Kettering Alter (15-0) Division IV
Region 16 2009 Record: 15-0, State Champions
* Players To Watch – QB Zane Pitzer (5-11, 180, Sr.); LB Teddy Link (6-1, 205, Sr.); RB/LB Justin Winters (6-1, 216, Sr.); OL Joe Thuney (6-5, 235, Sr.); DB T.J. Dorrow (5-11, 194, Sr.)
* Outlook – Alter has been to the postseason nine straight times and barring an unbelievable breakdown will make it 10.
The Knights have won back-to-back D-IV state titles and were one-point shy of winning the 2006 D-III state championship (lost 34-33 to Steubenville) as well.
Overall – on the field – Alter has put together four straight 10-0 regular seasons and is 55-2 since Week 1 of the 2006 season. The Knights did have to forfeit two wins in the 2008 regular season (although they won those games – over Bellbrook and Kettering Fairmont – a combined 46-6).
Their only losses on the field the last four years are a 59-52 three-OT loss to Coldwater in the ’07 D-IV regional semifinals and the loss to Steubenville.
Offensively the Knights rushing attack, which averaged over 300 yards a game last year, will be potent again with the return of Pitzer and Winters. Pitzer (second team GCL) rushed for 934 yards and 21 TDs last year, while Winters accounted for 862 yards and 11 TDs.
Thuney a first team GCL selection, has offers from Vanderbilt, Buffalo and Youngstown State.
Defensively the Knights have some holes to fill from last year’s team that allowed just 6.7 points per game, but don’t expect there to be much drop off. Two years ago the Knights returned just one defensive starter and won the state title.
Link (first team GCL) made 61 stops and had two interceptions last year, while Dorrow (second team GCL) added 41 tackles and two interceptions.
Head coach Ed Domsitz is entering his 19th season at the school.
* Schedule – One game sticks out on this year’s schedule and it’s the Week 3 meeting with Centerville. The Knights and Elks haven’t played since 1967. Both teams have punishing ground games and more than bragging rights will be on the line. After that the usual Greater Catholic League North Division slate awaits. The Knights are 37-1 in the GCL North since 2004, the lone loss being a 7-0 setback to Roger Bacon in Week 9 of the 2005 season. Alter has won 29 straight GCL games.
Miami Valley Football Fans….the high school football season is two months away. Luckily, the release of MVP Magazine’s annual High School Football Preview Issue isn’t that far off.
The MVP Football preview will be released in late July and will cover over 120 districts in Southwest and West Central Ohio.
As usual, the coverage will be second to none.
We’ll unveil the MVP Preseason Top 25 and introduce you to the area’s top players and games. We’ll also preview every football team in our coverage area.
Pre-order your copy today and get it delivered to your door immediately upon release.
