WOODRIDGE BULLDOGS
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HEAD COACH: John Daraio, first year, 4-16 overall
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POSTSEASON: Division III, Region 9
Woodridge football’s returning lettermen (19)
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Travis Walker, WR-DB, Jr.
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Everitt Norton, RB-TE-DL, Sr.
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William Laczo, WR-DB, Jr.
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Naseer Williams-Clay, QB-DB, So.
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Rory Johnston, QB-LB, Sr.
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Dominic Dunlap, WR-LB, Sr.
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Johnathan Tyree, RB-WR-DB, So.
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Xavier Covelli, OL-DL, Jr.
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Rayneir Moore, OL-DL, So.
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Alex Christensen, OL-DL, Jr.
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Jacob Igleheart, OL-DL, Sr.
Woodridge football’s impact players
Naseer Williams-Clay will bring athleticism to both the quarterback and defensive back slots. “He shows all the signs of being a Division I level athlete,” first-year coach Bulldogs John Daraio said. “He was injured a bit as a freshman, so maybe he didn’t get the reps he wanted.” Rory Johnson will also receive time at quarterback. … Jacob Igleheart, who has been getting interest from several Division II college program, will anchor an offensive line “full of absolute mooses,” according to Daraio. … Woodridge returns its entire receiving corps with Kellen Morr and Andrew Stull leading the room. … Kai Jones will anchor Woodridge’s safety corps. “He’s kind of the heart of our defense right now as our middle safety,” Daraio said.
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What’s new with Woodridge football in 2025
Daraio comes to Woodridge after two years at Ellet, taking over for Phil Martter, who was let go at the end of the 2024 season. … “The transitions has been great,” Daraio said. “Woodridge as a community has been open arms with me. It’s one of the biggest reasons I chose to come here. There’s so much support from this community, top to bottom.” … Darario brings new schemes on both sides of the ball. The Bulldogs will run a “power spread” offense and a 3-2-6 three-safety defense this year. … “Defensively, it feels like we’re a team of all strong safeties,” Darario said. “We’ve got a lot of good athletes who maybe don’t fit in a linebacker spot. That’s a way to get your best 11 on the field.” … “We have thrown a ton at our guys this summer,” he said. “I don’t feel in future summers it will be as grueling as this one has been on them.”
Woodridge football’s outlook
While acknowledging the success Woodridge football has had over the past decade, Daraio wants to focus on going 1-0 each week. “We play a schedule where there’s not a single game on the schedule where we can’t win,” he said. “There’s also not a game on our schedule where we can’t lose if we don’t play good football. Our record is going to speak to who we are.” … Regarding the Metro Athletic Conference, Daraio said there are “no cupcakes” in the MAC, but Streetsboro “should have a target on its back” given its recent success.
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Woodridge football schedule for 2025
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Sept. 5 at Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy
Home games in all CAPS. All games at 7 p.m., unless noted
Contact Michael Leonard at mleonard@recordpub.com and follow him on X at @MLeonard_ABJ
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Ohio high school football, Woodridge Bulldogs 2025 preview
