The Gridiron 2016 - High School Football Preview

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Aug. 24, 2016

The Index Features

3 ON THE COVER: The Big Uglies control the line of scrimmage an d th e weekly battle in the trenches influences the outcome of ever y high school football game. What is on the minds of the offensive and defensive linemen as ever y play begins with the snap?

Cover Story: Both sides of the ball try to protect their turf as it begins with the snap .......................... 6 Insipirational Indian Creek junior Keith Maple learning a new normal ...................................................... 7 Sports editor Mike Mathison: A really good ride continues on the sideline ............................................ 8 Sports writer Matthew Peaslee: Big plays in big games pay off big dividends ...................................... 8 Sports correspondent Ed Looman: The task became easier with more thought .................................... 8 Sports correspondent Ralph Cox: The senior member sorts through his memory ................................ 8 A college bus ride home changed Hicks’ path .............................................................................................. 33 Arneault looks forward to his two passions .................................................................................................. 59 Holman tasked with changing the culture .................................................................................................... 79 2015 stats .......................................................................................................................................................... 96-97 Off the Field Talk .......................................................................................................................................... 102, 110 Changes at Harding Stadium.............................................................................................................................. 113 Every Kick Counts .................................................................................................................................................. 118 Weekly high school schedule .......................................................................................................................... 125 OVAC schedule .................................................................................................................................................... 126 Meet the coaches ................................................................................................................................................ 128

The Teams

Steubenville Big Red ............................................................................................................................................ 10 Weir Red Riders ...................................................................................................................................................... 16 Steubenville Catholic Central Crusaders .......................................................................................................... 22 Weirton Madonna Blue Dons ............................................................................................................................ 28 Indian Creek Redskins .......................................................................................................................................... 34 Brooke Bruins ........................................................................................................................................................ 40 Edison Wildcats .................................................................................................................................................... 48 Oak Glen Golden Bears ........................................................................................................................................ 54 Toronto Red Knights ............................................................................................................................................60 Harrison Central Huskies .................................................................................................................................... 68 Buckeye Local Panthers ...................................................................................................................................... 74

Other Teams

St. Clairsville ............................................................................................................................................................ 84 Wheeling Park ........................................................................................................................................................ 86 Wheeling Central .................................................................................................................................................. 91 Martins Ferry .......................................................................................................................................................... 94 THANK YOU: This publication would not be possible without the combined effor ts of many members of the staff, including: Herald-Star/Weir ton Daily Times spor ts depar tment staff of Mike Mathison, Matthew Peaslee, Ed Looman, Ralph Cox and Aaron Petchal; Michael D. McElwain for his tireless effor ts of overseeing the work throughout the publication from the beginning; the adver tising depar tment, led by Denise Delatore; the spor ts depar tments of the Times Leader and the Intelligencer ; the coaches, players and athletic directors for their cooperation at all media days. A special thank you to Newbrough Photo, Action Images and Rich Cernansky for their suppor t, kindness and tremendous help during the media days.

Games begin at 7pm unless noted +7:30 pm kickoff *4 pm kickoff

8/26 at Wellsville 9/2 at Bridgeport 9/9 at Sebring McKinley 9/16 Catholic Central 9/23 Shadyside 9/30 at Conotton Valley 10/7 Beallsville 10/14 River 10/21 Edison 10/28 at Madonna

Games begin at 7pm unless noted

8/26 at Weir 9/2 Catholic Central 9/9 Indian Creek 9/15 Madonna 9/24 at Warren Local 9/30 at Edison 10/7 at East Liverpool + 10/14 Harrison Central 10/21 at Buckeye Local 10/28 Beaver Local Games begin at 7pm unless noted +7:30 pm kickoff

8/26 East Liverpool 9/2 at Weir 9/9 at Buckeye Local 9/16 Beaver Local 9/23 at Union Local 9/30 Oak Glen 10/7 Harrison Central 10/14 Catholic Central 10/21 at Toronto 10/27 at Indian Creek Games begin at 7pm unless noted

8/26 Martins Ferry 9/2 at Union Local 9/9 Edison 9/16 Indian Creek 9/24 at Bellaire * 9/30 John Marshall 10/7 at Beaver Local 10/14 at East Liverpool + 10/21 Oak Glen 10/28 at Harrison Central

Games begin at 7pm unless noted +7:30 pm kickoff *12:30 pm kickoff

8/26 Claymont 9/2 Rhodes 9/10 at Bellaire + 9/16 at Union Local 9/23 Martins Ferry 9/30 St. Clairsville 10/7 at Edison 10/14 at Oak Glen 10/21 at River View 10/28 Buckeye Local Games begin at 7pm unless noted +12:30 pm kickoff

8/27 at Bishop Donahue 9/3 Tusky Central 9/8 at Wheeling Central 9/15 Oak Glen 9/30 at Mathews 10/8 at Parkersburg Cath.

10/15 Cleve. Lutheran East 10/22 at Catholic Central 10/28 Toronto 11/4 Clay-Battelle Games begin at 7pm unless noted

8/26 at Huntington + 9/2 Morgantown 9/9 at University 9/16 at Hurricane 9/23 Wheeling Park 9/30 Indian Creek 10/7 at Parkersburg South + 10/14 John Marshall 10/21 at Buckhan-Upshur 10/28 Weir

Games begin at 7:30pm unless noted +7:00 pm kickoff

8/26 Cambridge 9/2 East Liverpool 9/9 at Oak Glen 9/16 at Buckeye Local 9/23 St. Clairsville 9/30 at Brooke + 10/7 at Martins Ferry 10/14 at Beaver Local 10/21 South Range 10/27 Edison Games begin at 7pm unless noted +7:30 pm kickoff

8/25 Wheeling Central # 9/2 at Oak Glen 9/10 Western Reserve 9/16 at Toronto 9/24 at Warren JFK 10/1 Bellaire * 10/8 Bishop Donahue 10/14 at Edison 10/22 Madonna 10/29 TBA

2016 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

8/26 Oak Glen 9/2 Edison 9/9 at John Marshall 9/16 Keyser 9/24 at Petersburg * 9/30 Union Local 10/7 at Fairmont Senior + 10/14 Warren Local 10/21 at East Liverpool + 10/28 at Brooke +

Games begin at 7pm unless noted *8:00 pm kickoff #7:45 pm kickoff

8/25 Woodrow Wilson # 9/2 Pittsburgh USO 9/9 West Holmes 9/16 at Boardman 9/23 Dover 9/30 Akron SVSM 10/7 at Ursuline 10/14 Cardinal O’Hara 10/20 St. Clairsville 10/28 Canada Prep

Games begin at 7pm unless noted #5:45 pm kickoff

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6

‘The T

BIG

Aug. 24, 2016

Uglies’

Both sides of the ball try to protect their turf as it begins with the snap

hey’re the big guys up front. The big uglies, if you will.

They’re the bodyguards — if the playing field was a nightclub — and the insurance providers if the quarterback was a businessman.

The offensive linemen are goons to some, hogs to others.

“You have to be an animal,” said Tommy Mort of Catholic Central. “You have to be strong, tough and even a little crazy.”

So it’s more like a mentality.

Or, the Marines.

The few, the proud, the offensive line.

“It takes discipline.” said Harrison Central’s Nevada Kuryn, “This is a position where you’re giving it your all each time out. You’re directly involved in each play, so it’s a lot of responsibility.”

It’s not chemistry, geometry or anatomy, but the study of the offensive line might be one of the more astute subjects that a student-athlete could go through in high school.

“You have to be a little bit smarter to be an offensive lineman,” said Indian Creek’s Sam Robinson. “You have to study the plays and work on your technique to get all the fine details down pat.”

The finest of them all is that initial snap to start the play. However, it’s not the true origin of how an offensive lineman gets to where he is now.

It’s a long journey to some, a more direct path for others.

Either way, it’s a process with a beginning that doesn’t always have a definitive ending.

It starts with a snap.

A NATURAL FIT

When told that this year’s cover story would feature the lineman, Catholic Central’s 6-foot-5, 286pound guard Vince Oliver said, See LINEMEN Page 17

By

I

t starts with a snap, but what if it ends in a sack?

That’s what the offense is trying to prevent, while the defense has a bullseye set up, right in the middle of the quarterback.

“Getting a sack or stopping their guy for a loss is the most rewarding thing about playing on the line,” said Steubenville’s Ny’Juan Robinson. “That’s what we live for.”

Robinson plays both ways for Big Red, like most guys who, like him, stand above 6-foot and weigh more than 235 pounds.

Robinson stands out along the

MATTHEW PEASLEE

For The Gridiron

defensive line for Steubenville, while also lining up at fullback on offense.

His main priority is growing as a defensive player, where he will also see time at linebacker this season.

“I’ll do whatever is needed to help the team,” Robinson said.

From a personal standpoint, Robinson’s intangibles include his ability to evade blocks and disrupt plays. He can get into the opponent’s backfield and leaves no doubt in his tackles.

“My favorite moves to get around blockers are the swim move and the spin move,” Robinson said. “As a defensive lineman, I try to focus on using my hands and having a great first step. I do a lot of repetition with those two.

“I make sure I sink the hips and keep a hand on the offensive lineman and react off his blocking key.”

Robinson likes to make the tackle—so does every football player at some point in his playing career.

“Defense is my favorite because it’s fun to hit See DEFENSE Page 17

Aug. 24, 2016

7

‘I have to live each day looking forward’ Inspirational Indian Creek junior Keith Maple learning a new normal

By MATTHEW PEASLEE For The Gridiron

WINTERSVILLE — Before Indian Creek’s season-opening shutout win over Cambridge last season, former Redskins player Zach Connor sent a series of text messages to sophomore linebacker Keith Maple.

Good luck. I love you, man. Do what you have to do. I can’t wait to see you play tomorrow.

The motivational manners were appreciated by Maple, who was one of few underclassmen starting on defense.

You have no idea how much that means to me. I always looked up to you when you were a senior and I want to be like you out there. You make me want to play football.

“You see that and it gives you a special feeling,” Connor said.

“The relationship that we have is a special thing.”

That’s why when Connor received a phone call on the night of Jan. 14, he knew he had to find a way to get to Pittsburgh to see Maple, his former teammate, his protege, his little brother.

THE ACCIDENT

Events from that night started in Steubenville along John Scott Highway, shortly after 6 p.m. The roads had turned slick as light snow began to fall on the dark winter night. Maple and fellow Indian Creek student Aaron Robinson were driving, heading toward U.S. Route 22 when the driver lost control and skidded into oncoming traffic. Both Maple and Robinson were ejected from the vehicle.

The teenagers were transported to a Pittsburgh hospital where they both were treated for critical injuries.

“I was devastated,” Connor said. “I was at West Liberty, but got right in my car and drove to Pittsburgh to see him in the hospital.”

Robinson was released from the hospital a few days later. A female driver involved in the crash received several surgeries, as did Maple.

Photo by Matthew Peaslee

The diagnosis was a T-3, complete injury. His spinal cord was completely severed.

He will never be able to walk again.

“There’s no chance for a full recovery,” Maple said. “It was a complete shock.”

THE SEASON

In 2015, the Indian Creek football team went 7-4 and made it to the Division IV playoffs for the first time since 2012. Maple, who started on defense in a few games as a freshman, made an impact on both sides of the ball in his sophomore campaign. He was named to the All-Eastern District second team and would have been the only returning starter at linebacker this season.

“Keith had such a successful sophomore season,” said Connor, who was a senior at Indian Creek

when Maple was a freshman. “He started as a sophomore at linebacker with two seniors beside him. He was the puppy of the group. I saw him grow up and he was getting better and better each time out.

“Last year, as I came back to the games and watched from the sidelines, he’d run off the field and come over to me. He’d ask what he was doing wrong or what he could have done better. I’ll never forget that. He was a young player making an impact at the varsity level and he was always looking to improve.

“He did that when we played together, too. He had such a skill for learning. He just wanted to learn more and more. He asked a ton of questions.

“He always wanted to know what he could do to help. Anything he could do to be a better

football player or person, he did it.

He was determined and focused at everything he did.”

THE ROAD BACK

In recovering from the traumatic injury, Maple has taken the high road.

“It was a rude awakening,” he said. “I have to live life differently. The whole world is different than what I grew up with. I had to learn to do things in a different way and prepare myself to handle difficult situations. It was a shock, but I’ve gotten used to it.”

He was out of school from Jan. 15 until March 30. He had to make up all of his missed work, which he can catch up with online.

“I’m still trying to get some assignments done from last year,” Maple said.

Indian Creek basketball coach, See MAPLE Page 99

8

It’s a memorable game

Aug. 24, 2016

Our sports writers recall contests that made a real impact A really good ride continues on the sidelines

MIKE MATHISON

Football has been a part of my life, in one way or another, since the age of 9.

I started in Pop Warner, practicing five days a week in front of the Boys Club in El Cajon, Calif., and playing on Saturdays at Granite Hills High School, where I would later play as a high school athlete.

I latered covered the game in

college, talked to Gil Brandt after the Dallas Cowboys drafted a player out of Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo and, eventually, back with my hometown newspaper.

It was a really good ride.

I remember playing in many games — shanking a punt, catching what was then the longest touchdown pass in school history

and watching our team lose in the San Diego Section CIF semifinals, 19-14, to Lincoln High School and their stud, some guy named Marcus Allen (I was out with a bruised kidney).

I covered a high school game that Junior Seau played in (he was

MATTHEW PEASLEE

Most of my friends just don’t get it. My wife, sometimes, doesn’t appreciate it. I, however, live for it.

That’s high school football. For the past six years, my Friday nights have been consumed with the sport in a professional sense. I’ve sat on cold, metal bleachers or inside cramped press boxes. I’ve wandered sidelines with a camera in

one hand and a notepad to keep my own statistics in the other.

I wouldn’t have it any other way.

This will be my fourth-consecutive season covering high school football in the Ohio Valley. Prior to arriving in the Steubenville/Weirton area, I covered three seasons worth of high school football in the

Youngstown/Warren region. I’ve seen dozens of great games, along with a handful of not-so-great games.

Nonetheless, I’ve loved them all.

I can’t remember every single game I’ve covered, but there are several I will never forget.

ED LOOMAN

My getting-older-every-day-eyes have witnessed a ton of high school football games over the years.

So when I initially saw Mike Mathison’s assignment for Gridiron edition columns, I was troubled. The boss requested the following: A column on your three most memorable high school football games.

The more I pondered the request,

I began to realize the task was not as difficult as I originally thought.

There were, of course, plenty of candidates. But, when all the thinking was done, I selected the following three.

Game 1: Location: Ashtabula’s Guarnieri Field; Season: 2001; Teams: Ashtabula St. John and Paul and

Weirton Madonna; The Reason: The Heralds earned a big homecoming victory during my son’s senior season.

I loved watching my son, Ryan, play football. Just to keep things sane in the family, I also will note I loved watching my daughter, Jess,

RALPH COX

Being the old man on the HeraldStar/Daily Times sports team isn’t easy and Ed Looman doesn’t let me forget it. Forget being the key word here.

Sports Editor Mike Mathison asked me to write about three memorable high school football games that I’ve seen. He doesn’t

seem to understand that I’ve seen somewhere around 500 games since my own high school days dating back to 1954 and that my memory really isn’t as good as I’d like it be. It might be easier to write about games I’ve forgotten than ones I remember. ¯ The No. 1 memorable game

that is tucked way back in the fiber of this old brain is the first high school game I ever saw. I was 11 years old and my dad, who really wasn’t a high school football fan, apparently got caught up in the hoopla that preceded the 1951 Big Red/Massillon epic battle and de-

See MATHISON Page 104

Big plays in big games pay off big dividends

See PEASLEE Page 98

The task became easier with more thought

See LOOMAN Page 114

The senior member sorts through his memory

See COX Page 98

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Steubenville Big Red

12

Aug. 24, 2016

2016 Schedule Aug. 25

Woodrow Wilson #

Sept. 2

Pittsburgh USO

Sept. 9

West Holmes

Sept. 16 at Boardman Sept. 23 Dover

Sept. 30

Akron SVSM

Oct. 7 at Ursuline Oct. 14

Cardinal O'Hara

Oct. 20

St. Clairsville

Oct. 28

Canada Prep

# 5:45 p.m. kickoff Games at 7 p.m. unless noted

Saccoccia: ‘We realize nothing comes easy’

By ED LOOMAN For The Gridiron

The Coaches

STEUBENVILLE — Big Red fell just short of claiming the fourth state championship in school history when it lost to Columbus Bishop Hartley, 31-28, in the Division IV title game last December.

The Big Red, which stretched its incredible playoff streak to 15 consecutive seasons in 2015 (Steubenville has 28 total playoff appearances, fifth best in the state), graduated plenty of talent from the 13-1 squad. Veteran coach Reno Saccoccia, however, realizes good programs should be able to re-load and keep moving forward.

“We lost a lot of good players and we have some good players coming back,” Saccoccia said prior to a Saturday morning practice earlier this month. “If you’re a good program, you’re able to fill in for the players you lost through desire and a love of the game.

“Every team loses good players through graduation. My expectations for the kids who haven’t been under fire yet is that they will be well prepared, well coached and well conditioned. They also will have a burning desire to

step up and be the next guy in there. That’s the approach we are taking this summer.”

Saccoccia is entering his 33rd season at the helm of the Big Red. He has collected more than 340 victories, 16 regional titles, including three straight Region 13 crowns and the three state championships.

He was inducted into the Ohio High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame in 2009.

Among the talent claimed through graduation were quarterback Dimitri Collaros (2,473 passing yards and 24 touchdowns), tailback

Johnnie Blue (1,595 rushing yards and 34 TDs), wide receiver Niko Petrides, safety Mandela Lawrence-Burke and leading tackler Jeremy Blue.

Also gone are linemen William Poplowski, A.J. Cochrun, Seth Biacco, Amir Richmond and Paul Runkel. Big Red does return 23 letter winners from 2015.

“We have two juniors (Johnny Agresta and Javon Davis) and two sophomores (Ethan Duggan and Clayton Criss) at quarterback,” Saccoccia said when discussing a replacement for Collaros.

“Shyoun (Pookie) Pette-

way (a senior) can play quarterback and wide receiver for us. Our quarterback will come from those five.”

Agresta did see some varsity playing time as a sophomore, completing 12 of his 18 passes for three scores. Davis, who transferred from Bellaire St. John, passed for 1,458 yards last fall for the Irish, good for 17 touchdowns.

Saccoccia pointed out “five kids are competing for the starting tailback position.”

Those five are senior Jalen McGhee, who

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See BIG RED Page 15

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13

The Seniors

From The Coach ...

“My expectations for the kids who haven’t been under fire yet is that they will be well prepared, well coached and well conditioned. They also will have a burning desire to step up and be the next guy in there. That’s the approach we are taking this summer.”

— Reno Saccoccia

Seniors (22) 4 .................... Pookie Petteway 5 ........................ Jalen McGhee 10 .............................. Nick Scott 19 .................... Charles Reeves 24 ........................ Shay Wallace 27 ........................ Zane Zimish 34 .......................... Nicky Zorne 36 .................... Austin Duggan 38 ........................ Marcus Kelly 39 .................. Marshawn Kelly 45 .................... Mitchell Gulan 46 ............................ Alek Davis 49 .............. Ny'Juan Robinson 51 ...................... Kiernan Doyle 58 ...................... Drone Moore 59 ...................... Shannon Carr 61 ............................ Chris Elliot 65 .......................... Mark Smith 66 ...................... Ryan Bernard 68 .................................. Nick Ely 76 .................. Anthony Tomini 77 ........................ Jalil Shepard Juniors (23) 6 .......................... Dujuan Jones 7 .............................. Gino Pierro 8 ...................... Johnny Agresta 9 ............................ Javon Davis 11 .............................. Alec Taylor 15 .............................. Abe Zane 18 .............................. Zach Ekey 25 ...................... Jacob Bernard 28 .................... Jamal Petteway 33 .................. William Hopkins 42 ................ Michael Wukelic 43 .................. Jackson Bradley 47 .......................... Lucas Koval 48 ........ Johnathon Blackmon 50 .................. Quenton Moore

53 55 56 57 69 70 72 80

.......................... Devin Evans .................... Reuben Saxon .................... Alijah Demitras ................ Marlon Lawrence .................. Hezekiah Scurry .............. Richard Lawrence ................................ Tyler Ely .................. Sincere Herring Sophomores (30) 14 ...................... Ethan Duggan 16 ........................ Clayton Criss 21 .............................. Carlo Biasi 22 .................... Caleb Mitchell 23 .............. Dumaka McGhee 26 .................... Nicco Bracone 29 ........ Taveon Montgomery 30 ...................... Anthony Rice 31 .................. Antoni Demitras 32 .................. Jaziah Blackwell 35 ............................ Ian Phillips 40 ................................ Nick Isla 41 ................................ Eric Lulla 44 .............. Antonio Fuscardo 52 ................ Kwadre Williams 54 .............. Donavin Thornton 60 ........................ Joe Gabrielli 62 .................. Keonte Holmes 63 ........................ Elijah Simon 64 .................. Cameron Boley 68 .................. Cesare Jennings 75 ........................ Caleb Brown 78 .................. Deshawn Nixon 80 .................. Donald Morrow 82 .......................... Jorian Jones 83 .................... Preston Haney 84 .................. Denzol Morrow 85 .......................... Ryan Rouch 87 ............ Dylan Cunningham 89 ................ Freedom Harper

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Aug. 24, 2016

Big Red

missed seven games after suffering an injury in the pre-season, junior Jacob Bernard, junior Jamal Petteway, senior Shay Wallace and junior William Hopkins.

Bernard was the team’s third leading rusher in 2015, going for 296 yards on 50 carries and scoring seven times. McGhee returned from his injury to rush for 233 and a touchdown. He collected 92 yards via the ground in the Division IV semifinal victory over Youngstown Ursuline. Petteway got 17 carries, good for 121.

“We have three or four sophomores fighting for that third or fourth spot at tailback,” Saccoccia noted.

Other tailback candidates are senior Marcus Kelly along with sophomores Taveon Montgomery, Jaziah Blackwell, Dumaka McGhee and Caleb Everett Mitchell.

“On any team, tailback will always be a good position to play, but as the game has developed, the quarterback and wide receiver have been become equally as good and important. The tailback position will always be important, but none of those positions can develop without a good offensive line and fullback.

That’s one thing about football that will never change.”

Seniors

15

Zane Zimish and Nicky Zorne are the top contenders to start at fullback. Senior Ny’Juan Robinson also is in the mix along with juniors Jonathon Blackmon, Lucas Koval and Michael Wukelic. Sophomores Antoni Demitras and Anthony Rice will add depth at the position.

The starting Big Red quarterback will have one large and talented target in senior Charles Reeves, 6-6, 240. A first-team all-Ohioan last season, Reeves led Big Red in receiving with 50 catches. Some scouting services have Reeves ranked as one of the top prospects in the state.

Pookie Petteway also is back at wide receiver. As a junior, he hauled in 27 passes for 380 yards and three touchdowns. Others vying for playing time at the wide receiver spot are: Senior Nick Scott, junior Alec Taylor, junior Abe Zane, junior Sincere Herring, junior Dujuan Jones, junior Gino Pierro, senior Marshawn Kelly, sophomore Carlo Biasi, sophomore Nicco Bracone, sophomore Antonio Fuscardo, sophomore Preston Haney, sophomore Freedom Harper, sophomore Jorian Jones, sophomore Donald Morrow, sophomore Denzol Morrow and sophomore Ryan Rouch.

Seniors Alek Davis and Mitchell Gulan are

From Page 12

the top candidates at tight end. Both saw considerable action at the spot in 2015. Junior Jackson Bradley provides depth along with sophomores Dylan Cunningham and Eric Lulla.

“We lost some good ones along the offensive line,” Saccoccia said.

“Four starters are gone from up front. Our starting center is back and we have seven guys fighting for four positions.”

Senior Drone Moore returns to anchor the unit from the center position. He’ll be backed up by junior Devin Evans along with sophomores Caleb Brown and Donavin Thornton.

Junior Reuben Saxon, who got several starts in 2015, is one of the top guard candidates. The other three are junior Alijah Demitras, junior Marlon Lawrence and junior Quentin Moore. Junior Hezekiah Scurry and sophomores Kwadre Williams, Joe Gabrielli and Elijah Simon will provide depth.

Seniors Ryan Bernard and Kiernan Doyle, along with junior Tyler Ely, are battling for the starting jobs at tackle. Senior Chris Elliot also is in the mix there along with junior Zack Ekey.

Sophomores providing depth are Cameron Boley, Keonte Holmes, Cesare Jennings See BIG RED Page 109

2016 Coaches

Head Coach

Reno Saccoccia

Assistant Coaches Anthony Pierro Mike Haney Gus DiMarzio JoJo Saccoccia Joe Pierro Todd Filtz Dan Filtz Jason Kernahan Duke Jones Brian Pruitt

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Linemen

“Finally,” with a smirk.

An offensive lineman won’t always get the headlines, let alone see his name published in the paper, despite his offense totaling 500 yards, with a quarterback throwing for more than 300 yards and a running back going over the 100-yard plateau.

“I love giving the other guys the glory,” Oliver said. “I know if one of my guys scores, it’s because I had a hand in the play.”

Current offensive linemen may not have volunteered to sign up for the position when they started playing football in the pee-wee leagues. More than likely, they were thrust into the position because of their size and stature.

That was the case with Oliver.

“Since I started playing in fifth grade, I’ve always been one of the biggest guys on the team,” Oliver said. “I expected to play here and I’ve developed and become stronger each year. I started as a freshman (at Catholic Central).

It’s helped a lot because I know what to expect.

Being one of the bigger guys in the Valley, I’m not scared of anyone.”

Indian Creek’s Andy Waggoner also saw starting time as an underclassmen at the varsity level. It wasn’t a tough transition for him because he’s been playing the same position, left tackle, since sixth grade.

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fortable,” said Waggoner, now a junior. “I’m confident with the position and I feel like I’m a natural fit.

I’ve had a lot of work to do since I started playing on the line and I’m excited to get better and stronger these next two years.”

