HAMLER, Ohio — Patrick Henry overview:
2023 Record: 12-3 (Division VII State Semifinalist)
Head Coach: Bill Inselmann (33rd year)
Top Returning Players:
Grant Smith, Junior DL (1st Team All-Ohio)
Lincoln Creager, Senior DB (2nd Team All-Ohio)
2024 Schedule:
WEEK 1 8/23 vs. Hicksville
WEEK 2 8/30 @ Ayersville
WEEK 3 9/6 @ Columbus Grove
WEEK 4 9/13 vs. Evergreen*
WEEK 5 9/20 @ Bryan*
WEEK 6 9/27 @ Wauseon*
WEEK 7 10/4 vs. Liberty Center*
WEEK 8 10/11 @ Delta*
WEEK 9 10/18 vs. Archbold*
WEEK 10 10/25 @ Swanton*
*Denotes Northwest Ohio Athletic League game
Patrick Henry was hit with great adversity last season when their first-string quarterback went down in the middle of the season.
But, the Patriots showed great resilience, put up a 12-3 overall record and made a five-playoff-game run.
"The kids didn't point fingers, they believed in each other and Lincoln Creager was our quarterback and believe it or not he got nine games under his belt because we went into week 15," said head coach Bill Inselmann. "That experience we got, the extra practices, the confidence, has really carried over into this year."
The perseverance and experience that players such as Creager displayed is what the team is excited to showcase this season.
"It helps me going into this year having that experience so I'm not just starting really fresh and not knowing anything," Creager said. "The coaches have done a great job helping mold that offense around me too, which has made me comfortable back there. Hopefully it'll help me to lead again this year and lead us to another long playoff run."
"I feel like those extra practices we had last year in the playoffs got all the younger guys ready," added senior offensive lineman Avery Wright. "We have a lot of young guys playing but they have a lot of experience already because of the extra practices
Despite the small size of the school, the team is taking full advantage of this year's unique abundance of talent at each position. Inselmann said that that competition has provided accountability and will avoid complacency amongst the team.
"One neat thing about this year is we have a lot of competition," he said. "We lost some real good kids last year and this year we have more of two to three kids at a position. Nobody's backing down, kids are really excited, they know they're going to get their opportunity."
According to the Northwest Ohio Athletic League preseason coaches poll, the Patriots are ranked to finish second in the league.
However, the team is gunning for that first place title as one of their main goals.
"It starts with our league. We pride ourselves with what we've done historically in the league and to be honest Liberty Center has been the top dog in the last several years," Inselmann said. "So our goal is to get back and compete in that league with Liberty for a league championship."