All-Ohio offensive tackle Noah Angle set to represent family name in 2024 season – Morning Journal

There was a time when All-Ohioan player Alex Angle shined for Firelands football. Now, it’s his younger brother Noah Angle who’s making his mark.

The Falcons, who have always competed in the Lorain County League, have plenty to be excited about heading into the 2024 season, especially in the trenches.

All five offensive line starters return, bringing physical strength each season. Leading the way is 2023 Division IV All-Ohioan selection Noah Angle at left tackle.

“I had the pleasure of coaching Noah (Angle) and his older brother, who was a three-time All-Ohioan. The Angles have been very productive for Firelands,” Firelands coach Ryan O’Rourke said. “The way they perform is they work very hard and they are very coachable. You don’t have to question what they do on the field. They are very good role models for our younger kids.”

Noah Angle has been a three-year starter at Firelands. In his first season, he helped lay the groundwork for running back Weston Strader to rush for more than 2,000 yards and become a first-team All-Ohioan.

“We didn’t even know what (Angle) was going to play (as a sophomore). He played as a freshman… I came in (to Firelands) and we put him in at left tackle and he did it,” Firelands offensive line coach Dave Latkovic said. “I had no idea and he’d never done it before in his life. He was really good as a sophomore. He took a step forward as a junior and I think he’s going to be the best lineman in the league, I think.”

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Angle believes this year’s offensive line has similar potential to the 2022 rushing attack.

“The Weston Strader era was an era with a 2,000-yard season,” Angle said. “That’s a year that’s going to be hard to recreate, but with … all the hogs we had that year, three years ago, I feel like kids this year, we’re just as big, just as strong, if not stronger and better.”

The offensive line will feature Angle, along with CJ Gilles (left guard), Clifford Stull (center), Roberto Flores (right guard) and Brandon Adkins (right tackle). They have the ability to move opposing bodies in the trenches.

“They’re big and they move. They move well for a big guy,” Latkovic said. “We’re over 250 (pounds) at all of our positions except center, and they’re all experienced and have played.”

In the backfield, returning running back Collin Scott is expected to get the bulk of the carries. He is confident and prepared to run behind the offensive line.

“I have a lot of confidence (in this offensive line). I have a very close relationship with each of them. I know that every play could be a touchdown,” Scott said.

When it comes to needing critical yards, Angle wants to be the guy Firelands can rely on to be the primary blocker.

“I like them to think I’m the guy they can run after without a doubt,” Angle said. “If they need to gain three yards, they’ll run after me and CJ (Gilles).”

Firelands had a 6-5 record (5-2 in LC8) in 2023. Scott rushed for 496 yards and scored six touchdowns. He was part of a committee of running backs that rushed for a total of 1,870 yards.

“Scott is a great runner,” Angle said. “He’s not as slippery as Weston Strader, but he’s definitely more powerful than Weston. When he gets through a gap, he can get through the arms and get going.”

The quarterback position is still up for grabs, as that person will take the spot Jimmy Aunspaw held for two seasons.

O’Rourke added that they have the depth to insert more offensive linemen and be effective.

“We feel really good about the guys up front,” he said. “I’d say right now we have about 7-8 guys that we think are going to play on Friday nights up front. There’s going to be a lot of guys that can play on both sides. We feel like if we can get 7-8 guys to have some depth, we’ll feel really good (about our team). We have five guys with experience as starters and they’re definitely the pulse of the team.”