For the past three years, Toronto’s Dylan Warren conditioned himself on the offensive side of the ball. He is gradually working his way into a two-side rotation, but his football roots remain as an offensive lineman.

“I like playing offense because that’s where I mostly played my freshman, sophomore and junior seasons,” Warren said.

“I just like having the opportunity to be a part of big plays on offense. I’ve always had an offensive lineman, team-first mentality.

I’ve been playing this position the longest and it’s worked out for me.”

PUTTING IN THE WORK

Like every athlete from any sport, there’s a laundry list of prep work that

From Page 6

must be utilized before even one small thought of playing a game comes up.

On top of the right diet and the proper amount of rest, there are many more factors that an individual can control to get into the best playing condition possible.

For an offensive lineman it’s important to shed the out-of-shape stereotype, by flat-out shedding the pounds.

“We do sprints, distance running, everything,” Oliver said. “Strength is just as important as speed.

We do a lot of rolls, so if we get knocked down, we’re getting right back up. We’re making sure are feet are quick because we might have to redirect looking out for the ball.”

The offensive linemen try to keep up with the skill players the best they can. In some cases, the big guys might be faster.

Though, coaches know that establishing a pace for each position might be more important.

“We run the same as the skill players, but they See LINEMEN Page 61

Defense

17

From Page 6

people,” said Toronto’s Griffin Allison. “The highest goal is to help the team the best I can. On defense, that’s getting tackles, sacks and forcing fumbles.”

Most players seem to think the defensive side of the ball is a free-for-all, while the offense plays itself up to be more rigid and strict.

Defensive players can be wild, in time, and extra physical — within the legal limits.

“There’s less pressure when you are hitting people than when you are protecting people,” said Ben Davis of Toronto. “I want to be a part of the tackle. It’s not just me, it’s my teammates getting around it and swarming to the ball too.

'If we are all aggressive and stronger than the guy across from us, we’ll make our goals on each play.”

MAKING IT HAPPEN

Those goals are the results that Allison mentioned: Tackles, sacks and forcing fumbles. But there’s even more to that.

“We’re always trying to blow up the other team’s play,” said Brenton Stull of Harrison Central. “Just destroying them. Sacks are obviously a big part, but so are any types of yard loss. We’re trying to stop their forward progress even before they get to the line of scrimmage.”

So, what’s the best way of going about that?

“You have to stay low and have strength to fend off double teams,” said Toronto’s Dylan Warren. “Your main goal is to head to the ball, so you have to be quick.”

Buckeye Local’s Lukas Dickerson is quick, in that regard, and fast with a response.

“Hit the man and look for the ball,” he said. “That’s all it takes.”

It’s a rather simple process, but one that takes a lot of training. Yeah, it’s fun to hit people. It’s even more rewarding to tackle them for a loss. But, making that happen is an ongoing mechanism.

See DEFENSE Page 66

Weir Red Riders

18

2016 Schedule Aug. 26

Oak Glen

Sept. 2 Edison

Sept. 9 at John Marshall Sept. 16 Keyser

Sept. 24 at Petersburg * Sept. 30

Union Local

Oct. 7 at Fairmont Senior + Oct. 14

Warren Local

Oct. 21 at East Liverpool + Oct. 28 at Brooke +

* 4 p.m. kickoff + 7:30 p.m. kickoff Games at 7 p.m. unless noted

Aug. 24, 2016

Filberto: ‘We could be a good football team this year’

By RALPH COX For The Gridiron

WEIRTON — When the 13 seniors on the 2016 football team were freshmen, the Red Riders just came off a winless season and while there was improvement, they had only 27 players and suffered through another horrible season with just one victory.

Now, the Weir High football program has 54 boys butting heads on the practice field, has been to the playoffs in both 2014 and 2015 and is on much more solid ground.

But the swagger isn’t completely back yet.

“We could be a good football team this year,” said head coach Tony Filberto, who has led the resurgence of Red Rider football in his second stint at the helm. “We have nine starters back on defense and seven on offense. We have 20 lettermen.

“But, we have been to the playoffs the last two years and were one and done. No one in this locker room is satisfied with that.

We expected to get to the playoffs and do more, especially last year. What happened wasn’t satisfying to any of us.”

Filberto pointed out that his team last season was

The Coaches

hurt by losing a couple of close games during the regular season.

“We lost two games in the last 30 seconds and that came back to haunt us,” said the veteran of more than 35 high school football seasons. “That cost us home field advantage, and also being in the lower half of the playoff teams where we had to play good teams in the first round on their home fields.”

The Red Riders lost the first playoff game last year at Bluefield by a score of

32-13.

That loss is still stuck in the craw of the 20 returning lettermen and they are determined to make an improvement, Filberto said.

“The last couple of years we were capable of making big plays, but we lacked consistency and so we’re going to a different type of offense this year that I expect will feature a lot more ball control,” Filberto explained.

Graduation took star running back Kam Davis, who made the second team All-West Virginia with

1,188 yards and 16 touchdowns. Also picking up their sheepskins last May were quarterback Jake Wypasek; Kyle Baldwin and Brandon Taylor, twin 300-pound tackles; along with Danny Sarles, Marques Smith, Brea Bryant, Phil McAllister, Jacob Parr, Michael Ceraolo, Matt Thompson, JoJo West and C.J. Reed.

Heading up the new look offense will be the shift of senior Donavan Spencer from wide receiver, where See RED RIDERS Page 21

Aug. 24, 2016

19

2016 Roster

The Seniors

Seniors (13) 2 ................ Donavan Spencer 3 ........................ Jacob Rosnick 4 .......................... Michael Mills 11 ................Domenick Murphy 13 ........................ Cody Enrietti 25 .................. Jimmy Whitlatch 45 ................ Quent Thornton 52 ...................... Travis Lowther 56 ........................ Jordan Allen 57 .............. Gaetano Fuscardo 62 ........................ Dustin Keyes 81 .................... Adam Cowden 83 .............. Matt Komorowski

From The Coach ...

“We have been to the playoffs the last two years and we were one-and-done.

No one in this locker room is satisfied with that.”

— Tony Filberto

Juniors (16) 5 .................... Cameron Pierce 7 .......................... Chris Gillette 8 .................... Dezmond Smith 10 .............................. Caleb Rea 20 .................... Jaylon Bridges 30 .................. Donovan Riggs 32 ............................ Tyler Mack 33 ................ Frank Hudacheck 51 ........................ Steven Boyle 55 .................... William Rupert 66 .......................... Danny Baez

67 ................................ Kris Link 70 .......................... Zach Martin 73 .................... Daymeon Paris 74 .................. Garrett Johnson 75 .......................... Mason Rice

Sophomores (13) 6 ............................ Marc Osaba 15 ................ Tyler Komorowski 24 .......................... Tyler Jensen 34 ........................ Chad Custer 40 .................. Dante Daddario 44 .............. Xavier Wolverton 50 ........................ Julian Farran 58 ........................ Dylan Crago 61 .............................. Nate Paris 80 .............. Lquincy Dameron 85 .......................... Jake McKay 87 ...................... Austin Serrao 88 .......................... Reece Wills

Freshmen (10) 1 ................ Sebastian Spencer 21 .......................... Drew Curtis 43 ...................... Zak Wypasek 59 .......................... Tyson Riggs 60 .................... Dakota Nutter 68 ...................... Isaiah Glasure 69 ................ George Wansack 77 .......................... Matt O'Neil 78 .............................. Mike Zias 86 .......................... Chase Wills

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Red Riders

he has lettered since his freshman year, to quarterback and the installation of a big backfield of Dominick Murphy, a 205-pound junior, a thirdyear letter winner and 215-pound senior, Cody Enrietti, another fouryear letterman.

Spencer saw limited action at quarterback last year, but Enrietti became a fixture in the backfield in the second half of the season gaining 617 yards with four touchdowns. A former tight end, Enrietti had another 173 yards receiving with another score.

“We’ll run right at you this year,” Filberto emphasized. “We’ll probably throw the football at least as much as a year ago, but we’re going to force teams to defend the run which should open our passing.

“So far in practice, Donavan has shown a great ability to roll out and fire the football accurately. Of course, he’ll have the option to utilize his great speed. He’s the fastest kid in West Virginia.

“We’ll use a lot of options and bootlegs with the idea of getting to the perimeter. When we can take

21

away half of the football field with the option and use the power running game we’ll be pretty deadly.”

Filberto said this different type of offense makes things easier for the line schemes.

“The linemen no longer have to stand up, but will use the three-point stance,” he said. “We’ll be a power option football team. We’re big up front so this offense gives us the chance to utilize that size.”

Dustin Keyes, who played at tackle a year ago will move to center. Joining him on the offensive line is Travis Lowther, who returns at left tackle, and junior Mason Rice, the biggest of the Red Riders at 280 pounds, will man the left guard. Gaetano Fuscardo moves from left guard where he started last year to right guard and Jordan Allen returns at right tackle.

Filberto said 275-pound Garrett Johnson will share the right tackle slot with Allen so that each can get breathers from going both ways.

Zach Martin, a 250-pound junior, will see playing time possibly at all the offensive line positions.

In 2015, the Red Riders were pleased to have the addition of Grant Carrigan (6-7, 240) for the

From Page 18

final seven games of the season at tight end. Carrigan, who transferred to Weir High from Las Vegas, has transferred again, this time to a high school in Pittsburgh.

Senior Michael Mills and juniors Chris Gillette and Frank Ty Hudacheck will move into the offensive line at tight end.

Senior Adam Cowden returns at wide receiver and will be joined by classmate Jimmy Whitlach. Sharing time as receivers will be Matt Komorowski, Jacob Rosnick and Hudacheck. Rosnick, the shortstop on the Red Rider baseball team, also is a backup quarterback.

Filberto said junior Cameron Pierce, the second fastest on the team behind Spencer, will get time in the backfield along with Rosnick.

On the defensive side, Filberto plans to use a 5-2 alignment.

“That’s a high risk defense, but it also has high benefit,” he explained.

“The objective will be to force turnovers, which is what I expect out of this bunch.”

Third-year starter, Jordan Allen, a first team all-stater, leads the defensive front at defensive end. He was credited with 74 tackles with 25 for loss along with 12 sacks. He forced two fumbles and recovered two.

Sharing the other defensive end will be Tyler Komorowski and Quent Thornton, a senior.

See RED RIDERS Page 105

2016 Coaches

Head Coach

Tony Filber to

Assistant Coaches Tom Taylor Frank Sisinni Terr y Rea Gerrard Spencer David Cowden Anthony Pompa Troy Fetty Mike Buffo Quentin Smith Vance Miller

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Aug. 24, 2016

Catholic Central Crusaders 2016 Schedule Aug. 25

Wheeling Central #

Sept. 2 at Oak Glen Sept. 10

Western Reserve

Sept. 16 at Toronto

Sept. 24 at Warren JFK Oct. 1

Bellaire *

Oct. 8

Bishop Donahue

Oct. 14 at Edison Oct. 22

Madonna

Oct. 29 Open

# 7:45 p.m. kickoff * 8 p.m. kickoff Games at 7 p.m. unless noted

Daley: ‘We know we have question marks’

By ED LOOMAN For The Gridiron

STEUBENVILLE — Steve Daley is feeling “good in spots” as he prepares his Catholic Central football squad for the 2016 season.

“We have kids coming back who are veteran players,” said Daley, who is entering his sixth campaign at the Crusader helm. “For a lot of them, this will be their second year starting. Some of our guys are three year starters. Those things make you feel a little more comfortable.

“There are some question marks out there too.

We have holes to fill offensively, particularly at the skilled positions.

Right now, we like the kids we are seeing in those spots. So, we do feel good and comfortable in spots but we know we have question marks.”

A season ago, Central finished at 6-4 and just missed the Division VI playoffs. The Crusaders won five straight to close the campaign. Daley enters 2016 with an overall coaching record of 51-52 (he guided Bellaire St. John for five seasons) and is 30-23 at CCHS. Central has compiled four consecutive winning sea-

The Coaches

sons under Daley.

The one glaring hole Daley needs to fill on offense is quarterback. Tony Barber, who threw for 4,094 in his two years as a starter and set several school records, graduated in the spring.

Sophomore Justin Hartzell, 6-2, 175, is the leading candidate to direct Daley’s offense.

“Justin is a good athlete and we have to be patient with him,” Daley stated.

“He has to understand it’s not all on his shoulders.

He has to rely on the guys around him. Our returning players understand that

and they’re helping to bring him along. We’re going to progress as he progresses and we’re going to do what he can handle.

“So far, we’re getting a good idea of what that might be, but until you get into a live situation, you’re not sure how things are going to happen or how he’s going to react.”

Fellow sophomore Noah Fayak is working as Hartzell’s backup.

Junior Levi Thompson will man the fullback spot and is expected to take plenty of handoffs from

Hartzell this season. He’ll be joined at the position by senior Anthony Leluika, junior Gino DiBiase and sophomore Craig Smith, a Big Red transfer who won’t become eligible until Week 6.

Hartzell and Thompson will be operating behind an offensive line featuring five returning starters and plenty of size.

Senior Tommy Mort returns at center with sophomore Austin O’Kruta serving as his backup.

Junior Vince Oliver, the largest Crusader at 6-5, See CRUSADERS Page 27

2016 Season Seniors...DiMichele #9 Clark #10 Kilonsky #12 Thompson #13 Coniker #20 DiBenedetto #21 MiHalyo #25 Harris #29 Leluika #30 DiCarlantonio #33 Daley #45 Mort #59 Marcino #73

Aug. 24, 2016

25

2016 Roster

The Seniors

Seniors (13) 9 .................... Lucca DiMichele 10 ............................ Kutch Clark 12 ...................... Nate Kilonsky 13 ................ Willie Thompson 20 ........................ Luke Coniker 21 ............ Eddie DiBenedetto 25 .................... Brody Mihalyo 29 ........................ Daniel Harris 30 .................. Anthony Leluika 33 .......... Vinny DiCarlantonio 45 ...................... Hayden Daley 59 ........................ Tommy Mort 73 .................... Steve Marcino

From The Coach ...

“When you have a senior class like this one, sometimes good things can happen even though you might not be the most talented group. If they keep good attitudes, continue to learn and support each other ... we’ll see what happens.”

— Steve Daley

Juniors (10) 3 ............ Amin Yondez Butler 11 .......................... David Miller 15 ...................... George Zapor 19 ...................... William Walsh 23 ............................ Jah Sawyer 32 .................. Levi Thompson 34 ........................ Gino DiBiase 54 .......................... Ryan Neely 63 .......................... Vince Oliver 67 ...................... Kevin Cuervo

Sophomores (13) 2 ............................ Noah Fayak 4 ........................ Justin Hartzell 5 ...................... Anthony Fallon 7 .................................. Matt Bell 14 .......................... Craig Smith 16 ........................ Matt Kilonsky 41 ...................... Blaine Bowers 44 ...................... Hardin Martin 51 .................... Dom Argentine 52 .................... Austin O'Kruta 72 .................... Alec Costantini 75 ........................ Jordan Maul 77 ............................ Jacob Stoll Freshmen (12) 17 ...................... Cole Maragos 18 ............ Christian Lesnefsky 22 .................... Jayden Keeder 24 ................ Anthony LeFever 31 ...................... Ryan Manneh 42 ............ Anthony Simmons 50 ........................ Indy Marcino 53 ...................... Gerard Walsh 57 ...................... Nick Kissinger 66 ............................ Alex Ialenti 81 .................... Seth Fitzgerald 83 ................ Santino Chiovetti

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Crusaders

286, returns at one guard. Sophomores Jacob Stoll and Jordan Maul are battling for the other spot.

Returning starters senior Steve Marcino and junior Kevin Cuervo are back at tackle. Junior Ryan Neely also will spell the returnees.

Veteran senior Hayden Daley is back at tight end. He had nine catches for 125 yards and a touchdown in 2015. Seniors Daniel Harris and Kutch Clark also will see time at tight end.

“Our offensive line has nice size,” Daley noted. “We’re not going to have a lineman under 240. Our guards, depending on who we start, will be 260 to 290. The three guys we’re looking to rotate there go 260, 280 and 290.

“We like to put our smaller, athletic kids at tackle but this year, those guys go 240 and 245. So we’re big up front plus we have experience there.

“With our line and a back with Levi’s size (6-1, 225), teams definitely will have to respect the fact that we can be capable of running the football. That hasn’t always been the case for us.

We did a much better job of running the ball

27

last year. Having a solid running game will allow us to mix things up.

We’ll feel more confident and Justin will feel more confident, too, with a strong running game.”

Daley is dealing with question marks when it comes to his receiving corps.

Only one starter is back, senior Brody Mihalyo, at the slot. As a junior, Mihalyo had 17 catches for 249 yards and three touchdowns. Others vying for playing time in the slot are DiBiase, Fayak, sophomore Anthony Fallon and sophomore Matt Bell.

The graduations of Seth Potenzini and John Fallon, Barber’s top targets in 2015, left a major hole at split end. Potenzini recorded 42 catches for 837 yards and 15 touchdowns as a senior while Fallon had 31 grabs for 735 and 11 scores.

Looking to fill their shoes are senior Nate Kilonsky, senior Vinny DiCarlantonio, sophomore Matt Kilonsky, Bell, senior Willie Thompson and sophomore Hardin Martin, another Big Red transfer.

Juniors Amin Yondez Butler and Jah Sawyer, also Big Red transfers, will provide help at the split end position once they become eligible at mid-season.

Offensively for Central, as Daley

From Page 24

pointed out, “it will always be our philosophy going in to mx things up.”

“This season, what we do will depend on what Justin feels comfortable doing and what he looks comfortable doing,” he continued.

“We’re not going to ask him to do things he’s not sure of. We want him in situations where things are pretty clear to him as far as what he needs to do.

“He needs to understand if there is any doubt or discomfort, he has a great weapon in his legs. We want him to use them, protect the ball, not turn it over, move the sticks and take what the defensive gives him.

That’s what we’re instructing him to do—use your legs and take off.

“That may be one of the strongest things he has going for him right now. A couple of years ago, we didn’t want Brenton (Colabella, who finished his Central career with 7,608 passing yards) to run the ball, we relied on his arm. Tony (Barber) was a mix it up kind of guy. Now, we’re bringing in a guy at quarterback who probably is one of the fastest kids or the fastest kid we’ve had since Doug Maslowski. So, we want him to go ahead and use that speed.”

Hartzell displayed his speed last spring as a member of two Central See CRUSADERS Page 89

2016 Coaches

Head Coach

Steve Daley Assistant Coaches Jeff Clark Tom Daley Frank Marcino Rick Gillette Joe Bahen Jake Emmerling

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Aug. 24, 2016

Madonna Blue Dons

2016 Schedule Aug. 27 at Bishop Donahue Sept. 3

Tusky Catholic

Sept. 8 at Wheeling Central Sept. 15

Oak Glen

Sept. 30 at Mathews

Oct. 8 at Parkersburg Catholic Oct. 15

Cleveland Lutheran East*

Oct. 22 at Catholic Central Oct. 28 Toronto

Nov. 4

Clay-Battelle

*1 p.m. kickoff Games at 7 p.m. unless noted

Hicks: ‘These young men all have a tremendous work ethic’

By RALPH COX For The Gridiron

WEIRTON — Sporting a new coach with brand new offensive and defensive schemes, the Madonna Blue Dons will embark upon the 2016 season with a nucleus of veteran players, a couple of transfers and some eager freshmen.

With a roster of 27, new head coach Darrin Hicks knows that his squad is thin at a couple of positions. Just about every player that returned from the 2-8 team of a year ago led by coach, Doug Taylor, saw enough action to be termed a letterman.

Hicks has about eight kids who started at least a game or two last year along with several, like Dustin Brown, who is in his fourth year in Madonna blue and silver.

He must fill holes left by the departure of seniors Dillon Shaw, Ricky Daddario, Ryan Phelps, Nate Martin, Tristan McCoy, Adam Davis and Thaddeus Dillie.

“We’re trying to make things as simple as possible and I think our triple shoot offense, which I’ve used at the college level with good success does that,” said Hicks, who has spent the last two years as the offensive coordinator at Robert Morris College.

Hicks describes the of-

The Coaches

fense as a variation of the run and shoot.

“It is no-huddle, hightempo with the goal of running as many plays as we can,” he explained. “Each play plays off the other in a form of progression until we find out what the other team is trying to take away. With it we can establish plays that will work against a particular defense.

“It’s kind of an if/then thing. If the defense does a certain thing, then our offense does a particular thing to offset it.”

Hicks said the offense was created by the brother of his very close friend, Manny

ELECT

Matsakis, a native of Shaydside. The offense was introduced at Hofstra University in 1992.

Matsakis gave Hicks his first coaching job at Emporia State University in Kansas, and although each of them has moved around in the coaching world, they remain close friends. Matsakis is offensive coordinator at Widener University in Philadelphia.

Directing the new offense will be Brown, who quarterbacked the Blue Dons last year.

“I can’t say enough about Dustin Brown,” said Hicks, who has gotten to know

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most of his players because he was hired as Madonna coach early enough that he has had most of the summer to work with them during the three-week camp period in June and in the weight room. “Dustin is the first one in the locker room and the last to leave. He’s a great leader and a very hard-working young man.”

Junior Chayce Lemley, who transferred from Oak Glen, will back up Brown as Madonna signal-caller.

Hicks calls the guys behind the quarterback the “super back” rather than See BLUE DONS Page 33

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31

2016 Roster

The Seniors 21 22 50 55

Seniors (4) .............................. Phil Good ...................... Dustin Brown ...................... Jake Gasvoda .......................... Justin Canei

Juniors (11) 1 .................... Garet Hostattler 2 ...................... Chayce Lemley 5 .................................. Nick Paul 7 ............................ Vince Pulice 9 .......................... Chase Smith 11 .................... Max Fiedorczyk 12 .......................... Khalib Smith 17 .......................... Tripp Moore 28 ............................ Ryan Ekey 61 ............................ Zak Tokash 76 .................... Mac Raymond

From The Coach ...

“We’re trying to make things as simple as possible and I think our triple shoot offense, which I’ve used at the college level, does that.”

— Darrin Hicks

Sophomores (6) 3 ............................ James Todd 24 ........................ Dylan Austin 26 .......................... Jacob Todd 32 .................... Donavan Kirby

56 ........................ Garrett Cook 65 ...................... Robby Valenti 10 25 51 52 54 77

Freshmen (6) .............. Antonio Daddario ........................ Dante Pulice .......................... Seth Arnold .................. Nathan Zanieski ................ Jacob McCombs .................. Joshua Gasvoda

Aug. 24, 2016

Blue Dons running back. Most of the time there will be only one player back there with Brown as the offense features no tight end or fullback and four wide receivers.

Sophomore Donavan Kirby, who got a lot of carries particularly in the late going of the 2015 season, will head the “super back” group. Junior Garet Hostattler and Khaleb Smith, a backup quarterback at Weir High last year as a sophomore, will get their share of carries behind Kirby.

Hicks showed some concern about depth in the offensive line as several positions have freshmen in backup roles.

Senior Jacob Gasvoda returns as the triggerman at center. Freshman Nathan Zanieski will relieve him there at times.

“Jacob worked on a construction job all summer yet found the time to be in the weight room,” said Hicks. “He pushes himself to the limit and practices with great intensity.”

The guards will be a pair of juniors, Matt Raymond on the right side and Zac Tokash on the left. Raymond, a 210-pounder, didn’t play football last

33

A college bus ride home changed Hicks’ path

From Page 30

By RALPH COX For The Gridiron

WEIRTON — Most people can remember the day and time of certain events like where you were when Bill Mazeroski hit the World Series-winning home run in 1960, or, more recently when the World Trade Center was attacked on Sept. 11, 2001.

Madonna’s new head football coach, Darrin Hicks, remembers exactly when he decided to change the course of his football coaching year.

Senior Justin Canei, an imposing player at 6 feet, 7 inches and 285 pounds, returns at right tackle and sophomore Robbie Valenti got some part-time action last year as a freshman, joins him on the other side.

“I see great improvement in

career. It was Halloween Night on Oct. 31, 2015.

“I was coaching at Robert Morris and we played a football game that day at Central Connecticut State — we got beat,” said the 41year-old Hicks, who had been involved as a player and coach at the college level for almost 24 years.

“I was riding a bus back to Pittsburgh and we were about five hours from home.

“My wife sent a text with a pic-

2016 Coaches

See HICKS Page 108

Justin’s technique over films of last year,” Hicks explained. “With his size, he can be a dominant force type of player.”

Freshmen Seth Arnold and Josh Gasvoda back up the guards while Jacob McCombs, also a freshman, and Josh Gasvoda are the backups at tackle.

The new look with the spread formation will have four wide receivers — two inside and two outside. Hicks looks for senior Phil Good to be one of the inside receivers and will have junior Vince Pulice at the other. Both saw plenty of action a year ago.

See BLUE DONS Page 108

Head Coach

Darrin Hicks Assistant Coaches Jon Kendrick

Bruce Marshall Matt Arlia

Tyler Ossman

Tim Provenzano

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Indian Creek Redskins

36

Aug. 24, 2016

2016 Schedule Aug. 26

Cambridge

Sept. 2

East Liverpool

Sept. 9 at Oak Glen

Sept. 16 at Buckeye Local Sept. 23

St. Clairsville

Sept. 30 at Brooke +

Oct. 7 at Martins Ferry Oct. 14 at Beaver Local Oct. 21

South Range

Oct. 27 Edison

+ 7:30 p.m. kickoff Games at 7 p.m. unless noted

Connor: ‘I think you go as far as your senior class ...’

By MIKE MATHISON For The Gridiron

WINTERSVILLE — Indian Creek head coach Andrew Connor relies heavily upon his senior class every year and 2016 is no different.

“Last year’s senior class had outstanding leadership and they proved it after we lost three straight games,” he said. “We lost a couple of heartbreakers and we were on the cusp of our season going the wrong way.

“But, it went the right way. We won our last three games to earn a playoff berth.

