ROSSFORD, Ohio — Rossford overview:
2023 Record: 1-9 (Missed Playoffs)
Head Coach: Todd Drusback (15th year)
Top Returning Players:
Sam Wilburn, Senior OL (Honorable Mention All-NBC)
Ronnie Hawkins, Junior DB (Honorable Mention All-NBC)
2024 Schedule:
WEEK 1 8/23 @ Northwood
WEEK 2 8/30 vs. Port Clinton
WEEK 3 9/6 @ Evergreen
WEEK 4 9/13 vs. Otsego*
WEEK 5 9/20 @ Oak Harbor*
WEEK 6 9/27 vs. Eastwood*
WEEK 7 10/4 vs. Lake*
WEEK 8 10/11 @ Maumee*
WEEK 9 10/18 @ Genoa*
WEEK 10 10/25 vs. Fostoria*
*Denotes Northern Buckeye Conference game
All summer long, the Bulldogs football program heard how unsuccessful they were last season. One single victory hasn't occurred at Rossford since 2011.
A mark that is not customary but does serve the purpose of providing determination to flip the label. Veteran head coach Todd Drusback possesses a young group this season, with a few underclassmen jumping up into starting roles.
"The coaches keep coming back and saying how we're not a one-win team," senior captain Keegan Engram said. "We got a lot more talent than that and we use that as fuel in practice. We're going to be able to use that as fuel a lot in the games as well."
Viewed as a challenge on the surface, the inexperience does present an opportunity for growth and to help set a tone for the future. Best believe this fall the focus is improving upon last year's record and returning as a contender in the NBC.
"A lot of games didn't go our way last year, close games that should have been won," senior Jace Odenweller said. "This year we're going to change that and go all out for four quarters."
Rossford will make the short trip over to Northwood for Friday's season opener, the only team they defeated in 2023, providing another element for these hungry Bulldogs.
"We've been using that to go above and beyond. Starting in the weight room to get stronger, bigger and faster," senior Blake Dewey said. "We aren't a 1-9 team. We were in a lot of those games that we could've won."
Three of the final four games in the regular season were decided by single digits.