Big test for improving St. Paul

NORWALK — The growth in confidence is obvious. After outscoring three teams 70-0 over the past nine quarters — and allowing just one well-earned touchdown over the past 12 quarters — that much is a given. But how well that confidence has translated into the long run for the St. Paul football team will be tested on Friday. The Flyers (2-3, 2-0) make the short trip east on U.S. 20 to visit Western Reserve (4-1, 2-0) at 7 p.m. in a Firelands Conference game at Bachelder Field. "I think the kids have started to gain some confidence after the last couple of weeks, but this will be a great test," St. Paul head coach Chris Doughty said. "We've improved, but how much have we improved? This will be a good test to see where we're at with things." After undergoing a series of position changes, Doughty believes his team has settled into their comfort level as the regular season reaches the midway point. "In particular on offense, I think we've started to find our identity and are rolling with that a little bit, and the kids are excited," he said. "They are starting to have some confidence in what we're doing. "The FC is a seven-week battle, and we're entering round three this week against a really good 4-1 team." After attempting 85 passes in the regular season in 2023, junior quarterback Hayden Keith is 68-of-114 passing (60 percent) for 1,175 yards with 14 touchdowns and four interceptions. Keith has also rushed 54 times for 523 yards and 7 TDs. A year ago, he was 42-of-85 passing for 596 yards and 4 TDs while rushing 131 times for 697 yards and 11 TDs. Junior Brexton Fraelich led Western with 16 catches for 241 yards and a TD in 2023. He enters Friday with 17 catches for 342 yards and 3 TDs. Chase Hipp also has 17 catches for 264 yards and 5 TDs for Western. Hayden Dobias adds 11 catches for 144 yards and 2 TDs; and Landyn Wiegel has 10 catches for 232 yards and 3 TDs. Wiegel adds 226 yards and 2 TDs rushing, and Jared Hipp has 218 yards and 4 TDs. "Coach Stevenson has done a great job of shifting their offensive mindset," Doughty said. "He's got some really talented receivers with a great athlete in Keith throwing to them. He's a physical kid, a three-sport athlete and a state placer in the shot put as a sophomore. "You don't see very many quarterbacks in that category, which tells you a lot about his work ethic and drive to begin with. But Coach Stevenson has done a great job of putting them in position to be successful and take advantage of the athletes that they have." Defensively, the 'Riders run much of the same concepts from years past with the same athletes from the offensive side of the ball. "Travis French does a real nice job on both sides and is one of the better lineman in the conference," Doughty said. "We look for him to be an impact player throughout the game, so controlling the line of scrimmage will be important." After starting at center in Week 1, Nick Pocos has rushed for 343 yards and 2 TDs on 59 attempts for St. Paul. Landon Fries adds 167 yards and 3 TDs on 62 attempts, and leads the team in receiving with 11 catches for 196 yards and 2 TDs. He adds 187 yards and a TD on six kick returns. Rafael Gross leads the team with 47 tackles (11 for loss) with two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and one sack. Pocos has 41 tackles, one sack, two forced fumbles and one recovery — which he returned for a TD last week at Plymouth. Fries adds 28 tackles, one sack and two fumble recoveries, while Nate Sandor has 37 tackles and one sack and Tristin Nickoli has 32 tackles (six for loss) and two sacks. St. Paul enters Friday in the 16th and final playoff position in Division VII Region 25 after an 0-3 start. "More than anything, it's going to come down to how our kids attack this week and get prepared for it," Doughty said. "I don't feel like playing on the road is intimidating. I think our kids are excited more than anything for a premier matchup and a game that we can be very competitive in, and they know that going in. "Western is a very talented team, but I think our kids are confident they can compete on every down," he added. "We talked this week about preparing the right way, and not just learning the game plan, but mastering it."