Northmor Football: Golden Knights feature newlook roster for 2022

IBERIA — Northmor football fans better buy a program because they're going to need it.

The Golden Knights lost 11 senior starters — with five of them two-way starters — to graduation, so this will be a new-look team in 2022.

"We will be young and inexperienced at the varsity level, especially on the offensive line. Senior Bohdi Workman is the only returning starter on the O-line," Northmor coach Scott Armrose said.

While there are plenty of new faces on the roster, there is one constant. Senior All-Ohio running back Maxton Lower (6-foot-3, 225 pounds) is back along with the 1,542 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns put up last year to earn Knox Morrow Athletic Conference Player of the Year honors.

"We only have five seniors this season and only two of them are returning starters," Armrose said. "Bohdi Workman and Max Lower will be leaned on heavily this season on both sides of the ball. Max was third-team All-Ohio, first-team Central District and the KMAC Co-Player of the Year. It will be no secret that our returning 1,500-yard rushing fullback will be the center of our offense and defense. We need young, inexperienced guys to be able to make plays around him."

Sophomore A.J. Bower (6-0, 180) takes over at quarterback, while juniors' Bryson Keirns (6-3, 150) and Hunter Fulk (6-0, 150) will line up at receiver, and senior Toby Pryor (6-1, 175) plays tight end. Junior Paul Cramer (6-0, 175) will share the backfield with Lower. Caleb Schnuerer (6-0, 180), a junior kicker who scored 33 points last year, will also play in the backfield with junior Garrett Harvey (5-9, 150).

Workman (6-0, 200) will play at guard along with junior Charles Naylor (6-0, 200), while junior Ben Planey (6-3, 250) and senior Ben Szulewski (6-1, 245) will go as tackles, and junior Dylan Britt (5-9, 215) will be the center. Britt played formerly at Colonel Crawford.

Lending depth on offense will be sophomore receiver Jaxson Wenger (6-3, 165), sophomore receiver Bo Landin (6-1, 155), junior tight end A.J. Benarth (6-1, 200), and sophomore offensive lineman Ryan Lowry (6-3, 260).

"We need our young guys to learn from the experience that is there and get better every week," Armrose said.

Like on offense, Lower will set the tone on defense. He had 53 tackles, five sacks and eight tackles for loss with opponents running away from him at defensive end last year. Naylor as a defensive tackle posted 66 tackles, five sacks and 19 tackles for loss. They will be joined up front by sophomore end Ashton Clark (6-0, 175), who played last year at Mount Gilead, and Benarth at tackle.

Cramer, Workman and Schnuerer will play linebackers, while senior C.J. Stoney (5-9, 130), Keirns and Fulk bring experience to the backfield. Sophomore Cowin Becker (5-7, 130) will start at cornerback. Stoney was honorable mention in the league with 59 tackles, and Fulk had two interceptions, while Keirns made 25 tackles.

Harvey, Wenger, Lowry, Britt and Landin will be other contributors to the defensive rotations.

"We are fortunate to have a group of young men that have bought into our offseason program. We return faster, stronger and will start Aug. 1 in shape," Armrose said. "While we don't learn what kind of football team we will be at passing scrimmages, we learned that we have a group of young men willing to compete at a high level and play physical football."

The Knights had never been to the postseason before 2017. Now they have a string of five straight appearances. They are also coming off a 9-3 season where they went 5-2 in the KMAC.

"To be able to compete with the top of the league, we will have to be able to run the ball on offense and stop the run on defense," Armrose said.

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Northmor Golden Knights Football Bullet Points

• Conference: Knox Morrow Athletic.

• Coach: Scott Armrose (sixth season, 38-18)

• Assistants: Alan Sears (defensive coordinator, offensive line, defensive line), Phil Johnson (linebackers, running backs), Mitchell Whisler (defensive backs, wide receivers), Casey Shenefield (linebackers, running backs), Blake Miller (defensive line, tight ends).

• Postseason: Division VI, Region 23.

• Playoff Appearances: 5 (2017, 18, 19, 20, 21)

• Playoff Record All-Time: 2-5.

• Last Year: 9-3, 5-2.

• Letter Winners Returning: 7 offense/7 defense.

• Starters Returning: 2 offense/5 defense.

• Base Offense: Gun T.

• Base Defense: 4-3.

Northmor 2022 Football Schedule

• Aug. 19: Elgin at Northmor

• Aug. 26: Northmor at South Central

• Sept. 2: Bucyrus at Northmor

• Sept. 9: Cardington at Northmor

• Sept. 16: Danville at Northmor

• Sept. 23: Northmor at Fredericktown

• Sept. 30: Northmor at East Knox

• Oct. 7: Mount Gilead at Northmor

• Oct. 14: Northmor at Centerburg

• Oct. 21: Northmor at Loudonville

Northmor 2021 Football Results

• Seneca East, W 27-23

• South Central, W 37-20

• Bucyrus, W 25-0

• Cardington, W 21-14

• Danville, W 14-7

• Fredericktown, W 40-20

• East Knox, W 24-7

• Mount Gilead, W 49—16

• Centerburg, L 12-14

• Highland, L 7-38

• Playoff: Fredericktown, W 28-14

• Playoff: West Jefferson, L 13-63

This article originally appeared on Marion Star: Northmor Football: Golden Knights feature newlook roster for 2022