Mustangs prep to defend C North Div. title

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Anchoring the Medina football team’s lineup this season will be this group of veterans. In front are Brody Fry, Will Prest, Julian Woodworth, Xavier Bloom, Kaedon Cleveland, Noah Cudzilo and Breylin McEwen-Miller. In back are Ethan Carson, Cole Callard, Sawyer Kingsbury, Roosevelt Mitchell, Xavier King and Jerrell Nealy. Missing is Amari Soule.

Working to fill the holes caused by the loss of seven regulars to graduation, Medina is prepping to defend the Class C North Division title that the Mustangs have won each of the past three years.

Those graduation losses included quarterback/defensive back Aiden Pitts, running back/linebacker Noah Skinner, wide receiver/defensive back Cayden Lilleby, tight end/defensive end Josh Wilson, offensive lineman/defensive end Ollie Wilson along with offensive linemen/defensive linemen Try Skinner and Chris Johnson.

Seniors Julian Woodworth and Noah Cudzilo, who both saw some action last fall, are vying for the starting quarterback position.

Seniors Amari Soule and Will Prest and junior Brody Fry provide experience at the running back spots with seniors Kaedon Cleveland and Xavier Bloom and sophomore Jerrell Nealy at the wide receiver positions and junior Breydin McEwen-Miller at tight end. Junior Carter Woodworth also looks to see action at tight end as does freshman Elijah Doxey and sophomore Colton Fletcher at wide receiver.

The veteran quartet of Roosevelt Mitchell, Sawyer Kingsbury, Xavier King and Ethan Carson anchors the line.

“We’re looking to run the ball to help give our quarterbacks time to develop so we will be relying heavily on our offensive line,” said Coach Eric Valley.

The Mustangs also have a valuable special teams weapon in junior Cole Callard who handles the extra point, field goal, kickoff and punting chores.

“Cole definetly will help us,” said Valley. “His work on the special teams adds another dimension for us.”

The Mustangs other returnees include seniors Liam Castricone (WR/DB), Kole Campbell (OL/DL), Michael Clark (WR/DB) along with sophomores Frankie Stephens (OL/DL), Arion Johnson (OL/LB) and Christian Moss (RB/LB).

Medina, which went 5-0 in the C North Division and 8-2 overall last year, will open the season against a new opponent as the Mustangs visit St. Mary’s of Lancaster for a non league game at 2 p.m. Saturday. The Mustangs home opener will be Sept. 8 against Eden.

Mustangs Schedule: Sept. 2 – at St. Mary’s of Lancaster, 2 p.m.; Sept. 8 – Eden, 7 p.m.; Sept. 16 – at Cleveland Hill, 2 p.m.; Sept. 22 – at Akron, 7 p.m.; Sept. 20 – Roy-Hart/Barker, 7 p.m.; Oct. 6 – JFK, 7 p.m.; Thursday Oct. 12 – at Newfane, 7 p.m.; Oct. 20 – Albion, 7 p.m.