At first glance, the Oberlin Tigers’ first season was a great success under new head coach Curt Ware. They went 8-3 and won the District 4-1A championship. But there is one thing that spoiled some of the success they had, a first-round playoff loss at home to Centerville.

They are out to learn from that setback.

“That’s what I’m hoping because that’s what I feel like,” Ware said of how he hopes his team will respond this year. “As you look back, you had a good year. You won the district. You are 8-2. We ended up having a really good year. But I always felt like, as a coach anyway, you play the season to get to this point. So then if you don’t play well and you lose in the first round, it’s very disappointing to me.”

At 16 points per game, the Tigers had the area’s best small schools defense and return six from that group including their leading tackler, senior defensive end Kadyn Dart (6-0, 200), who had 111 tackles, 14 tackles for a loss and seven sacks. Also back is seniors Adarius Botley (5-11, 170) and Garrett Marcantel (5-8, 155) up front and linebackers Tre Rider (5-8, 155) and Mason Hazelton (5-9, 160). But they were hit hard by graduation in the secondary, including the loss of district defensive MVP DeSean Deville.

“I think we have a chance to be pretty good on defense again,” Ware said. “What hurts us is because size-wise, people will be running right at us.

“It gives us some trouble. But I’d rather take some kids, small, strong, quick kids rather than big kids that don’t move that well, especially defensively.”

Senior free safety Seth Lyons is the only returning starter in the secondary. New additions include senior Tim Walker (5-8, 140) and Kaden Manuel (5-9, 150), juniors Tristan Reed (5- 10, 180) and Kole Sonnier (5-10, 155) and sophomore Jayden Bokemeyer (5-8, 140).

Owing to their low numbers, 10 of the defensive starters will also start on the offensive side where they return eight starters.

“We’re going to end up being mid-20s, 25, 26 kids,” Ware said. “But you only have, like last year, we had 70 boys in the school.”

Lyons returns at quarterback and Rider moves from wing back to fullback and will run behind four experienced linemen in Reed, Marcantel, Botley and Hazelton and Dart at tight end to lead an offense that averaged 34.1 points a game last year. But the drawback is no one over 200 pounds.

“We are really, really small,” Ware said. “That being said, in the wing-t, you can kind of get by with smaller kids that can run. We do have a lot of kids that are quick.”

Rider had seven touchdowns last year and will have to replace the production of Deville and Colby McMahon, who combined for 17 touchdowns in 2023.

Lyons had 203 rushing yards and five scores, plus six passing touchdowns and 483 yards through the air in his first season at quarterback and Ware hopes to keep him healthy.

OBERLIN

Mascot: Tigers.

Home stadium: Tiger Stadium.

District: 4-1A.

Playoff division: Nonselect Division IV.

Head coach: Curt Ware.

Head coach career record: 100-84.

2023 record (Dist.): 8-3 (5-1).

Last time in playoffs (round): 2023 (bi-district)

Returning starters (offense/defense): 7/6

Key players lost: Colby McMahon (RB), Derrick Deville (WR/K), DeSean Deville (WR/LB), Kristoff Brandon (DB).

Top returners: Kayden Dart (TE/DL), Adarius Botley (OL/DL), Seth Lyons (QB/FS), Tre Rider (FB/LB).

Schedule

Sept. 6 vs. Vinton

Sept. 13 at Bolton Academy

Sept. 20 at DeQuincy

Sept. 27 vs. East Beauregard

Oct. 4 Bye

Oct. 10 vs. Elton* (Thurs.)

Oct. 18 at Merryville*

Oct. 25 vs. Hamilton Christian*

Oct. 31 at Basile* (Thurs.)

Nov. 7 vs. Grand Lake* (Thurs.)

*District 4-1A game