Rockets return top offensive players at skill positions

PANDORA – Pandora-Gilboa doesn't play 8-man football, but it the Rockets did, head coach Matt Hershey feels the Rockets would be well set."We have eight returning starters from last year, and all of them are going to play both ways," Hershey said."That's where we're at. We have to build a lot of depth in a short amount of time." Included among P-G's eight returning starters is what Hershey calls the "three-headed monster" of quarterback Cory Gerten, running back Ben Burkholder and receiver Chase Meyer.Because of an injury, Gerten had to step in at quarterback late in his freshman season and has been P-G's starter ever since. He threw for over 2,000 yards in 2023, and had 1,100 yards and 13 touchdown passes as a junior.Burkholder shared the backfield with Andrew Miller a year ago, and gave the Rockets a solid 1-2 punch, rushing for just under 1,000 yards.Following the graduation of all-BVC receivers Aidan Morris and Colin Harris, Meyer stepped up and helped keep P-G's passing attack elite, catching 35 passes for 620 yards and nine TDs.All three were all-BVC selections."Having Ben back at running back, and Cory back at quarterback, and Chase back at receiver, that's a three-headed monster that's going to be tough to stop," Hershey said."We need to find some role players, though, like that second receiver and another running back. We have to find some guys to fill in the holes a little bit and not put all the pressure on those three guys. It just gives us more opportunities."Zahnder Boggs, a 160-pound sophomore will likely be filling one of those spots, along with Breydan Ferguson, Landen Moore and Andrew Webster. "We have guys who have been around and know what we're doing," Hershey said."Now it's their turn to be that next guy up."A plus for P-G is that a number of those returning starters are back on the offensive line."That's probably our most solidified spot," Hershey said. "Not so much depth-wise, but with total starts under their belts."Landon Siefker, a 5-11, 245-pound senior, will be a three-year starter on the line and Caleb Doty (5-7, 220, jr.) will be a two-year starter. Lincoln Breece, who transferred into P-G last year, sat the first half of the season but earned a starting nod later on. At 6-7 and 250 pounds, he's a nice addition up front."We're loving that size," Hershey said. "He's definitely going to be playing somewhere."Hershey said that Alex Rutschilling, a 6-1, 225-pound junior who started at defensive end and played some tight end in the wishbone formation, will step in at tackle on the offensive side of the ball. Hershey has also been impressed with the progress of Tressel Grothause, a 230-pound senior."He started a few games on the offensive line last year," Hershey said."He's put in a ton of time in the weight room and is now our strongest player. We're really looking forward to seeing what he can do his senior year."Moore (70) tackles and Burkholder (57 tackles) led P-G in tackles last season and return at linebacker for the Rockets, along with 190-pound junior Connor Gerten.Meyer, who had 47 tackles and three interceptions last season, will be the veteran in the secondary. Cory Gerten, Webster and Ferguson will also be counted on, along with juniors Jace Fenbert and Grady Kempf.Hershey knows he will have mixing and matching to do as he blends his varsity veterans and younger players."We have some kids that are a really good option A," he said. "And we have some that are a really good option B."What we have to do is find a way to merge that to create the best possible lineup we can."Pandora-Gilboa again faces a brutal slate to open the season, with games against backyard rivals Columbus Grove and Bluffon in weeks 1 and 2."Those are always hard-hitting battles that come down to the end," Hershey said."We sure have our work cut out for us."