“Let’s face it, there are going to be 7-8000 people there, and there are many colleges that don’t get that many people showing up for games,” said longtime Alter head coach Ed Domsitz. “It’s a gigantic game. Probably 80-85% of our student body will be there, so this is an opportunity for our kids to play in front of a great crowd and a tremendous rivalry where they’re being supported by the very high percentage of their classmates.”
The 57th meeting between the schools will also represent Alter’s first chance to take the field for an official game since being humbled by Cleveland Glenville 38-3 in the Division IV state championship game last December.
That ended a seven-game winning streak for Alter but what was nonetheless a bounce-back season. After back-to-back 6-6 campaigns, the 2023 Knights looked more like the program that had already made five state championship games, including victories in 2008 and ‘09, under Domsitz.
A majority of that squad is back, including quarterback Gavin Connor and leading rusher Noah Jones, but Domsitz said some work must be done to rebuild the offensive line around senior Noah Marquez.
On the other side of the ball, end Nolan Ogburn (14 tackles for loss), tackle Simon Deddens, linebackers Okemdi Eze (10 TFL) and Connor Watkins and defensive back John Keighley are among those back to lead a unit that allowed nine points in the playoffs before running into the Tarblooders in Canton.
Fairmont coach Dave Miller expressed no doubt Alter will pose his team a great challenge.
“When I look at our schedule, and it’s going to be a tough schedule, they have the most starters back of anyone and that is from a state runner-up team,” Miller said. “We’re going to have our hands full. We know it. It’s going to be I think one of those classic Alter-Fairmont battles that probably comes down to the last possession or something, but we’re excited about it.”
Miller has raised the level of the Fairmont program since taking over as head coach in 2016.
That includes turning the tables on Alter by winning five of the last six matchups following 13 straight wins for the Knights in the series.
He credits his kids for buying into his methods, including a run-oriented offense he brought with him from a successful run at Covington.
That gratitude especially extends to quarterback Brock Baker, who Miller says is a Division I prospect despite a dearth of opportunities to throw the ball in his offense.
“He can do it. There’s no question,” Miller said. “He’s a D-I quarterback. I have no doubt in my mind.
“I tell recruiters when they come in, ‘He plays in our offense so you don’t get to see everything that he’s capable of doing because we don’t really highlight that because of what we do. We have a philosophy. And I say the other part of that is he plays in our offense, and that right there tells you something about him in a day and age where kids transfer. They see the portal and they want to go other places. This kid is unselfish. He’s an amazing kid.”
Among those joining Baker in the backfield will be Damien Pattin and Logan Doty. Miller said he looks for Taban Gafford and Brett Fuller to anchor the line and Tim Cheatwood to be a key player at tight end.
On defense, linebacker Gavin Proffitt is back after finishing second on the team with 76 tackles last season, and Logan Wilkins (14.5 tackles for loss) and Konor Hasten are expected to be bookends with Toby Deglow back at safety, where he notched 50 tackles last season.
They could have their hands full with Alter’s offense, but Domsitz didn’t want to make any predictions about what the mindset of his team might be after such a memorable 2023.
“You’re never sure exactly just how much impact it’s going to have and whether it’s going to be positive or negative,” Domsitz said. “Are you going to be overconfident? You know, after what happened to us in the final ballgame, I would hate to think we’re going to be overconfident, but I think there is a great desire on the part of these kids to get back to that level.
“And I really find that’s true every year here at Alter they you know that that is one of the goals. I know teams talk about that. Other teams in the state of Ohio talk about making it a state championship game and maybe winning the state championship. But at Alter that that is a real possibility. So our kids are not afraid to set that as a goal.
“Maybe it does put a bigger target on their back where we are a state finalist, but I’d rather be in that situation than have a very low expectation. So we can embrace that tradition and that challenge.
About the Author
