Findlay to lean on line against Southview

FINDLAY – Three games into the 2025 football season, the line on Findlay High's 2-1 start might be just that – the line."I've been saying since the start of the year we were going to have to lean on those guys," FHS coach Stefan Adams said Wednesday as he prepared the Trojans for today's Northern Lakes League cross-over game at Sylvania Southview."Without having a proven commodity at the quarterback position, we were really counting on those guys, our veterans up front. Maybe we couldn't distribute the ball as much as we have in the past. We might have to lean on them in a different fashion, a more physical fashion, and that's what we're doing right now."Findlay struggled in its season opener against Pine-Richland High School, which is ranked No. 3 in the state among Pennsylvania's 5A schools. But the Trojans churned out 215 yards on the ground and had possession of the ball for 31 of the game's 48 total minutes in a 17-7 win over Lima Senior, and followed that with 222 yards and three rushing touchdowns in last week's 28-7 win over Springfield."That's a little different for us, huh?" Adams said of a Findlay High program that has produced quarterbacks like Harry Gonzo (Indiana), Ben Roethlisberger (Miami, O), Steve Reichenbach (Toledo), Steve (Yale) and Keith (Ohio University) Woodruff, Kurt Hippensteel (Illinois), John Vielhaber (Michigan State), Cliff Hite (Kentucky), Dave Wilson (Ball State), Bruce Porter (North Carolina State, OU), Kyle Johann, Danny Baker and Ryan Montgomery (Georgia) who put up impressive passing numbers during their prep careers.Senior tackles Max Inthavone (6-1, 250) on the left side and Brody Smith (6-1, 285) on the right were returning starters for Adams, along with left guard Giovani Ambrister (5-10, 220, sr.)."Giovani Ambrister and Brody Smith, this is their third year playing football," Adams said."Including playoff games, that's, what, 30-some varsity games? Those guys are pretty well-seasoned, and Max Inthavone played there last year, so that's a lot of starts under those guys belts."Antonio Ortega, a 6-0, 308-pound junior, is the new starter at right guard, with sophomore Graydin Weinstein (6-0, 200) stepping in at center with Xavian Garcia (5-10, 275, sr.), Findlay's opening day starter, moving to the defensive side of the ball where he was a starter in 2024."With Frank (Azaroff) going out, we needed Xavian on defense," Adams said. "That shores up that front, and still allows us some depth (on offense)."A bevy of backs has benefitted from the play of Findlay's offensive line.Lance Miller has rushed for 159 yards in three games, Ramier Williams has 57 and Griffin Lane 41. Sophomore quarterback Bishop Pfister has 45 yards rushing and senior linebacker Miles Bailey has 37 when used in a Wildcat formation, including two TDs in Friday's win over Springfield.Shawn "Sonny" Hines III, slowed by an injury when the season started, has given the Trojans an added spark with 110 rushing yards in the last two games. The senior speedster also returned a punt 62 yards for a score."Some may argue, but I feel Sonny is one of the more dynamic players in the league, a jack of all trades we can use as a receiver or in the backfield," Adams said."Griffin Lane is solid, a senior who's been through it all and knows what he's doing, physical and a great blocker. Ramier Williams probably has the most up-side. He's a speed guy, but he's also put on a lot of muscle mass. He's 210 and I love big backs (Adams was a fullback at B. Reed Henderson High School in West Chester, Pennsylvania and at Bloomsburg University)."Sophomore Aidan Lomeli, who Adams said has had "some great JV games," will be in the backfield mix as well.As Findlay's offense continues to adapt and develop, the Trojans' defense, which has allowed just two offensive touchdowns in the last two games will again be called on to step up and set the tone against a 1-2 Southview team led by junior quarterback Jackson Hessey and receiver Adam LaPla. Southview has been shut out the past two games by Oregon Clay (14-0) and Toledo Whitmer (48-0). But in a season-opening 40-0 win over Sylvania Northview, Hessey was 11-of-14 passing for 263 yards and LaPla caught six of those throws for 212 yards and TD receptions of 20-, 38-, 42- and 76-yard TDs."They get the ball to their play makers and those guys make plays," Adams said of the Cougars."I'm sure their coaches would tell you that in those two games (Clay, Whitmer), they moved the ball, moved the ball, moved the ball, then would make a mistake. Those scores aren't indicative of what they can do; it's more they feel they may have shot themselves in the foot at certain times."We expect a hard-nosed team. Their kids fight, they don't back down, they compete well, so we have to be ready."Findlay wraps up the non-league portion of its 2025 schedule next week at Fremont Ross when the Trojans and Little Giants square off in the 103rd meeting between the long-time rivals. The Trojans will then host Oregon Clay in their NLL Buckeye Division opener on Sept. 26.