The Olentangy Orange football team was about as up and down as a team can be a season ago, following three early-season losses with three straight wins only to drop the final four games of the season.

Enter new head coach Wes Schroeder who, after compiling a 38-8 record at Granville over the course of the last four falls, is aiming to get the Pioneers back in the always competitive OCC-Central mix.

For Schroeder, a three-time Licking County League Coach of the Year (2021-23) who led the Aces to undefeated regular seasons in 2021 and 2023, success starts with the players … and forming a foundation around what they do well.

“The first thing we wanted to do was build relationships with the kids and find ways to put them in the best position to be successful,” Schroeder said. “Our focus this summer was just trying to lay the groundwork for our expectations.”

Offensively, those expectations are high as dual-threat quarterback Levi Davis returns to the fold with a handful of playmakers — guys like Terryn Thomas and Treyton Schroeder — at his disposal.

“We have a very talented quarterback and he’s improved in all aspects of being just that,” the coach said. “We have a very good group of athletes who have been working hard and getting better every day and, while we’re a little undersized up front, the group has been very coachable and will play hard.”

Nick Liberati will anchor the line while Will Musgrove will add depth at receiver.

You’ll see some of the same faces on the defensive side of the ball, with Treyton Schroeder and Musgrove joining forces with Connor Stephens to form a formidable secondary.

The rest of the group will be young, especially at linebacker where the Pioneers have very little varsity experience.

“The guys on defense are good kids who work hard,” the coach said. “We’ll look to slow teams down by playing disciplined football.”

Orange started 1-3 last season. A better start would be nice, but Schroeder said the focus will be playing well at the end of the season. It hosts Upper Arlington and Olentangy Liberty, two teams it lost to a season ago, in October. In between, the Pioneers will travel to Hilliard Bradley, another team it lost to last fall.

“Our schedule is full of well-coached teams with very talented players,” Schroeder said. “With a schedule like we have, we’re looking to get better every week and play our best football later in the year.”

2024 Schedule

Aug. 23 — vs. Marysville, 7 p.m.

Aug. 30 — @ Westerville North, 7 p.m.

Sept. 6 — @ Hilliard Darby, 7 p.m.

Sept. 13 — @ Gahanna, 7 p.m.

Sept. 20 — vs. Olentangy Berlin, 7 p.m.

Sept. 27 — vs. Hilliard Davidson, 7 p.m.

Oct. 4 — @ Dublin Coffman, 7 p.m.

Oct. 11 — vs. Upper Arlington, 7 p.m.

Oct. 18 — @ Hilliard Bradley, 7 p.m.

Oct. 25 — vs. Olentangy Liberty, 7 p.m.

2023 Results

(4-7, 2-3 OCC-Central Division)

Aug. 18 — @ West Clermont, W, 42-35

Aug. 25 — vs. Olentangy Berlin, L, 31-24

Sept. 1 — vs. Hilliard Darby, L, 28-21

Sept. 8 — @ Olentangy, L, 17-10

Sept. 15 — vs. Newark, W, 42-13

Sept. 22 — @ Hilliard Davidson, W, 17-14

Sept. 29 — vs. Dublin Coffman, W, 35-14

Oct. 6 — @ Upper Arlington, L, 10-0

Oct. 13 — vs. Hilliard Bradley, L, 28-7

Oct. 20 — @ Olentangy Liberty, L, 21-7

Oct. 27 — @ Centerville, L, 23-6 (OHSAA state playoffs)