“Those seniors never let that season turn into a bad one. They didn’t let the season turn into a losing record. That season could have gotten completely away from us. It didn’t and that’s a credit to our seniors.”

The trip to the postseason was the third in five years for the Redskins.

“You have to make sure your seniors are able to be kids you can count on — kids who will be positive leaders on the field or off the field,” Connor said.

“We have those kind of seniors.

“I think you go as far as your senior class every year.

“Our seniors are experi-

The Coaches

enced on the field and it is their responsibility to take what they have gained with their playing experience and pass that along to the sophomore and freshman classes. Those classes can learn from our seniors.

“The one big thing they can learn from the seniors is how to be good at practice. Everybody is good at a game, in front of family and friends. But, can you be at practice day in and day out?

“When you have so many young kids like we do, the seniors have to practice and teach the younger kids what it’s like to have a

meaningful practice and not a check-mark pracitce.

Kids have to get something out of each practice and be better at the end of the practice.”

In addition to the senior class that went 30-10 in regular-season games during the four years of high school football, the Redskins will also not have the services of junior Keith Maple (who was injured in a car accident in January) and Jabari Taylor (who transfered to Akron Hoban).

“We were hit with graduation and the accident,”

Connor said. “It’s going to be really difficult to replace what Keith would have brought is this season. He already was a really good linebacker and I think he very well could have been the best linebacker in the valley.”

The Redskins graduated 11.

Senior Greg Wade leads the offense at quarterback, although this year he has the job to himself. He will be backed up by sophomores Brennan Norris and Shane Zyinyi.

See REDSK INS Page 39

Aug. 24, 2016

37

2016 Roster

The Seniors

Seniors (13) 2 .......................... Greg Wage 4 .......................... Trey Harton 5 ...................... Josh Williams 19 .......... Austin Vandeborne 20 .................. Robert Coppa 22 .................. Austin Rawson 30 ...................... Isaac Noviski 54 .................. Sam Robinson 56 ........................ Billy Haislet 61 ........................ David Eakle 62 ................ Jacob Wounaris 78 ................ James Divittorio 79 ................ John Livingston Juniors (12) 8 ........................ Devon Eakle 9 ........................ Shawn Allen 12 ........................ Devin Eakle 14 ................ Aaron Robinson 17 .............. Ensign Maiorano 24 ........................ Keith Maple 26 ...................... Frank Hague 50 ................................ Ian Belt 52 ...................... Evan Coppa 53 ........................ Tim McCoy 60 .............. Andy Waggoner 80 ........................ Kyle Booher

From The Coach ...

“We have a good junior high program and I think with the success we’ve had on the field the last seven seasons has helped and it’s trickled down into our junior high program. We’ve been fortunate that our numbers have stayed up.”

— Andrew Connor

Sophomores (17) 6 ........................ Shane Zrinyi 10 ...................... Matt Mamula 15 ........................ Jakih Scales 10 .................. Brennan Norris 21 .......................... Cody Allan 27 ................ Richie Gaultiere 31 ........................ Austin Birtel

43 .................... Mitch Wukelic 45 .................... Logan Wilson 51 ...................... Nathan Truex 64 ...................... Josh Harvey 65 ........................ Trent Bolek 75 .................... Sean Stevens 77 .......................... Luke Allen 82 ........................ Kody Cottis 86 ...................... Derrick Eakle 88 ...................... Zach Barnett

Freshmen (26) 1 .......................... Brock Lewis 3 ............................ Klay Cottis 8 .......................... Sam Mazar 18 ........................ Johnell Blair 23 ...................... Trevor Fante 25 ...................... Shane Kosek 28 .............. Brandon Fleming 29 ................ Malcom Walker 32 .......................... Sam Baska 33 .................... Brandon Hiles 34 .................. Tyler Smarrella 36 .................. Tristen Kelleher 40 ...................... Kaleb Fenske 41 .......... Shiheen Thompson 42 ........................ JT Downing 44 ...................... Dakota Rose 55 .................... Logan Scheel 57 .................. Miles Simmons 58 ................ Evan Merryman 59 .................. Michael Pasco 70 ................ Dylan McMillen 72 .................. Jacob Heyjduk 73 ...................... Logan Davis 74 ................ Garren Swickard 76 ................ Shawn McClurg 84 ................ Parker Rodgers

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Redskins

Carrying the rock will be seniors Robert Coppa and Trey Harton, with sophomore Mitch Wukelic and Jakih Scales looking for attempts.

The fullback position will be manned by junior Frank Hague, and sophomores Logan Wilson and Cody Allan.

Catching passes will be seniors Austin Rawson and Austin Vandeborne, juniors Devon Eakle and Devin Eakle and sophomores Matt Mamula, Derrick Eakle and Richie Gaultiere.

The tight ends are junior Aaron Robinson and Shawn Allen and senior Josh Williams, along with sophomores Zach Barnett and Kody Cottis.

Doing the grunt work up front are senior Sam Robinson, juniors Andy Waggoner, Ian Belt, Evan Coppa and sophomore Trent Bolek, along with seniors Jacob Wounaris and Billy Haislet and sophomores Josh Harvey and Nathan Truex.

“One of our strengths offensively is that we feel we will be able to run the ball,” Connor said. “We have experience back at the offensive line and you are always in a good place as a high school football team when you have experience back up front. That experience will

39

allow us to run and pass.”

The Redskins return five in the defensive backfield in R. Coppa, Rawson, Harton, Wade and Devin Eakle.

Gultiere and Devon Eakle are also back there.

The linebacking corp, usually wrought with experience at Creek, only has Sam Robinson returning at the position. Seeking time are Devon Eakle, Wilson, Allan and Wukelic.

The defensive tackles are Wounaris, Sam Robinson, E. Coppa, Truex and Haislet, with the defensive ends Waggoner, Belt, Hague, Williams, Barnett and Cottis.

“Our strength lies in the secondary because that is where we have the most experience,” Connor said.

“There’s going to be a lot of competition to fill the spots up front and at linebacker.”

Ensign Maiorano is back as the placekicker with Bolek as the long snapper and Rawson returning punts.

“Competition makes practices a little more spirited because we have so many guys looking for positions,” Connor said. “Let’s face it, it’s tough to beat out incumbents and kids know that. But, when positions are open, it gives kids a lot more to work toward.

“Offensively, we have a lot more kids back than on defense. At some point last year, all five offensive linemen started, along with Wade, Rawson, Trey and Coppa.”

Indian Creek finished 7-3 a year ago, beating Beaver Local (28-21, double OT), Harrison Central (28-21) and Edison (41-8) to finish No. 8 in the Division IV, Region 13 standings

From Page 36

and a playoff date at Harding Stadium with Big Red (a 40-0 loss).

The Redskins are 50-10 in the last six regular seasons, but are still looking for their first playoff victory.

Connor has the largest number of players in pads — 68 — since he stepped foot on campus 14 years ago.

“We have a good junior high program and I think with the success we’ve had on the field the last seven seasons has helped and it’s trickled down into our junior high program,” he said. “We’ve been fortunate that our numbers have stayed up.

“Our freshman class (26 players) and our sophomore class (19) are carryovers from both effects — a good junior high program and the success we’ve had on the varsity level.

“The junior high lifts with us in the offesason. We’re around each other all the time.

“Sometimes there’s an anxiety of going from eighth-grade football to high school football. That’s a big jump. But, if you’re already used to the kids — you’ve lifted with them in the summer — I think it gives those guys an easier transition. It helps them cross that bridge coming from the school in Mingo here to the high school.

“There’s more camaraderie within the group and I think that has helped us maintain the kids from eighthgrade to high school.”

The Redskins open the season Aug. 26 at home against Cambridge.

“We haven’t had many home openers in my 14 years here,” Connor said. “When you get to stay in the confines of your home environment to start the season, it’s great. Being able to play here against a very good Cambridge team ... any advantage you can get against a quality opponent, you’ll take — and being at home to start the season is an advantage.”

2016 Coaches

Head Coach

Andrew Connor

Assistant Coaches Joe Hammack Sean Grinch Doug Karas Mike Voltz Rob Lucas Mike Wilson Justin Wilson Todd Mazzaferro Jeremy Pressley Matt Shreve Mike Wilson Jr.

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Catholic Central

Indian Creek

* 5:45 p.m. kickoff Games at 7 p.m. unless noted

Aug. 25 Wheeling Central # Sept. 2 at Oak Glen Sept. 10 Western Reserve Sept. 16 at Toronto Sept. 24 at Warren JFK Oct. 1 Bellaire * Oct. 8 Bishop Donahue Oct. 14 at Edison Oct. 22 Madonna Oct. 29 Open

# 7:45 p.m. kickoff; * 8 p.m. kickoff Games at 7 p.m. unless noted

Aug. 26 Cambridge Sept. 2 East Liverpool Sept. 9 at Oak Glen Sept. 16 at Buckeye Local Sept. 23 St. Clairsville Sept. 30 at Brooke + Oct. 7 at Martins Ferry Oct. 14 at Beaver Local Oct. 21 South Range Oct. 27 Edison

Buckeye Local

Edison

Toronto

Aug. 25 Woodrow Wilson * Sept. 2 Pittsburgh USO Sept. 9 West Holmes Sept. 16 at Boardman Sept. 23 Dover Sept. 30 Akron SVSM Oct. 7 at Ursuline Oct. 14 Cardinal O'Hara Oct. 20 St. Clairsville Oct. 28 Canada Prep

Aug. 26 Martins Ferry Sept. 2 at Union Local Sept. 9 Edison Sept. 16 Indian Creek Sept. 24 at Bellaire + Sept. 30 John Marshall Oct. 7 at Beaver Local Oct. 14 at East Liverpool * Oct. 21 Oak Glen Oct. 28 at Harrison Central

* 12:30 p.m. kickoff; + 7:30 p.m. kickoff Games at 7 p.m. unless noted

+ 7:30 p.m. kickoff Games at 7 p.m. unless noted

Brooke

Aug. 26 at Huntington + Sept. 2 Morgantown Sept. 9 at University Sept. 16 at Hurricane Sept. 23 Wheeling Park Sept. 30 Indian Creek Oct. 7 at Parkersburg South + Oct. 14 John Marshall Oct. 21 at Buckhannon-Upshur Oct. 28 Weir + 7 p.m. kickoff

Games at 7:30 p.m. unless noted

Weir High

Aug. 26 Oak Glen Sept. 2 Edison Sept. 9 at John Marshall Sept. 16 Keyser Sept. 24 at Petersburg * Sept. 30 Union Local Oct. 7 at Fairmont Senior + Oct. 14 Warren Local Oct. 21 at East Liverpool + Oct. 28 at Brooke +

Aug. 26 East Liverpool Sept. 2 at Weir Sept. 9 at Buckeye Local Sept. 16 Beaver Local Sept. 23 at Union Local Sept. 30 Oak Glen Oct. 7 Harrison Central Oct. 14 Catholic Central Oct. 21 at Toronto Oct. 27 at Indian Creek

Aug. 26 at Wellsville Sept. 2 at Bridgeport Sept. 9 at Sebring McKinley Sept. 16 Catholic Central Sept. 23 Shadyside Sept. 30 at Conotton Valley Oct. 7 Beallsville Oct. 14 River Oct. 21 Edison Oct. 28 at Madonna Games at 7 p.m. unless noted

* 4 p.m. kickoff; + 7:30 p.m. kickoff Games at 7 p.m. unless noted

Harrison Central

Oak Glen

Weirton Madonna

Games at 7 p.m. unless noted

*1 p.m. kickoff Games at 7 p.m. unless noted

Games at 7 p.m. unless noted

Aug. 26 Claymont Sept. 2 Rhodes Sept. 1 at Bellaire * Sept. 16 at Union Local Sept. 23 Martins Ferry Sept. 30 St. Clairsville Oct. 7 at Edison Oct. 14 at Oak Glen Oct. 21 at River View Oct. 28 Buckeye Local

* 12:30 p.m. kickoff Games at 7 p.m. unless noted

Aug. 26 at Weir Sept. 2 Catholic Central Sept. 9 Indian Creek Sept. 15 at Madonna Sept. 24 at Warren Local Sept. 30 at Edison Oct. 7 East Liverpool Oct. 14 Harrison Central Oct. 21 at Buckeye Local Oct. 28 Beaver Local

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Brooke Bruins

44

2016 Schedule Aug. 26 at Huntington + Sept. 2

Morgantown

Sept. 9 at University Sept. 16 at Hurricane Sept. 23

Wheeling Park

Sept. 30

Indian Creek

Oct. 7 at Parkersburg South + Oct. 14

John Marshall

Oct. 21 at Buckhannon-Upshur Oct. 28

Weir + 7 p.m. kickoff

Games at 7:30 p.m. unless noted

Aug. 24, 2016

McLean: ‘We got to have a play-up mentality’

By ED LOOMAN For The Gridiron

WELLSBURG — Graduation did some major damage to the top shelf of the Brooke football program.

Third-year coach Mac McLean knows he has a major challenge on his hands as the 2016 season approaches but he by no means is ready to close the store.

“The raw ability to be a good football team is there,” McLean said earlier this month. “When you look at us as a whole standing out there as a football team, we’re not very impressive.

“However, when you start hand-picking guys and putting them in spots and you put the depth chart up there, we don’t look so bad. As a staff, we sit here and we think we have a lot of potential. It’s our job to make something out of that potential.

The learning curve will be steep.”

In 2015, McLean guided Brooke to an 8-4 record. Several of those wins came in “kardiac kid” fashion. The Bruins knocked off eventual Class AAA champion Wheeling Park and advanced to the second round of the West Vir-

The Coaches

ginia playoffs.

Gone from that squad are Thomas Cole, now at Wake Forest; Nathan Green, a West Virginia walk-on; Justin Loughrie, who moved on to Geneva College; Matt Lazear, a Shepherd recruit; and many more.

“I’ve said this a few times to people — we’re going to have to grow up fast,” McLean stressed when discussing his Bruins. “We’re going to be starting young guys. I think we have three or four starters back on de-

fense and probably only four full-time starters back on offense. We’re going to have a lot of new faces on the football field this season.

“We’re in T-shirts and shorts right now and everyone looks real good, but there’s a big difference between T-shirts and shorts, running patterns and playing on Friday night. I’ve told these kids we got to have a play-up mentality.”

McLean added he began preaching the “play-up mentality” after the

TRAC passing scrimmage earlier this summer.

“We had a bad day at that passing scrimmage and I sat them down and broke it to them,” McLean recalled. “I said, ‘Fellows this is the team that’s going to play this year.

Thomas, Justin and those guys are all gone.’ That’s a hard thing as a head football coach to see a group of guys like that go out door, but it’s also exciting because there are going to be some new kids See BRUINS Page 47

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45

2016 Roster

The Seniors

Seniors (15) 2 ........................ Coty Hudson 3 ........................ Chris Yachini 5 ........................ Noah Talbott 8 ...................... Derek Jenkins 12 ............................ John Hall 23 ........................ Alex Edgell 32 ...................... Austin Kemp 51 ................ Colten Zombeck 53 .................. Nick Tomassilli 55 ............ Vincent Pederson 73 .......... Zachary McKinney 74 ...................... Roman Hart 75 .......... Christopher Turner 82 .................... Colt Gaschler 84 .................. Jared Mitchem

From The Coach ...

“I’ve said this a few times to people — we’re going to have to grow up fast.

We’re going to be starting young guys. We’re going to have a lot of new faces on the football field this season.”

— Mac McLean

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Juniors (17) 1 ........................ Ethan Secrist 6 ................ Nick Provenzano 9 ........................ Kenny Taylor 10 .......................... Josh Richie 11 ...................... Dalton Valero 22 ...................... Zeke Farmer 25 .................... Walker Morris 26 .................... Nick Leonard 33 .......................... Corey Kins 40 .............................. Ty Ohler 58 .................... Aaron Adams

68 70 71 86 87 88

.......................... Skyler Rice ...................... Kyler Haynes .......... Jonathan Gallagher ........................ Dalton Yost ........................ Tyler Harrell ................ Jason Hodgkins Sophomores (17) 4 ............................ Gage Yost 7 .......................... Sierra Sesto 13 ...................... Aleksey Rasz 15 .................. Logan Williams 21 ............ Christopher Helms 24 .............. Anthony Pannett 30 .................. Dawson Kemp 42 .................... Michael Rood 44 ........ George Makricostas 47 ........ Cameron McAllister 50 .................. Scott Browning 52 .................... Ethan Bradley 56 .................. Kolton Yahrling 57 .................... Austin Reitter 63 ............ William McKinney 72 .................. James Willis Jr. 81 .......... Austin Provenzano

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Although a building is what most funeral homes say is their biggest factor, to us it is only one component of the whole picture of service we provide. The James Funeral Home’s, Follansbee, WV and branch location of Chambers Funeral Home’s, Wellsburg, WV staff make us the true choice of the Ohio Valley. We pride ourselves on uniquely trained staff to be remembrance planners who provide perfectly themed and executed funerals designed expressly for you. Our staff is trained on food and beverage for visitation, acquiring unique location for memorial and funeral services, trained on veterans benefits, not only service of veterans’ honors but also other important items to celebrate your loved one’s life in the military, and outstanding and noticeable customer service. These unique values add to our technology of a personalized DVD included in each of our services to create a true Remembrance Gathering. Our staff continues to be the area’s best trained providing Cremation with Care, which sets us apart as America’s most trusted cremation experts. Not only through training but also through community awards including the 2015 Pursuit of Excellence and the 2015 Best of the Best Funeral Home, chosen by local Ohio Valley residents, the awards give families peace of mind in knowing we are the best choice.

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Bruins

making plays for us this year.

“There are kids who’ve been waiting in the wings behind some of those graduated guys who are going to get their shot this year. There’s some excitement that goes with that but there are also some sleepless nights for a head coach knowing we could have six or seven sophomores starting on each side of the ball year. How will that work out? I don’t know, hopefully things like that will pay big dividends for us down the road.

“We’re certainly not throwing this season away. There are 12thgraders who have been waiting their whole life to play their senior year.

So we’re not going to play this season worrying about next season. We want to win right now.”

One of the full-time starters McLean does have back on offense is senior quarterback Koty Hudson.

As a junior, Hudson threw for more than 1,700 yards and 17 touchdowns. He completed 64 percent of his passes.

“It’s a great feeling to know you have a kid as talented and intelligent as Koty coming back to lead your foot-

47

ball team,” McLean remarked. “He knows the offense. This is his third year in my system and his experience is paying off.

“He’s the guy who can answer a question for any of the other 10 guys in the huddle with him. Combine that with his natural and physical ability and that’s something that makes me smile — having Koty back at the trigger this year.

“I’m excited for him. If this team gels, I really believe he could be one of the top players in the Ohio Valley this year as a quarterback.”

Sophomores Gage Yost and Logan Williams will serve as backups to Hudson.

Hudson will have one familiar target back at wide receiver in fellow senior Chris Yachini, a three-year regular.

“Like Koty, Chris has an outstanding attitude,” McLean stated.

“He’s not the most outstanding athlete I’ve seen but he has some of the best hands I’ve seen. He runs great routes. If you put the ball close to him, he’s going to catch it. He’s a solid player on both sides of the ball (Yachini also is a returning starter at outside linebacker) and I expect him to be a leader on this team.”

The top candidate

From Page 44

to replace Cole at wide out is junior Ethan Secrist, who stands 6-3.

“He has Thomas Cole kind of potential,” McLean noted. “He’s young and he has to prove it like Thomas did. If he plays to his capabilities, he’ll be the kind of kid college coaches will want to come looking for. He has speed, height, athletic ability and very good grades. I expect him to mature into someone people around the valley will be talking a lot about.”

Yost also could see time at wide receiver.

Sophomore Michael Rood, a transfer from Edison, has emerged as the top candidate to replace Loughrie at tailback. Others in the mix are junior Zeke Farmer, sophomore Anthony Pannett and sophomore Dalton Valero.

Senior Alex Edgell is back at fullback for McLean with junior Ty Ohler providing support.

With Green gone at tight end, McLean is looking at senior Noah Talbott, junior Walker Morris and sophomore George Makricostas, who transferred from Weir High, to see playing time.

Up front, McLean has several starters back, including junior Jonathan Gallagher, 6-5, 310, at tackle. Joining him there will be sophomore Scott Browning.

See BRUINS Page 90

2016 Coaches

Head Coach

Mac McLean

Assistant Coaches Paul Julio C.J. Besece Mario DiBias Chuck Taylor Doug Lamp Rich Henr y Ryan Scherich Chris Baldauf Zeke Farmer Jason Williamson Kent Kidder

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Edison Wildcats

50

2016 Schedule Aug. 26

East Liverpool

Sept. 2 at Weir

Sept. 9 at Buckeye Local Sept. 16

Beaver Local

Sept. 23 at Union Local Sept. 30

Oak Glen

Oct. 7

Harrison Central

Oct. 14

Catholic Central

Oct. 21 at Toronto

Oct. 27 at Indian Creek

Games at 7 p.m. unless noted

Aug. 24, 2016

Stickles: ‘We have good kids who can do it’

By AARON PETCHAL For The Gridiron

RICHMOND — The youth movement continues for the Edison football team.

The Wildcats’ lone victory was a 34-6 Week 3 home triumph over Buckeye Local.

“It was a disappointing season,” Edison head coach Derrick Stickles said. “I thought we would have a much better season.

We had to deal with a lot of injuries. We also had the inability to finish games.”

Edison could have had a few more wins last season, but the Wildcats were unable to get the job done in the fourth quarter.

“We lost a lot of close games last year,” Stickles said. “We lost a lot of oneor-two-possession games.

We lost the lead in some of those games. We have to learn how to not get too comfortable when we have the lead, and we need to learn how to not panic when we are behind. We can’t get too high or too low. We have to remain even keel.

“When we are ahead, we tend to relax and bad things happen. When we are behind, we tend to panic and bad things happen. We have to learn to keep our composure. We

The Coaches

have to be mentally tough and finish out games and come away with the win.”

A lot of younger players, including multiple freshman, saw significant time on the gridiron last season for the Wildcats.

“Being able to give young kids the opportunity to play on Friday night is a good thing, and I think it is going to pay dividends for us down the road,” Stickles said. “The kids have now seen Friday night, and they have been in the

trenches. There are some other young guys in that sophomore class who we are looking at to have big roles this season.”

That could happen again this year. Edison has a smaller roster and 25 of the 40 are either sophomores or freshmen.

“Sometimes, a smaller roster is better,” Stickles said.

The Wildcats’ offense will feature a new look — running the ball more than it has in the past.

“They are taking to the new offense very well,” Stickles said. “The first week of minicamp was rough, but that was my fault. We were trying to put in a lot of stuff very early on.

“We made some adjustments, and things are going better. We want to be very consistent. Honestly, we still have a ways to go to get to where I want us to be.

See W ILDCATS Page 53

Aug. 24, 2016

51

2016 Roster

The Seniors

Seniors (13) 3 .......................... Dom Rogers 7 .................... Storm Vincenzo 9 .................................. JT Dillon 19 .............................. Joe Nave 32 .......................... Mark Johns 43 ........................ Chris Kosegi 50 .................. Mason Balzano 52 ........................ Logan Glenn 62 .......................... Cole Clutter 72 ............ Brandon Alexander 73 .............. Jonathon Kemmer 80 ........................ Rachel Cline 84 .................... Cody Westling Junior s (2) 11 .................... Dustin Calhoun 22 ............................ Seth Cade

From The Coach ...

“First, we have to learn how to win. We have to stay positive ... We cannot get too comfortable when we have the lead, and we cannot panic when we are trailing in a game.”

— Derrick Stickles

Sophomores (12) 1 ............................ Justin Wade 10 .......................... Devin Allen 17 ............................ Kyle Morris 25 ................ Bryce McAfoose 29 .................... Noah Simpson 33 ........................ River Pappas 45 .................... Dakota Clifton

54 65 67 68 85

............................ Ben Kuntz ...................... Ryan Laverick .................... Joey McAllister .......................... Chris Dean ........................ Derek Rohall

Freshmen (13) 2 ........................ Noah Woods 4 .................. Kaleb Waggoner 5 .................... Troy Hackathorn 20 ...................... Josh Gaumer 21 .................... Logan Hanchin 42 .................... Levi Waggoner 55 ................ Cody Waggoner 60 ...................... Lucas McCain 61 ........................ Blake Chesla 70 ...................... Logan Kmatz 75 ................ Thomas Redman 76 ........................ Ryan Burger 78 ................ Dominic Williams

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Wildcats

“The kids are adjusting quite nicely to the new offense. With this offense, we are able to better control the plays and do what we have to do to make it work.”

Though many younger players will play this season, the Edison offense is led by senior Joey Nave, who also started at quarterback last season.

“Joey is a special quarterback,” Stickles said. “He can run and be successful in any offense. I think with this offense we are playing to his strengths. He is a special kid.

You like to coach kids like him. He asks the right questions. He does the right things. I think he can excel in any offense.”

Senior Dom Rogers will serve as Nave’s backup.

Sophomore River Pappas and senior Chris Kosegi will see time at fullback this season.

Junior Seth Cade and sophomore Dakota Clifton will see time at running back this season along with a handful of other players.

“We are going to be a downhill team,” Stickles said. “I don’t want to give too much away, but we are going to be a different team offensively come Week 1.”

The Wild-

53

cats also will rotate players in at the receiver positions.

Seniors Rogers, Marky Johns and Cody Westling will see time at the X; Clifton and seniors J.T. Dillon and Storm Vincenzo will see time at the Z and Kosegi, Dillon and Vincenzo will all see time at the Y. “We will have a revolving door,” Stickles said.

Senior Logan Glenn will be the team’s starting center. Senior Mason Balzano will start at left guard and classmate Jonathon Kemmer will start at right guard. Sophomore Ryan Laverick will start at left tackle, while senior Cole Clutter will start at right tackle. Logan Kmatz and Brandon Alexander will see time on the line during the season.

“We made the change due to our personnel,” Stickles said about his team’s new-look offense. “We do not have the type of skill players here we have had in the past as far as speed goes. They run good routes and have good hands, but they are not as fast.”

