Senior Luke Moeller, under the watchful eye of head coach Zach Gueth, will get a chance to lead the Butler offense. (Press Pros Feature Photos By Julie McMaken Wright)
Zach Gueth’s first two teams in Vandalia each won nine games. It’s a new season full of new challenges with no guarantees, but consistency in the coaching staff and consistent messaging gives the Aviators a chance at another winning season.
Dayton, OH – Zach Gueth enters year three at Vandalia Butler wondering about all the stuff head football coaches contemplate as August 1 approaches. The list is long.
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His preseason lists, so far, have built a winning program. The Aviators finished 9-3 and won a playoff game in back-to-back seasons – Division III in 2023 and Division II in 2024. The players are hungry to continue building a winning tradition in 2025 in Division II.
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“We’re trying to build a dynasty,” senior safety and receiver Davon Smith said last week at 7-on-7 scrimmages at Welcome Stadium.
Dynasty, of course, is a premature label reserved for the rarest of programs. But you have to appreciate Smith’s enthusiasm. Gueth’s mind, however, contemplates only the football to be played and the game plans, hard work and togetherness that are necessary – but certainly don’t guarantee – such lofty labels.
“It’s a year-to-year basis, and every year presents different challenges than the previous year,” he said, being the down-to-earth coach his players need. “We have our handful of challenges that we’re going to have to work through and overcome leading into this year. There’s some consistency that’s going to allow the kids to be able to have a better understanding of what they’re expected to do and be able to play fast. I feel like we’re on the right path. But, obviously, it’s a work in progress.”
Zach Gueth is building a good program at Butler, but his mind is more on what’s next for his team as it prepares for his third season as head coach.
The Aviators’ 2025 challenges, however, shouldn’t be too great for them to expect another winning season in the Miami Valley League. Gueth, like every level-headed coach, makes no promises about record. But he projects confidence.
“That’s no different than the last two years,” he said of the challenges ahead. “To me it comes down to what the kids are willing to do for each other and how they’re going to fight for each other. Everything else is going to figure itself out.”
The figuring out stuff includes position battles, depth, strengths, weaknesses and dozens of details. A key “figure itself out” aspect of Gueth’s team is the passing game. The Aviators took advantage of the 7-on-7 day to work on quarterback and receiver play.
“We’re starting to throw a little bit and coming out to an event like this and try to compete,” Gueth said. “It’s always great to compete against somebody besides yourself. This is a great event that we enjoy coming to every year. Great competition.”
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Gueth, of course, wants to be better than sixth in the 10-team league in scoring and seventh in yards per game. Luke Moeller, a 6-foot-3 senior, will be the only quarterback in camp with varsity experience. He completed 20 of 36 passes for 351 yards and three touchdowns last season as the backup.
“We’re looking for him to really step up and take control of this team,” Gueth said.
Butler took advantage of last week’s 7-on-7 scrimmages at Welcome Stadium to see what they can do throwing the football this season.
The Aviators lost their top rushers and two of their top three receivers. But Gueth has two senior replacements who will play both ways. They will join senior Julius Rusk, a 6-4 receiver who carries a physically imposing advantage. He caught 25 passes last season and scored seven touchdowns.
“He’s a big, strong kid that’s going to go up and get a ball and make plays for us,” Gueth said.
Cory Rice will be one of the running backs and Smith will be one of the receivers expected to help Moeller and Rusk build the offense.
“I’m looking forward to just do whatever for my team, whatever’s necessary,” Rice said. “We just got to keep on going. We got great coaches keeping us going, and we’ve got a high ceiling.”
The offensive line will be built around returning starters Carson Holley and Jackson Brock, both tipping the scales above 270 pounds.
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“We’re going to play to our strengths, and if that’s a more conservative approach and playing great defense and that’s what’s winning us football games, that’s what we’re going to do,” Gueth said. “We’ll let this preseason play out and the first few games of the season to really get a feel for who we are and what we can do well.”
Middle linebacker Riley Seibert (right) will be a third-year starter for a defense that has been one of the stingiest units the past two seasons in the MVL.
Rice is moving to outside linebacker from the secondary and Smith is a returning starter at safety. The experience is in the back seven. Developing a strong line will be important if the Aviators are to be as good on defense as they have shown the past two seasons.
“Looking forward to seeing Davon Smith really grow as a leader on the back end for us,” Gueth said. “He ran the show last year getting us lined up on the back end, and we’re expecting some big things from him.”
The defensive leader is senior middle linebacker Riley Seibert, who will also see time on offense at H-back and tight end. He’s the leading returning tackler and led the team with 14 tackles for loss last season.
Cory Rice will be a leader in the rushing game for Butler.
“Riley brings energy, plays fast, and he’s the type who puts the effort in that we want to see through all our defensive players,” Gueth said.
Seibert will be a third-year starter who has seen positive change since Gueth became head coach.
“It’s a lot better than when I first got here – it was really out of control,” Seibert said. “Now it’s a brotherhood, and it’s a bigger purpose than just football.”
Seibert doesn’t think it’s too much to ask to want more and expect more as a senior.
“Winning a lot,” he said. “We just got to execute and win the MVL and go past the third round. That’s our goal. We have a bunch of athletes. With all our speed and strength, you just got to put it together and listen to our coaches.”
Davon Smith (right) says conditioning matters a lot as he prepares to start at receiver and safety.
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