Spring Football Preview: New Coach, New Division for Twinsburg Football

Taking it to the next level is one of football's oldest cliches. The Twinsburg football team is taking it literally this season.

The Tigers are moving up to the top tier of the Northeast Ohio Conference – the Valley Division. The switch in divisions means an even tougher schedule but brings with it the opportunity for more computer points and a shot at home field in the playoffs. Twinsburg remains in Division I, Region 2 this season and new head coach knows he has his work cut out for him.

Schiavone previously served as the Tigers' defensive coordinator and Twinsburg's defensive play was a key factor during the past three playoff seasons. Last year's club allowed just 7.7 points per game as the Tigers went 9-1 in the regular season before falling to Toledo Whitmer in the regional semifinals. 

Defense is in Schiavone's blood. He was an All-Ohio performer at Nordonia High School and then went on to play at defensive tackle for Mount Union teams that won National Championships in 1996 and 1997. He began his coaching career at Benedictine, where he went to three straight state title games, the Bengals finishing second in 2002 before winning back-to-back titles in 2003-2004.

Schiavone takes over the top spot for a team that will now play such division powers as Solon, Strongsville, Brunswick and Mentor in what is easily one of the strongest leagues in all of Ohio football.

"We're excited about it," said Schiavone. "Our players want to face that kind of competition. We know that wins will be at a premium this season. There's nobody to look past on our schedule."

There will be little problem motivating the Tigers for their week eight opponent, Solon. Twinsburg has not defeated its crosstown rival for the past 18 years.

With high school football now virtually a year-round endeavor, Schiavone has his team in the weight room with a full summer of action lined up prior to the first session of two-a-days in August.

"You really have to do your homework and be prepared to play high school football in Northeast Ohio," he said. "It's non-stop, you're always trying to figure out something. The quality of football in this area is at such a high level."

Like many teams, Twinsburg is currently spending  three sessions in the weight room each week. In addition, the players came up with their own suggesstion this season -- speed schools involving footwork and sprints at 5:25 a.m.

With the exception of the upcoming end of the school year when the players concentrate on academics and the week of July 4, the players and coaches will be busy in the off-season. A minicamp will be held at Heidelberg College in July and practices for the regular season commence Aug. 1.

"We're already chomping at the bit," said Schiavone. "It's already been a real productive off-season. Everybody has their own philosophy on how to do things and we know what we want to do as a coaching staff. It's been a smooth transition and the kids are comfortable with what we've been doing the past three years."

The Tigers will once again play Schiavone's 4-2-5 defense and operate out of the spread offense. Quarterback Aaron Macer has moved on to Ohio University but Jalen Washington saw siginificant time as a sophomore signal caller last year.

For now, the task is to build up strength and speed. "We're probably the strongest and fastest we've been since I've been here," said Schiavone. "We have 11 guys in our 1,000-pound club (weight lifting) and 20 more in the 800- and 900-pound clubs."

Twinsburg will need all the advantages it can get this season. The team scrimmages perennial state powers St. Ignatius and Avon Lake before opening the season against small school power Aurora.

"Our guys love scrimmaging those two teams," said Schiavone. "Avon Lake is now in our region and they're like us, a small Division I team."

The off-season is a time to prepare to succeed. And Schiavone knows that hard work now usually pays off later.

"We've been fortunate here the past few years," he says. "Winning breeds success and these players know what it takes. We have great kids and a great community that supports them."

The Tigers have built a winning program. By August, they will see if that program keeps winning against some stiff competition.