While the Wildcats’ offense has undergone a change, the Edison defense will remain the same this season.

“Our defense has not changed,” Stickles said. “We are still going to run a 4-3. The kids have been able to carry over a lot of stuff we did last

From Page 50

year to this year.”

Kmatz, a freshman, will start at nose guard and Glenn at defensive tackle. Alexander, a senior, and classmate Balzano are leading the way at defensive end. Clutter, Laverick and Dillon will see time on the line.

Pappas will start at Mike linebacker, Kosegi will start at Sam linebacker and Rogers will be the Will linebacker. Vincenzo will see time at linebacker throughout the course of the season.

Westling and Johns will start at cornerback, Cade at strong safety, and Nave will be the free safety.

Rogers will handle the kicking duties, but senior Rachel Cline may also see time at kicking. Cline will not kick off. Nave will be the punter, and he will be backed up by Alexander. Glenn and Kosegi will see time at long snapper. Nave will be the team’s holder. Cade and Clifton will return kickoffs. Westling will return punts.

“We have some young kids, and the older kids are helping to explain things to them and helping to bring them along,” Stickles said. “We are letting our leaders lead the way. We have not yet had our team vote for our captains. We are going to have to wait and see who our leaders are going to be this season.”

See WILDCATS Page 106

2016 Coaches

Head Coach

Derrick Stickles

Assistant Coaches Spencer Bendle Alex Pappas Shane O’Brien Steven Fletcher Caleb Crowl Josh Waggoner Ed Franke

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Oak Glen Golden Bears

56

Aug. 24, 2016

2016 Schedule Aug. 26 at Weir Sept. 2

Catholic Central

Sept. 9

Indian Creek

Sept. 15 at Madonna

Sept. 24 at Warren Local Sept. 30 at Edison Oct. 7

East Liverpool

Oct. 14

Harrison Central

Oct. 21 at Buckeye Local Oct. 28

Beaver Local

Games at 7 p.m. unless noted

Arneault: ‘I would categorize this team as balanced’

By RALPH COX For The Gridiron

NEW MANCHESTER — Being a first-year head coach can be a challenge, but it has become a little easier for Ted Arneault at Oak Glen because he was on the football staff last year.

Familiarity with the returning players has helped a lot with the evaluation process and plugging the right personnel into the right slots.

Another thing that helps is having a big running back like Dakota Price in the backfield. At 6-feet-3, 215 pounds, Price, a second team All-West Virginia captain, is an imposing figure for opposition defenses to deal with.

Arneault says Price, a fourth-year letterman, not only has size, but may have picked up a step or two in speed and has matured.

“Dakota is a year older and has grown into his body,” Arneault said of his running back who gained 1,770 yards as a junior.

“Our opponents will be getting a big dose of him this year. He returns as a much more complete running back. He’s worked hard on his pass blocking technique and we have

The Coaches

“He was thrust into a leadership role last year as a junior and it has helped him to develop into a catalyst for this team. Collins also will be more involved in the Oak Glen run game this year as we have installed the Flex Bone philosophy used in college by Army, Navy and Georgia Tech.”

Arneault said it is an option-type of offense, which will give Collins the opportunity to hand off, run or pass and gives the offense a better opportu-

been working hard this pre-season on carrying out his fakes better.”

Joining Price in the backfield is the starting quarterback from a year ago, Lance Collins.

Collins, also a senior, tossed the football for 1,203 yards and had a 60 percent completion rate with eight TD passes.

“Lance also has grown a lot since last year,” exclaimed Arneault, who didn’t mean in size so much but in his development as a football player.

nity to use isolation power with price in the run game.

Stevie Cool, another senior, will be the fullback. Arneault said junior Nic Rowland will get his share of plays at fullback.

Graduation took several key players from the Golden Bears. Most notably are wide receiver Cyle Perez, who was honorable mention all-state after snatching 53 passes for 717 yards and five touchdowns, which was See BEARS Page 59

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57

2016 Roster

The Seniors

From The Coach ...

“I would categorize this team as balanced. We have size, strength and speed.

We’re not overly strong in any one area, but not weak in any area either.”

— Ted Arneault Jr.

Senior s (11) 3 ...................... David Devaux 5 ........................ Chase Crago 15 ...................... Lance Collins 22 ...................... Dakota Price 23 .......................... Stevie Cool 47 .................. Andy Gonzalez 58 ........................ Derek Davis 74 ...................... Logan Kranis 78 .................... Isaac Rosohac 80 .................... Solan Mueller 86 .................. Austin Andrews Juniors (10) 9 .......................... Jaden Glenn 13 .................... Collin Williams 32 ...................... Nic Rowland 55 .................... Mathias Cook 62 .................... Noah Toomey 66 ................................ Ty Beila 76 .......................... Joe Durant 77 ........................ Tony Minnis 81 .......................... Gus Weekly 88 .................. William Straight Sophomores (9) 2 .......................... Jake McCoy 6 .................... Hunter Skeeles 20 .................... Shawn Moore

27 56 60 64 70 83

.......................... Blake Almo .................... Kellen Tropeck ................ Cameron Oulds ................ Logan Meadows ........................ Cole English ........................ Ethan Travis Freshmen (5) 4 .................... Michael Lemley 10 ........................ Jacob Jones 24 .......................... Zach Taylor 35 .................... Preston Brown 84 ................ Dylan Merriman

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Bears just 61 yards shy of top area receiver; Thomas Cole; Noah Flowers; Ryan Cunningham; Devon Chadwick; Justin Campbell and Michael Campbell. Aaron Gray, who may have been one of the best athletes on the team as a sophomore, nursed injuries throughout his junior and senior seasons.

Arneault plans to plug in some guys like Ethan Travis, a 6-5 sophomore, at split end along with Jacob McCoy, also a sophomore. Senior Chase Crago returns as the wide receiver with the most experience, having caught 16 aerials for 167 yards.

Arneault also has several starters returning on the Golden Bear offensive line. Senior Isaac Rosohac will move from guard to tackle this year and another senior, Logan Kranis, a 280-pounder, will be the other tackle.

Mathias Cook, a junior, who started at center last year, moves to guard and Arneault said he has four other capable linemen battling in camp to be the starting center and guard. Those in that mix are juniors Ty Biela and Tony Minnis along with Cameron Oulds and

59

From Page 56

Arneault looks forward to his two passions

By RALPH COX For The Gridiron

NEW MANCHESTER — You don’t have to talk with new Oak Glen head football coach Ted Arneault long before you realize that he has a passion. Well, perhaps at least two passions.

One is obvious. He loves coaching football. He’s been at it for about 10 years now starting at the lower level of middle school.

Through those years he’s assisted several of the area’s top head coaches and learned a lot about the game of football.

The other passion you find Arneault has is leading kids in the Kellen Tropeck, both sophomores.

Rosohac also will make a position shift on the defensive line, moving from tackle to strong side defensive end. Cook, Oulds and Derek Davis, a senior out for football for the first time, are battling to be the weak side defensive end.

Kranis, Minnis and Tropeck will

direction that will make them productive and well adjusted young men who enjoy life.

“I feel, as a head coach, that I have the responsibility for the welfare of the kids from the middle school ages through even adulthood,” Arneault explained after a hot day of football practice on the artificial turf at Oak Glen High School. “I want to be a part of these young men’s lives and hope they want to stay in touch with me and the school beyond high school.”

Arneault says that his predecessor, Ian Whittington, for whom he See ARNEAULT Page 105

be the defensive tackles. Cool and Rowland are at linebacker with Collins and sophomore Jake McCoy at outside safety. Arneault plans to use Jaden Glenn, a junior, and Austin Andrews, a senior, as the cornerbacks with Crago at free safety.

Seniors David DeVaux and Solan Mueller, whom Arneault says is See BEARS Page 105

2016 Coaches

Head Coach

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John Lear y

Ted Arneault Sr. Chris Hill

Ethan Delekta Doug Smith

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61

Linemen

From Page 17

“It’s not one of our favorite things to do, but it’s the best thing to do”

From an offensive lineman ...

— Brenton Stull, Harrison Central

have lesser time than us by a couple seconds,” said Toronto’s Griffin Allison.

“We’re trying to be just as quick as they are.

We have to be able to shuffle and move our feet while maintaining a strong base and a powerful stance. By running and doing footwork drills, we get prepared for that same movement in a game.”

In those game situations, if an offensive lineman does get beat by a defender, the coaching staff may come up with more creative words than “shoot” to yell at the players who botched the ball. To alleviate that, some teams do chute workouts.

“We do chutes in the offseason and in prac-

tice,” said Brenton Stull, a Harrison Central lineman. “It’s a metal box thing where we squat down and do our down steps, pull steps and right gap steps. We know where to hit them, how to hit them and when to hit them, every single time. It’s not one of our favorite things to do, but it’s the best thing to do.”

That repetitive nature is, really, the main component of being a successful offensive lineman. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results, according to Albert Einstein.

According to Nick Tomiselli of Brooke, doing the same thing over and over again is

the mark of a good offensive lineman.

Insane? Maybe.

“It’s just so important to be comfortable in your position, that’s why you need to do everything so many times,” he said. “The technique, the cues, the footwork, the movement, it all needs to come together.”

Of course, the lineman maintain their big frames by hitting the gym hard.

“Our line loves to lift,” said Buckeye Local’s Jake Ingram. “We love putting up weights.”

Toronto players have taken advantage of a recently renovated weight room. It’s become a home-away-from-home for the Red Knights.

“We’ve been working hard since last season ended,” said Ben Davis, who helped Toronto make the Division VII players in back-to-back seasons. “We put a greater emphasis on the weight training, but everybody on the team has the goal to get stronger and that starts in the offseason.”

See LINEMEN Page 66

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Aug. 24, 2016

Toronto Red Knights

2016 Schedule Aug. 26 at Wellsville

Sept. 2 at Bridgeport

Sept. 9 at Sebring McKinley Sept. 16

Catholic Central

Sept. 23

Shadyside

Sept. 30 at Conotton Valley Oct. 7

Beallsville

Oct. 14 River

Oct. 21 Edison

Oct. 28 at Madonna

Games at 7 p.m. unless noted

Meek: ‘We have a good amount of experience coming back’

By AARON PETCHAL For The Gridiron

TORONTO — The bar has been raised.

The Toronto football team enters 2016 looking to take the next step on the road to Columbus.

Two years ago, the Red Knights advanced to the playoffs for the first time since 2000, however, Toronto, the No. 7 seed, fell to No. 2 seed Western Reserve, 27-17, on the road in the first round of the Ohio Division VII, Region 23 playoffs.

Last season, Toronto not only returned to the playoffs, but the Red Knights hosted a playoff game for the first time at Clarke Hinkle Field. Toronto, the No. 4 seed, defeated No. 5 seed Mathews, 49-7, before falling to top-seeded Warren John F Kennedy, 40-6, in the regional semifinals at Austintown to cap its season at 10-2.

The boys from the Gem City ended up outscoring their opponents 458-94 last season.

“Last year, we were very dominate at times,” Toronto head coach Eric Meek said.

“We really played well around the middle of the season. We kept getting better. I thought we peaked in Weeks 8, 9, 10 and 11. We did not play very well

The Coaches

against JFK in Round 2. I thought we played very well in the opening week of the playoffs. I thought we had hit our stride. I have a lot of respect for JFK. I thought we could win the game. I expected us to win the game, but we just did not play well. We are going to take that loss and try to learn from it and try to improve.

We had a great season last year, and we are hoping to have another great season again this year.”

Toronto only lost eight seniors from last year’s team (Blaze Glenn, Joe

Jordan, Brandon Mitchell, Gavin Roche, Blaine Rawson, Drew Lowery, Cody King and Justin Starkey),, but many of them were key contributors to the team.

“Last year, we had a special group,” Meek said.

“There were only eight of them, but they were a special group. They had a lot of athletic ability. They contributed a lot to our football team. We are going to miss them. They were great leaders. They were leaders and they were good players. They helped build the culture of our

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program. They were the leaders of the team, and this year’s seniors are going to have to carry on what they started. They are going to have to show the way for the younger kids.”

This season, the Red Knights return 14 starters/lettermen from last season’s squad.

“We have a lot of experience back,” Meek said.

“Our offensive line is very strong. We just need to keep getting better. We are very strong on our offensive and See RED KNIGHTS Page 65

Aug. 24, 2016

63

2016 Roster

The Seniors

Senior s (11) 5 ................ Thomas Fordham 10 ................................ Ty West 20 .................... Danny Zdinak 24 ...................... Danny Braniff 25 .......... Joven Householder 32 .......................... Joe Obrien 34 .............................. Max Tice 57 ............................ Ben Davis 69 ...................... Dustin Henry 71 ...................... Griffin Allison 77 .................... Dylan Warren

Junior s (8) 2 ........................ Nate Keenan 18 ........................ Jake Keenan 19 ...................... Jon Patterson 21 ................ Juston Patterson 51 .......................... Luke Fogle 55 .................... Avery Watkins 56 ........................ Roger Scott 66 .................... Kanne Larkins

From The Coach ...

“We are trying to build a program and a culture We have some really good players ... You have to go with who you have. We have been blessed to have had some really good athletes here.”

— Eric Meek

Sophomores (13) 1 .............................. Judge Hall 4 .......................... Nate Karaffa 12 .............................. Travis Hill 26 .................... Chase Cooper 27 ...................... Andre Roach

28 ...................... Kobe Herrick 31 ...................... Carson Meek 45 .................... Nick Sninchak 58 ........................ Trent Wright 60 ...................... Seth Watkins 74 ............................ Joe Shook 75 .................. Cole DeGarmo 76 ...................... Justin Haynes

Freshmen (13) 3 .................. Brendan Matyas 6 ...................... Spenser Higgs 7 .......................... Jesse Fulton 8 .................... Tristan Thomas 9 .............................. Kyre Smith 13 ........................ Dylan Bozica 15 ................ Zach Stackhouse 16 ........................ Zach Berger 30 ........................ Frank Fulton 62 ............................ RJ Batson 63 ...... Shane Van Steenberg 64 ................ Cameron Garcia 72 .......... D'Andre Thompson

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Red Knights

defensive lines. We have got some good skill people back. Football is a funny game. You have to be consistent. We want to play really fast, we want to play really hard, we want to be really physical, we want to get better and we want to stay healthy.

That is important for all Division VII teams. Our numbers are good. We are in the mid 40s. That is a solid number for a school our size.”

Nine of Toronto’s 10 wins last season were by blowouts. As a result, the Red Knights younger players were able to see a good amount of playing time throughout the course of the season.

“We have a good amount of experience coming back,” Meek said.

“There is two ways of looking at that. The downside is we were in a lot of mercy-rule games. We were up big in a lot of games, and the games went by fast. We were able to get a lot of kids playing time, but in a lot of games the second half went by quickly. We also pulled our first team early in those games, and maybe they did not get the experience they needed.

“We were tremendous on defense. We shut a

65

lot of teams down. Offensively, we scored a lot of points. We would like to be able to do that again this season. Our special teams were solid.

Our defense was the best defensive team that I have seen in all of my years coaching. Offensively, we ran the ball well, and threw the ball well.

We did not have a lot of turnovers, and we made plays. That is what you have to do. We want to play fast, and we want to play physical. We want to play mistake-free football. If we do that, we will be successful.”

Toronto played three quarterbacks last season, but the top two — Blaine Rawson and Blaze Glenn — graduated in the spring. Rawson was the team’s starting and primary signal caller. Rawson threw for 1,200 yards and 12 touchdowns last season, while amassing 163 yards and three touchdowns on the ground.

Glenn finished the season with a team-high 1,299 all-purpose yards, a team-high 16 touchdowns and a team-high 106 points.

This season, sophomore Nate Karaffa will be the starting quarterback. Karaffa completed 3 of 6 passes for 56 yards and a touchdown. Freshman Zach Stackhouse will be the backup.

“Nate is inexperienced,” Meek said. “He did get in games, but

From Page 62

we were up by so many points that he hardly had the chance to throw the football. We didn’t want to throw the football in those situations. He led our offense at the JV level. He did a good job. He is a three-sport athlete.

He is a good kid. He is coachable.

“He loves sports. When he is playing baseball, he is focused only on baseball. When he is playing basketball, he is only focused on basketball. When he is playing football, he is only focused on football. He is focused on whatever sport he happens to be playing at the time. He has had success. He also played basketball and baseball. He has been in some big games. This year, his sophomore year, he is going to be in some awfully big games in football. He is a coachable kid. He is going to keep getting better the next three seasons.”

Karaffa will have a talented group of running backs to hand the ball off to this season. Leading the way are seniors Max Tice, who led the team with 781 yards and nine touchdowns on the ground last season, and Danny Zdinak, who rushed for 421 yards and three touchdowns. Senior Thomas Fordham and junior Juston Patterson are also in the mix. Others competing for time are Andre Roach, Spencer Higgs, Jesse Fulton, Kyre Smith and Frank Fulton.

Seniors Joe Obrien and Danny See RED KNIGHTS Page 112

2016 Coaches

Head Coach

Eric Meek

Assistant Coaches Jason Fogle Bruce Palmer Bill Stone Al Johnson Matt Karaffa Jerr y Vinci Bill Meek

66

Aug. 24, 2016

JEFFERSON COUNTY JVS 1509 Co. Hwy. 22A • Bloomingdale, Ohio 43910

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Linemen

From Page 61

At Indian Creek, Jeremy Pressley has instituted a new weight program which has revolutionized the way some Redskins train and work out. They may have already experienced the personal results with a stronger body.

Because of those individual improvements, the results on the field have the potential to look better, too.

“It’s really great, we’ve all been put through a lot and it has paid off,” Robinson said. “We try to add more weight with lower reps, just focusing on power and strength. Deadlift gets my legs warmed up and I’m ready to go after that.”

TIME TO PLAY

All the conditioning is done. The two-a-days have ceased, the booster club has met the team and a pep rally wished the players glad tidings for a successful season.

The team gathers together. Maybe they pray, maybe they clap, maybe they shout. They’re definitely focused.

Defense

See LINEMEN Page 83 From Page 17

“The first thing I think about is inside hand control,” said Weir’s Travis Lowther. “Without inside hand control, you’re going to have a hard time. Our D-Line coach (Anthony Pompa) puts a big emphasis on that.”

Defensive linemen have their eyes on the offense at all times. They may not be looking directly at the ball, though. They know when it’s snapped, but that’s just the first part. They have to know where the ball is going.

“I have to recognize if it’s a run or a pass play,” said Madonna’s Jake Gasvoda. “Then, it’s just a matter of getting after the ball.”

On the line, plays are a matter of psyching out the opposition. Not with tricks or magic, but with logical instincts.

“I’m thinking about what kind of blocks my opponent can ran and how I can beat them,” said Weir’s Dustin Keyes. “After that, it’s honestly kind of blank. With the coaching we have and the practice we have, it’s just natural muscle memory. My body knows where to step, what move to make and where to find the ball.”

After that, it’s all about finishing the play.

“The best part is hitting and being able to eat and cook whenever I want,” said Madonna’s Zak Tokash. “I’m making contact with the lineman in front of me, finding the ball, disengaging the block and getting to the ball.”

GOING BOTH WAYS

For players who go both ways as linemen, it’s somewhat of a contradiction. One minute, you’re trying to score and, before you know it, you’re back on the field trying to prevent the other team from scoring.

“Playing both ways gives you an advantage because you can get an idea of what the offense is thinking,” said Harrison Central’s Nevada Kuryn. “Every team is different, but every little advantage can help your own team.”

Indian Creek’s Andy Waggoner has slowly started to play both sides of the ball, after just stepping onto the defensive line for a brief time last season. He already knows what to expect, but he’s anticipating more intensity this year.

See DEFENSE Page 75

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Aug. 24, 2016

Harrison Central Huskies

2016 Schedule Aug. 26

Claymont

Sept. 2

Rhodes

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Sept. 30

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Games at 7 p.m. unless noted

Kropka: ‘There are a lot of hard hats in this senior class’

By MIKE MATHISON For The Gridiron

CADIZ — Justin Kropka watched his father go to work daily, lunch pail in hand.

“He didn’t miss work,” the Harrison Central head coach said.

That is the Huskies’ program.

“There are a lot of hard hats in this senior class,” Kropka said. “We have zero flash in this senior class.

“Last year we had one senior lineman and a bunch of talented skill guys. Good things would happen when we got the ball into their hands.”

One good thing was another playoff berth.

“I’d like to think that’s who we are now,” Kropka said. “There are a lot of people who have built the foundation of this program brick by brick to the point we should be playoff contenders every year. That’s the expectation now.

“We don’t shy away from saying the word. We want to be in the playoffs.

We want that pressure. We want to be playing meaningful games in late October and November.”

The Huskies did that a year ago, making it to Week 11 before dropping a heartbreaker, 13-10, at

Belmont Career Center 110 Fox-Shannon Place St. Clairsville, OH 43950 (740) 695-9130

The Coaches

Ridgewood.

Gone from that squad are 10 players, including firstteam All-Ohio standouts Brandon Mitchell, secondteam all-stater Travis Stenson, along with OVAC All-Star selection Austyn Porter.

Others who graduated were KeShaun Muckle, Gio Rocchi, Bryson Porter, Zach Arbogast, Tison Johnson, Sam Hill and Antony Risley.

“You don’t graduate two All-Ohio players and think that is good for the program,” Kropka said with a

laugh. “They were all experienced players. There was no panic in them — ever.

They were in a lot of close games over the years that they just handled all the expectations really well.

“There is a lot that goes into a senior class like that.

People forget they all had to play when they were young and no one was calling them great when they were sophomores and went 5-5. We had so many injuries that season that they had to play.

“They went through a lot of growing pains. They

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were allowed to blossom, but went through a lot of bumps and bruises to get there.

“They learned from all those bumps and bruises and losses and got better because it mattered to them.

They were a talented class.

“They set such a good example. They didn’t miss weights for three years.

They never missed a practice. They asked for film and watched on their own.

They knew the importance of the little things and until See HUSK IES Page 73

Harrison Career Center

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82500 Cadiz Jewett Road Cadiz, OH 43907 (740) 942-2148

Aug. 24, 2016

71

2016 Roster

The Seniors

Seniors (13) 7 ........................ Grant Sproul 13 ................ Shaun Logsdon 20 ...................... Kyle Roberts 25 ........................ Tyler Carter 34 ............................ Jesse Ball 46 .......................... Jacob Barr 48 ........................ Logan Starr 51 .................. Malcom Boyer 52 .................. Nevada Kuryn 60 ...................... Brenton Stull 66 ........................ Clay Gilliam 75 ...................... Logan Smith 78 ...................... Lance Smith

From The Coach ...

â&#x20AC;&#x153;We donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t shy away from saying the word. We want to be in the playoffs. We want that pressure. We want to be playing meaningful games in late October and November.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Justin Kropka

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Juniors (10) 1 .................. DeJuan Caldwell 9 .................. Caden Arbaugh 12 ...................... Isiah Cowans 17 ...................... Gage Rapavi 23 ........................ Wyatt Elias 26 .............. Coleman Dodds 30 ........................ Lindsey Ball 53 ...................... Jake Schoup 54 .................. Blake Barnhart 58 .................. Ronnie Bowers

14 .................. Jobe Positano 15 ...................... Peyton Taylor 21 .......................... Tyler West 27 ............ Damon Carpenter 31 ...................... Zack Marbais 32 .................... Cody Gamble 61 ...................... Caden Bailey 62 .......................... Josh Croft 63 ...................... Cole Dunfee 64 ...................... Blayne Erwin 71 .......................... Isiah White 72 .............. Dustin Whittaker 79 ................ Gabe Alexander 80 ................ Devin Whittaker

Freshmen (10) 4 ........................ Cale McAfee 5 .......................... Mark Smith 8 ............................ Kyler Tobin 24 ................ Tucker Coultrap 44 .................... Heath Pizzino 50 .................... John Dannehl 55 .................... Blake Milliken 57 ........................ Haden Stull Sophomores (16) 6 ...................... Caden Dalton 67 ...................... Albert Taylor 11 ...................... Kaleb Ferrell 68 .................. Wesley Bachtel

72

Aug. 24, 2016

Jefferson County Vocational School is still accepting applications for the 2016/17 school year. Applications are available from associate high school counselors, or by contacting the JVS at 740-264-5545 Providing excellent educational opportunities for students from Buckeye, Catholic Central, Edison, Harrison, Indian Creek, Steubenville and Toronto.

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Aug. 24, 2016

Huskies

you are on that varsity field and paid that price and bled, you don’t know the importance of the little things.

“They were so much fun to coach.

They all had to play for three years and it was three of the most enjoyable years I’ve had coaching football.”

Harrison Central finished 8-3 a year ago, including a crippling Week 9 home loss to Indian Creek, which wiped out the chance to host a playoff game.

Back are the guys up front — all of them. They started all 11 games.

“Bringing back your entire offensive line is always a plus,” Kropka said. “They are a really good group.

They have gone through wars together. They know each other and they know what we want to do.

“Both of our tight ends are seniors.

“This is the most depth we’ve ever had up front and it’s not close. But, it’s probably the most thin skill unit we’ve ever had. There’s talent in the skill unit, but they’re young.”

Right guard Brenton Stull (5-11, 245) leads the group, having started every game of his high school career.

Senior Logan Smith (5-10, 280) is at center with his twin, Lance (5-10, 270), at left tackle. Senior Nevada Kuryn (6-0, 280)

73

is at right tackle with Ronnie Bowers (5-10, 210) at left guard.

The tight ends are Jacob Barr (6-4, 215) and Grant Sproull (6-1, 245).

Sproull is also a backup lineman.

Options on the offensive line are seniors Macolm Boyer and Clay Gilliam, juniors Jake Shoup and Blake Barnhart and sophomores Caden Bailey and Isiah White.

The quarterback is junior Wyatt Elias (6-1, 235).

“He’s my Jared Lorenzen,” Kropka said. “He is surprisingly mobile and has good feet for a big guy.”

Elias had taken one snap on the varsity level (taking a knee), but has 20 starts in reserve games.

“He has experience at quarterback, just not at the varsity level,” Kropka said. “He’s a pretty level-headed kid.

