Another step in the road for Bath

BATH TOWNSHIP - Bath coach Todd Clark knows the climb back to respectability is a long, slow trip. He was fully aware of the trials waiting for him when he took the head coaching job at his alma mater three years ago.

And while the Wildcats might be a year or two away from their hoped-for breakthrough, Clark is still looking for continuous improvement.

In his two previous years, Clark has piloted the Wildcats to a 5-15 overall record. The program hasn't tasted a winning season or the playoffs since 2003, when it went 8-4 and won a postseason game.

"I don't really want (the underclassmen) to have the same first three seasons I had in football," senior Aaron Rumbaugh said. "That wasn't very fun."

Including that 2003 season, Bath had seven winning seasons in 10 years, with four playoff victories and a Western Buckeye League title in 1999. It's not long ago when the Wildcats were one of "the" teams.

"It's hard walking in here, seeing all of the banners, and then not doing so hot the last couple of years," senior Scott Goedde said. "The coaches have been a part of the winning programs and everyone just wants to get it back to where it was."

The Wildcats (2-8, 2-7 WBL in 2007) are a very young team - the starting offensive backfield includes a junior, sophomore and freshman - but Clark boasts the skill positions and team speed are better than it has been in quite some time.

"Fortunately, or unfortunately, some of those kids are very young athletes," Clark said. "They have a lot of potential. The biggest thing we have to do is start with some game-time experience."

Leading the Wildcats is junior running back Gavin Painter. The 6-foot, 195-pound Painter rushed for 1,077 yards on 222 carries and four touchdowns in his coming-out party. Clark and the coaches are finding more ways to get him the football.

Joining Painter in the backfield are two first-year players, quarterback Cameron Garver and running back Aaron Smith.

Clark is particularly excited about the abilities of Smith. If the freshman can progress as hoped, Clark would enjoy seeing Smith taking some of the burden off of Painter.

"(Smith) is as talented a running back as we've had around here in a long time," Clark said. "If you can spread the wealth a little bit, you're going to be that much more successful."

PLAYER TO WATCH:

Gavin Painter

As a sophomore, Painter rushed for 1,077 yards and four touchdowns. Even more is expected of the 6-foot, 195-pound back this year.

BATH

Coach: Todd Clark

Years, record at school: Third season, 5-15

2007 record: 2-8 overall, 2-7 in Western Buckeye League

Returning letterwinners: 17

Outlook: The long road back to respectability continues for the Wildcats, but this year should show some definite signs of improvement. Joining Painter in the backfield is freshman Aaron Smith, who Clark called, "as talented a running back as we've had around here in a long time."

Aug. 22          at Allen East

Aug. 29          ST. MARYS

Sept. 5           VAN WERT

Sept. 12         at Shawnee

Sept. 19         KENTON

Sept. 26         at Elida

Oct. 3             OTTAWA-GLANDORF

Oct. 10           at Celina

Oct. 17           DEFIANCE

Oct. 24           at Wapakoneta