NAPOLEON, Ohio — Napoleon overview:
2023 Record: 6-6 (Advanced to 2nd Round of playoffs)
Head Coach: Tyler Swary (3rd year)
Top Returning Players:
Trey Rubinstein, Senior DB (1st Team All-Ohio; committed to Kent State)
Owen Espinoza, Senior QB (2nd Team All-NLL)
Parker Woods, Senior WR (2nd Team All-NLL)
Carson Marroquin, Senior K (2nd Team All-NLL)
George Eggers, Junior LB (2nd Team All-NLL)
Hayden Gerken, Junior DB (2nd Team All-NLL)
2024 Schedule:
WEEK 1 8/23 vs. Defiance
WEEK 2 8/30 @ Liberty Center
WEEK 3 9/6 vs. Northview
WEEK 4 9/13 @ Anthony Wayne
WEEK 5 9/20 vs. Springfield
WEEK 6 9/27 @ Fremont Ross*
WEEK 7 10/4 @ Bowsher
WEEK 8 10/11 @ Clay*
WEEK 9 10/18 vs. Bowling Green*
WEEK 10 10/25 vs. Southview*
*Denotes Northern Lakes League Cardinal Division game
Typically, the third year in a coach's tenure is when you start to see a program excel. Well, Napoleon got a head start after securing a playoff victory on the road last season by defeating Bellevue 41-24.
That's now serving as a building block for what the Wildcats are aiming to push past in 2024.
"We're coming for a league title," senior quarterback Owen Espinoza said. "I don't think there's any reason why we shouldn't do that."
Last season, that goal fell short following a 6-point loss to Southview in the final week of the regular season. Snapping an NLL Championship drought continues to be an aspiration given the feat that hasn't been done since 2012.
However, that 2012 group also had success in the playoffs, which is something Napoleon now possesses coming off a strong finish to last year.
"We've really been picking it up and getting competitive with each other, going after it day-by-day," All-State senior Trey Rubinstein said. "That's been important, just building off that day after day."
Fueled by the desire to achieve even more this season, Napoleon will lean on its skill position players to pave the way.
"I want to win the league, that's a big thing we all want to do," senior Parker Woods said. "Really, just sticking together as seniors and playing our last football season together because this might be the last thing we do together."
He, along with his QB, believes the Wildcat passing attack can provide a dangerous element this upcoming season. Success on offense though always begins and ends with the play up front.
"It's that offensive line part, which is key to our offense, that we're still piecing together right now," head coach Tyler Swary said. "So, that's still a work in progress and the guys are working hard to win spots."
In just his second season at the helm, Swary led the program to a runner-up finish in the NLL Cardinal Division. It's an achievement that creates optimism but also perspective.
"Honestly, I think we snuck up on a couple teams last year," Swary said. "We won't be doing that this year. They know what we got and know our style now. So, we got to make sure we're ready to go when we hit division play."
Although last year's 6-6 campaign is viewed as successful in the eyes of the community, there were plenty of lessons to learn. Among the biggest is setting a tone for the season.
"We've come out slow the last couple years, starting 0-4 is not ideal at all," Espinoza said. "So, really looking to turn that around this year and just bringing the energy from the get-go."
Napoleon's first two games are against rival Defiance (Battle of the River Rock) and Liberty Center; opponents that have beaten the Wildcats by a combined average of 23 points per game over the last three seasons.
So, they know preparation and motivation are needed.
"There's a fire under our butt," Woods said. "We're all pushing ourselves to be the best we possibly can for Week One."