Not much gets to him.”

Senior Jesse Ball is back at fullback with sophomores Tyler West and Damon Carpenter at tailback.

“No one is getting the carries like Travis got last year,” Kropka said. “It will be more running the ball by committee. Last year we had guys with really good football speed. Tyler has track speed.”

The Huskies also have senior Tyler Carter and junior Lindsey Ball.

Senior Logan Starr is back as a kicker (a first for Kropka) and DeJuan Caldwell will be the punter.

Caldwell, Caden Dalton,

From Page 70

Caden Arbaugh and senior Kyle Roberts will man the receiver positions.

“We have hard-hat receivers, too,” Kropka quipped.

Caldwell also is the backup quarterback.

Stull, Kuryn, White and Lance Smith are the defensive tackles, with Barr, Carter (eight sacks), Sproul and Barnhart are the ends.

Jesse Ball will lead the defensive unit from his linebacker slot. He had 101 tackles in 2015. Also at linebacker are Bailey and Bowers. There is also Lindsey Ball, Dodds and Carpenter.

The defensive backfield will have Roberts, Arbaugh, Caldwell, Dalton and West.

“The most inexperience we have on defense is in the backfield,” Kropka said. “We had four, threeyear starters back there and they are gone. There’s a definite transition in place.

“We are going to make mistakes back there. We have to make sure the mistakes we make in Weeks 1 and 2 are not the same in Weeks 6 and 7.

“I really like our experience up front.

“Jesse and Brenton are the only four-year starters in my era here.

Those guys were physically mature enough to do it. It’s pretty impressive that they have never played a high school football game they didn’t start.

“They went from eighth-grade to Friday nights.

“That’s not easy to do.”

2015 Coaches

Head Coach

Justin Kropka Assistant Coaches Mike Valesko Mike Palmer Cain Noble D.J. Butler

Anthony Hayes Br yan Mays Nick Bickar

Dom Barabara

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Aug. 24, 2016

75

From a defensive lineman ...

“Beat out the guy in front of you. That’s the number one thing to do.”

— Drone Moore, Steubenville

Defense

“The physicality will be beefed up for sure,” Waggoner said. “My body is going to take a beating, but I’ve prepared for it. Mentally and physically, I’ve never been more prepared.”

From Page 66

Waggoner’s got the mental aspect down pat. His strategy on the line is to make the play, if possible, but also to rely on the teammates around him to step up, help out, and assist on every tackle possible.

“We try to make the linebackers the main players,” Waggoner said. “We take on most blocks and allow the linebackers to step up and stop the play. We want to close the open spaces quickly and limit their yards right away.”

It’s a direct contrast to the goals on the other side of the ball. Adjusting quickly is the mark of a truly disciplined lineman.

“Both sides of the ball are important,” said Catholic Central’s Stephen Marcino. “We’re the front lines in moving the ball and stopping the ball.

Everything kind of starts with us, no matter what side of the ball you’re playing on.”

Most of the Crusaders play on each side of the ball, so they are used to the extra work and passion that is needed to succeed.

“You have to try to sack what you’re protecting on the other side,” said Tommy Mort of Catholic Central. “When you play both ways, you might have a slight advantage because you were just in their shoes on offense.”

MAIN PRIORITY

The fun part of being a defensive player is self-explanatory.

“I get to hit and tackle people,” said Edison’s Mason Balzano.

The motivation for a defensive player is rather simple, too.

“Beat out the guy in front of you,” said Steubenville’s Drone Moore. “That’s the number one thing to do.”

That can’t always be easy, especially when the See DEFENSE Page 83

76

Aug. 24, 2016

Buckeye Local Panthers 2016 Schedule Aug. 28

Martins Ferry

Sept. 4 at Union Local Sept. 11 Edison

Sept. 18

Indian Creek

Sept. 25 at Bellaire + Oct. 2

John Marshall

Oct. 9 at Beaver Local

Oct. 16 at East Liverpool * Oct. 23

Oak Glen

Oct. 30 at Harrison Central

+ 12:30 p.m. kickoff * 7:30 p.m. kickoff

Games at 7 p.m. unless noted

Holman: ‘I think there’s a lot of talent here’

By RICK THORP For The Gridiron

RAYLAND — The past is the past.

The future is full of promise.

That’s the way new Buckeye Local head coach John Holman is looking at the Panthers’ football program. ‘‘It’s mental with these guys,’’ he said.‘‘ It’s about building confidence. That season is done and over with. ‘‘That page has turned.’’

Following a tough 0-10 campaign in which no game was close, district brass turned to the young former Ohio State player and 2014 national champion, to help change the culture.

And from the day he stepped in Jefferson County, Holman, a Georgia native, hit the ground running with a plan he hopes will turn Buckeye Local from doormat to feared opponent. ‘‘When I first got the job, the first I did was request to see film from last year,’’ he said.‘‘ I saw good and bad things. I saw a team that got out early and fought, but they’d have a turnover and before you know it it’d be 21-0. ‘‘Improving that just comes from preparation.

The Coaches

Talent only gets you so much, but hard work can take you a long way.’’

Being dedicated is something Holman tried to preach to players as soon as he took the Panthers’ reins.

In many respects, the team’s preparation for the season opener at home against Martins Ferry began then. ‘‘I think there’s a lot of talent here,’’ Holman said. ‘‘But I tell (the players) this, if you’re not willing to work hard, it doesn’t matter how talented you are. ‘‘It’s just getting them to focus and go. They have the ability. The funny thing

is, people say Buckeye Local doesn’t have talent.

We have the talent. It’s just making sure (the players) put in the work.’’

The Panthers hit the road for Union Local in Week 2, followed by home dates against Edison and Indian Creek.

A matinee at Bellaire concludes the first half of the campaign, before a home date against John Marshall at War Memorial Stadium begins the season’s second half.

The Panthers finish the season with three of four on the road — at Beaver Local, East Liverpool and

FELLOWS

Harrison Central. The lone home game is Week 9 vs.

Oak Glen.

The Golden Bears hung 70 on the Panthers last fall, the most of any opponent.

Holman said the mindset he has to help create is one that makes memories of nights like that go away. ‘‘We weren’t that good last year,’’ he said. ‘‘I wasn’t here, but we weren’t that good. So, I have to find ways to get us to play better. ‘‘We’re putting a ‘new coat of paint’ on everything. You want to change See PANTHERS Page 79

Good Luck Panthers! from the team at INSURANCE AGENCY

283-3338 or 598-4114

Aug. 24, 2016

77

2016 Roster

The Seniors

Seniors (11)

1 .......................... Sean Millard 2 .......................... Dan Callarik 3 .......................... Nate Dwyer 4 .......................... Jared Moore 29 .................. Brandon Kaiser 36 ........................ David Crites 42 ................ Andrew Hillman 45 ...................... Miles Wright 52 .......................... Dillon Fury 59 .................... DonRay Mayle 70 ........................ Jake Ingram

Juniors (11)

From The Coach ...

“It’s mental with these guys. It’s about building confidence. That season is over and done with. That page has turned.”

— John Holman

GOOD LUCK ALL AREA TEAMS! from

Country Crafts from the Heart (740) 264-2996

15 .......................... Joe Delusky 18 ........................ Troy Peterkin 20 ........................ John Marelli 24 ........................ Troy Devore 32 .................... Kadin Weaver 44 ...................... Cody Griffith 66 .......................... Ryan Tinsly 72 ........................ Matt Barsch 74 ................ Lukas Dickerson 79 .............................. Luke Bell 86 ................ William Hopkins

Sophmores (8)

8 ........................ Manny Brock 9 .................. Shayne Christian

10 .......................... Dom Brock 27 ............................ Ben Bailey 30 .......................... Jack Reese 51 ...................... Gage Kornetti 68 .......................... Dylan Wier 77 ........................ Dylan Mayle

Freshmen (18)

5 ........................ Charles Smith 6 .......................... Gino Barber 7 .................... Corban Westfall 11 .................. Seth Richardson 13 ........................ Walker Doty 19 ................ Cameron Grimes 21 ........................ Ethan Powell 23 ............................ Zack Reed 28 ...................... Austin White 49 .............. Donavon Simeral 53 ........................ Dalton Watt 56 ...................... Andrew Toto 67 ...................... Samuel Sabo 69 .................. Garrett Cesario 75 ........................ Elijah Lovell 84 ........................ Jarrod Bado 88 ................ Logan Charnock 99 .............................. Seth Bird

Aug. 24, 2016

Panthers

the culture. You don’t want to keep doing same things.’’

That change in culture and mindset began during offseason conditioning and continued earlier this month when Holman organized as camp environment that kept the players on the Buckeye Local High School campus.

While Holman said each player responded differently to the situation, it did provide a glimpse into the vision Holman and his coaching staff have for the program going down the road. ‘‘It was tough,’’ Holman said. ‘‘It was tough on the coaches and it was tough on the players. It’s a way to see where we are. ‘‘On Friday nights, it’s not going to get any easier. My objective is the practices will be harder than the games. Friday night, we’ll go out and play and have fun. Practice is where the hard work is; the grind. ‘‘It’s about pushing the kids harder and pushing them to a place they’ve never been. A lot of them have never been in a place like this before. If we want to go where we want to go, you have to do things you’ve never done before and go places you’ve never gone before.’’

While Holman said many of the players might not realize it now, their hard work will pay dividends down

79

Holman tasked with changing culture at Buckeye Local

From Page 76

By MIKE MATHISON For The Gridiron

RAYLAND — He was brought in to shake things up.

Make a few waves.

Have high school kids find a side of themselves they have not seen, or didn’t even know existed.

You know — change.

Meet first-year Buckeye Local the road. ‘‘They won’t see it until we put those pads on,’’ he said.

Once preseason practice dawned, Holman saw a team, he believed, with plenty of potential. But, also, with plenty of room for improvement. ‘‘I think we’re where we should be for this time in the year,’’ he said earlier this month.

The Panthers are a mix of veterans and youth. But no one on the team knows much about winning, and that’s Holman’s challenge. ‘‘We’re having the guys push through it; push forward,’’ he said.

Holman is excited about the quarterback position, where the Panthers have two players returning who played the position last season — seniors J a r e d

head football coach John Holman.

“It’s usually the hardest when you’re trying to make change,” he said. “It’s a process and we’re making progress. Do I think we are where we need to be right now? Absolutely. Could we be better? Yes. “We’re settling along. There’s

2016 Coaches

See HOLMAN Page 92

Moore and Danny Callarik. ‘‘I think he did a pretty a pretty good job,’’ Holman said of Moore, whom he watched film of from last season.

During camp, Holman said the duo both had their good and bad days, with both seeking to be ore consistent. ‘‘It’s a work in progress,’’ Holman said. ‘‘They both have the ability, they’re just working on the mental side. They’re pushing each other.’’

Buckeye Local’s offensive backfield has many more questions surrounding it. While Holman has many players in mind, he not sure who’ll end up gaining the bulk of carries come Friday.

See PANTHERS Page 92

Head Coach

John Holman Assistant Coaches Jordan Banks

Neil Zaccagnini Josten Dear Rick White

Craig Kornetti Doug Sabo

80

Aug. 24, 2016

Parents, fans and friends salute their favorite players ...

Mark Johns Edison Senior

Good Luck on your senior year!

Love, Aunt Meri, Uncle Eric, Zoe & Roman

Zachary Barnett Indian Creek Sophomore Have a Great Year #88 EARN IT!

Josh Harvey

Adam Cowden

Good Luck #64 - Have a great season!

Have a great senior year!

Indian Creek Sophomore

Weirton Senior

Love, Dad, Mom, Jared & Christine

Grandma & Grandpap Adyniec & Uncle Aaron

Alec Taylor

Mike Pasco

Steubenville Junior

Indian Creek Freshman

Alec Davis

Steubenville Senior

Our Fav Football Player.

Good Luck on your last season.

Love, Mom, Dad, Kira, Just, Court & Gram

Dustin Henry Toronto Senior

Have fun your Senior Year. So proud of you.

Love, Mom, Dad, Chelsea, Jen, Ryan, Ara, Mimi, D & Ma

Mark Johns Edison Senior

Love, Mom, Justin & Chris

Good Luck on your senior year.

We're all cheering for you.

Andy Waggoner

Gage Kornetti

Sam Robinson

Good luck Andy and to the entire football team!

Good Luck Gage!

GO CREEK & #54!

Good Luck! Have a Great Season!

We Love You, Dad, Mom, Abb, Anna, Papap, Nana, Poppa & Cin Cin

Indian Creek Junior

Love, Mom, Dad, Gram & Pap

Good Luck, Mike.

Buckeye Local Sophomore

Love, Pap & Roo; Mom & Dad

Mom & Dad

Indian Creek Senior

Love you, Mom & Dad

Aug. 24, 2016

81

Parents, fans and friends salute their favorite players ...

Jordan Allen Weirton Senior

Play with heart, tackle your Senior Year!

Nan, Mom, Dad, Ron, Aunt Ronna, Uncle Dave & Lexey

Miles Simmons Indian Creek Freshman

Good Luck Miles, have a great season!

Austin Vandeborne Indian Creek Freshman

Mark Johns Edison Senior

Play hard, have fun & enjoy your senior year #19...Go Creek!

Good Luck on your senior year.

Love, Dad, Mom & Kacie

Aunt Annie, Uncle Sean & Maddie

Zach Ekey

Trent Bolek

Steubenville Junior

Indian Creek Sophomore

Mom & Dad

We believe in you; we are proud of you and we love you!

Best of luck, Trent & the I.C. Football Team!

Mom & Maddy

Love, Mom & Jeff

Donavan Spencer

Brennon Norris

Danny Zdinak

This is it. You've worked hard & deserve the best!

Have a great Senior Season.

Love, Mom & Dad

Hard work & dedication always pay off! Have a great sophomore season. We are very proud of you!

Love, Dad, Mom & Jared

Richie Gualtiere

Sebastian Spencer

Joshua Williams

Good Luck in the upcoming football season!

Always proud, no matter what you do!

Love, Mom, Dad & Rileigh

Your time has come.

It took great courage to join your football peers your senior year!

We love your genuine, determined spirit & wish your team the very best! Love, Mom, Dad & "Z Bo"

Weirton Senior

Indian Creek Sophomore

Indian Creek Sophomore

Weirton

Freshman

Have a great Freshman Year!

Love, Mom & Dad

Toronto Senior

Good Luck Your Senior Year. Play hard & have fun!

Love Uncle Ralph & Aunt Becky LeMasters

Indian Creek Senior

82

Aug. 24, 2016

Parents, fans and friends salute their favorite players ...

Garren Swickard

Mark Johns

Best of luck your freshman year!

Can't wait to see what the next 4 years brings!

Have a great senior year & enjoy your last go around.

Edison

Indian Creek

Senior

Freshman

Mimi & Papa Gregor

Love, Mom & Dad

Storm Vincenzo

Brody Mihalyo

Edison

Catholic Central

Senior

Senior

God Bless you, Storm.

This is your Sr. Yr. make the most of it! Thanks Coach Stickles & Staff for their dedication!

Love Papa, Gram, Mom, Dad, Jadden, Uncle Jimmy, Aunt Tee & Nolan

Justin Canei Madonna Senior

Go Blue Dons!

Have a great Senior Year!

Mom, Dad, Katelyn, Kasey, Grandma Canei, Pap & Grandma Nutter

Don Ray Mayle Buckeye Local Senior

Good Luck your Senior Year!

Go Panthers!

Love You, MiMi

Love, From Your Family

Nick Paul

Aaron Robinson

Jayden Keeder

Catholic Central

Madonna

Freshman

Junior

Good Luck in your freshman year!

Good Luck Nick!

Love Grandma Jo, Mom, Dad, Amanda & Sophie

Love, Aunt Meri, Uncle Eric, Zoe & Roman

Austin Safreed

Burgettstown

Have a Great Year to you and the team!

Enjoy yourself Austin!

Love Grandpa and Grandma Safreed

Indian Creek Junior

GO CREEK & #14 Love you, Mom & Dad

Aug. 24, 2016

Defense

83

From Page 75

guy staring across from you might be just as big, if not bigger. It’s a unique predicament that takes courage, determination and a never-say-die attitude.

“I have to make sure I win and the offensive lineman loses,” said Gaetano Fuscardo of Weir. “ I was taught the right technique and the right way to play. The only thing I have to do is be the winner of the line.”

While a good part of playing defense is instinctual, most of it is designed to be successful in the right schemes.

“If you can rush four and get pressure, you can have seven in coverage,” said Oak Glen’s Isaac Rosohac.

It’s about sacrificing yourself for the good of the team.

As an offensive lineman starts plays for his running back to finish, a defensive lineman sets up his linebackers for the tackle.

“I have to take up double teams so my linebackers can make the tackles,” said Edison’s Logan Glenn. “We have to be tough in there and fight until the whistle.”

One quick whistle could equate to a long zero on the scoreboard. Exactly what the defense wants to see.

Linemen

From Page 66

It’s time to go.

“The adrenaline rush when you run out of that tunnel can’t be explained in words,” said Madonna’s Jake Gasvoda. “ It’s one of the greatest feelings ever. Nothing beats running onto that field with the fans screaming on game day.”

The feeling is mutual for all football players, linemen or otherwise. Each player has his own quirks and mannerisms which come out on display when they take the field.

“For me, I get this great feeling in my stomach,” said Travis Lowther of Weir. “I think that I’m going to go out an dominate. The first step to being great on a Friday night is thinking that you’re great and boosting your confidence hours before the opening snap.”

All that pent up frustration from the cruelties of the day or the hardships of school are put to rest when it’s game time. Friday night lights are the beacon of hope in the journey of life as a teenager.

“When we run on the field we are ready to fight and we have to do whatever we can to win,” said Edison’s Logan Glenn. “You really feel unstoppable.”

It may feel like more than a game. As the band plays the fight song as the crowd rises to its feet, the rush may feel more like the running of the bulls or a 90-degree drop on the world’s tallest roller coaster.

“It’s like skydiving,” said Weir’s Gaetano Fuscardo.

“The rush is unreal.”

Fuscardo’s Red Rider teammate and line partner Dustin Keyes experiences that same rush, just with a different tolerance for the sound around him.

“Everything just kind of goes quiet,” Keyes said. “It’s almost like the crowd isn’t there and there’s no noise. It’s just me and my brothers heading into battle.”

With an empty head and a mind focused on winning, coming out on the field may not be the best time for personal reflection, but there really is a lot to be thankful for, according to Madonna’s Justin Canei.

See LINEMEN Page 88

84

St. Clairsville Red Devils

Aug. 24, 2016

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Aug. 24, 2016

2016 Schedule Aug. 26

Carrollton

Sept. 2

Coshocton

Sept. 9 at Meadowbrook + Sept. 16

Martins Ferry

Sept. 23 at Indian Creek +

Sept. 30 at Harrison Central + Oct. 7

Bellaire

Oct. 14 at Union Local +

Oct. 20 at Steubenville + Oct. 29

East Liverpool

+ 7 p.m. kickoff

Games at 7:30 p.m. unless noted

St. Clairsville Red Devils

85

McLean: ‘The process works if you put the time in’

By SETH STASKEY For The Gridiron

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — When it comes to talking about his football team, Brett McLean admits his squad’s goals never change. Things like qualify for the OHSAA playoffs and compete for the OVAC and Buckeye 8 championships are always high on the list.

But the veteran St. Clairsville mentor wouldn’t go as far as to say those are the expectations. He doesn’t want his fairly youthful squad looking at things that way.

“We don’t want them playing with any kind of pressure on them or like they’re playing to protect something,” McLean said.

“We want the kids to play for the right reasons and not have any worries of loss. We’re trying to get them to play to win at what’s happening at that time.”

Having said all that, McLean realizes his players don’t live under a rock and know they’ve been to the postseason nine of the last 10 years and won three OVAC titles since 2011, including the last two.

“Absolutely, our kids feel the tradition and pride of this program and the excitement the community

Sen i or s Zach Bigelow, Zack Clark, Gage Cuiksa, Trey Elerick, DeVon Harris, Shawn Heatherington, Devin Helt, Jacob Keen, Chris Kuhn, Joey Maroon, Malachi Mellema, Nick Schramm, Landen Thompson, Dustin Tomich, Logan Williams.

J un i or s Matt Butkus, Hunter Cook, Geno Drake, Matt Greenwood, John Hawley, Andrew Landeen, Garret Matis, Luke Sorge, Jayden Starks, Shane Tomlin, Tanner Younkins.

S oph om o r e s Brandon Biery, Craig Bober, Dustin Carrothers, Trey DelGuzzo, Declan Dombrowski, Andrew Elerick, Chase Espen, Luke Ewing, Justin Heatherington, Caige Hepburn, Ketler Hoppin, Brady Kolb, Justice McCamick, David Mellema, Braedyn Mihalic, Greg Norman, J.T. Porter, Hunter Southwood, Colton Skukan, Kyle Storer, Luke Watt.

has for our program,” McLean said. “We do promote the tradition and pride, but just because you play for us doesn’t guarantee you of anything. You have to go out and play the game with an edge. An edge to win and not trying to protect from losing.”

The Red Devils’ added another chapter to the tradition last season. They finished the regular season with an 8-1 record and qualified for the Division IV playoffs once again.

They were eventually eliminated when they dropped a high-scoring, 42-38, decision to Johnstown-Monroe in the regional semifinals at Zanesville’s Sulsberger Memorial Stadium.

“As long as our younger

kids stay hungry and are excited to fill the shoes of those who have graduated before them, I have no worries,” McLean said.

“From what I’ve seen so far, the mark of last year’s team and seniors is evident by how this group has been working and putting in time during the offseason.”

This season marks the first time since 2012 that the Red Devils’ roster hasn’t featured at least one Division I commit. They must find a way to replace Brendan Ferns, who is now at West Virginia University.

Ferns did a little bit of everything for St. C. last season. He was the team’s leading rusher (1,066 and 18 touchdowns), leading receiver (27 catches for

McLean

600 yards and four touchdowns), leading tackler and Division IV state defensive player of the year.

Along with Ferns, the Red Devils also must replace Air Force Academy recruit Haydn Lewis.

“We’re fortunate to have had some of the kids we’ve had over the years, but we need to continue to sell ourselves to the community and younger kids to make sure they get involved and stay involved,” McLean said.

“The process works if you put the time in.”

By McLean’s own adSee RED DEVILS Page 122

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86

Wheeling Park Patriots

Aug. 24, 2016

Congratulations to the WV State AAA Champs!

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Aug. 24, 2016

2016 Schedule Aug. 26 at Perry Sept. 6

Bridgeport (WV)

Sept. 9

Allderdice

Sept. 16 at University + Sept. 23 at Brooke + Sept. 30

St. Albans

Oct. 7

Morgantown

Oct. 21

Princeton

Oct. 28 at Parkersburg South + Nov. 4

John Marshall

+ 7:30 p.m. kickoff

Games at 7 p.m. unless noted

87

Wheeling Park Patriots

Daugherty: ‘They had to wait, but now it’s their turn’

By SHAWN RINE For The Gridiron

WHEELING — For five seasons — all playoff berths — the Wheeling Park football program has been building. One rung at a time the Patriots climbed the West Virginia Class AAA ladder before capturing the ultimate prize, vanquishing Capital by a 23-15 score last December at Wheeling Island Stadium.

The question now for Coach Chris Daugherty, is where do they go from here? ‘‘In the last probably two years we have really talked about consistency,’’ Daugherty said. ‘‘You want to win championships but the reality is, only one team is going to do that. ‘‘We want to to be thought of for potential championships every year. When you look at 2013 we were probably a game away — a play away, really. In 2014 we got beat by Capital and then 2015 we were lucky enough to win it all. ‘‘We know how hard that is (because) a lot has to go into it. ‘‘We just want to keep maintaining a certain level here and not have a dropoff.’’

Most around the state are expecting a decline for the Patriots. After all, nearly every key player off the championship squad picked up his diploma last spring. Never one to engage in braggadocio, Daugherty simply can’t see that taking place. ‘‘I think people will be pleasantly surprised with some of the kids we have,’’ Daugherty said. ‘‘Some of them if they were on other Park

Daugherty

teams, they play. They had to wait, but now it’s their turn.’’

Living up to past success is almost always a losing proposition, so the coaching staff has pounded in the heads of this group that it must create its own identity. ‘‘The thing we’ve talked about the most is, we are not 2015 Park.

There’s not an Elijah Bell or Jamez Coles, Clay McDonald or Savion Johnson. And we had a great line.

There just wasn’t a weakness on that team,’’ Daugherty said. ‘‘But it doesn’t mean you can’t be successful. ‘‘We’re going to be different and we’re going to look different. And probably, how we play ball is going to be different. ‘‘But it doesn’t mean it won’t be successful. We don’t have to match them to be good.

k c u L d o Go ! k r a P Wheeling www.cclawpllc.com

‘‘It’s important they understand that. If we’re going to try to look like them, we won’t.’’

Wheeling Park doesn’t return many starters on the offensive side of the ball, but it has probably the most important position on the field — quarterback — covered.

Junior Cross Wilkinson (6-foot2, 200 pounds), who threw for more than 2,500 yards and 27 touchdowns already has Division-I offers from Marshall and Akron. ‘‘We’ve only got four (starters) returning on the offensive side of the ball, but if I had to pick one kid to retain, I would pick the quarterback,’’ Daugherty said with a laugh. ‘‘Now his hat’s very different. It went from don’t make a mistake and get the ball to the playmakers, to now he’s going to be thinking and reading a lot more. ‘‘He’s going to be in charge of the offense and he’s going to be the guy who played 14 football games last year. ‘‘It was tough to game plan for us and we want to make it tough again.’’

The backup is sophomore Nick DeFazio, with junior Nate Phillips also available.

The other three returnees are up front, in left tackle Hayden Berry and right tackle Cameron Kefauver, who played guard last year. Primarily a defensive lineman for the first half of last season, by the time it was all said and done Justin Hibbs was going both ways.

Sophomore Tristen Bittner (6-3, 290) is the other guard, and DaughSee PATRIOTS Page 101

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88

Aug. 24, 2016

Linemen

From Page 83

“You can’t get overwhelmed with what you have to do.”

