The Otto-Eldred Terrors are set to begin their 2024 campaign with an experienced roster that they hope can improve from their 6-4 season from a year ago.
Troy Cook enters his seventh season with the program, which is coming off back-to-back winning seasons (the Terrors also went 6-4 in 2022).
Otto-Eldred returns nine starters on offense and 10 on defense. There are 16 returning letterwinners for the team to lean on.
“We have a ton of experience at the quarterback, receiver, and running back positions,” Cook said.
Junior Shane Magee returns at QB after having a strong 2023 campaign. Magee threw for 1,681 yards with 22 passing touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
Magee will have the same weapons around him that he was with last year.
Senior receiver Manning Splain was the leading pass catcher for the Terrors in 2023.
Splain recorded 42 receptions with 764 yards and 11 receiving touchdowns.
Seniors Shene Thomas and Davey Schenfield are the other receivers with returning production. Thomas caught 42 receptions for 599 yards with 5 touchdowns. Schenfield caught 29 passes for 334 yards and 5 touchdowns.
Senior RB Hunter App comes back looking to create a strong rushing attack for the Terrors. App averaged 6.1 yards with 745 yards and 10 touchdowns.
With everyone returning at the skill positions, look for chemistry among the receivers and Magee to be strong.
“We have a strong senior class,” Splain said. “We’ve been together for a long time. With the youth that is with us I think we can be pretty good.”
While there is plenty of talent at the skill positions, crew and his staff are looking to replace several key linemen.
So far, the competition for starting spots is going well, as the coaching staff looks to compliment returning starters Jakob Hernandez, Jerimiah Ford and Charlie Minard
“So far, so good,” Cook said. “We have a bunch of guys that are in a rotation right now. They’ve been looking good this week so far. We’re going to carry that into next week and honestly probably into the scrimmage as well. I’m going to rotate a few guys through there, see how they handle the competition. We think we have an idea of what we want right now, but it’s totally different when you get the pads on. Competition is never a bad thing.”
Defensively, the Terrors lose their main contributor in Brax Caldwell. Caldwell led the Terrors in tackles, sacks, and tackles for loss. Caldwell is continuing his athletic career at Pitt-Bradford, where he will play basketball.
There are still players with returning production that can help Otto-Eldred be a complete team on both sides of the ball. Senior LB Jeremiah Ford returns after having 50 tackles in 2023. Senior DE Charlie Minard will also be one of the names to look out for. Minard had 35 tackles with eight of them being tackles for loss.
App will look to be a problem for opposing teams on defense as well. App had 49 tackles in 2023 as a safety. Splain and Thomas return as starting defensive backs to help make the secondary strong as the defensive front may be going through growing pains.
“We lost some guys on the offensive and defensive line,” Cook said. “We think that we have the players there, it’s just the experience that we are going to have to try and catch up on.”
Otto-Eldred will begin their season at home against Coudersport on Friday, Aug. 23 at 7 p.m.
Cook’s coaching staff includes Shawn Rounsville, Boyd Fitzsimmons, Chris Schwab, Cam Magee, Josh Rounsville, Ben Mooney, Andy Schenfield, Bill Bair and Dustin Bundy.
“We feel great,” Cook said. “The numbers were really good in terms of summer turnout.
