Berne Union’s Chaz Dickerson is tackled by Northridge’s Gage Linkous during an OHSAA Jamboree game on Friday at Viking Stadium.

JOHNSTOWN – Northridge has been making huge strides in a short amount of time under new coach Shawn Hinkle, but the first time in pads was an eye opener.

The Vikings scrimmaged Danville on Aug. 11 and did not fare particularly well. Hinkle reminded them of it in the following days.

“I was a little disappointed in our lack of physical play in the first scrimmage,” Hinkle said. “Practices have been better since then. … We have reinforced that in our practices, so hopefully they are catching on.”

Northridge has struggled to be competitive the first two seasons of Licking County League, failing to win any LCL games. The Vikings, however, have some advantages in front of them.

Hinkle took Canal Winchester to the Division II second round as recently as the 2012 season. As for the schedule, the Vikings will log a lot of miles on the bus, but it is in exchange for not playing LCL crossover games against Granville, Licking Valley and Licking Heights.

“We have stepped up a little bit since our Danville scrimmage,” junior linebacker Gage Linkous said. “We put more effort in during practice and started getting more physical. That was the one thing we were lacking.

Junior defensive back Logan Garee added, “Practices have definitely gotten a lot more intense since we’ve seen who is ready to hit and who is not afraid of contact.”

Northridge spent much of the summer lifting and running, and that has not changed since putting on the pads. Hinkle said the gain in strength already is noticeable, and he believes cohesion often is built through those shared experiences.

The Vikings will have to be in better shape than most any team on their schedule. While many area teams are going to a two-platoon system, several Vikings might never come off the field.

“We are going to put the best 11 we can out on the field,” said Hinkle, who has 47 players on the roster, but just 21 juniors and seniors. “If it’s the same kids every time, they will turn around and go right back out there.”

Competition has been at the core of everything Northridge has done during the preseason. The Vikings will rely on seniors Logan Parker and Sam Shults and junior Austin Chambers to set an example up front.

Junior Daniel Hatfield, who subbed for the injured Bryant Garee a season ago, and senior Alexander Webb are battling for the quarterback position, and senior Ethan Chalfant and juniors Linkous, Logan Garee and Hunter Corbin each could carry the ball in Northridge’s spread offense.

“Every practice people are getting better,” Hatfield said. “Everyone is competing for their positions. We all have to work as hard as we can at each position so that the best man can get the job.”

Versatility is a buzzword around Northridge, too. Expect more position changes than lineup changes.

Logan Garee is playing a hybrid safety position where he can play in the box against power-running attacks or in space against spread offense.

“I like a lot of contact,” Garee said. “We are going to be playing more running teams, so I will be more of a linebacker but when we play a passing team, I will be ready to go back there.”

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Roster

At a Glance

NORTHRIDGE

•Coach: Shawn Hinkle

•State Classification: Division V, Region 17

•League: Licking County League-Cardinal

•In 2014: 1-9, 0-4

•Offense: Spread

•Defense: 4-3

•What to expect: Northridge has replaced its three Licking County League crossover games with opponents of similar size, and that should help the Vikings be more competitive and possibly stay healthier. Junior Gage Linkous is a standout on both sides of the ball at linebacker and running back.

•Hinkle says: The lifting has been a huge component. Seeing how far they’ve come in a nine-week stretch proves the fact that it wasn’t important. I think the discipline and the team chemistry built in the weight room and conditioning, those things can’t be replaced and go a long way.”