Titans look to take another rung on ladder

By BRYAN GASKINS
Tribune sportswriter

August 14, 2007 12:22 am

— The Taylor football team took a big step forward last season. The Center crew fashioned a 5-7 record, which topped its combined win total in the 2002-05 seasons and included its first sectional win since 1993. The Titans went on to play in a sectional championship game for the first time since 1988.
Now, the Titans want to take another step forward.
“We have a group of upperclassmen who received a little bit of a taste [of success] and they don’t want to go back to the way it used to be. They’re excited about coming out and having a really good season,” coach Josh Ousley said. “The players and the coaches feel like we’re in position to have a good season and maybe even surprise some people.”
Ousley is happy with how his third Taylor team is coming together. The Titans have their sights set squarely on finishing on the happy side of .500 for the first time since 1998 and the veteran players are setting the right tone in practice.
“We’re excited about where we’re at right now,” Ousley said.
Taylor once again will count on its aggressive defense to lead the way. The Titans pitched three shutouts last season including two in their sectional. Overall, they held their opponents to 17.8 points per game.
“We have a large number of kids back on defense,” Ousley said. “We played pretty well in our scrimmage against Oak Hill. We had some young kids in there because we have some injuries right now, but those young kids did a good job. Our kids really understand our scheme and how to play this defense.”
Up front, junior Andrew Rusch and sophomore Chris Morris will work in the middle and senior Zach Bolin and junior Justin Welsh will man end positions. The linemen will take on blockers and create room for a solid linebacker corps to run free and make tackles. Seniors Skyler Legan, Shawn Petty, Robvis Stamp and Michael Williams and juniors Teddy Nolley and Josh Steward will all see time at linebacker positions.
Williams is one of the area’s top returning defensive players. He had 90 overall tackles (42 solos), 19 tackles for loss and a team-high five sacks last season.
In the secondary, senior Zsan Black will work as the safety and junior Shawn Fogleman and sophomore Austen Conwell are the cornerbacks. Fogleman picked off an area-best nine passes last season. He returned two for touchdowns.
Ousley said his defense is stocked with players who are hungry to make plays.
“We blitz and we’re going to hit you,” he said.
The Titans averaged 20 points per game last season, but their offense ran hot and cold. They scored 48 points in three different games, but also were blanked three times.
Ousley, like most coaches, reports his defense is ahead of his offense right now.
“We’re making some strides,” he said. “We have a lot of people back on offense, but we do have to replace our quarterback and anytime you have to do that, there is some concern. But we have a lot of skill kids back and I think one thing that is really going to help this offense get started is we have two good running backs back. We won’t have to lean on our quarterback early to make plays. We can ease him in more and more as the season goes on.”
Indeed, the Titans return a pair of workhorses in Stamp and Michael Williams. Stamp ran for 726 yards and five touchdowns on 165 carries last season while Williams gained 502 yards and seven touchdowns on 106 attempts. Williams also caught six passes for 192 yards and one TD.
Junior Jake Leicht is the new quarterback. Ousley likes his athleticism and strong arm. Conwell will also take some snaps when the Titans want a change of pace.
Black, Conwell, Fogleman, Nolley and Petty are wide receivers and Legan and junior Matt Williams are tight ends. Black caught eight passes for 107 yards and three touchdowns in the 2006 season.
The offensive line features three returning starters — junior Brad Boggs, Bolin and Welsh. Bolin and Welsh are tackles, Boggs and Rusch are guards and junior Chris Ellison is the center. Ellison started one game at a tackle position last season.
Ousley is still sorting out his kicking game. Fogleman and senior William Hawkins, a soccer player, are options to handle the kicking and punting duties. One area of the special teams is set — Black is a proven return man.
Taylor opens against Wabash in the first gridiron meeting between the schools. Taylor faces Tri-Central in Week 2 and then heads into Mid-Indiana Conference play.
“I think we can break our schedule into thirds. If we can go 2-1 in each third, we’re 6-3 and people are happy,” Ousley said.

Taylor football at a glance:
• COACH: Josh Ousley (third season at Taylor, 6-16 record)
• CONFERENCE: Mid-Indiana
• SECTIONAL: Class 2A No. 28
• SECTIONAL OPPONENTS: Alexandria, Elwood, Frankton, Madison-Grant, Northwestern, Tipton and Winchester
• 2006 RECAP: The Titans closed with a 5-7 overall record and a 2-5 MIC mark. Taylor enjoyed a nice sectional run, beating Eastern and Western Boone before falling to Speedway in the final.
Titans’ schedule
All games at 7 p.m.
Friday at Wabash
Aug. 24 Tri-Central
Aug. 31 at Western
Sept. 7 at Peru
Sept. 14 Northwestern
Sept. 21 at Hamilton Heights
Sept. 28 Lewis Cass
Oct. 5 Eastern
Oct. 12 at Maconaquah
5-year trend
2006 5-7
2005 1-9
2004 1-9
2003 0-10
2002 1-9
Total 8-44 (.154)

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