If Gibsonburg was going to do anything about last year's 0-10 record, it had to start as soon as the season ended.

For starters, first-year coach Steve Reser had to get more athletes to come out for football. The Golden Bears had just 27 players in 2010 and increased that number to 40 this season. The players would have to work hard in the weight room. Even they had to know they needed to get bigger, faster and stronger.

“The kids worked hard,” Reser said. “We had better numbers this year, better competition at practice. There was an increase in interest for football. We worked out hard early last summer and put them through nice speed and agility workouts.”

Gigsonburg senior back Jon Ngelone. (Photo courtesy of Innovations Portrait Studio)

On an average day, Reser said, his coaching staff saw 90 percent attendance for offseason workouts.

“The kids did a nice job of putting time in and showing up and doing whatever they had to do on their own to get ready to play,” Reser said. “Our injuries were tenfold better this year. We didn't have any season-enders. It's crazy how good a team can be when you can keep players healthy.”

After a 1-4 start this season, Gibsonburg hit its stride. The Bears won four in a row and had a chance to end the season with a 6-4 record, but they lost at home to Edon, 32-18, to finish 5-5.

That .500 record was a big improvement from a year ago, Reser said, “but we always want more.”

“There is a total mindset we have to change,” he said. “In week eight we were 4-4 and trying to get win No. 5. I told the kids we're hoping to go 6-4. I said, 'do you know how many teams are going to be upset that they went 6-4? This is not our ultimate goal, this is a step.' ”

The Bears opened the season with a loss at Elmwood, but they ended nearly two years of frustration with a win over Lakota. Losses to Fremont St. Joe, Ottawa Hills and Northwood followed before Gibsonburg put together its four-game winning streak.

The Bears beat Cardinal Stritch, Toledo Christian, Hilltop and Danbury to assure themselves of a non-losing season.

“We opened up positions after Ottawa Hills (a 38-0 loss), just looking for guys who wanted to play football,” Reser said. “We tried to play the best kids who worked the hardest and showed the most heart. They worked hard every week and we continued to play different guys. If it was a different guy every week, that's what it had to be.”

Moving from the Suburban Lakes League to the Toledo Area Athletic Conference also boosted the Bears' opportunities this season. Gibsonburg went from being the smallest school in the SLL to the second-largest school in the TAAC, just behind Northwood.

“No doubt, that had something to do with our record,” Reser said. “Anybody who says any differently is a liar. We didn't play Eastwood, Genoa, Lake. We played Elmwood and they beat us up pretty good (33-14) and we got better as the season went on. No matter who you're playing, the other team still has 11 kids out there and our kids have to learn how to win. They had to learn how to practice to be a winner.”

The Bears will graduate 10 seniors, including as many as eight who started either full- or part-time. Freshman quarterback Matt Tille directed Gibsonburg's spread offense and now has a season under his belt.

Tille threw for 855 yards and six touchdowns, with six interceptions, and he also led the Bears in rushing with 734 yards and seven touchdowns on 182 carries.

“He did an outstanding job as a freshman, learning what he needed to do as a quarterback,” Reser said. “He played older than a freshman. We look for him to keep learning and keep working hard.”

Gibsonburg's other leading rushers were sophomore Jeremiah Brauer (91 carries, 323 yards, 2 TDs) and senior Jon Angelone (80, 302, 6). Senior Logan Jones led the team in receptions (25) and receiving yards (360, with one TD), while freshman Derek Angelone had seven catches for 114 yards and one touchdown.

On defense, the Bears were led by senior nose tackle Jared Columber, senior middle linebacker Curt Davies and outside linebackers Brauer and junior Brent Kromer.

“Brent might have been our best defensive player,” Reser said. “He brought a spark.”

Senior cornerbacks Travis Rainey and C.J. Haas, neither of whom played last year, also made a big impact, according to Reser.

Gibsonburg lost to three teams – Ottawa Hills (7-3), Gibsonburg (9-1) and Edon (7-3) – that reached the state playoffs this season. All three teams are members of the TAAC.

“Next year we will have higher expectations,” Reser said. “Next year we will focus on our league. We're going to set high goals and make sure we set goals that are attainable. If we can compete in the TAAC, the rest of it will take care of itself.”

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