmer* H 16 Sylvania Northview* A 23 Anthony Wayne* A*NLL-Buckeye Division games FINDLAY 10-YEAR RECORDS 2025 6-52024 4-72023 8-32022 5-62021 9-42020 3-22019 4-62018 4-62017 4-62016 7-4 FINDLAY 2026 RESULTS Pine-Richard, Pa. (L) 7-38Lima Senior (W) 17-7Springfield (W) 28-7Sylvania Southview (W) 41-14Fremont Ross (W) 42-0Oregon Clay (W) 35-0Perrysburg (L) 10-14Toledo Whitmer (L) 33-35Sylvania Northview (W) 42-7Anthony Wayne (L) 19-20 PLAYOFFSHuber Heights Wayne (L) 10-34