Trojans 'thinking about finishing the task,' faces Whitmer

FINDLAY – Last week's 14-10 loss to Perrysburg dropped Findlay out of first place in the Northern Lakes League's Buckeye Division.But FHS coach Stefan Adams says there's still more bulldog than underdog in the Trojans."Calling it a spoiler's role, that's like being the underdog," Adams said."We're not thinking that. We're thinking about finishing the task."Adams cites recent history to back his claim."It's like two years ago," he said."We lost early to Anthony Wayne (18-14) but came back and beat Perrysburg (42-34) and Whitmer (40-14) and still shared the title, so everything is still there for the taking."Findlay faces its second major challenge in as many weeks when the Trojans travel to Toledo Whitmer today to take on the Panthers. Whitmer and Perrysburg are both 6-1 overall and 2-0 in NLL Buckeye Division games. Findlay (5-2, 1-1) and Oregon Clay (4-3, 1-1) are a game back in the standings, with Anthony Wayne (4-3, 0-2) and Sylvania Northview (1-6, 0-2) tied for fifth.Whitmer had a transition in the coaching ranks this season, with long-time assistant Justin Keller replacing Ken Winters as head coach. Other than the name atop the coaching list, though, little has changed for a Whitmer program that is often the biggest team in the league and usually the most athletic."Exactly," Adams agreed."They're physical and they're athletic. They're big and dynamic in all the right spots."Coach Keller has done a great job. He's taken the same blueprint and added his own sprinkles to it, but the same DNA is still there."Adams feels Whitmer, whose lone loss was a 32-7 decision to Michigan power Detroit King in the second week of the season, will try to use its physicality to its advantage."They want to make it a slugfest," Adams said of the Panthers, who have averaged a tad over 43 points a game in wins over Dublin Coffman (30-0), Sylvania Southview (48-0), Fremont Ross (27-6), Springfield (57-6), Anthony Wayne (45-21) and Sylvania Northview (52-10).Carter Born triggers the Whitmer offense. The 5-foot-10, 175-pound sophomore has completed 76-of-101 passes for 1,013 yards with eight touchdowns and two interceptions.The Panthers have a pair of 215-pound running backs in senior Joseph Morales (639 yards, 9.4 ypc, 9 TD) and junior Jamon Holmes (567 yards, 7.7 ypc, 12 TDs). Morales is also a threat out of the backfield with 14 catches for 159 yards and a TD.Seniors Brandon Waddell (20 receptions, 275 yards, 3 TDs), Kevion Lee (14, 223, 3 TDs) and Isaiah Hayward and junior Dominic Deluca (10, 108) head up a solid corps of receivers.Zack Aubry, a senior defensive end who has six sacks among his 13 tackles for loss, spearheads a Whitmer defense that has allowed 75 points in seven games.Findlay will challenge Whitmer with a solid running game as well led by quarterback Miles Bailey (336 yards, 10 TDs) and running backs Sonny Hines (246 yards, 1 TD), Ramier Williams (215 yards, 3 TDs) and Lance Miller (153 yards, 1 TD).Bailey has also completed 50-of-71 passes for 738 yards and five scores, with Carter Imke (27 receptions, 362 yards, 4 TDs), Hines (12, 153, 1), Greyson Geiser (15, 185), Jed Scott (10, 108, 1) and Nash Montgomery (6, 67) his top targets.Findlay will wrap up the 2025 regular season at home against Sylvania Northview on Oct. 17 and Anthony Wayne on Oct. 24, then prepare for the playoffs. The Trojans, currently sit third in Region 2, which is comprised of Division I schools in the Central District. Perrysburg is No. 4 and Whitmer No. 5 in Region 1, which includes schools located in the Northeast District.Under a change implemented by the OHSAA this season, the playoffs were reduced from the top 16 teams in each region to the top 12. The top four teams in each region will receive a first-round bye. The fifth-, sixth-, seventh- and eighth-place teams will then host the ninth-, 10th-, 11th- and 12th-ranked teams in round one.