419sports.com Game of the Week Preview: Napoleon at Defiance
By JOE GILROY
Football season is finally here – and nothing says high school football has arrived quite like the Maumee River Rivalry. This annual kickoff classic is huge in Northwest Ohio. While it is always the first game of the season, the impact felt by the two teams and communities are so much bigger than your typical season opener.
This rivalry has everything you want in a storyline:
Tradition:
The “Maumee River Rivalry” is heaping full in this area. The two teams have been meeting on the gridiron since they tied the first time they met way back in 1916. They have met every year since 1932, the lone exception was way back in 1979, when Napoleon joined a new league and was unable to schedule any non-conference games.
Like any longstanding series, there have been long stretches where one team seems to have the upper hand and before you knew it, the pendulum swung and the other team established dominance for a period. From 1932-1949 Defiance kicked off the series dominating by going 15-3. Through the years there have been other streaks, such as Napoleons 15-game win streak that saw entire school bodies that never witnessed a victory Monday.
Napoleon currently has the edge: 52-40-2
Impact:
Even though they play the first week of the season the impact felt from this game can carry both teams throughout the year. The winner of this game oftentimes goes on to make a playoff appearance. From 1999-2009 the winner made the playoff every single year. This year both teams open up with high hopes and look to keep with that tradition as they both return their generals at quarterback.
Trinket:
One of the coolest angles in this series is that they play for the “River Rock Trophy” a seemingly auspicious rock found along the Maumee in the middle of the 15-mile stretch that separates Napoleon and Defiance.
Since the rock was found in 2009, Napoleon has had possession of it for six of the eight years, going 6-2 in the game. Dating back to the 2004 season, Napoleon has dominated the series going 10-3, but after winning in 2015 and just falling short last year, the Bulldogs have high confidence going into Thursday.
“The rock gives the players tangible proof that all of their hard work was worth it,” Napoleon coach Tory Strock said. “Although the rivalry can raise stress levels, you must embrace it. It is truly an honor and privilege to represent your school and community in such a long running rivalry.”
When Napoleon has the ball:
Napoleon is transitioning to a new offense in 2017 and will employ the “pistol-wing T” hybrid. In scrimmages against Port Clinton, Delta, and Rossford, the offense has drawn mixed reviews. That is something to be expected when you are in the install process, Thursday will serve as a big test to see how well it has taken.
Grant Strock returns at the helm for the Wildcats. The 6’1” senior hopes to ease the growing pains of this transition to a new offense. Last season, as good as their defense played, the offense struggled scoring just 178 points along the way to a 5-5 record and the new offense is designed specifically to take advantage of Strock and company’s strengths.
Defensively the Bulldogs had a rough season that saw them allow 290 points a season ago. They will employ a 3-3-5 scheme and coach Kevin Kline is hoping the improvements that his team has made in practice and experience coupled with the new additions will be enough to turn this side of the ball into a strength.
Edge: Even
When Defiance has the ball:
The Bulldogs run a spread offense and will lean heavy on their starting sophomore quarterback Caden Kline who replaces Javen Newton. Newton a 6’1” junior is making the switch to his more natural wide receiver position.
The running game will be led by the Senior J.D. McNett, a newcomer to the Defiance football team. Last year, the running game was inconsistent and struggled at times en route to rushing for just 1,400 yards with 314 yards coming from Newton.
Coach Kline must hope the change at the quarterback position will help alleviate some of the other issues that caused the Bulldogs problems last year. Newton finished the season hitting on 47% of his targets with 4 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. If they want to improve on last season’s 3-7 mark that must change. Last season Defiance only managed to put 116 points on the board
Napoleon will line up in a base 3-4 defense and brings back loads of leadership and experience. The Wildcats will lean heavily on this unit that boasts seven senior starters and four juniors. This unit allowed just 161 points last season and could improve upon those numbers in 2017.
Advantage: Napoleon