MILLBURY — At Lake, key lettermen returning are offensive linemen Jason Ahumada and Cody Cappalletty and linebacker Brett Bomyea, an honorable mention all-league selection last year.

As a result, first-year coach Lane Bishop feels good that he could have a strong group working in the trenches who also have good size. Ahumada and Gerrit Kistler return to anchor the line.

“It varies day to day who our best guy is between those two,” Bishop said. “They are two big (both are 6-foot-2 and over 275 pounds), strong, physical, and smart football players.

“They will both play offensive line and defensive line for us and should help us control the line of scrimmage.”

Bishop says Ahumada, Kistler and linebacker Joah Herman are both getting college offers from area schools and he “wouldn’t be surprised if they all wind up playing somewhere.”

At a school that has sent several linemen to stand out at major colleges in recent years, there is more talent in the trenches that Bishop takes pride in.

“Trace Mannon and Cody Cappalletty are two guys up front that were a little undersized last year but were two of our most consistent guys in the weightroom this offseason and now look like completely different players,” Bishop said.

“They are two guys that have really absorbed the coaching and are really motivated to get better and I think are poised to have a really good year for us.”

Bishop has been in the process of narrowing down who will be his top candidates at the skilled positions.

“We have a quarterback battle going on between several guys, but at running back I expect Joah Herman and Izyck Whalen to have a very nice year.

“At wide receiver I think David Parsons and Jay Blazevich are the two guys that have had the best camp and early practice days,” Bishop said.

Last year Parsons caught six passes for 97 yards and one touchdown, and he ran the ball 55 times for 399 yards and six TDs.

Herman ran 43 times for 286 yards and three TDs and caught one pass for three yards. Brett Bomyea had one carry, but it was good for 21 yards, Brandon Darr ran the ball twice and caught 24 passes for 346 yards and two scores and Felipe Garcia ran the ball twice and caught a pass for seven yards.

Bishop also sees plenty of athleticism returning at the linebacker position.

“Joah Herman will be starting as our middle linebacker for the third consecutive season and will be the captain of the defense,” Bishop said.

“Brett Bomyea is another guy at a linebacker and safety hybrid spot that has a great feel for the game and plays much bigger and physical than his frame would suggest.:

Bomyea had 82 tackles, three sacks and seven TFLs last year and Herman had nine tackles.

“Defensive back-wise, I think Brandon Darr and Felipe Garcia are two real athletic, talented corners that will make it tough for opposing offenses to throw on us.

“This is Brandon’s second year playing football and he has really progressed throughout camp and practice and Felipe is undoubtedly one of the best overall athletes in our school — he is a very good soccer player and an important member of the track team.”

Darr had 12 tackles and four pass break-ups and Garcia had 46 tackles, two tackles for a loss, five pass break-ups and an interception last year.

Bishop says there are numerous others who could make an impact.

“We have several of them, but the two names that instantly come to mind are Gavin Kohlhofer (13 tackles, one TFL) and Logan Studneski.

“Gavin is a sophomore wide receiver and defensive back and a guy that back in December when I got the job didn’t really look physically ready but has put in a ton of time and work in the weightroom and has really transformed his body and should be a very good player for us.

“Logan is only a freshman, and he plays offensive and defensive line and is one of the most physically gifted players on our team already. He is a bigger kid for his age but is also very mobile. He may be our hardest working guy in the weightroom and isn’t afraid to compete against the older guys.”

LAKE SCHEDULE

Aug. 18 LEIPSIC

Aug. 25 @ Northwood

Sept. 1 DELTA

Sept. 8 @ Eastwood

Sept. 15 GENOA

Sept. 22 @ Maumee

Sept. 29 ROSSFORD

Oct. 6 @ Fostoria

Oct. 13 OTSEGO

Oct. 20 @ Oak Harbor