​One year ago, Caleb Davis was a rookie assistant coach with Jefferson, calling the plays on offense.One thing he knew, was he could always call a play for Matt Webster and be okay.The Falcons had the kind of featured back coaches dream about a year ago.Webster rushed for more than 1,100 yards a year ago, with 15 touchdowns.Webster placed third at the Division II state wrestling tournament in the 215-pound weight class.Webster could be considered one of the best athletes in Ashtabula County the last couple of years, as well as one of the best in Jefferson school history.But he graduated, leaving the Falcons a void to fill.So, how do you replace a guy like that?Davis, who is now the head coach, knows that the answer all too well.“You don’t,” he said. “Matt was our bellcow. When in doubt, handing the ball to him was never a bad option.“His body could handle it, so there’d be times he could bail us out. It was a security blanket having him, we could not block right up front and he’d still make good things happen.”This year Jefferson does not have a “bellcow.”What they do have, though, is an open opportunity for players to step up and grab a piece left by Webster’s departure.Sophomore Antonio Matta and juniors Brayden Seese and Josiah Tillman are all names Jefferson fans are probably not familiar with, but will be as the season progresses, as all are anticipated to have opportunities in the backfield.Matta has experience carrying the ball, but missed all of last year with health issues.Seese played last year, but only on defense.Tillman is a transfer from North Olmsted.Davis said Tillman is probably the closest thing they have to a “power-back.”Matta is an east-west runner who can put his shoulder down if needed, while Seese has the kind of speed to make things happen in space.“All three of them are tough hard-nosed kids and all three are great athletes,” Davis said.Another key component of the Falcons’ ground attack will be at quarterback.Junior returner Mason Kalil had 57 carries for 351 yards a year ago.He could be more involved in the run game this season.Kalil also passed for 850 yards in the 2025 season.“He’s a dual threat,” Davis said of Kalil. “He can run and pass. Last year, I was a little timid to run with him, being a sophomore, but that is going to change this year.”Without a dominant featured back like Webster, expect to see Davis look to jumpstart the run game in a diversity of ways.Receivers taking jet sweeps, running backs deploying inside zone blocking schemes as well as outside gap schemes, will likely all be in play.“I want teams to have to honor us at all levels,” Davis said. “I want us to be very good at throwing screens and blocking screens.”Last year, teams loaded the box against the Falcons, which wasn’t all bad because Webster could run people over.This year, though, will be different.“We have to do a better job of finding our numbers advantage,” Davis said. “I think we