RICHMOND — The Edison football team is looking to turn success in the regular season into success in the postseason.

The Wildcats entered last season coming off the first 10-0 regular season in school history, but the team’s magical run came to a disappointing end as Cardinal Mooney defeated Edison, 45-14, in the first round of the playoffs at the Edison Unified Sports Complex.

Edison entered the 2023 season with some question marks, having been hit hard by graduation. The team rose to the occasion, though, as the Silver and Black won its first five games en route to a seven-win regular season securing the team another trip to the Ohio state playoffs.

This time, Edison went on the road and lost to Ridgewood, 33-8, to end the season with a record of 7-4.

“Last season, I thought the kids stepped up to the challenges,” Edison head coach Mike Collopy said. “We never talked about if there was pressure from the year before. I think the kids handled it well.

“Our season did not end when we wanted it to or how we wanted it to, but that just serves as motivation coming into this season.”

This season, the Wildcats are hard at work to improve upon last season.

“Things are going well,” Collopy said. “We talked today after practice, and we think we are getting better every day. The kids are doing a good job. We had a good winter. We’ve had a good summer, and it will prepare us for camp. We are going to be ready to roll into doubles.”

Edison has seen its numbers get bigger the last few years, and that trend continues this season as the Wildcats have 67 players on the roster.

“We have been fortunate the last three years,” Collopy said. “This will be year four. We have gone from 48 in 2021, to 54 in 2022, to 61 in 2023 to 67 right now. We’re happy with that. Our classes are going to get bigger. We have nine seniors and 25 freshmen, and our incoming class next year should be about the same size.

“We’re fortunate that a lot of kids like football. We are going to have two JV teams. Our area is smaller than it used to be, and schools don’t really have true freshmen teams. Our kids have been working hard since December.”

Edison returns eight starters on offense and five starters on defense, giving the Wildcats experience at some key spots in the lineup.

“Yes, experience is exactly what it is,” Collopy said. “We have kids who have played and lettered the last two years. We have juniors and seniors. We have some guys coming back on the offensive line with experience. It is important to have someone you can rely on.”

One of the main reasons for Edison’s success on the gridiron last season was the play of then-sophomore quarterback J.D. Henderson, who made his first varsity start in the team’s Week 1 victory at Monroe Central.

“J.D.’s play improved throughout the season last year,” Collopy said. “He has grown into a leader. The quarterback has to be the hand that steadies the ship.

“It can be difficult for a sophomore to go into the huddle with a bunch of seniors. He has grown into that role. He’s providing leadership. He’s poised.”

Henderson will be backed up by sophomore Kayden Russell.

Junior Matt Evans will start at running back, and he will be backed up by sophomore Brett Hellyer and senior Kylvin Merideth. Junior Hayden Russell will be the team’s fullback, and he will be backed up by sophomore Isaiah Rangel.

The starting wide receivers are senior Cole Pittman and junior Trevor Eisnaugle. Pittman will be backed up by senior Zack Vangosen and juniors Skyler Willoughby and Nolan Haught. Eisnaugle will be backed up by juniors Andrew Kirkman and Chase Freeman.

Senior Lorenzo Alloggia will start at tight end, and he will be backed up by junior Evan Kimmerle.

“Offensively, Coach Anthony Pierro does a really good job of utilizing what we are able to do. Everything is geared around our talent. Coaches Jason Fogle, Vinnie Marcino and Jamie Evans do a good job making sure we are sound up front.

“Football is about controlling the offensive and defensive lines. We’re making sure our kids perform their jobs again.”

The Wildcats have a solid group up front on the offensive line.

“Our kids, as the years have gone by, have gotten bigger, stronger and more explosive,” Collopy said. “We’re not a big team, but we do have some strong kids.

“We want to be aggressive on defense, we want to get to the football and we want to do our jobs. We want to be in the right alignment.

“Offensively, we need our offensive line to communicate. We need to secure things up front. We need our backs to do their jobs. They need to read their keys, and they need to pass block. Our receivers need to block. They need to block, and they need to run their routes like they are going to get the ball.”

