METAMORA, Ohio — Evergreen overview:
2023 Record: 4-6 (Missed Playoffs)
Head Coach: Barry Bock (2nd year)
Top Returning Players:
Max Mossing, Senior RB (2nd Team All-NWOAL)
Colton Robertson, Senior DB (2nd Team All-NWOAL)
Layne Vance, Senior DL (Honorable Mention All-NWOAL)
Trevor Johnson, Senior LB (Honorable Mention All-NWOAL)
Joey Okos, Junior DL (Honorable Mention All-NWOAL)
Austin Burghardt, Junior OL (Honorable Mention All-NWOAL)
Will Ruetz, Junior DB (Honorable Mention All-NWOAL)
J.J Johnson, Junior LB (Honorable Mention All-NWOAL)
Alex Mossing, Sophomore K (Honorable Mention All-NWOAL)
2024 Schedule:
WEEK 1 8/23 @ Elmwood
WEEK 2 8/30 @ Ottawa Hills
WEEK 3 9/6 vs. Rossford
WEEK 4 9/13 @ Patrick Henry*
WEEK 5 9/20 vs. Wauseon*
WEEK 6 9/27 vs. Archbold*
WEEK 7 10/4 vs. Bryan*
WEEK 8 10/11 @ Liberty Center*
WEEK 9 10/18 vs. Swanton*
WEEK 10 10/25 vs. Delta*
*Denotes Northwest Ohio Athletic League game
The Vikings are seeking a comeback season, building upon the "growing pains" they encountered last season.
"They're all bought into what we're trying to do here," said second-year head coach Barry Bock. "They've bought into raising our expectations and standards and knowing that this isn't the old Evergreen Vikings anymore. This is a new system, new policies, new standard of everything."
The team went four and six overall and missed the playoffs last season.
However, the goal was not so much about the numbers, but rather to grow as a program and get used to a new system. The team believes through their progress during the offseason, they can have a different outcome this year.
"Our team's been getting a lot better, been developing over the offseason," said senior running back Max Mossing. "I'm excited for what we have in store because we've been working hard all summer. I think we can really showcase all we got."
With last season now in the past, the team is looking to capitalize on the spots missed and fix what needed change last year.
"To be more competitive," Bock said. "Last year even though some of the scores in the games we lost were lopsided at the end, we felt like we were competitive for maybe two quarters that game. This year is making sure we finish and play all four quarters."
Mossing added that he agrees with Bock and said accountability on each rep also needs to remain competitive.
"Last season we'd do a couple of good quarters and then we'd start to fall off, but I feel like we can do all four quarters full go this year," he said. "Having certain people pick everyone up every two quarters and if we see someone try to fall off, pick them back up and make sure they're doing OK. Make sure they're giving it their all."