Malvern Hornets high school football preview
MALVERN HORNETS
HEAD COACH: Matt Chiurco, sixth year, 32-20
LAST YEAR: 8-3, 4-1
POSTSEASON: Division VII, Region 25
LETTERMEN (18)
Zach Babiczuk, OL-DL, 6-2, 230, Sr.
Owen Ball, TE-WR-LB, 6-2, 165, So.
Kyle Bossert, OL-DL, 6-3, 255, Sr.
Gabe Campbell, OL-DL, 5-9, 160, Jr.
Conner Chalmers, OL-DL, 5-10, 260, Jr.
Chase Davis, OL-DL, 5-11, 200, Jr.
Julius Gore, TE-LB, 6-1, 205, So.
Drake Hutchison, RB-LB, 5-10, 160, Jr.
Darnell Jackson, OL-DL, 5-9, 225, So.
Rocco Marinucci, WR-DB, 6-1, 155, So.
Chance Miller, OL-DL, 6-2, 205, Sr.
Charles Motz, RB-WR-LB, 6-0, 185, Sr.
Dante Passio, TE-RB-LB, 5-11, 165, Sr.
Dylan Phillips, WR-DB, 6-2, 175, Sr.
Ryan Runyon, RB-LB-K, 5-8, 150, Sr.
Rodney Smith, WR-DB, 6-2, 165, Jr.
Manny Walker, RB-LB, 5-8, 155, Sr.
IMPACT PLAYERS: Jared Witherow has the size, talent and experience to be one of the region's top quarterbacks. He packs 185 pounds on his 6-foot-4 frame now and is stronger than when he was an emerging 2022 sophomore. "We want him to take more of a vocal approach and really command the huddle this year," Chiurco said. "We expect him to take a giant step forward." … The tall QB has two tall receivers in Dylan Phillips (59 catches for 886 yards and eight TDs in 2022) and Rodney Smith (38 catches, 739 yards, 19.4 average, 10 TDs). "Those two are really good," Chiurco said. "They may be one of the best duos around." … Drake Hutchison returns as the No. 1 tailback and also is a playmaking linebacker (87 tackles, nine sacks).
WHAT'S NEW: After competing in Division VI last year, the Hornets have dropped to Division VII, which is the smallest OHSAA division, but isn't an easy one. Malvern now is in the same region as 2022 state finalist Warren JFK. The region also includes Dalton, which beat Malvern in the 2020 postseason. … Last year's opener was at East Palestine, which has two wins in the last four years. This year's is at home against Western Reserve, whose strong tradition includes wins over Malvern in 2014 and '15 by a combined 85-25 score. Harrison Central, which got off to a 4-1 start last year that included a 48-20 rout of IVC North member Buckeye Trail, is new to the Malvern schedule (Game 3).
OUTLOOK: Malvern is a proud community, and this could be one of its better teams, based on talent, physical size and experience. "We are a veteran team with 19 returning starters and many underclassmen ready to step up," Chiurco said. "This is the deepest team that we have had in my tenure." … Chiurco said the offense "starts up front, and we return a good front anchored by Kyle Bossert and Zach Babiczuk." Both are in their fourth year as key varsity players. … Applying the right mindset could be the difference between good and great. "We've been harping on being disciplined on the field, letting our actions speak and not our words," Chiurco said. "We've got to be mean and nasty, especially up front. We want to put teams on their heels." … Depth? The Hornets might rotate seven players through the defensive line positions and seven more through the linebacker group. That's pretty rare for a Division VII team.
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Ohio high school football: Malvern Hornets preview