From an offensive lineman ...

— Stephen Marcino, Catholic Central

“Just being able to do this with my friends is awesome,” he said. “Let alone having the talents to play this game. It really is a blessing. It’s amazing.”

THE MOMENT OF TRUTH

With the coin flipped and possession determined, the offense trots out for its first drive of a new game.

For the end result to end in the end zone, it originates with a snap.

“As the center, the first thing going through my mind is efficiently getting the ball to the quarterback, said Steubenville’s Drone Moore.

To get that effective snap, it takes control, precision, accuracy and trust.

At Buckeye Local, Jared Moore is entering his third full season as the team’s quarterback.

“We have a good, strong connection,” said Lukas Dickerson, one of the Panthers’ offensive lineman. “He trusts us and we trust him. He can rely on us to get the ball to him

safely and keep him safe back there. He makes the decisions based on what we can do for him.”

Once the ball is in the quarterback’s hands, a million things could be running through an offensive lineman’s head.

He has to block out more than 900,000 of those thoughts and narrow it down to about three or four instances.

“You need to know the plays and you need to know your individual tasks,” said Stephen Marcino of Catholic Central. “You can’t get overwhelmed with what you have to do. It’s a lot to take in, but a good offensive lineman gets the job done without complaining.”

Added Robinson, “The center starts it, but we need to know how to react immediately to what’s going to happen. We have to be one step ahead, while still focusing on the moment.”

The center is the centerpiece of the offensive line, for good reason.

“Since I am the center, I’m the one calling out blocking schemes and I make sure everyone knows where they’re going and who they got,” Gasvoda said. “When I snap that ball, the first thing that comes to mind is that I hope I didn’t mess up

the snap. If I mess that up, that messes up the whole play. But, I don’t worry about it. Once I snap the ball, I look for someone to block.”

Lineman have to go off of their basic instincts and the initial lightbulb that goes off in their head, once the ball is snapped.

“The first thing going through my mind is beating the guy on the other side of the line,” said Buckeye Local’s Matthew Barsch. “You have to get low, fire off and just drive him.

Drive him until he’s on the ground.”

GOING HARD EACH TIME

By the time one play is over, the next is coming up in mere seconds.

“There’s no time to really take a break,” said Brooke’s Ty Ohler. “You’re going hard each time and only have a second to catch your breath.”

This is when the repetition is key as the offensive lineman are, obviously, involved in every single play. There are occasional substitutions and other players on the depth chart can easily relive a worn out lineman, but the play always has to happen.

And, obviously, it always starts up front.

“It all starts with you,” said Mort, a center.

“If you mess up the snap, the play is over. It could be a turnover and that kills any momentum you might have had on offense.”

How do you maintain the momentum? By going hard each time.

“It all goes down in the trenches,” said Oak Glen’s Isaac Rosohac. “You are always thinking about what the defense could do with a blitz, rush or stunt. There’s a lot going on in your head, but you always have to stay strong and be tough and be smart.”

“The first thing on my mind as the ball is snapped is, ‘What can I do to give our running backs the best opportunity to make a play?” Keyes said. “At the end of the day, they get the glory, so if I can make a solid block to give them that opportunity, then I did my job. The first thing on my mind isn’t, ‘Who am I blocking,’ it is, ‘How bad am I going to blow them off the ball.’

“You have to have that mentality to play on the line.”

See LINEMEN Page 123

Aug. 24, 2016

Crusaders

relay teams which qualified for the state track meet.

Defensively, Daley said his Crusaders, who again will compete in Division VI but have dropped back to Class 2A in the OVAC, will be “solid up front.”

“We have size, speed and experience in our front seven,” he added.

“We do have some holes to fill in the secondary.

“As the season goes along, our depth will increase there. Once some kids become eligible, we’ll be in much better shape. We have to stay healthy back there and play smart. The depth will come.”

Central will have six starters back up front while the seventh (senior Luke Coniker a regular as a sophomore) returned to the team after sitting out in 2015 to focus on wrestling.

Harris, who earned alldistrict honors as a junior, and Thompson will man the end spots in Central’s 3-4 base defense. Marcino and Oliver also are in the mix.

Stoll is back at nose guard with Mort, Maul and Cuervo providing depth.

Neely and Leluika return as inside linebackers and will be supported by H. Daley and sophomore Dom Argentine. Clark and Coniker will start at outside LB. DiBiase and Argentine are the backups.

“Those linebackers — they’re our gritty guys,” Daley stated. “They’re not

89

real big but they are fairly athletic kids with noses for the football. Neely is a little bigger — a 200pound-plus kid. He’s our stuffer in the middle.

“We’re not that big across our front seven but we’re athletic. Coach (Jeff) Clark does a good job of game planning, using the athletic ability we have and getting those guys to the football.

“Our ends (Harris and Thompson) are athletic and Stoll (6-3, 260) is our big guy in the middle. He understands the nose guard in our defensive system isn’t asked to make a lot of plays. He’s asked to take up space and take on blockers. He does a good job of that and he takes pride in that. His play helps keep people off the more athletic guys we have at the second level.”

Mihalyo returns as a starter at safety and he will be joined there by Bell along with Smith and Butler, once they become eligible.

DiCarlantonio, Fayak and Matt Kilonsky are the top candidates to see time at the corners. Fallon, George Zapor, William Walsh and DiBenedetto also are in the mix.

Sawyer will provide help come Week 6.

Bell is expected to handle the punting duties for Central while senior Luca DiMichele will handle the kicking.

Central has 48 players out for football. That total includes 23 letter winners.

“Even with those numbers, we still are thin in spots,” Daley stressed. “It would be great to platoon kids more than we can but some of your younger guys just aren’t ready for that yet.

“It goes back to staying healthy. Our hope is we can use guys like Harris on defense only. In that case, we hope to use Hayden more on offense, thus keeping Harris for just defense. If we can limit some of the time our linemen have to play both ways, it will make us a better team.

“We’ll need to spell Levi on the defensive side with him carrying the ball.

Does that hurt you? Not

really, if you do it right and you do it in the right situations.”

Central opens Aug. 25 inside Harding Stadium against Wheeling Central.

It then will visit Oak Glen before hosting Berlin Center Western Reserve, a newcomer to the schedule.

Then comes consecutive road trips to Toronto and Warren John F. Kennedy.

The second half begins with a home game against Bellaire. A visit by Bishop Donahue is followed by a trip to Edison.

Central will host Madonna in Week 9. Following Bellaire St. John’s decision to drop football this season, the Crusaders, at least for the moment, do

From Page 27

not have a Week 10 foe.

Central and Edison have not met on the gridiron since 2009.

“I’m cautiously optimistic about the season,” Daley said. “I like where we’re at mentally as a team. I don’t think we have any standout superstars but you see closeness and bonds between these guys.

“When you have a senior class like this one, sometimes good things can happen even though you might not be the most talented group. If they keep good attitudes, continue to learn, support each other and bring each other along, we’ll see what happens.”

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Bruins

Senior Nick Tomassilli returns to fill one guard spot and sophomore Ethan Bradley, who started several games as a freshman, will man the other.

Senior Vincent Pederson, who started at guard in 2015, has moved to center. He’ll be backed up by junior Skyler Rice “On the Monday before our first game last year, we pulled Bradley from ninth-grade practice and made him a starting guard for Friday,” McLean said.

“That’s something we’re trying to hang our hat on this season. We do have experience on the offensive line.

“We told the guys on our offensive line last year that they were supposed to be the weak link. Now, this is where the experience is. The line has to be the cornerstone of our team this year. We have more experience there

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Aug. 24, 2016

than any other position on the field. The line played pretty well down the stretch and we hope it continues to improve. If it does, we should have a pretty good offensive line.”

Defensively, McLean admits he has “huge questions about the secondary.”

“We lost some veteran starters back (Lazear being one of them) and we have some major holes to fill,” McLean commented.

Hudson is expected to fill one of the defensive back positions (he started there as a sophomore) with Secrist on the other side. Valero and junior Josh Richie also are candi-

From Page 47

dates.

“I hate starting my quarterback on defense, but we have to play our best 11,” McLean said. “Secrist is going into the secondary and that will be a change for him. I expect him to excel because of his athletic ability.”

Brooke plays a base 4-4 defense and McLean is counting on Ohler to have a big year at tackle. He suffered a concussion in Week 3 last season and missed the rest of the campaign. Browning, Gallagher and senior Chris Turner are vying for playing time at the other tackle spot.

See BRUINS Page 95

Aug. 24, 2016

91

Wheeling Central Maroon Knights Young: ‘We definitely have a challenging schedule ahead of us’

By SHAWN RINE For The Gridiron

WHEELING — Competing for and winning titles is expected at Wheeling Central. And starting in 2000, the Maroon Knights captured eight West Virginia Class A state football championships in an 11-year span.

But the fact is, Coach Mike Young’s program — although always in the hunt — has hit a bit of a dry spell since. That may be about to change.

Boosted by 24 upperclassmen, Wheeling Central believes it has a chance to get back to the top of the mountain. ‘‘We have an opportunity this year to be respected and make some noise,’’ Young said. ‘‘To say we’re going to be playing Dec. 3 (for a state title), that’s always our goal. ‘‘We were close last year but we didn’t finish.

This year I think we’re going to finish. ‘‘We can attain a lot of success.’’

The Maroon Knights dropped a pair of competitive games in 2016 — one in the regular season against eventual champion Magnolia, and a 16-14 playoff loss to East Hardy, which finished runnerup. ‘‘I love what we have in terms of depth, in terms of talent, and in terms of experience,’’ Young said. ‘‘We feel like we have speed, size and depth. ‘‘Those three things in terms of Single-A football in the state of West Virginia, are huge. ‘‘We definitely have a challenging schedule in front of us.’’

Do they ever.

The Maroon Knights debut against always-formidable Steubenville

Catholic on the road, then open the home portion of the schedule against what figures to be a vastly improved Bellaire squad.

Rival Madonna comes to town the following week, and then it’s back-to-back trips to perennial contenders Williamstown and Magnolia. Also on the schedule are Linsly, Shadyside, Beallsville and the seasonender at Bishop Donahue.

Part of the reason for such optimism is the return of senior quarterback Isaac Rine. He’ll become a rare four-year starter this season. ‘‘You have confidence in Isaac in terms of this being his fourth season,’’ Young said. ‘‘He knows what we’re trying to do and knows where we want to go with the ball. And he understands to tuck it and run when there’s nothing there. ‘‘He’s a great leader and we expect big things from him.’’

Rine will be backed by promising freshman Curtis McGhee III and junior Robert Kahle.

There’s no shortage of weapons in the arsenal for Rine. It starts with senior receiver J o h n Burkhalter (6-2, 190), who caught double-digit touchdown passes as a junior. Although he was a first-team all-state selection at defensive back, Burkhalter just as easily could have been honored as a receiver or at punter. ‘‘We’ve got kids capable of playing multiple spots,’’ Young said. ‘‘John has tremendous athletic ability. ‘‘He can be as good as he would like to be.’’

Burkhalter will be joined in the receiving corps by senior Luke Fahey, juniors Blake Peluchette and Patrick Brown, along with Wheeling Park transfer Austin Crebs. Also vying for time at receiver are junior Isiah Threets and freshmen Jacob Rine, Nate Adams and Jaylen Creighton.

Michael Niggemyer and Jacob Pleva return at tight end for their senior seasons. Freshmen Adam Murray and Michael Horan, as well as Fahey and Crebs will see snaps at

the position.

The running back spot is plentiful, led by sophomore Bray Price. Young said he doesn’t like to talk about youngsters all that

often because it creates undue pressure, but it’s clear he thinks Price has a future.

See WCCHS Page 117

92

Aug. 24, 2016

Panthers

He’s high on junior John Morelli. ‘‘He can run all day,’’ he said. ‘‘He can run all day. ‘‘We’ll need at least two guys to carry the load, though.’’

That’s why Holman is also looking at sophomore Shayne Christian and freshmen Austin White and Charles Smith, among others. ‘‘I give kudos to this freshman class,’’ Holman said. ‘‘They’ve really bought in.’’

If Callarik doesn’t play quarterback, Holman said he’ll fit in perfect at receiver.

Other candidates there include: seniors Nate Dwyer and Andrew Hillman, junior s Kadin Weaver and Troy Peterkin, Morelli, and freshmen Ethan Powell and Corban Westfall.

Holman is extremely eager to see the offensive line come together. In the mix there are: senior Jake Ingram, juniors Lucas Dickerson, Ryan Tinsly and Matt Barsch, sophomores Dylan Weir and Gage Kornetti and freshman Elijah Lovell.

Those same young men will switch over to the defensive line, along with Hillman. ‘‘He’s the prototypical J.J. Watt-type of guy,’’ Holman said.

Christian and sophomore Ben Bailey could also see time there. ‘‘Most of the guys that play on the of-

From Page 79

fensive line will, ultimately, rotate here,’’ Holman explained. ‘‘Ultimately, what we want to do is have a rotation on the defensive line and keep guys fresh. We want them to go in the game going 100 mph. ‘‘I think our O-line and D-line are our two strongest points, to be honest. And, at the end of the day, that’s where the game’s won.

If you open up holes and gives guys running the ball penetration, you win the game.’’

Another question mark for the Panthers, according to Holman, is at linebacker. ‘‘Our depth isn’t as good as we’d like it there,’’ he said, ‘‘but it’ll improve as we go along.’’

Holman has been impressed by the early showing of junior Cody Griffith, who has moved from the line. ‘‘He’s one of the strongest kids on the team,’’ he said. ‘‘He can be as good as he wants to be.’’

White, Christian and Hillman are other possibilities there.

Holman sees plenty of names in the mix in the secondary, including Dwyer, Callarik, Weaver, Moore, Morelli and Christian. ‘‘I think or back half has the most depth,’’ he said. ‘‘We probably have at least three guys at each position and you can’t ask for much more than that.’’

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Holman

From Page 79

been a few bumps in the road, but we’re making adjustments and moving forward.”

Holman was hired to be the Panthers’ head coach in late December.

“We have a real-life Wednesday’s and we talk about things that are going on in society — drugs and alcohol — how to stay out of trouble. My job is not only to develop their physical body, but their mental outlook, too.

“I don’t want to look in the newspaper five years from now and see one of my kids arrested for drug possession, a DUI, or anything.

“The football is the easiest part. But, it’s still mental regarding football. That’s the hardest thing for kids to pick up these days.

“I’m only 24 and I’m still learning as well.

“When situations get tough you have two choices — to go or lay down. And, the last couple of years, when it got hard around here, they decided to lay down.

“We’re coming in and trying to change the culture by developing their minds, body and spirits and teaching them how to move forward.”

No one expects this to turnaround overnight.

Going from 0-10 to 10-0 is a bit hard to fathom.

But, it’s about competing every play, every quarter, every game, and that is after competing in practice every minute of every hour.

Holman and the coaching staff started at the ground level.

The Panthers are 2-28 in the past three seasons, the last victory, 22-12, against East Liverpool on Oct. 17, 2014. They beat Western Reserve Academy, 22-10, on Oct. 19, 2013.

The most points Buckeye Local has scored in the past 30 games is 23 in a 26-23 overtime loss to Union Local on Sept. 5, 2014.

The Panthers have been outscored 1,179-279 in those 30 games. They have scored in double digits 11 times, while opponents have scored 40-or-more points 16 times.

“We know what we are facing and we are facing it straight on,” Holman said. “Everyone here knows how much hard work is ahead of everybody and there’s no secret that getting to where we want this program to be is hard work.

“That hard work started in the offseason and they’re still working hard.”

Although Holman knows the climb ahead of him, the coaching staff and the program, his “My epectations are through the roof because that’s the type of person I am,” he said. “This program is at ground zero and we’re trying to get them to the sky.

That’s a lot of ground to cover, but you have to start somewhere.

“We taking it one step at a time.”

Holman said he is surprised by one thing.

“A lot of people said there wasn’t talent here, but there is a lot of talent here,” he commented. “But, you have to make sure your talent is putting in the work or they will never be where they need to be.

“We have a good staff who are leading these guys in the right direction.

“My objective is simple — win every single game we play.”

It’s getting there that’s the hard part.

“We have talent here and we have a group of leaders who want to push each other,” Holman said.

94

Aug. 24, 2016

Martins Ferry Purple Riders

By SETH STASKEY

Bruney: ‘We have a good opportunity ahead of us’

For The Gridiron

MARTINS FERRY — Dave Bruney has spent basically the entire offseason thinking about what might have been a season ago.

His Purple Riders finished the 108th season of football with a 5-5 record and missed out on the postseason. Bruney, however, believes his team was better than its mediocre record, but finishing games was an issue.

“We’ve been to the postseason 13 times and it was an empty feeling last year (when we didn’t make it),” Bruney said. “We had some things fall right for us late in the year, but we didn’t take care of our own business.”

Outside of a decisive loss to St. Clairsville, the Purple Riders other four setbacks came by a combined 31 points. That included a toughto-swallow 34-29 setback at Beaver Local where the Riders squandered a lead, re-gained the upperhand and then allowed the Beavers to eventually win the game on a late drive.

“We had a little bit of a maturity problem last year and we didn’t have a big senior class to provide leadership,” Bruney said. “I think in four of those five losses, we were winning with nine minutes or less to go. That normally doesn’t happen to us. Most of the time, we find a way to shorten the game and win it. It was disappointing.”

With plenty of experienced veterans, including 28 players in the upper two grades, the Riders have handled the challenges their head coach has provided quite well.

“I like how these kids have reacted and handled what we’ve had them do,” Bruney said.

“I am also very happy with how the younger kids have embraced it. Sometimes when you really push kids when they’re young, they disappear. We’ve not had that. No one has missed a practice and that’s encouraging.”

Being able to do the intangible things like finish and close out games will be critical if Schedule Aug. 26 at Buckeye Local Sept. 2 Linsly Sept. 9 Union Local Sept. 16 at St. Clairsville, 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 23 at Harrison Central Sept. 30 at East Liverpool Oct. 7 Indian Creek Oct. 14 Pittsburgh Carrick Oct. 21 Beaver Local Oct. 28 Bellaire (Games at 7 p.m. unless noted)

the Riders are going to experience the kind of success of which Bruney believes his team is capable.

“I think if we can make the routine plays and not hurt ourselves with penalties and turnovers, we have a chance to be really competitive,” Bruney said. “I think we have enough talent on this team that we’re capable of winning every game we play.”

Achieving the goals and objectives, which Ferry has strived for ever since Bruney took over doesn’t always have to do with the opponent, according to the veteran head coach.

“The first battle is against yourself,” Bruney said. “We have to be disciplined enough to embrace the mental part of it and win that battle. We have a good opportunity ahead of us.”

The Riders have spent camp trying to identify who is going to become the team’s go-toplayer on offense. Bruney thinks some pieces are in place to help fill the void left by graduation.

“I think we have four or five pretty good backs, I like our receivers, who are experienced and I think our offensive line has a chance to be a good group once again.”

Bruney likes his team’s overall speed, but admits it’s probably not as fast as last year’s squad.

“We don’t have a blazer, but we have some guys with good foot speed,” Bruney said. “I am not sure if we have a guy who can take it 85 yards to score, but I think we do have guys who can go 40 or 50 yards to score.”

With Edwards graduated, the Riders have handed the keys to the offense, which Bruney expects to once again lean on the run first, to talented junior Dalton Hoover. Hoover has never played quarterback prior to this season, but Bruney said it’s tough to tell that when you watch him work.

“Dalton has done a fabulous job,” Bruney said. “He looks like he’s played quarterback his whole life. He’s just got it. He’s a football player. He’s thrown it well in our (passing) scrimmages and he’s obviously a running threat, too.”

Hoover saw time primarily at fullback last season. He finished with 144 yards rushing and four touchdowns.

A battle to be Hoover’s chief understudy has been waged between sophomore Jacob Probst, senior Dom Bell and sophomore Mason Goddard.

Despite a new quarterback in place, Bruney still expects or desires for his team to be as

Seniors Dom Bell, Jack Davis, Noah Encinos, Ryan Fox, Malik Hill, Keegan Hupp, Jeffrey Lucas, Cameron Opic, Conner Patterson, Drake Rice, Logan Selby, Zac Selby, George Stan, Jared Straub, Dom Wallace.

Juniors Ty Allen, Hunter Bodkin, Cory Bennett, Isiah Dietz, Demetrius Dokes, Dalton Hoover, Jason Husvar, Shaun Jeter, Jacob Johnson, Daiquan Johnson, RayQuan Prayear, Keith Wilson.

Sophomores Nate Boxley, Russell Carter, Logan DeLoretta, Drake Dobson, Mason Goddard, Shane Krob, DeAndre Pugh, Evan Porter, Jacob Probst, Trent Rice, Donovan Shrodes, Ian Terrell.

Freshmen Gage Bell, Jawan Boxley, Jessop Cerigoni, Dayson Hores, Ringo Lechner, Donte Lewis, Rich McFarland, Caleb Olson, Cody Olson, Cazieh Richmond Jervon Thompson, Joe Voytecek, Chase Ward, Sabin Ward.

balanced as possible.

“I really believe we’re good enough that if we can complete eight to 12 passes a game, it’ll be plenty for us,” Bruney said. “The defense is really going to have to compensate for (Hoover’s) ability to pull the ball down and run. Plus, he’s 215 pounds and ran a 4.7 at the Ohio State camp this summer, so he has good high school speed.”

A battle for the tailback job has been ongoing. Junior Jacob Johnson appears to be the leader, but he’s being pushed by sophomore Nate Boxley, senior Malik Hill and senior Jared Straub.

Hill and Boxley return to the Riders’ program. Hill, who has to sit out the first five games due to OHSAA transfer rules, spent the last two seasons at St. John and Boxley moved back to Ohio from North Carolina.

Depth at tailback is supplied by freshmen Rich McFarland and Caleb Olson.

The fullback job appears ticketed for senior Cameron Opic, who is eligible immediately after coming to St. John Central. He’s eligible for game one because SJC isn’t sponsoring a football team and he resides in Martins Ferry.

Senior George Stan is listed second on the Riders’ depth chart. Another newcomer, Ty Allen will also figure into the fullback mix when he returns to the field in Week 6. He transferred from Bellaire.

Others listed at fullback include junior See PURPLE RIDERS Page 124

Aug. 24, 2016

Bruins

95

From Page 90

“I’m excited to see Ohler play an entire season,” McLean stated. “He can be a difference-maker on the defensive line. We have some questions about our defensive line and they need to be answered in the next couple of weeks.”

Edgell is back for his third year as a starter at inside linebacker. Senior Derek Jenkins, junior Colten Zombeck, Rood and sophomore Christopher Helms are the top candidates to fill the other spot.

“I can’t think of too many other linebackers that I’d like to have,” McLean commented when discussing Edgell. “He’s a three-sport athlete, a good student and a hard worker. I expect him to compete to be defensive player in the valley this year.

“Jenkins and Zombeck filled in for Chad Harper last year when he had injuries. So, they’ve been out there, been in some wars. They’re both capable of having big seasons for us.”

As noted, Yachini is back at inside linebacker and could be joined by Yost or Secrist.

“Yost’s potential is off the charts,” the Brooke coach stated. “He could be very good. Yachini is solid on the other side so we have two solid football players at that position.”

Edgell or Secrist will handle the punting duties for Brooke. Edgell also will be kicking off with sophomore Sierra Sesta handling PAT and field goal duties. Sesta also is a member of the Brooke girls soccer team.

Given the number of new faces in the Brooke lineup, McLean indicated he would approach pre-season scrimmages “a lot differently this year.”

“Our starters are going to play,” he stressed. “They need to get as many snaps in as they can before we go to Huntington on the 26th just to get used to game conditions.

“Even with this being my third season, there’s more uncertainty this year then there has been. I knew I was coming into a place that had established two-or-three year starters. This year, I have some kids who have never played at the varsity level. That’s another thing that makes your hair fall out quick and makes you old.

However, I think a lot of teams are going through that this year.”

After opening at Huntington, the Bruins will host Morgantown at Memorial Stadium. One new opponent, Buckhannon Upshur, is on the schedule for 2016.

“I believe a lot of teams in the TRAC are in a rebuilding mode this year,” McLean said. “I see that when I look at what our opponents have lost. The exception to that would be University.

“So with many teams on our schedule rebuilding, maybe we won’t be that far behind the curve. It’s a numbers game and we don’t have a lot of numbers (Brooke has 46 players on its varsity roster). We’ll be playing teams with a lot more numbers. I see potential but I have a lot of questions.

“I try to be as honest with the kids as I can. We won a lot of games last season in a very emotional fashion.

I’m sure for teams like Hurricane, John Marshall, Weir and Morgantown that burns in the heads of their kids.

Our opponents have had all year to think about the mob scenes after the game. I’m sure their coaches have reminded them and we have to remember that.

“There a lot of people licking their chops and wanting to dance on our field. We’re not going to sneak up on anyone anymore.

“It’s my job to get our guys ready for that.”