Sophomore Ronnie Hinerman will get the start at right tackle, and he will be backed up by junior Brady Marcino. Senior Gabe Glenn will start at right guard, and he will be backed up by sophomore Aiden Busby. Senior Bubba Thompson gets the nod at center, and he will be backed up by sophomore Jeremy Simpson. Senior Zac Kuntz will be the starter at left guard, and he will be backed up by sophomore Carver Champion. Junior Peyton Delguzzi is the starter at left tackle, and his backup is classmate Jason Gallagher.

On the defensive side of the ball, Alloggia will start at right defensive end, and his backup will be Gallagher. Kuntz will start at one of the defensive tackle spots, and he will be backed up by Delguzzi and Champion. Thompson will start at the other defensive tackle position, and he will be backed up by Hinerman. Kimmerle gets the start at left defensive end, and he will be backed up by Delguzzi.

Junior Eddie Mcallister will start at right outside linebacker, and he will be backed up by Rangel and Meridith. Hayden Russell will start at middle linebacker, and he will be backed up by sophomore Ricky Sinsel. Senior Cole Pittman will be the team’s left outside linebacker, and he will be backed up by Evans and sophomore Kelsey Hedrick.

In the secondary, Willoughby and Eisnaugle will start at cornerback. Willoughby will be backed up by Vangosen, and Eisnaugle will be backed up by Kirkman. Haught will start at strong safety, and he will be backed up by Hellyer. Freeman will start at free safety, and he will be backed up by Kayden Russell.

Kirkman will handle all of the kicking duties — extra points, field goals and kickoffs for the Wildcats. Kirkman, who also will be the team’s punter, was pressed into duty last season when starter Liam Watson got injured.

“Liam did a good job for us,” Collopy said. “When he got hurt, Andrew Kirkman filled as our punter, placekicker and kickoff guy. He is going to return at those positios. He has worked hard in the offseason. He has progressed from last year.”

Vangosen will return kicks and punts, and he will be backed up by Eisnaugle and Hellyer.

Haught will serve as the team’s holder.

The Wildcats return 20 lettermen on offense, defense and special teams.

“I think it is a combination,” Collopy said about the leadership style of the returning lettermen. “The kids lead by example. We have guys encouraging the other kids. They communicate very well. I am pleased with our leadership.”

The goals remain the same for Edison.

“We hope to be fundamentally sound, mentally tough, aggressive and play physically up front,” Collopy said. “Defensively, we want to prevent the big play. We want to force teams to drive the field.

“Offensively, we want to be able to sustain drives. We need to avoid penalties. We want to stay ahead of the sticks. We want to mix things up and take what the defense gives us.”

Collopy once again has a good group of assistant coaches helping him and the team out this season.

Tyler Ossman is new to the coaching staff. He coached at Indian Creek last season. Ossman played his high school football for Brooke.

“It is very important,” Collopy said about continuity on the coaching staff. “We have continuity with the coaching staff. We know what to expect from one another. Our coaching staff works hard on and off the field. The coaches work hard at practice and on the sidelines. Continuity is big. We have the same coaches. When it comes to our schemes, we want to get better. Having continuity with the coaching staff is a big benefit.”

This season, Collopy is being assisted by Nate Black (offensive line), Jamie Evans (offensive and defensive lines), Jason Fogle (offensive and defensive lines), Frank Marcino (offensive and defensive lines), Vinnie Marcino (fullbacks and linebackers), Nolan Marcus (quarterbacks and safeties), Collin Skeeles (wide receivers and cornerbacks), Ossman (running backs and safeties) and Pierro (offensive coordinator, wide receivers and cornerbacks.)

Edison is scheduled to open the season at 7 p.m. Friday at Shenandoah.

The Zeps ended last season with a record of 3-7, losing their last four games.

“For sure,” Collopy said. “We are looking to start out on the right foot, and that starts with having a great practice tomorrow. We don’t want to look too far ahead. We want to focus on the present.

“We want to have a great practice tomorrow. We want to look at the things we did today and improve upon them. If we make mistakes, we want to correct them and get better every day.”

The Zeps have a new coach this season in former Brooke head coach Mac McLean.

Shenandoah is one of four new opponents on Edison’s schedule, joining Cameron, Southern Local and Caldwell.

“Our schedule is what it is,” Collopy said. “Each year presents different challenges. We have some teams with playoff experience. We’re looking forward to what lies ahead.”