Chagrin Falls football: 2022 season preview
Aug. 16—Just the facts
Conference: CVC Chagrin
OHSAA: Division V, Region 17
Head coach: John Scott, second year (5-5)
2021: 5-5 (3-4)
Twitter: @chagrinAD
Home field: C.S. Harris Stadium
Schedule
(Subject to change)
Aug. 19: Kenston at Chagrin Falls, 7 p.m.
Aug. 27: Chagrin Falls at Trinity, 7 p.m.
Sept. 2: Brookside at Chagrin Falls, 7 p.m.
Sept. 9: Chagrin Falls at Perry, 7 p.m.
Sept. 16: Chagrin Falls at Orange, 7 p.m.
Sept. 23: Kirtland at Chagrin Falls, 7 p.m.
Sept. 30: Lakeside at Chagrin Falls, 7 p.m.
Oct. 7: Chagrin Falls at Edgewood, 7 p.m.
Oct. 14: West Geauga at Chagrin Falls, 7 p.m.
Oct. 21: Chagrin Falls at Geneva, 7 p.m.
#NHfootball preview: @ChagrinAD's Nicholas Vinci discusses the upcoming 2022 season
(Team capsule will be published online/in print in the days ahead) pic.twitter.com/JmwSuVJ0mn
— Chris Lillstrung (@CLillstrungNH) August 15, 2022
Projected lineup
OFFENSE
QB: Nicholas Vinci*, Sr., 5-10, 180
RB: Donny Hardy*, Sr., 6-1, 195
WR: Jackson Beavers, Sr., 6-3, 180
WR: Drew Zelch, So., 5-8, 155
WR: Spencer Kaas, So., 6-1, 165
TE: Aiden Beresford, Jr., 6-4, 175
LT: Sam Stauffer, So., 6-1, 235
LG: Tyler Saccone, Jr., 5-8, 175
C: Luke Cornell*, Sr., 6-0, 160
RG: Clayton Briggs, Sr., 6-0, 185
RT: Parker Courtright, So., 5-11, 250
K: Ben Cowan, Jr., 5-9, 155
DEFENSE
DE: Dylan Babic, Jr., 6-1, 210
NT: Tristan Norton, Sr., 6-1, 215
DE: Johannes Rohr, So., 5-10, 185
OLB: Luke Munday, Sr., 5-11, 150
ILB: Charlie Frederick, Sr., 5-10, 160
ILB: Grant Sellars*, Sr., 6-1, 185
OLB: Sean McKee, So., 5-11, 170
CB: Julian Hink*, Sr., 5-8, 140
CB: Michael Moissis*, Sr., 6-0, 165
S: Grant Alberts*, Jr., 6-3, 170
S: Cole Ducas, So., 6-2, 170
P: Donny Hardy, Sr., 6-1, 195
#NHfootball preview: @ChagrinAD's Julian Hink discusses the upcoming 2022 season
(Team capsule will be published online/in print in the days ahead) pic.twitter.com/zbSFitMoih
— Chris Lillstrung (@CLillstrungNH) August 15, 2022
*: returning starter; Returning letterwinners: 12
Key reserves: WR Jack Gaizutis, Sr., 6-0, 155, OL Mason Hart, So., 5-11, 255, DL Jake Evans, So., 6-1, 200, DB Brandon Castelluccio, Jr., 5-10, 170
Best in the classroom: Sean McKee 4.278 GPA, Duncan Scott 4.123, Luke Neimeier 4.062, Aiden Beresford 3.963, Johannes Rohr 3.929
Best bench press: Donny Hardy, 275 pounds
Best squat: Donny Hardy, 485
Best 40 time: Donny Hardy, 4.59 seconds
Outlook
The Tigers want to be a playoff contender after a .500 campaign that left them one spot out in 2021. They'll have to do so with one of the younger and smaller-sized groups they've had in recent memory. Scott is bullish on his sophomore class, which will garner more reps this fall, and Vinci, Hardy and a seasoned secondary are also building blocks.
Player to watch
Donny Hardy, a 6-foot-1, 195-pound senior, is the epitome of "the man" for Chagrin. He rushed for over 1,000 yards and caught 20 passes last fall and will be a focal point again offensively.
Underclassman to watch: Scott believes he has a "true leader" for the present and future in S Grant Alberts, a 6-3, 170-pound junior.
Bottom line
IF: the Tigers can regularly get Hardy out in space and the underclassmen develop; THEN: an above-.500 season in the playoff hunt is doable.
