Lehman Catholic receiver Turner Lachey runs during a Three Rivers Conference game against Riverside on Sept. 29, 2023 at Sidney Memorial Stadium. Lachey, who is entering his junior season, was a first team all-TRC selection last year. He is taking over at quarterback this year.
Luke Gronneberg | Sidney Daily News
Riverside’s Damien Smith tries to break free of a tackle by Lehman Catholic’s Dillon Schmiesing during a Three Rivers Conference game on Sept. 29, 2023 at Sidney Memorial Stadium on Friday. Smith is one of seven returning starters for the Pirates, which finished first in the TRC last year.
Luke Gronneberg | Sidney Daily News
SIDNEY — Lehman Catholic is looking to keep up the improvement it enjoyed last season. The Cavaliers have many returnees as coach Dwane Rowley enters his second season at the helm.
Lehman finished with a 7-4 overall record in 2023. The squad finished third place in the Three Rivers Conference and earned a Division VII playoff berth. Lehman lost 42-28 at Cedarville in a first-round game.
Returning starters for the Cavaliers this season will be seniors Da’Ron Pride (RB/DB, second team all-TRC), Devin Pride (LB/WR), Dillon Schmiesing (WR/DE, second team all-TRC), Ryan Ford (OL/DL) and Kaden Lee (OL/DL).
Also back are juniors Turner Lachey (QB first team all-TRC and second team all-Ohio in D-VII), Jace Olding (OL/DL) and Evan O’Leary (WR/DB).
Other key returners for Lehman are seniors Jack Earhart and Korban Schmiesing.
A key newcomer for Lehman this season will be junior CJ Olding (WR/DB).
“Olding is a talented, athletic and skilled WR that has speed to extend the field and has great hands that will cause trouble for opposing defenses,” Rowley said.
Olding didn’t play in 2023 due to an injury, but Rowley expects him to make large contributions on both sides of the ball this season.
“We will rely on upper class leadership, fast play, discipline and physicality,” Rowley said. “We had a good summer camp and showed many improvements in the weight room and on the practice field. The hard work will carry over to the game field.
“We played pretty well in our previous two scrimmages against some tough opponents in Fort Recovery and Ansonia. We set our schedule up to where it sets us up well for the playoffs. It’s a good test, coming out healthy we should be sitting pretty with a chance to win our first two games against two other tough opponents.”
The Cavaliers start their regular season at Delphos St. John’s on Friday before traveling to battle South Charleston Southeastern on Aug. 30. Their first home game will be on Sept. 7 at Sidney Memorial Stadium against Benjamin Logan.
Riverside
Bryce Hodge returns to lead the Pirates. He has a 39-17 record in his five seasons at the helm.
Riverside finished 9-2 overall in 2023. The squad finished first in the Three Rivers Conference and earned a playoff berth; it lost 28-5 in a first-round game against St. Henry.
Returning starters for the Pirates in 2024 are Travis Brooks (RG/DL), Jordan Dunham (LG/DL), Landon Purtee (WR/DB), Damien Smith (WR/DB), Brice Kauffman (WR) and Braylon Dunn (LB). Quarterback Gavin Orsborne will be returning this season as well after he had five starts in 2023 after Myles Platfoot’s injury.
Brooks was a first team all-TRC selection last year along with Dunn.
“Experience,” Hodge said. “We have a senior QB that earned some valuable experience in the final five games of last season. We have three senior receivers and our passing game could be a strength for us this year. We’ve had excellent defense the last few years and we hope we can continue to build on that experience.”
Key newcomers to the team this season will be seniors Mason Armbnruster (OL/DL) and Houston Anderson (FB/LB) and juniors Tony Robinson (RB/DB) and Grady Jenkins (FB/LB).
Reach Sidney Daily News assistant editor Ryan Harless at 937-538-4651, or follow @RyanHarless_ on Twitter.
