Philo ready to defend MVL title

DUNCAN FALLS, Ohio — There are only five weeks until the first Friday night of high school football season, and Philo is working hard to be ready to defend their MVL Title.

Philo, who won a share of the MVL Title for the first time in 20 years, is coming off an 8-2 season in which they upset the one-seed, Heath, in the first round of the playoffs before losing to Shelby in the second round. They also lost a lot of senior talent, including quarterback Nathan Baker and receiver Jacob Mohler. But coach Dirk Lincicome says opportunities like today’s 7-on-7 allow him to evaluate what some of the new players can do, and who will be ready to play this fall.

“7-on-7s are good to help you shuffle around your guys and see who can play, what position. Find out kind of what your depth is in terms of athleticism. Of course we don’t have any linemen here so we can’t get any work with our bigger guys, but it’s a chance for our smaller guys to come out and move around, show us how they can move in space,compete, break on the football, throwing and catching.”

Lincicome added that sometimes 7-on-7s don’t provide the most realistic look for his team. Without a pass rush, he says sometimes the quarterbacks can get a little too comfortable, and hold onto the ball a little too long. But he explains it gives them a chance to watch and coach the quarterbacks mechanics, as well as the timing of the routes with wide receivers, and the decision-making from his signal callers.

The off-season program has been a good one for Lincicome and his team. The younger players have bought into the program and what they are trying to accomplish, and they will be rewarded with a week off before two-a-days start on July 31st.

“Once we get to that point, it’s football season. So we want them to have a week off and get away from football for a little bit before it becomes their job.”

Coach Lincicome and his Philo Electrics will open the season at home on August 25th against Walnut Ridge.