Reaching the playoffs was an accomplishment for West Geauga Football in Rossi Santo‘s first season as head coach.
Now, the Wolverines want it to become an expectation.
West Geauga finished 6-5 and earned a postseason berth in 2025, giving Santo and his players something tangible to build upon as they head into Year 2.
“Last year, new coach, but we had great players last year,” linebacker Anthony Dzurilla said. “Getting to the playoffs, I think that should be a standard here now, especially with new coaches and everything. I think we should make the playoffs every year and keep going as far as we can because I think last year set a bar–make the playoffs at least. Then the next year, we keep going as far as we can.”
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The challenge for the Wolverines is maintaining that standard with a roster that will look significantly different.
West Geauga graduated 25 seniors and returns just one starter on offense and four on defense. That creates openings throughout the lineup and puts an emphasis on developing a new group of leaders.
“The biggest thing is our leadership,” Santo said. “We had really good senior leaders last year, and we need leaders this year. That’s our biggest question mark. We have a whole new offensive line, and we’re going to have new quarterbacks. We graduated 25 seniors, so there are question marks all over the place.”
Defense could set the tone
While West Geauga rebuilds much of its offense, the Wolverines expect their defense to provide some early stability.
Dzurilla and Johnny Becley bring experience to the linebacker corps, with Luca Veverka adding another athletic presence at the position.
Up front, Roger Steffens returns at defensive tackle, and Joey DiFrancesco gives the Wolverines another playmaker on the defensive line.
“We have a talented group of skill guys on our team,” Santo said. “We have a lot of fast linebackers too. I consider our linebackers to be skilled guys as well. Our running back-linebacker position has a lot of depth, and it’s probably our strength of the team this year.”
DiFrancesco, a sophomore, believes West Geauga’s speed up front can make life difficult for opposing offenses.
“We’re a lot more experienced this year,” DiFrancesco said. “We got a lot of returning guys, so we’re a lot quicker. Our D-line, we’re playing with speed. We have a lot of fast guys who can all just shoot gaps, make plays, and wreak havoc. We do a great job of opening up gaps for our linebackers.”
More importantly, DiFrancesco has seen signs during the preseason that West Geauga’s defenders are beginning to play as a unit.
“We preach 11 hats to the ball,” he said. “We do that almost every single play. In the scrimmages, we’re all flying everywhere, making plays in the backfield, getting tackles for a loss. If we can start creating those turnovers, we’re going to be a pretty good defense.”
Keenan takes control of new-look offense
The Wolverines’ biggest transition will come on the other side of the football.
West Geauga must replace starters throughout its offense, including at quarterback and four positions on the offensive line.
Steffens, the returning starter at right tackle, gives the Wolverines a veteran presence around which to build their new line.
Behind that group, Mickey Keenan is preparing to take over at quarterback.
Keenan isn’t complicating what he believes Santo needs from him.
“The main thing is winning games, right? Like that’s my job,” Keenan said. “I have to make sure everything’s smooth, everything’s under control, and just win. Use my legs when I have to, and keep everyone calm.”
While Keenan will be inexperienced as a starter, he won’t be without options.
The Wolverines believe one of their offensive strengths will be their ability to get the football into the hands of several different players.
“It’s just gonna be a lot more diverse,” Keenan said. “I think it’s gonna be a lot harder to guard. We have tons of dudes that can run the ball. We have really good blockers, as well.”
That will represent a significant change from 2025.
Graduate Miles Baker served as West Geauga’s bell cow and finished his career as the program’s all-time rushing leader. Rather than asking one player to immediately replace that production, the Wolverines plan to spread the workload.
Vincent Vecchio figures to be one of those options.
Vecchio can line up at running back or receiver and also provides versatility defensively at cornerback and safety.
“I want to do whatever is best for the team,” Vecchio said. “So if Coach Santo needs me to run the ball, help out the receivers, I’ll step up for it. Especially defensively, too.”
Senior tight end Mateo DeNegris and Landon Wolfurd give Keenan additional weapons as Santo searches for the right combination around his new quarterback.
Wolverines thinking bigger
With only five returning starters, West Geauga’s lineup in Week 1 might look considerably different from the one the Wolverines put on the field later in the season.
Santo is prepared for those growing pains.
What he doesn’t want to change are the expectations established during his first season.
West Geauga isn’t merely talking about returning to the playoffs. The Wolverines want to challenge Perry for a Chagrin Valley Conference championship and extend their season deep into November.
“These guys want to compete for a CVC championship with Perry, and they want to make it to Week 12 or Week 13,” Santo said. “Those are goals that you can get or not get, but I think the biggest thing is, are we getting stronger throughout the year, and are we getting better as a team too?”
The Wolverines will have plenty to figure out along the way.
A new quarterback must settle in. A rebuilt offensive line must develop. New playmakers must emerge, and leaders have to replace a senior class that helped establish the foundation in Santo’s first season.
West Geauga doesn’t expect to have all those answers immediately.
The Wolverines do, however, know where they expect the process to lead.
After reaching the playoffs in Year 1 under Santo, simply getting there again isn’t the finish line.
It’s the new standard.
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* Historical series data: Records shown are based on the OV Sports Engine historical football database beginning with the 1972 season. Earlier meetings may not be included.
WEST GEAUGA WOLVERINES Football
2026-2027 West Geauga Wolverines Football Schedule
Date Opponent Series* Result Time Location Aug. 21, 2026
Friday1-0 W 27-0 7:00 PM West Geauga Watch Aug. 28, 2026
Friday7-5 W 7-0 7:00 PM Lion Stadium-Lozick Field Sep. 4, 2026
Friday27-28 W 40-0 7:00 PM Chagrin Falls Watch Sep. 10, 2026
Thursday1-3 L 26-27 7:00 PM Hawken Watch Sep. 18, 2026
Friday
Orange Lions40-13-1 W 35-14 7:00 PM West Geauga Watch Sep. 25, 2026
Friday6-1 W 42-7 7:00 PM Edgewood Watch Oct. 2, 2026
Friday1-0 W 42-0 7:00 PM West Geauga Watch Oct. 9, 2026
Friday6-5 W 42-0 7:00 PM West Geauga Watch Oct. 16, 2026
Friday15-1-1 W 21-6 7:00 PM West Geauga Watch Oct. 23, 2026
Friday13-14 GAME CENTER 7:00 PM Perry
Fairview Warriors
NDCL Lions
Chagrin Falls Tigers
Hawken Hawks
Edgewood Warriors
Jefferson Falcons
Geneva Eagles
Harvey Red Raiders
Perry Pirates