Sept. 30,2016

Sept. 30,2016

Sept. 30,2016

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Aug. 24, 2016

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Team Games RYDs Central 10 1416 Harrison 10 2323 Big Red 9 1828 Weir High 10 2482 Toronto 10 2410 Oak Glen 10 1957 Indian C 10 1741 Brooke 10 1451 Edison 10 1148 Madonna 10 2200 Buckeye L 10 902

TEAM OFFENSE PYDs Total Avg 2682 4098 409.80 1646 3969 396.90 1958 3786 420.67 1051 3533 353.30 1122 3532 353.20 1237 3194 319.40 1356 3097 309.70 1511 2962 296.20 1271 2419 241.90 151 2351 235.10 913 1815 181.50

Points Avg 352 35.20 328 32.80 391 43.44 357 35.70 403 40.30 293 29.30 277 27.70 232 23.20 159 15.90 179 17.90 80 8.00

Team Games RYDs Toronto 10 533 Big Red 9 853 Weir High 10 1182 Indian C 10 1399 Harrison C 10 1566 Brooke 10 1943 Central 10 1927 Oak Glen 10 1740 Madonna 10 1939 Buckeye L 10 2789 Edison 10 2548

TEAM DEFENSE PYDs Total Avg 673 1206 120.60 834 1687 187.44 1319 2501 250.10 1114 2513 251.30 1019 2585 258.50 895 2838 283.80 1199 3126 312.60 1439 3179 317.90 1363 3302 330.20 869 3658 365.80 1286 3834 383.40

Points Avg 47 4.70 88 9.78 192 19.20 156 15.60 164 16.40 233 23.30 250 25.00 317 31.70 348 34.80 467 46.70 362 36.20

RUSHING Player - Team Att Dakota Price - Oak Glen 211 Travis Stenson - Harrison 131 Kam Davis - Weir High 149 Johnnie Blue - Big Red 140 Justin Loughrie - Brooke 138 Max Tice - Toronto 69 Dustin Brown - Madonna 124 Blaze Glenn - Toronto 48 Cody Enrietti - Weir High 91 Cedro Parise - Central 115 Jake Wypasek - Weir High 94 Dillon Shaw - Madonna 126 Seth Cade - Edison 97 Tony Barber - Central 97 Tristen McCoy - Madonna 94 Tyler West - Harrison 79 Dylan Dokes - Buckeye L 66 Chris Mazar - Indian Creek 79 Jabari Taylor - Indian Creek 67 Donovan Kirby - Madonna 72 Nick Glenn - Edison 27 Brandon Mitchell - Harrison 66 M. Lawrence-Burke - BR 45 Danny Zdinak - Toronto 36 John Marelli - Buckeye L 70

Yds 1770 1153 1071 980 844 641 600 594 550 534 511 488 442 441 421 409 356 354 345 336 316 308 298 264 263

Avg 8.39 8.80 7.19 7.00 6.12 9.29 4.84 12.38 6.04 4.64 5.44 3.87 4.56 4.55 4.48 5.18 5.39 4.48 5.15 4.67 11.70 4.67 6.62 7.33 3.76

TD 26 17 15 20 9 8 6 10 9 6 7 3 3 5 2 7 1 5 5 5 3 5 1 1 1

Aug. 24, 2016

STATS OHIO VALLEY FOOTBALL

2015 FOOTBALL STATISTICS

Player - Team Barber - Central Collaros - Big Red Mitchell - Harrison C Hudson - Brooke Nave - Edison Collins - Oak Glen Mazar - Indian Creek Rawson - Toronto Wypasek - Weir Moore - Buckeye L Lawrence-Burke - BR Potenzini - Central

Att 256 154 205 197 176 166 125 75 106 177 23 5

PASSING Comp Comp% Yds 145 56.64 2554 104 67.53 1661 113 55.12 1616 127 64.47 1483 103 58.52 1268 97 58.43 1203 66 52.80 1075 48 64.00 1030 51 48.11 971 52 29.38 773 10 43.48 179 3 60.00 144

RECEIVING Player - Team Rec Yds Cole - Brooke 61 778 Perez - Oak Glen 53 717 Potenzini - Catholic Central 46 912 Porter - Harrison Central 38 660 Reeves - Big Red 36 634 Fallon - Catholic Central 31 737 Loughrie - Brooke 30 280 Petrides - Big Red 26 543 Glenn - Edison 26 394 Hillman - Buckeye Local 24 316 Wade - Indian Creek 24 472 Westling - Edison 23 238 Parise - Catholic Central 22 257 Johnson - Harrison Central 22 245 Rogers - Edison 21 273 Petteway - Big Red 20 276 LeFever - Catholic Central 17 315 Mihalyo - Catholic Central 17 273 Stenson - Harrison Central 17 201 Ferguson - Big Red 16 156 Davis - Weir High 16 228 SCORING Player - Team TDs Dakota Price - Oak Glen 156 Johnnie Blue - Big Red 120 Travis Stenson - Harrison Central 114 Kam Davis - Weir High 108 Seth Potenzini - Catholic Central 96 Blaze Glenn - Toronto 90 Justin Loughrie - Brooke 78 Thomas Cole - Brooke 66 John Fallon - Catholic Central 66 Max Tice - Toronto 66 Greg Wade - Indian Creek 60 Ty West - Toronto 60 Cody Enrietti - Weir High 54 Nick Glenn - Edison 48

TD Int 31 15 19 3 11 7 15 5 9 8 8 8 10 5 10 2 9 5 5 15 3 1 2

Avg 12.75 13.53 19.83 17.37 17.61 23.77 9.33 20.88 15.15 13.17 19.67 10.35 11.68 11.14 13.00 13.80 18.53 16.06 11.82 9.75 14.25 2-Pt 2 2 6 8 2 2 2 2

2

TD 9 5 15 6 8 11 3 6 4 2 5 1 4 3 1 3 1 1 2 Total 158 120 114 110 102 98 80 68 68 68 60 60 54 50

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98

Peaslee

¯ A state championship capped off my first full season of covering high school football, in 2011. Hearing the mention of Cardinal Mooney High School around these parts won’t be welcomed with many warm wishes. However, I saw the Cardinals win a thrilling state title in a 2114 victory over Springfield Shawnee, as a neutral observer, from the comforting confines of the Fawcett Stadium press box.

Mooney held a twotouchdown lead in much of the second half, but Shawnee was relentless in its final drive with the ball. With under two minutes left, and a fourth-and6 on the Mooney 18-yard line, Shawnee quarterback Brad Jarzab dropped back to pass and was looking to the end zone. He spotted Tyler Sherlock in the left corner, but Mooney’s Ryan Farragher wasn’t going to allow the completion to happen. He bolted a good 5 yards, extended his left hand, and broke up the play to secure the Cardinals’ eighth state championship in school history.

So, it wasn’t so much a total memorable game, yet it was a memorable, heroic play. ¯ Just a week before that, I was able to witness something similar. It was another postseason game as Berlin Center Western Reserve was marching toward its own state title berth. The Blue Devils just got hung up in the state semifinals.

I was able to follow this team closely for much of the 2011 season. I covered all of their playoff games and I’ve never seen a young coach develop into a true leader quite like Andy Hake did that season. The energetic, spunky and down-to-earth head coach got the most out of his players. They truly played for him.

Then, in a back-and-forth

Aug. 24, 2016

From Page 8

contest with New Washington Buckeye Central, Hake put the game in his quarterback’s hands. The Blue Devils were down, 22-21, in the waning seconds with the ball on the Buckeye Central 19 yard line. On a fourth-and-2, Hake sent out his kicking team.

He had second thoughts, though. Hake called timeout and allowed quarterback Jeff Clegg to lead the team to a potential victory.

Clegg threw a pass that was broken up on the 5yard line as Western Reserve lost the game, its only defeat of the 2011 season.

“I don’t regret that call,” Hake told me after the game. “The wind was in our face and we had the player of the year in Division VI (Clegg) at quarterback, so I liked our chances by sending the offense back out.” ¯ Having trust and accountability is the mark of a great coach. In my first taste of Ohio Valley high school football, I was able to see a great coach reach a grand milestone.

Toronto head coach Eric Meek, who has been a pleasure to work with these past four seasons, earned his 100th career victory on Oct. 4, 2013.

His Red Knights blasted Bellaire St. John, 58-13.

“It’s a credit to a supportive wife, great assistants and amazing kids,” Meek said after notching 100.

Since then, Meek has picked up 20 more victories. I’ve covered roughly 35 games in the Ohio Valley, since then.

“It can be a brutal profession,” Meek continued, “but it’s so rewarding.”

He is talking about coaching, but the same could be said for sports writing.

It can be a demanding field of work, but it’s always so memorable.

Cox

cided we would go to the game.

Big Red, of course was led by the legendary Calvin Jones and I think it is awesome that a sculpture of him will soon be placed prominently near Harding Stadium.

Massillon that year was led by Henry (Ace) Grooms, who coincidentally played the year before in Johnstown, Pa. Newspaper accounts of the game by Herald-Star Sports Editor John D. Kirker, who later was a mentor to me, listed Harding Stadium capacity at 8,200, but 10,000 reserved and general admission tickets were sold, including 1,500 sent to Massillon.

I don’t think my dad had reserved seat tickets, but we found vacant seats at the very end of the second row of the west end of the reserved stands. Needless to say, that location adds to the fuzzy memories an 11-year old would have of that game, but somehow I do remember Grooms breaking a 6-6 tie with a run around right end down by the scoreboard.

That’s about 100 yards away from where we were and, even as a youngster at his first Big Red game, I felt and sensed the disappointment of losing that game.

I went to Kirker’s story of the game and found out it was a 1-yard run that capped an 88-yard Tiger drive in with 10 seconds left in the game. ¯ I began my newspaper career in 1960 as a city hall and county courthouse reporter for the Steubenville Herald-Star, which had a small office on South Main Street in Weirton.

The Herald-Star and Weirton Daily Times were owned by different companies then and there was some keen competition for stories between the papers.

Before the 1962 high school season began, Paul Glover, who was district editor at the Herald-Star, asked me if I wanted to join him in covering Weir High home football games. He’d do statistics and I would write the stories.

It was in that 1962 season, my first experience in the press box, that resulted in one of the memorable high school game incidents that I’ve seen.

Weir High’s legendary Ron (Fritz) Williams was a wide receiver as a junior on that team.

The Red Riders were hosting Triadelphia and I’ll never forget Williams receiving a halfback option pass from Jack Rowe, the retired Indian Creek athletic director, on a play that started on the Red Rider 25-yard line.

Williams broke wide open with the nearest Triadelphia defender more than

From Page 8

10 yards behind him. Suddenly, a Triadelphia reserve emerged from the bench area and tackled Williams around the Triad 40 yard line. An official quickly awarded the touchdown giving Weir High a 75-yard scoring play. ¯ Another one that sticks out was the 2003 Weir High quarterfinal playoff game at Bluefield. It ended up a 37-30 Red Rider overtime loss.

The Red Riders got the lead first in overtime on a 2-yard blast to pay dirt by Zac Cooper and Chris Bertovich’s placekick.

On Bluefield’s chance from the 25yard line, the staunch Red Rider defense, led by Cooper, allowed them to reach only the 19 on the first three plays. The Bluefield quarterback lofted a desperation pass to the back of the end zone on fourth down that a receiver leaped up and caught over one of Weir High’s most reliable defensive backs, Jack Crow. I’m still not sure the Bluefield receiver came down inside the end zone, but it was ruled a touchdown.

Bluefield, the eventual state champion, converted the extra point, scored on its second OT possession then held the Red Riders for the win in the first Weir High playoff appearance since the great 14-0 state championship run in 1998.

That 1998 run was memorable to me, too mainly because I got to see the great Quincy Wilson in almost every game as he shattered all of his school’s rushing records. But the memory I have most is that I didn’t get to see any of the playoff games.

The Red Riders went 10-0 that regular season and were ranked No. 2 in West Virginia, which meant a home game in all the playoffs until the championship game in Wheeling. Well, almost home because the old Jimmy Carey Stadium didn’t qualify as a playoff site so the Riders playoff games were at Brooke Memorial Stadium.

It was my third season of covering games for the paper after my retirement from the public relations department at Weirton Steel and I was excited about covering my first playoff game. I was confidant that Weir High would make a run to the state championship.

However, I got an interference call on the Thursday (Nov. 12, 1998), two days before the first round playoff game when I was diagnosed with a mild heart attack.

I went on the disabled list and missed the playoffs, but I was glued to the radio and the great play-by-play of Mike Garan.

Yea, I still can remember. I don’t care what Looman says.

Aug. 24, 2016

99

Maple

From Page 7

athletic director and math teacher Joe Dunlevy said that Maple was one of his brightest students, before and after his injury.

“He’s a fantastic student,” Dunlevy said. “He’s been in the honors math class because he is a devoted student who gives it his all in the classroom. He works hard with a smile on his face.

Everybody loves him. Nobody has ever had a cross word for him. He has a great personality and great work ethic. He’s a really intelligent young man.”

Without any use of his legs, Maple has learned to do more daily activities with his arms and hands. This summer, he has an office job doing data entry in downtown Steubenville and he continues to exercise rigorously.

“My arms feel more in shape now,” Maple said. “I’m lifting weights, focusing on my arms, chest and back. I’m a lot stronger than I was, even before the accident.”

THE NEW SEASON

Maple won’t be back on the field for his junior season. He will, however, be on the sidelines, in the program, in the team picture and in one of the Redskins’ new yellow jerseys for the 2016 season.

He is still a member of the Indian Creek football team. Forever a Redskin, through and through.

“I’m still going to be there for the team,” Maple said. “I can’t play on the field, but I’m still going to be supporting all of them.

They supported me when I was hurt and they have helped me through all of this. I want to be out there with them.”

Football remains his favorite sport, “by far,” Maple admits.

Indian Creek football coach Andrew Connor has been mesmerized by Maple’s attitude, self-awareness and overall positivity.

“It’s his optimism,” Coach Connor said. “You can’t put a word on true optimism. A lot of people talk about the glass half full, half empty. His glass is full all the time. That’s a credit to him. To watch him go through it as a bystander, as his coach, is one thing — but to go through it as Keith has is another. Not knowing what was in his head, you would go visit him in the hospital, in rehab

Photo by Matthew Peaslee

and he was always, always up — 100 percent. Every time you went, he was in a good mood. I don’t know how.

“And, it made me feel bad. I have a good life — a great wife and great kids — and I’m not always happy. It kind of made you feel a little guilt as a person — especially as an adult. You realize that he got it. He was like that when he played for us. He was an optimist. He played hard.”

Now, he’ll root hard.

“Once I finish up work, I’ll be at all of the team’s practices,” Maple said. “I’m going to be there for them whenever they need something. I’ll be at all of the games cheering them on.”

Some active players may look up to a professional athlete or emulate another celebrity. In a few cases, they may provide some proper guidance or ability that nobody else can. But for a true piece of inspiration, this year’s Redskins can just look to No. 24. He is their leader, mentor and family member.

“There’s nothing that holds him back,” Coach Connor said. “He should be a role model for our kids. Things won’t go your way and, in his case, he has a big obstacle. This isn’t ‘I failed a test, I’m not starting, I didn’t catch a pass or I didn’t get as many min-

utes as I should.’ He doesn’t come here and make you feel bad. He’s here happy, smiling and does his stuff. He’s uplifting and I think that’s the story of Keith.”

THE STORY

Dunlevy coached Maple in junior high football and saw his athletic potential right away. It was his knack for taking what he learned in the locker room and applying it to game and practice situations. Maple won’t be a football player again, though.

He is engineered to accomplish much more.

“He’s going to do something special,” Dunlevy said. “He’s the same kid, even now. He has all the same qualities that he possessed before the accident. He has a bright future because of what he has inside of him. He’s a special kid.

“I don’t know how other kids would handle it if something tragic like this happened to them, personally. It was a horrific accident, but Keith has kept a positive attitude and is making the most of the situation. He’s going to become smarter and stronger and do great things in life.”

Maple, himself, isn’t sure where his life will take him. He, and his wheelchair, will roll with the punches, and hit back.

“I haven’t thought about the future too much,” Maple said. “I’m still living out each day. Playing football was my favorite thing to do. It hurt to have that taken away, because I’d love to still be playing.

What happened is in the past and I have to live each day looking forward.”

As Maple’s story is still being written, so is the tale of the 2016 Indian Creek Redskins. Maple could have been one of the best players on the team, in the Ohio Valley and in the Eastern District.

He won’t make a tackle, throw a block or score a touchdown this season, but he will be there through it all when his teammates come through in victory.

He will be just as much a part of the team as the playmakers. And, he’ll be fondly remembered for his contributions.

“His legacy is going to be that no matter what happens in life, you have two choices — either feel sorry for yourself and not move forward, or you say, ‘This is what God gave me and I’m going to make the best of it,’” Coach Connor said. “And, he’s made the best of it. He’s inspirational to me.

He’s inspirational to our staff and he’s inspirational to the kids.

“There’s no limit to what he can do.”

OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY 2016 SCHEDULE Sat. Sept 3 Sat. Sept 10 Sat. Sept 17 Sat. Oct 1 Sat. Oct 8 Sat. Oct 15

vs Bowling Green 12:00pm vs Tulsa 3:30pm @ Oklahoma 6:30pm vs Rutgers 12:00pm vs. Indiana TBD @ Wisconsin 7:00 pm

Sat. Oct 22 Sat. Oct 29 Sat. Nov 5 Sat. Nov 12 Sat. Nov 19 Sat. Nov 26

@ Penn State 8:00pm vs. Northwestern 5:30pm vs. Nebraska 8:00 @ Maryland TBD @ Michigan State TBD vs. Michigan TBD

Aug. 24, 2016

101

Patriots

erty says he will be highly recruited, partially because of exceptional footwork. ‘‘That guard position, we’re sitting good,’’ the coach said.

Mason Anderson, a junior, will be the center. ‘‘Our line looks pretty solid,’’ Daugherty said. ‘‘Matter of fact, I think our line will be as good or better than last year’s. ‘‘I believe that.’’

Toting the football will be a three-man rotation — at least early in the season — consisting of junior Rennie Clark and seniors Collin Hlad and Zach Torbett.

Clark ‘‘put on a ton of muscle and looks really good,’’ Daugherty said. ‘‘I think he got it and understood ‘Savion Johnson is going to be the back and I’ve got to be ready when he leaves.’ ‘‘They are both going to get some carries and Torbett also. You might see Torbett line up as tailback and receiver and he’ll start at safety.’’

The receivers aren’t

very big, but Daugherty believes they are going to open eyes. ‘‘The receivers are going to be a surprise,’’ he said. ‘‘They’re all minimites and nobody is going to stand head and shoulders (above everyone) out there. ‘‘But they can move and they catch the ball.’’

That group is headed by Phillips and senior Mazei Mosby, both of whom made names as special teamers on the championship squad.

The idea is to get the program to the point where nobody has to play both offense and defense.

The Patriots are almost there, which it stands to reason will make a difference in the second half of big games.

Only two players return

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on the defensive side of the football, but they’re good ones in Jack Bence and Hibbs on the line.

Austin Loew will also be there and Berry could see time on the D-line, though Daugherty would prefer for it not to be necessary. ‘‘We’re really trying to get to 22 football players,’’ the coach said. ‘‘I think it’s the only way we’re going to maintain a certain level. ‘‘I think you can look good against OK teams by taking your talented kids and playing them two ways, but as soon as you start playing someone of value and you start getting tired, you’re going to get beat.’’

The coaching staff is high on sophomore Dylan Wood, who weighs about 235 pounds. Expect to see

him in the defensive line rotation.

The linebacking unit is led by senior Scottie Meagie. ‘‘He is going to be really good,’’ Daugherty said. ‘‘He played as a sophomore and a junior, but this is the first time he’s going to get every snap on that side of the ball. ‘‘Unless he is injured, he’s going to be standing in there as the middle backer.’’

Also vying for time at the other linebacker post are Isaac Leech, Jermain Snodgrass and ‘‘probably three or four other guys.’’

Mosby and Phillips will play in the secondary ‘‘potentially a little bit’’ but Hlad and Torbett are going to be fixtures there.

Torbett is a safety while Hlad can play either

From Page 87

safety or corner.

Junior Chase Gheen is back at kicker and will also take over the punting duties. ‘‘I think it’s a good group ... they’re just so green and young. I’m not sure what we’re going to look like,’’ Daugherty said. ‘‘Even last year with a senior-heavy team, I don’t really think we knew what we were until Game 6 or 7. We were feeling our way through it. ‘‘Cross changed that a little bit. He allowed us to grow.’’

Daugherty is assisted by Drew Beihl, Boogie Johnson, Tim Ickes, Shane Glass, Keith Phillips, Rick Marsh, Andy Seals, Dave Stahnke, Jack Doyle, Bob Pyle, JR Pyle, Doug Boyd, Josh Garner, Lisa Berner and Kylin Sheets.

Off The Field Talk What some local players say about life off of the field ...

Jesse BALL Harrison

Max TICE Toronto

What team do you play in Madden?

Chicago Bears

Pittsburgh Steelers

Favorite sport other than football?

Baseball

Soccer

Least favorite food?

Spinach

Top role model?

Walter Payton

Place you want to travel?

Favorite musical artist or group?

Twitter, Instagram or Facebook?

Rome

Kiss

Facebook

Broccoli

Charles REEVES Steubenville Chicago Bears

Basketball

Zucchini

Bo Jackson

My mother

Spain

Bahamas

Logic

Lil Durk

Twitter

Instagram

Ryan EKEY Madonna

Dakota PRICE Oak Glen

Minnesota Vikings

Pittsburgh Steelers

Wrestling Fast food

Wrestling

River PAPPAS Edison New England Patriots

Wrestling

Tomatoes

Beans

Rob Gronkowski

Drew Duncan

My father

Italy

Cuba

Logic

Young Thug

Instagram

Instagram

Troy PETERKIN Buckeye Indianapolis Colts

Track and ďŹ eld Chocolate

My father

California California G-Eazy

Falling in Reverse

Instagram

Instagram

Off The Field Talk What some local players say about life off of the field ...

Ny’Juan ROBINSON Steubenville

What team do you play in Madden?

Arizona Cardinals

Favorite sport other than football?

Baseball

Least favorite food?

Top role model?

Grilled chicken

My mother

Kutch CLARK CCHS Chicago Bears

Baseball

Cantaloupe

James Connor Bora Bora

Donavan SPENCER Weir Seattle Seahawks

Track and Field

Greg WADE Indian Creek Denver Broncos

Basketball

Koty HUDSON Brooke Pittsburgh Steelers

Basketball

Salad

Salad

My father

Keith Maple

LeBron James

Hawaii

Paris

Drake

Drake

Instagram

Twitter

Brazil

Place you want to travel?

Caribbean Islands

Favorite musical artist or group?

Lucci

Panic! At The Disco

YG

Twitter, Instagram or Snapchat?

Twitter

Twitter

Twitter

Pickles

Shyoun PETTEWAY Steubenville

Austin WHITE Buckeye

Carolina Panthers

Cincinnati Bengals

Track and field

Baseball

Eggs

Shaq Petteway

Hawaii

Future

Instagram

Spinach

J.J. Watt

Paris

Luke Bryan

Facebook

104

Aug. 24, 2016

Mathison

that good back then, too) and watched my alma mater make it to Qualcomm Stadium to play in the championship game and fall one victory short of a title.

As fun as all those were, there is nothing like being on the sidelines during high school games on a regular basis.

It’s just fun.

It is enlightening and entertaining.

I am privy to a lot of conversations on the sidelines that those in the stands cannot hear.

And, if you hear the comments from those in the stands, it’s really obvious that they cannot hear what’s being said on the sidelines.

I love high school sports.

There is a purity that cannot be denied.

There’s also a sense of accomplishment in a lot of areas.

It’s not always about being a starter, a sub or the last kid to make the team.

It’s about overcoming adversity, learning to find a new side of yourself and giving it everything you have because you do not want to let your teammates down.

High school sports offers a plethora of opportunities for athletes to succeed and fail, and get up the next morning.

High school sports is about spending summers with your friends at camp, around a pool or throwing routs on a grass field next to a church.

It’s about shooting free throws, taking grounders or running 2,000 miles.

There is a passion for football, though, that is unlike any other.

Oct. 30, 2004 Indian Creek vs. Catholic Central at Harding Stadium

I was still the pro at Steubenville Country Club and decided at the last minute to take my son Garrison (then 7) to the game.

What the heck.

I think we parked in front of Lenora’s and trekked the 4,000 steps to the field.

Then, we couldn’t find a place to sit.

I looked and looked and looked.

Standing along the fence is not a place for a 7-year-old.

I finally found two seats — visitor side, front left, row 1.

Garrison thought they were cool because when play was down near us, he was up close and personal.

It was a playoff game, so to speak.

Winner in. Loser out.

The place was electric — something I had never really felt as a high school player.

We would get 2,000-ish at our games back in the day.

Nothing like this.

I had been in Harding for a Big Red game for a few games, but, to me, this was differ-

ent.

The only time prior to this game I ever felt that type of atmosphere was the year before when Garrison and I ventured to Austintown Fitch High School to watch Big Red beat Beaver Local 28-21 in a playoff game that came down to inches.

I remember my son having to go to the bathroom and the line was so long, we found another place where he could empty his bladder.

I would bet money he doesn’t remember either of these two outings, but dad sure does.

It didn’t matter to Garrison or I who won that Creek-Central game.

We had a great time.

Big Red vs. Alter Dec. 2, 2006 at Massillon

This was a chance to win 30 in a row and back-to-back state championships.

I watched Steubevnille dispatch DeSales, 28-7, a year earlier on the same field. In that game, it was 0-0 at the half, but Big Red pretty much owned them defensively, giving up just over three yards a snap.

After nothing in the first half, the second half had five straight possessions of touchdowns, Big Red scoring four of them, one on a blocked punt.

Game over.

I remember Jeremy Presley breaking his ankle and apologizing over and over to head coach Reno Saccoccia. I remember DeSales having one really good play on offense.

One. Angelo Magnone, Demeatrus Benjamin and Presley led the defese which gave up one play for 63 yards and 166 yards on the other 51 plays.

This one against Alter was different — a lot different.

Both teams came in with one similar fashion — both were 14-0 and with only one close game.

Big Red beat Dover, 33-30, in the regional championship game on a Saturday afternoon at Fawcett Field.

It was an instant classic.

So was the game against Alter.

Big Red went up 21-7 in the first quarter on a team that had seven shutouts and had only given up 21 in a game once.

Zach Collaros went in from the 1 with 4:18 left in the half and it was 34-13.

Game over.

Nope.

Big Red was going for the dagger when an interception led to a scored with 39 seconds left in the half and when Alter scored from the 4 with 9:17 left in the game, it was 3433.

Steubenville blocked the PAT and eventu-

From Page 8

ally picked off a double-reverse pass late for its second straight state title.

The best part of the interception, besides sealing the state championship, was the Big Red coaches calling the double-reverse pass from what seemed like the moment one specific kid from Alter came into the game.

“We knew exactly what was going to happen,” one coach said to me.

