Rockets hope to utilize upper class athleticism

PANDORA - Carey Arthur is back for a second time as Pandora-Gilboa's football coach and has brought a new offense with him.

Arthur, who was Pandora-Gilboa's coach in 2004 and '03, takes over this season for B.J. Queen, now the coach at Upper Sandusky.

The Rockets, 3-7 last season, will run the spread offense.

P-G hopes to take advantage of the athleticism of its junior and senior classes, including several players who were key components of its Putnam County League champion boys basketball team last winter.

Senior quarterback Sam Maag, who completed 47 percent of his passes and averaged 150 yards a game in the air last season, was a big reason Pandora-Gilboa installed the spread offense. But he is far from the only reason, Arthur said.

"It just seems like if we have the athletes, let's get them all out on the field at the same time," Arthur said. "We have some pretty good athletes with size and speed.

"We're one of the smaller schools in the conference. We've always kind of had speed but haven't been blessed with size. The future holds that we would be better at trying to spread the field horizontally and vertically."

Sprinter Sam Spallinger, who qualified for four events in the state track meet, Tom Hostettler, who went to the state track meet in two events, and 6-foot-5 basketball standout Josh Lee, are among the athletic players P-G wants to get involved when it tries to spread the field on offense.

The new offense will not necessarily be a pass-first, run-second offense, though.

"I believe in a balanced attack. You have to be able to run the ball as well as pass it. I would like to be 50-50 and take advantage of what the defensive weaknesses are," Arthur said.

Offense isn't the only area in which the Rockets will be looking for a change. They gave up an average of 28 points a game last season and finished next-to-last in the Blanchard Valley Conference in yards per game allowed.

Middle linebacker Tyler Swary, one of P-G's captains, says the Rockets want to play a more physical brand of defense this fall.

"We have to hit a lot harder than last year. We've got more speed and quickness. We're going to pound people more," he said.

Pandora-Gilboa will open its season at Columbus Grove on Friday night.

PLAYER TO WATCH

Sam Maag

The quarterback averaged around 150 yards a game passing last season and should thrive in a newly installed spread offense.

PANDORA-GILBOA

Coach: Carey Arthur

Years, record at school: Third year, 11-10

Returning letterwinners: 17

Returning starters: 16

Outlook: Pandora-Gilboa will score points, with several outstanding athletes on offense. But can the defense improve from last season when it allowed nearly 30 points a game? Depth could also be a question mark with only 25 seniors, juniors and sophomores on the roster.

Aug. 22 at Columbus Grove

Aug. 29 at Vanlue

Sept. 5 McCOMB

Sept. 12 ARCADIA

Sept. 19 at Leipsic

Sept. 26 VAN BUREN

Oct. 3 HARDIN NORTHERN

Oct. 10 at Cory-Rawson

Oct. 17 at Liberty Benton

Oct. 24 ARLINGTON