Just the facts
Conference: Lorain County Conference
Coach: Ryan O’Rourke, third year (12-8)
OHSAA: Division IV, Region 14
2018: 4-6 (2-3)
Twitter: @CoachR_Orourke
Home field: Firelands Stadium
Outlook
Firelands is still a very young team despite returning 20 lettermen from last season, but the experience will serve it well heading into the newly-formed Lorain County Conference. The Falcons are speedy and athletic to make up for being generally undersized and return nine starters on offense and 10 on defense. Coach Ryan O’Rourke is pleased with the intensity he’s seen during the preseason and Firelands firmly believes last year’s four-win season was a fluke and that the Falcons will be in the playoff hunt come November.
Player to watch
Alex Angle enters the 2019 season as one of nine returning starters on offense at wide receiver and will be targeted by quarterback Jacob Farley. The junior has the size and speed to make noise this year after finishing among the top 10 receivers in the area in most statistical categories last year and will likely build on that as the Firelands offense improves.
Underclassman to watch: Carter Janicek was a key reserve for the Falcons at tailback last year and the sophomore has earned a starting spot this season – one of only three sophomores to do so on either side of the ball.
Best in the classroom: Alex Angle, 4.0 GPA, Sam Solowiej, 4.0 GPA, Seth Robinette, 4.0 GPA
Best squat: Sam Solowiej, 405 pounds
Best 40 time: Caden Bomback, 4.53 seconds
Bottom line
IF: Firelands can maintain the competitive edge its developed during the preseason, THEN: the Falcons will be in the hunt for a LCC title and first playoff berth since 2015.
Schedule
Opponent 2018 result
Aug. 30: Firelands at Edison, 7 L 41-23
Sept. 6: Firelands at Amherst, 7 DNP
Sept. 13: Vermilion at Firelands, 7 W 21-19
Sept. 20: Columbia at Firelands, 7 DNP
Sept. 27: Black River at Firelands, 7 (HC) L 64-28
Oct. 4: Firelands at Brookside, 7 W 35-0
Oct. 11: Clearview at Firelands, 7 DNP
Oct. 18: Keystone at Firelands, 7 L 28-25
Oct. 25: Oberlin vs. Firelands (at Oberlin College), 7:30 DNP
Nov. 1: Firelands at Wellington, 7 W 35-7
Game to watch: The annual meeting with Vermilion is always circled on the Falcons’ calendar, but a Week 4 matchup with Columbia is an exciting one for the two former Patriot Athletic Conference powers who spent time in separate divisions.
Roster
OFFENSE
Pos. Name Yr. Ht. Wt.
QB Jacob Farley* Jr. 6-1 185
RB Donald Crawford* Jr. 5-10 170
RB Carter Janicek So. 6-0 205
WR Alex Angle* Jr. 6-3 175
WR Caden Bomback* Jr. 5-10 170
WR Austin Copen So. 6-2 165
LT Jacob Schmitz* Sr. 6-6 235
LG Kevin Guillemot* Jr. 5-9 180
C Seth Robinette* Jr. 6-3 275
RG Sam Solowiej* Jr. 5-9 200
RT Caden Boetticher* Jr. 6-4 270
K Chance Coultrip Sr.
K Austin Schuler Sr.
DEFENSE
Pos. Name Yr. Ht. Wt.
DE Casey Kelley* Jr. 6-2 205
DE Jack Valerius* Jr. 6-3 210
DT Sam Solowiej* Jr. 5-9 200
DT Gavin Pignatella So. 5-10 240
LB Nat Pignatella* Sr. 6-0 200
LB Bryce Keown* Sr. 5-10 185
LB Matt Loranger* Sr. 5-10 180
S Alex Angle* Jr. 6-3 175
S Donald Crawford* Jr. 5-10 170
CB Caden Bomback* Jr. 5-10 170
CB Josh Yost* Jr. 5-10 170
P Chance Coultrip Sr.
P Austin Schuler Sr.
(* – returning starter)
Key reserves: QB Ethan Cordy, Sr., 6-3, 185, WR Caden Domin, So., WR Kyle Ransom, So., S Corey Newark, So., 5-9, 160, DT Alex Kyer, So., 6-3, 260
Returning lettermen: 20
