It hasn’t taken long for Scott Spitler to make himself at home at Fredericktown.
The former Lucas coach, Spitler is in his first season with the Freddies. Fredericktown is 4-0 going into Friday’s Knox Morrow Athletic Conference showdown with unbeaten Mount Gilead.
Spitler was the head coach at Lucas for 15 seasons. He led the Cubs to the Division VII state championship game in 2019.
Fredericktown opened KMAC play with a 21-0 win at Cardington last week. The Pirates came in averaging almost 32 points a game behind running back Wyatt Denney, one of the KMAC’s top rushers.
“Our defense … they shut down a really potent offense and a tremendous running back in Wyatt Denney,” Spitler said after last week’s win. “They held him in check all night and didn’t let him in the end zone.
“It allowed us to get our bearings offensively.”
Fredericktown ranks first in the KMAC in scoring defense, allowing 10 points a game. The Freddies rank second in total defense, surrendering 185.8 yards a game.
The offense is triggered by dual-threat quarterback Blake Sipes. The senior has thrown for 352 yards and four touchdowns and run for 461 yards and six TDs. Tight end Gavin Toombs has 11 catches for 207 yards.
Friday’s game at Mount Gilead is the third of four straight road games in September. The Freddies will play three of their final four at home.
“We’re road warriors right now,” Spitler said.
Mount Gilead is 4-0 for the first time since 2011.
“They’re big up front and want to run it down your throat. It might be one of the quickest games in the area,” Spitler said. “We know we’ve got our hands full. Their kids are playing well and expecting to win just like ours.
“It ought to be a whale of a matchup.”
For Aidan
East Knox snapped its seven-game losing streak last week and captain Aidan Riggle was on the sideline to support his teammates.
The 18-year-old Riggle was recently diagnosed with cancer. He was receiving treatment in Columbus, but was home when the Bulldogs picked up their first win of the season with a 27-12 victory over Loudonville.
“We were so excited because Aidan was here tonight,” East Knox coach Andy Beatty said afterward. “We’re 1-0 when he’s with us this year.
“The kids wanted to give a game ball to him. That’s just where their mindset is at. … I think the world of these kids and this coaching staff.”
Streak-Buster
Centerburg cruised to a 44-27 win over Northmor last week, the Golden Knights’ first KMAC loss since Week 5 of the 2023 season.
Northmor had won 12 straight KMAC games.
“It’s a high-quality football program,” Centerburg coach Andy Colella said. “Those guys know how to win.
“I’m just super-proud of our kids.”
Milestone
Congratulations to Crestview coach Steve Haverdill, who picked up his 50th career coaching victory last week as the Cougars opened Firelands Conference play with a 42-0 thumping of New London.
Haverdill took over for Dan Mager in 2019. The Cougars have qualified for the playoffs in Haverdill’s six full seasons and should be in contention for a postseason bid again this fall. Crestview won three straight Firelands Conference titles from 2020 to 2022.
Season Canceled
Youngstown Ursuline announced the cancellation of the reminder of its 2025 football season last week after two federal lawsuits were filed against the school.
The first suit, filed early this month, claims several members of the team hazed and sexually assaulted a freshman member of the program during a camp in June.
The second suit was filed last week and alleges a female student was assaulted and sexually harassed by a member of the football team.
As a result of the lawsuits, several of Ursuline’s upcoming opponents backed out of their scheduled games.
Ursuline was 13-2 and reached the Division III state semifinals last year. The team was 2-0 when the decision was made to pull the plug this year.