Hoover grad to lead New Lexington against Steubenville

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Joe Frollo, Canton Repository

Bill Nutt is coming back to Stark County this weekend and bringing his football team with him.

The head coach at New Lexington High School for 10 seasons, Nutt's Panthers (12-1) play

Steubenville (13-0) at 7:30 p.m. Friday in a Division IV state semifinal at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium.

Nutt graduated from Hoover High School in 1976 and is the son of former Vikings basketball head

coach, Bill Nutt Sr., who took Hoover to a state final four in that sport in 1985.

"I'm always excited to play in Stark County. It means we're doing well," Nutt said. "I'll have friends

and family at the game. I've bought a bunch of presale tickets already for them."

New Lexington, located in Perry County and 20 miles southwest of Zanesville, is in the playoffs

for the sixth time under Nutt, including four years in a row.

After graduating from the University of Akron, where he played football, Nutt coached basketball

and football at North Canton Middle School before "they had to make cuts, and I had to leave."

He spent 15 years as an assistant at Newark, then took the job at New Lexington, where his

teams are 81-28.

The Panthers are led by Brett Wycinski, a senior wide receiver, free safety and kicker who has

23 plays of 20 yards or more on offense to go with 73 tackles and five interceptions. Quarterback Clint Cannon has thrown for 1,738 yards and 16 TDs and ran for 998 yards and 19 TDs.

New Lexington runs the spread offense but "hangs its hat with defense," Nutt said.

"We spread the field, but we don't do no-huddle, and we're not looking to score 55 points a game," Nutt said. "We want to have good clock management, solid defense, win the kicking game and score just enough points to win."

Defensive end John Robinson leads the defense with 128 tackles and five sacks. Linebacker Kevin Wolfe has 103 tackles.

New Lexington will be tested by a Steubenville team that has outscored opponents, 124-62, in three postseason games.

"They are very, very good, and we have a big challenge," Nutt said.

Paul Brown Tiger Stadium also is the site of Hoover's Division I state semifinal game Saturday against St. Ignatius. Nutt hopes to be in the film room preparing for New Lexington's first state title appearance but said he may make the return trip to Massillon if his team loses Friday.

"I'd like to be there, but we'll see how busy I'll be."

Note: New Lexington is not to be confused with Lexington (D II) who Hoover is scheduled to play in 2009.

NETWORK

Coach Bill Nutt, 1976 Hoover grad

Hoover Vikings Football

Hoover Vikings Football

OHSAA State Semifinals (Division IV)