Flashes hoping for growth in Parise’s 2nd season
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CHAMPION -- It took nine weeks, but the Champion football team picked up its first win of the 2024 season by beating Newton Falls to close out the year.
It was the first win for the Golden Flashes under veteran head coach Ken Parise in his inaugural season leading the program. And it served as a solid jumping off point for the returning players into the offseason.
"We were minus-17 in giveaway-takeaway, and we had some things that happened injury-wise. But none of those were enough of an excuse," Parise said. "As the year went on, you will see we improved every week, except for Crestview and Garrettsville. Other than that, we battled.
"That win at the end of the year, it wasn't for myself. I was just happy for those kids, because we've only had one winning season since 2011, and we're all about changing that."
Parise knew that the 2024 campaign was going to be tough. He's seen his share of turnarounds after making stops at programs like Grand Valley, Edgewood and Conneaut.
Champion came close to picking up its first win of the year a couple times prior to Week 10. The Golden Flashes fell 30-25 to Campbell in Week 3 and dropped a 22-16 meeting with Southeast in Week 7.
After falling short a couple times, having Parise and his staff in place allowed the players to get a jumpstart on preparing for 2025, and the players took advantage.
"Things started on Dec. 4, when I opened up the weight room," Parise said. "Last year, we didn't start until the end of February because I didn't get hired till then. They spent seven hard months with me in the weight room and did a great job, and multi-sports guys came in when they could have. But so far this summer, it's been great."
The program's goals are tacked up on Parise's door in the locker room.
The six benchmarks are: Get better every day, win the opening game, beat the archrivals, .500-or-better season, win at home and represent the school with class.
In Parise's second season in Champion, he's hoping the team can start to check off some of those goals this fall.
"We just try to go each day, improve each week -- like today, we improved a lot -- and move on from there," Parise said.
OFFENSE
Parise has high expectations for his offensive line.
Champion has five guys returning up front. Senior Matt Wilkes is the man in the middle at center. He's flanked by three-year starters in Keegan Clifford and Carter Pernice at guard. Junior Coby Upshire and sophomore Nate Wolfe will take over at the tackles. Because of the scheme, 6-3, 235-pound tight end Tyler Reiter will assist in run blocking.
"That's a pretty good group to have returning," Parise said.
The Golden Flashes have Zack Morris back at quarterback for his senior season and his third season as a starter. He returns after earning second team All-Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference Grey Tier in 2024.
Freshman Caden Rowland will get carries at running back, while junior Kyle Kolat is the fullback. The wing backs will be Chase Vesey and Ryan Ingalls. And Quin McDermott will also be in the backfield receiving carries.
Sophomore Peyton Stewart will be joined by senior Joaquin Fuentes and Vesey at receiver.
DEFENSE
Along the defensive line, Wilkes returns for his third year starting at defensive tackle, and Upshire will play the opposite side. Freshman Jaden Burchfield, Pernice and junior Dylan Morrow will make up the rest of the front.
Kolat recorded the second-most tackles on the team last season and returns to lead the linebackers. Reiter will join Kolat as an inside backer. Meanwhile, Fuentes, Ingalls, McDermott and sophomore Mason Robinson will all rotate at outside linebacker.
Rowland will man one of the safety positions. Vesey and Morris will be the corners, while Lakeview sophomore transfer Carson Orth and Stewart will also see time in the secondary.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Ethan Cottrill will be the kicker while also competing on the soccer team. He could also take over the punting responsibilities, but he was in a battle with Kolat during the summer.
But the kicks don't matter if there's a bad snap, so Pernice will handle the snapping duties.