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To pinpoint why Taft High School football has become one of Ohio’s four remaining Division IV teams, fans can look to Cincinnati’s representative in the Division II top four.
Since Tyler Williams came on board as the Senators’ head coach four years ago, he’s arranged a preseason scrimmage with Evan Dreyer’s undefeated Anderson Raptors, a team that so far has outscored opponents 685-128. Williams said Taft is unlikely to see a team better than Anderson in DIV, so what better way to get his college-level talent prepared for big games than against one of the state’s top teams?
The Senators (12-2) will test this method in the Ohio High School Athletic Association DIV state semifinals ‒ the first time in school history ‒ at 7 p.m. Friday at Historic Crew Stadium in Columbus.
“I knew that we had to be more mentally strong,” Williams said. “There were times when we had a tough practice in the heat, then we had to watch film and then we had to lift weights. Being able to make it through those times, I knew these kids were ready for these types of moments.”
Williams said their summer program pushes players to step outside their comfort zone when it’s hot or cold, making sure they have the mental fortitude to keep pushing when adversity strikes or conditions are tough.
The Senators will have their work cut out for them against the Gnadenhutten Indian Valley Braves (14-0) and star junior running back Grady Kinsey, who has rushed for 2,844 yards (12.3 yards per carry) and 42 touchdowns so far this season. Regardless of what happens over the next game or two, this is a run people at Taft will remember for a long time.
New QB? No problem
Most high school football coaches will tell you, the season after losing a star quarterback to graduation is usually tough. In 2023-2024, then-senior quarterback Armoud Seals led Taft’s offense…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/knew-kids-were-ready-taft-185753114.html
Author : The Enquirer
Publish date : 2024-11-28 18:57:00
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