Here is an overview primer heading into the 2025 high school football season for North Union.
RICHWOOD — Over the last 19 years, North Union has only suffered losing seasons three times in football. However, two of those have come in the last two years.
Look for the Wildcats to rebound to form in 2025.
"We have a lot of players back from last year that now have experience on Friday nights," North Union coach Nick Hajjar said.
Here are three questions North Union will try to answer this season:
Will the returnees play like veterans?
There were only seven players who graduated from last year's squad, so the 2024 group was young and many of them were playing varsity for the first time.
Nickolas Hajjar was a rookie quarterback last year, throwing for 515 yards and a 56 percent completion percentage. Look for his father to let him throw a bit more after gaining experience as a sophomore last year.
His downfield threats are uber-athletic. Griffin Osborne went to state in the boys long jump last spring, while Dainon Lindsey and Wyatt Arver are multi-sports athletes. Osborne finished with 25 of the team's 60 receptions last year for more than 300 yards.
At running back will be another fast, strong multi-sport athlete in Nick VanHoose who led the team in rushing with 672 yards.
Pencilled in along the line will be tight end Broden O'Reilly, tackles Landry Dible and Trenor Kyte, guards Brock Smith and Peyton Wood and center Ryan Eager.
Who will anchor the defense?
Graduation took Tyler Krebehenne, the team's lone All-Ohioan. He earned it as a linebacker with 61 tackles and seven for loss, picking off an interception, but he was their top scorer on offense with eight touchdowns and a dual threat rushing for 459 yards and catching a team-best 28 passes.
There are several candidates to replace his production and grit on the defense. VanHoose led the team with 86 tackles at linebacker and Kyte was third with 64 tackles, adding eight tackles for loss at linebacker. Brycen Delawder will play as a third linebacker in the scheme.
Along the line, Gavin Potts produced 48 tackles, 3.5 sacks and eight tackles for loss. Ethan Miller will get more time, while newcomers are Kadrin Riffle and Xavier Gruber.
Arver and Osborne will lead the defensive backfield. The two combined for 77 tackles and five interceptions. Hajjar will play at cornerback after recording 38 tackles and Blaine Ware will play the other cornerback slot.
What are the prospects for the Wildcats?
The first goal will be weathering the first three weeks with games against Pleasant, Liberty Union and Northmor. Then comes Central Buckeye Conference cross-over games with Kenton Trail Division squads Jonathan Alder and Urbana. The last five weeks are against the Mad River Division.
"The CBC will be challenging. A lot of teams played young kids last year and everyone will have more experience," the coach said. "We always try to get better every day and become the best version of ourselves."
He said they're off to a good start in the preseason.
"Seniors always have to set the tone," Hajjar said. "They have done a great job with this starting in the offseason. Offseason was one of our best yet. The commitment was outstanding and the kids worked hard."
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North Union 2025 Football File
- League: Central Buckeye Conference Mad River Division.
- Playoffs: Division V, Region 20.
- Coach: Nick Hajjar (11th season).
- Assistants: Jesse Miller (defensive coordinator), Andy Owens (special teams coordinator), Jake Blevins, Joe Kyte, Cam Miller.
- Offense: Wing T.
- Defense: 4-3.
- Last Year: 2-8, 1-4.
- Returning Letterwinners: 9 offense, 9 defense.
- Returning Starters: 8 offense, 8 defense.
- Playoff Appearances: 2009, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 20, 21, 22.
- Playoff Record: 5-9.
This article originally appeared on Marion Star: North Union high school football in Ohio for 2025: What to know
Category: General Sports
