Rockets bring back talent, depth, experience

PANDORA – Teams playing Pandora-Gilboa this season might have to go through two coin flips. One to see who kicks off, another to decide what defense to implement against the Rockets. "We're going to try to run the ball," said P-G coach Matt Hershey. "But we also have two of the best receivers in the area, we have talent across the board, we have three starters back on the offensive line … Defenses will have to pick their poison. Teams are going to have to decide to stop the run or stop the pass." Pandora-Gilboa graduated a marquee player from both backfields – running back Ethan Luginbill and linebacker Wyatt Russell. Luginbill set single-season school records for rushing yards (1,874) and touchdowns (33). Russell, a second-team all-Ohio pick, had 127 tackles in 2022 and was the Rockets leading tackler the past three seasons. There's talent, depth and experience returning, though, to a program that has averaged 7.5 wins a season and made four playoff appearances in Hershey's six seasons as head coach. P-G's most dangerous weapons are receivers Aidan Morris and Colin Harris. Last season Morris caught 64 passes for 1,070 yards and 13 touchdowns. A three-time all-Ohio pick, the 6-foot, 170-pound senior has 130 career receptions for over 2,000 yards and 25 TDs. Harris, a 6-2, 155-pound senior caught 63 passes for 871 yards and 10 TDs last season and has over 100 catches and 1,500 yards receiving the past two years. Carson Meyer, a converted offensive guard, took over the quarterback duties a year ago and did well, completing 71-of-117 passes for 1,047 yards and nine touchdowns. When he was injured late in the regular season, freshman Cory Gerten stepped in and excelled in regular-season wins over Riverdale (160 yards passing, 3 TDs), Cory-Rawson (281 yards, 2 TDs) and a payoff win over Upper Scioto Valley (269 yards, 3 TDs). Both return this season, with Gerten in the starting role so Hershey can make better use of Meyer's many talents. "Carson did a great job stepping into the unknown after never playing the position before," Hershey said. "Then Cory just took the bull by the horns and never looked back. "Cory is more of a passer and we feel we can push the ball down the field a little bit, where Carson is more of a game manager. He's a good athlete and he's going to be a big help at receiver and tight end and linebacker, where he lettered as a sophomore." Luginbill was 6-foot, 210. His replacement in the backfield – Andrew Miller – is the same size. "We're going back to the same style of being physical at the line of scrimmage," Hersey said. "(Miller) has been playing since his freshman year, but he's been kind of bogged down by injuries. He's healthier than ever now, looking good in our scrimmages and running well. He's a bigger kid and can get going downhill on teams. Around the community, I think he's the one everyone has been waiting on to be the starting running back for the P-G Rockets." With second-team all-BVC lineman Eli Luginbill (6-2, 245, junior), third-teamer Jake Fischer (6-0, 230, sr.) and third-year center Seth Correll (5-8, 170, sr.) all returning up front, P-G's offensive options are wide open. "We're not going to re-invent the wheel every week," Hershey said of an offense that last year averaged 182.8 yards rushing and 192 passing. "We're going to try to run the ball. If teams try to load the box to stop (Miller), we've got two all-state players on the outside. We're just going to do what we can to put our best product on the field." Logan Moser (6-0, 165, jr.) and sophomore Cloyce Wolfe (5-11, 250, soph.) will likely round out P-G's offensive front, along with Anthony Gerschutz (5-8, 185, jr.) and Blake Duling (5-8, 225, soph.). Meyer, returning letterman Brock Stall (6-0, 160, sr.) and sophomores Ben Burkholder (5-11, 180) and Chase Meyer (5-7, 135) add depth at receiver. The strength of P-G's defense will be a secondary that has Morris, who returned two of his seven interceptions for scores, Harris (3 ints.), Isaac Stall and Brock Stall all returning and junior Lane Lee (5-9, 150) returning after sitting out a year. Senior Lukis Deckard (5-10, 170) will step into Russell's vacated spot at middle linebacker, with Miller and Meyer on the outside. Fischer, Luginbill and senior Dalton Durst (5-11, 230) are returning veterans on the defensive line. Defensively, Pandora-Gilboa ranked third in the BVC last season, but there are areas Hershey would like to see improvement. "Our biggest concern the last few years has been finding those guys who can rush the passer, create some havoc up front and make teams make mistakes," he said. "That's kind of come back to hurt us a little bit, especially when we play run-heavy teams like McComb." P-G opens the season with three backyard rivalry games, facing Columbus Grove, Bluffton and Leipsic right out of the gate. "It's a bit of a unique situation playing every school around you in those first three games," Hershey said. "Those games are for bragging rights and you have to hit the ground running."