Madonna vs. Wahama Nov. 23, 2013 at Jimmy Carey Stadium

It’s kind of hard to describe a game that totaled 127 points, 873 yards, 18 touchdowns and finished in 6 inches of snow.

I had been to my share of Madonna playoff games, including two state title contests (a win and a double OT loss to Wahama). The 2009 game was over when Connor Arlia returned the first punt of the game for a touchdown. I still do not know why he was allowed to touch the ball.

That game came on the heels of an 18-7 win over nemesis Wheeling Central in the old Jimmy Carey Stadium (that one was fun, too).

But, this game in 2013 started with a temperature that was really cold and it just got colder.

I’m not sure how the wind chill stayed in positive numbers.

The Blue Dons trailed 16-8 after the first quarter.

They led 56-22 going into the fourth quarter.

The cold, snowy and blustery weather didn’t stop the high-powered Madonna offense and neither could Wahama.

Another oddity in the game was that Wahama went through the entire third quarter and the first nine minutes of the fourth without running an offensive play.

The White Falcons ran only six offensive plays in the second half yet scored 28 points and Madonna was forced to punt just once in the entire game.

Despite not having many offensive plays, the White Falcons scored four touchdowns — three of them were long kickoff returns by senior Kane Roush.

Roush ran two kickoffs back for touchdowns — 83 yards and 70 yards. He also ran the ball 10 times for 175 yards and three more touchdowns.

Ross Comis ran for six touchdowns and Eliott Nero four for the Blue Dons, who racked of 579 yards of offense.

The kicker of the game, though, was seeing Madonna grad Alexandra Yazbek on the sidelines without a coat. She left them in Morgantown and found a blanket to try and keep warm.

Not sure if she has thawed yet!!

Aug. 24, 2016

Golden Bears

From Page 59

such a good athlete that he has to play somewhere, along with sophomores Shawn Moore and Blake Almo, are in the mix.

“I would categorize this team as balanced,” Arneault explained. “We have size, strength and speed. And we have a nice balance of younger guys to go along with the juniors and seniors.

We’re not overly strong in any one area, but not weak in any areas, either.”

Collin Williams, who led all kickers in the area with his accurate points after touchdowns (34) and field goals (9), returns. Williams, a junior, also will do the punting, but is being challenged by senior Andy Gonzalez, Arneault added.

Red Riders

Arneault

was the offensive coordinator last year, was a great strength and conditioning guy.

“We’ve tried to keep that the same with these football players and that part wasn’t hard to adapt to as a head coach,” he said. “What I really want to focus on with these kids is the mental side.

“I believe if we establish mental discipline it will transition into more discipline and intellectual play on the football field.

“The kids knew me as an assistant coach, but I think they had to get to know me a little differently as a head coach.

The relationship changes when you become head coach.

“I feel that I have to become more responsible not only for the way they play on the football field, but also for their education.

“There has been an adjustment in their From Page 21 getting to know me in this different role, but I think it has gone well.”

Arneault knows the head coaching job is a lot more demanding.

“I now have financial responsibilities,” he continued. “I have to put together plans for the schemes we’re going to use on offense and defense and I have to make sure everything flows together and runs smoothly as an organization.”

The tackles will be Johnson and Enrietti and backups there will be Fuscardo, Rice and Keyes.

Lining up at inside linebacker is Murphy, who has led the Red Riders in tackles the past two years. He had 144 tackles with three sacks, two fumble recoveries and an interception last year. Junior Tyler Mack returns there with Mills and Chris Gillette rotating.

Junior Caleb Rea, the smallest of the Rider starters at 55 and 135 pounds, returns at outside linebacker where he started the last four games of 2015. Matt Komorowski will split time there.

Filberto said the rover outside linebacker will be shared

by Hudacheck and Gillette depending on certain situations.

Cowden and junior Jaylon Bridges return at cornerback with Rosnick sharing time there, too.

Pierce will be the safety backed up by sophomore Chad Custer and junior Donovan Riggs.

Enrietti will be the Red Rider punter while Mills, who kicked in a game last year when Mike Ceraolo was injured, will do the place-kicking. Kick returners will be Pierce and Rosnick along with sophomore Quincy Dameron, who was named after Weir High great Quincy Wilson.

105 From Page 59

One of the main goals for Oak Glen and just about every high school football team in West Virginia at this time of year is to play well enough to make the playoffs. But Arneault and his Golden Bears have a little different twist to it.

“We talked about that as a team and we decided that the main reason we want to make it to the playoffs is to have at least one more week together,” he said. “We’ll get to be with each other longer and that’s important to me.”

There probably are a lot more responsibilities a head coach has that he didn’t talk about including some he hasn’t even encountered yet as his head coaching career gets started, but there’s also that passion coming through to mold the lives of young men “I want all these players to find joy in the game of football,” he said. “I want them to develop a passion for something besides themselves, and beyond their homes. If I can help them buy into a cause beyond themselves — to share responsibility — I believe they will find joy in that.”

And if that happens and the football program grows as Arneault expects it to, then Oak Glen will be turning out a lot of future leaders.

106

Aug. 24, 2016

Wildcats

Edison will look for leadership from a combination of its older players and its younger players.

“Joey Nave and Dom Rogers are two leaders of the team,” Stickles said. “River Pappas is doing a great job as a leader.

Seth Cade is a leader, but he leads more by example. Chris Kosegi is another kid who leads by example and not by words. I think we have a good mix of kids who lead vocally and by example. Also, our attitude this season is far better than what it was last year.”

The Wildcats were hard hit by injuries a year ago.

“Looking ahead to Week 10, we want to be healthy,” he said. “We had a really good strength and conditioning program put in place. Melissa Hudson and Shane O’Brien did a really good job with the kids.

“We have seven starters returning on defense, and we have eight starters returning on offense. I think our strength is going to be our unity. If we can stay together and stay healthy, I think we can have a lot of success.”

Edison has made a couple of changes to its schedule this season.

“We moved Carrollton off of our schedule, and we moved Weir to Week 2,” Stickles

said. “We play Catholic Central in Week 8, Toronto in Week 9 and Indian Creek in Week 10.

Those are all rivalry games. We are renewing our rivalry with Catholic Central.

With our schedule, the kids should not have a difficult time getting up for games.

“Last year, we renewed our rivalry with East Liverpool.

The kids will be excited for those games. We just have to avoid injuries. I think if we are able to do that, we should be in good shape.

Those are some big games.”

Edison is scheduled to open the season at 7 p.m. Aug. 26 at home against Buckeye 8 North Division rival East Liverpool.

“It is really important for us to win Week 1,” Stickles said. “We want to be able to have confidence going into Week 2 against Weir.

We lost a close game last season at East Liverpool. It was a good game.

“We had a chance to win it. We had the lead in the fourth quarter. It is important for us to get off to a good start.

“We want to win the week. That is what we are focusing on. That is what we want the kids and the coaches focus to be on this sea-

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From Page 53

son. We are not going to look ahead. We want to go 1-0 every week. We want to win the week. We want to go 1-0 every week.”

The Wildcats are building toward the future, and Edison is looking to get back to the playoffs for the second time in school history in the near future. Edison’s lone appearance in the playoffs came in 2002.

“We do not have that tradition here with things like that, but that is something we want to build to,” Stickles said. “That is something the kids want to do. They are working hard. That is a testament to them.

We have good kids who can do it.”

The Wildcats also made some changes to their coaching staff heading into this season.

“I think it is very important to have a consistent coaching staff,” Stickles said. “They coaches we have belong here, and they can do the job.

“It is difficult at our school when it comes to hiring different coaches.

“Some of them have work conflicts. Putting together a consistent staff can be difficult. Ideally, you want to have a consistent staff. It is like a marriage.

“You want to be able to work things out.

Our coaching staff has been pretty consistent.

It shows in practice. The coaches are talking to and coaching the players every day. I am happy to see that.”

108

Blue Dons

From Page 33

Other inside receivers battling for playing time are James Todd and Garrett Cook, both sophomores and juniors Max Fiedorczyk and Chase Smith.

The outside receivers will be a pair of veterans in juniors Ryan Ekey and Tripp Moore. Others in the mix are Nick Paul, Dante Pulice, Jacob Todd, Dillon Austin and Antonio Daddario.

Most of the offensive linemen will see double duty on the defensive line when opponents have the ball. Junior Nick Paul will join them in defending on the line.

Inside linebackers include Ekey, Josh Gasvoda, Good, Cook and Kirby. Outside linebackers are Hostattler, Khaleb Smith, Vinnie Pulice, Fiedorczyk and Jacob Todd.

Brown and James Todd are the safeties and Hicks plans to pick cornerbacks from a group that includes Lemley, Moore, Chase Smith, Dante Pulice, Austin and Deddario.

“My first impressions are that these young men all have a tremendous work ethic and are a close-knit bunch,” said Hicks. “They are the essence of team.

“They push each other in a positive way, they have an attack attitude in practice, they want to learn and they give great effort. In short, they show signs of a team that will play good, hard-nosed football and get after it.”

Hicks

ture of my daughter, who had been born in May, in her first Halloween outfit.

It opened my eyes. It was a moment I haven’t forgotten and probably never will.

“Life changed for me the May before that when my daughter was born. I missed her first Halloween and I don’t want to miss any more firsts in her life.”

A lot of people perhaps wondered why Hicks, who had spent his whole life after graduating from Weir High School in 1992 in college football, moved to coaching at the high school level. Family is why.

“I enjoyed my time as a college coach,” said the 1996 Washington and Jefferson College graduate. “I met a lot of people and got to travel all around this country. Upon parting with Robert Morris after the season, I really didn’t expect to coach this year.”

Aug. 24, 2016

But when Doug Taylor resigned as Madonna head football coach last spring, the son of current Hancock County Magistrate and former Weirton Police Chief, Scott Hicks, began to hear from friends about the opportunity.

“I was really enjoying my time at home being a daddy,” said Hicks. “I talked to one of my best friends, Manny Matsakis, who originally is from Shadyside. He’s a coach, too, and he urged me to look into it. But I kept telling myself I needed to take a break.

“I prayed long and hard about it and I guess it was God’s providence that I got the job and the opportunity to be a part of the Madonna family. I couldn’t be more blessed.

“I’ve found that one of the interesting things about Madonna is the kids do what they’re asked to do.

The work ethic is second to none. They care about Madonna and each other and the football team. I feel honored to be able to work with them on a daily basis.”

Hicks said one of the differences between coaching college players as opposed to high school is that while college players are pretty much fundamentally sound, they are set in the ways they have been taught by the various high school coaches.

“They’ve just grown up with four years of a high school system and those techniques, while not wrong, may be a little dif-

From Page 33

ferent than what the college coaching staff is trying to instill in all these players from different backgrounds,” Hicks explained.

“Here on the high school level, it is easier to mold young men because they haven’t been with a coach for four years. High school players are like a sponge.

They soak up what you’re teaching.

“Another plus is the freedom we have as high school coaches compared to college. In college, there are stringent rules such as only 20 hours of contact with players a week and not being in the weight room.

“In college, the person who gets closest to the players is the strength and conditioning coach,” continued Hicks. “At this level, I’m able to be around the kids a lot more.

We have bonded just by being together at the threeweek camp in June and in the weight room. It’s not only about the coach/player relationship. I get to know them and they get to know me.”

Hicks, who returned to his roots in Weirton upon joining the Robert Morris staff two years ago, lives on Terrace Heights with his 15-month old daughter, Jube Ella, and his wife, Jennifer, a New Cumberland native.

In addition to coaching at Madonna, he will be working at the school on a daily basis in the library and various other jobs around the school.

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Aug. 24, 2016

Big Red

and Deshawn Nixon.

Defense is always a strength for Big Red and 2016 should be no exception.

“We have six guys fighting for four positions,” Saccoccia noted when discussing his defensive unit. “They will all play. The all know if they perform in practice, they will play in our games.

“Right now, we’re fighting some bumps and bruises but our kids know if they are performing on the field in practice, they will play on Friday nights.”

R. Bernard and Alijah Demitras are fighting for the starting spot at one defensive end with senior Shannon Carr in the mix along with Evans, Antoni Demitras and Simon.

D. Moore, Reeves and Williams top the list of candidates for the other spot. Bradley, Herring and Williams round out the depth chart at end.

Doyle, Ekey and Q. Moore are the leaders at defensive tackle. Seniors Anthony Tomaini and Jalil Shepard are in the mix along with R. Lawrence, Boley, Holmes, Thornton and Jennings.

Saccoccia listed M. Lawrence, T. Ely and Scurry as the three leading players to start at the nose.

Senior Nick Ely is in the mix along with Brown, Gabrielli and Nixon.

Robinson, who was among the team’s sack leaders as a defensive end in 2015, will start at Mike

109

linebacker. Zorne and Rice are his backups.

Zimish will move to the Sam spot where Agresta, Blackmon, sophomore Nick Isla, Criss and Lulla also are candidates.

Zimish had a solid season in 2015, recording more than 65 tackles.

J. McGee headlines the candidate list at the Will linebacker spot.

J. Bernard, Koval, Wukelic, Blackwell and D. McGhee provide depth here.

The corner spots feature veterans P. Petteway and D. Jones, who returned two interceptions for touchdowns in 2015. Taylor is pushing for playing time at corner along with Wallace, J. Davis, Zane, J. Jones, Donald and Deshawn Morrow, Marcus and Marshawn Kelly, Biasi and Harper.

Scott, who was among the team leaders in tackles last year, is back at safety along with Pierro and J. Petteway. Fuscardo, Bracone, Cunningham, E. Duggan, Haney and Mitchell will provide support.

Seniors Austin Duggan and Mark Smith again will handle the kicking duties.

Sophomore Ian Phillips also is in the mix. Smith connected on 50 of 58 extra point tries in 2015.

A. Duggan was three for six.

Big Red has 75 players (22 seniors, 23 juniors and 30 sophomores) on its varsity roster. Saccoccia called that number “the most we’ve had since I

have been here.”

“It’s not the numbers you have, it’s the number of players you have,” he explained. “We’re working on trying to increase the number of players we have every day.

“We probably started out with 23 or 24 guys who we knew can get on the field and perform for us. That number increased to 28 or 29 by the end of our first week of two-adays. Hopefully, after our last scrimmage, we will have 30-35 guys who we can put in a game and not miss a beat.

“That might be farfetched but that’s something we as a coaching staff are striving to achieve.”

Big Red will open its season Aug. 25, hosting Washington Woodrow Wilson, which went 12-2 in 2015. Kickoff is set for 5:45 p.m.

Boardman is back on Steubenville’s schedule for the first time since 2001 and Akron St. Vincent/St. Mary will visit Harding Stadium Sept.

30. The Big Red and the Irish have met three times previously.

The first regular-season meeting between Big Red and Millersburg West Holmes will take place Sept. 9.

The clubs have played two playoff games, and the Knights posted a big win in 2012.

“We have a really good schedule for a Division IV team, starting with our opener,” Saccoccia stressed. “We played Woodrow Wilson a couple of times (Big Red leads the series 2-1). It will be a strong opener for us against good athletes who will be very well coached and well prepared.

From Page 15

“Boardman is back and Boardman is Boardman.

We also have Dover, St. Vincent/St. Mary and Youngstown Ursuline.

We have a good schedule and we will need to be prepared each and every week.”

Eight of Big Red’s game will be played at home. The road trips are to Boardman and Ursuline.

When asked about the strength of his 2016 club, Saccoccia commented it “might be the realization that nothing comes easy.”

“Our players realize if they want to get to where they want to get, it’s going to take a lot of hard work, a lot of sacrifice and a lot of miserable days in the summer,” he stated.

“If you realize what your expectations are and you are willing to work for it, I think that’s definitely a strength.”

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Off The Field Talk What some local players say about life off of the field ...

What actor would play you in a movie?

Favorite subject in school?

Cody ENRIETTI Weir

Hayden DALEY CCHS

Vince Vaughn

John Cena

Math

Math

Favorite shoe brand?

Nike

Nike

Your celebrity crush?

Jennifer Aniston

Ariana Grande

Favorite exercise or workout?

Your dream job?

Your favorite season?

Bicep curls

Professional athlete

Winter

Bench press

Trey HARTON Indian Creek Will Smith

History

Jordan

Megan Fox

Bench press

The person who brings back the NCAA video game

Physical therapist

Summer

Fall

Kyle ROBERTS Harrison

Chase CRAGO Oak Glen

Channing Tatum

Ethan Hawke

Math

Gym

Nike

Angelina Jolie

Nike

Megan Fox

Squats

Upper body

Pro football player

Masonry

Winter

Winter

Off The Field Talk What some local players say about life off of the field ...

Joey NAVE Edison

What actor would play you in a movie?

Denzel Washington

Favorite subject in school?

History

Favorite shoe brand?

Nike

Your celebrity crush?

Favorite exercise or workout?

Your dream job?

Your favorite season?

Ariana Grande

Cardio NBA general manager

Summer

Chris YACHINI Brooke Leonardo DiCaprio

Math

Nike

Ty WEST Toronto Michael B. Jordan

History

Nike

Domenick MURPHY Weir Matthew McConaughey

Phil GOOD Madonna Ryan Reynolds

Science

Math

Nike

Nike

Paige VanZant

Blake Lively

Niykee Heaton

Kate Upton

Abdominal

Bench press

Hang cleans

Bench press

Pro football player

Chiropractor

College football coach

Fall

Fall

Summer

Police officer

Fall

112

Red Knights

Braniff are leading the way at fullback. Others competing for time there are Jon Patterson, Dylan Bozica, Zach Berger and Tristan Thomas.

Junior Jake Keenan will be the team’s X. Others vying for time there are Chase Cooper, Judge Hall and Brendan Matyas.

Senior Ty West will be the team’s Z, and Zdinak will see time there. Others competing for time at the position are Nate Keenan and Kobe Herrick.

West was one of the top all-around players in the Valley last season.

“Ty averaged around 35 yards per catch last season,” Meek said. “That is an incredible number. He is not only one of the fastest kids in the valley, he is also one of the fastest kids in the state.

“He proved that during track season. He’s a great leaper. He is also a coachable kid. He is a nice young man.

“We also have good receivers in Jake Keenan and Danny Zdinak. They complement Ty. If teams try to take Ty out of the game, we have two other very good kids. We are telling Nate that if teams try to shut down Ty, then we are going to have to go to other players.

“If teams try to shut Ty down, we have other kids who can get the job done.

Our offensive can be very explosive. Hopefully, we show that early in the season.”

West caught 18 passes for 618 yards (34.3 yards per catch) and eight touchdowns. West also scored two touchdowns on the ground, returned two interceptions for touchdowns and returned a kickoff for a touchdown. West finished the season with 940 all-purpose yards, 13 touchdowns and 80 points.

“We are big, strong and have some speed,” Coach Meek said. “We can have a successful season, but we

Aug. 24, 2016

need to stay healthy, and our schedule will be stronger. These kids have had success, and we need to understand that there are teams on our schedule that will be gunning for us.”

Senior Joven Householder and sophomore Carson Meek are in heavy competition at the tight end spot. Nick Sninchak and Travis Hill are also vying for time.

“We will use a lot of double tight formations,” Meek said.

Senior Dylan Warren and junior Avery Watkins are in heavy competition at the center position.

Junior Luke Fogle, sophomore Trent Wright and senior Dustin Henry are in heavy competition for the two starting guard spots.

Others competing for time are Joe Shook, Seth Watkins and Cameron Garcia.

Seniors Griffin Allison and Ben Davis are the top two guys at tackle. Others competing for time are Justin Haynes, Cole DeGarmo, Kanne Larkins, Roger Scott, D’Andre Thompson, Shane Van Steenberg and R.J. Batson.

“We are not going to have to tune our offense down at all,” Meek said.

“Nate is going to pick right up where Blaine and Blaze left off. He is going to have Max Tice at tailback along with Danny Zdinak, Thomas Fordham and Juston Patterson. At fullback,

we have Joe Obrien and Daniel Braniff, and they are going to do a good job of replacing Drew Lowery.

At wide receiver, we have Ty West and Jake Keenan.

“We have a big offensive line. They have experience. They are big, strong kids. They are athletic. They are able to move. They are athletic football players.

“We just want to get better and play hard. We have a lot of confidence in these kids.”

On the other side of the ball, Davis, Fogle and Henry are in heavy competition at the defensive tackle position. Avery Watkins, Larkins, Seth Watkins, DeGarmo, Haynes, Thompson, Batson and Van Steenberg are all competing for time.

Allison and Householder are the team’s top two defensive ends. Also in the mix are Carson Meek, Hall, Shook, Sninchak, Hill, Scott, Cooper, Bozica, Berger and Garcia.

Braniff, Obrien and Wright are in competition at inside linebacker. Jon Patterson and Thomas are

also in the mix.

Tice, Fordham and Juston Patterson are in competition at outside linebacker.

Roach, Herrick, Frank Fulton, Jesse Fulton and Matyas are all competing for time.

West and Jake Keenan are the team’s top two cornerbacks. Nate Keenan, Higgs and Smith are in the mix.

Zdinak and Karaffa are the top two safeties. Stackhouse is expected to see time there.

“The kids have had a lot of success,” Meek said.

“We have made the playoffs the last two seasons.

The kids have played in a lot of games. We have a lot of size. Our defense is going to be quick.

“We have lost some quickness from last year’s team, but we have a great group coming back. We have some very fast kids.

“We also have a great coaching staff. We have had a lot of stability with the coaching staff in the last seven years. They are a great group of coaches, but they are also great people. I could not do this job without them.”

Zdinak will handle the placekicking duties. Zdinak, West, Tice, Fordham and Jake Keenan will return kicks and punts. Jake

From Page 65

Keenan will be the team’s long snapper. Karaffa will be the holder.

“Our goal is we want to continue to be successful,” Meek said. “We want to get better, and we want to stay healthy. We want to represent our town the best we can. The kids are good students and good people.”

In a bit of a scheduling quirk, Toronto opens the season with three-straight road games.

“I don’t remember if I have ever started a season with three straight road games before,” Meek said.

“I have been doing this for a number of years. We are going to get on the bus and try to win all three. We are going to try and be 3-0 when we come home and play Catholic Central in Week 4.”

Toronto opens the season at 7 p.m. Aug. 26 against Wellsville at Nicholson Stadium.

“The kids are excited,” Meek said. “We have a countdown. Every day is another day closer. The kids are going to start school in a couple of weeks. We have not won in Wellsville in a long time. We want to be able to do that.

“We have not won up at their place in a long time.

It would be great to be able to do that.”

Good Luck All Area Teams!!!

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Aug. 24, 2016

113

By ED LOOMAN For The Gridiron

STEUBENVILLE — Big Red and Catholic Central will open their new football seasons Thursday and both teams will have plenty of new faces on the field.

The squads also will be performing inside the newlook Harding Stadium.

Workers have been busy this summer installing a new grandstand on the east end with a handicapped seating area along with new seating on the home side. In addition, a new fieldhouse for visiting teams was constructed on the lower level of the stadium complex.

The work all was part of a $2.5 million renovation project.

“Most of the work is fin-

ished, we should be ready in about 10 days,” Mike Bauman, director of build-

ing and grounds for the Steubenville City School District, said in early Au-

gust.

“In my opinion, it looks beautiful. We managed to maintain the integrity of the stadium. We didn’t change the field or the view for the fans. We just took up the appearance of the stadium a few notches.

Between the concrete and the steel, it’s just a beautiful place. We’ve had a lot of positive comments from people who have visited.”

Bauman added the steps in the home stands have been expanded from 36 inches to 54 inches, thus allowing handrails to be installed down the middle of the steps.

“Probably the biggest improvement in the stadium involves safety,” he pointed out. Everything we did is ADA compliant and we’ve doubled the handicapped seating area.”

Bauman explained the home concrete stands went through a multi-phase process starting with the repair and restoration of the concrete. The concrete was sealed, a primer coat applied and then two coats of gray paint. The seats now have an aluminum cover with red plastic seats.

Harding Stadium was built 85 years ago.

“The fans who come to Harding Stadium have an appreciation for the tradition of Big Red football and this stadium. So we wanted to make the improvements while keeping the tradition of Harding Stadium alive,” commented Bauman.

A low-interest loan along with other funding sources paid for the renovation work.

“It’s beautiful,” veteran Big Red coach Reno Saccoccia responded when asked about the stadium renovations. “It’s a beautiful, beautiful venue.

“I’ve told our kids we have to earn the right to play in that stadium. It’s going to be an honor to play and coach in the stadium, especially that first game.”

Bauman stated the new fieldhouse is 65-by-65 and will be used by visiting teams as well as the Big Red freshmen football squad. During the winter, the building will become a wrestling room for Harding See HARDING Page 115

114

Looman

play basketball also. I certainly don’t want to anger one of my children.

Ryan was by no means the fastest, strongest or most gifted athlete on the football field. He did, however, display heart, hustle, desire, a real knowledge of the game and an incredible work ethic. His SSJP teams never had large numbers which meant he never left the field, playing offense, defense and special teams. Thus, he worked hard on his conditioning before, during and after each season.

Following his senior season, his coach, John Buskirk, who unfortunately lost a battle to cancer at a very young age, pointed out Ryan was his coach on the field. I could see him constantly barking instructions to his fellow players, making sure they were in the right place at the right time.

SSJP and Madonna had a nice home-and-home series going back in the early 2000s. Several busloads of Blue Don supporters made the trip up State Route 11 and Herald fans

Aug. 24, 2016

returned the favor when games were played at the old Jimmy Carey Stadium.

The homecoming game was played on one of those perfect fall Saturday evenings. The skies were clear, the temperature comfortable and the winds were minimal (a rarity for Northeast Ohio). Prior to the opening kick, Ryan was named homecoming king — schools in Northeast Ohio still select a king and a queen. When introduced to those in attendance, it was noted he attended kindergarten at St. Joseph School in Weirton. That remark drew applause from Blue Don fans.

The game was hard fought and the lead changed hands several times. The Heralds went ahead late but the Blue Dons launched a potential game-winning drive. The march, however, was stopped when my son intercepted a pass and basically sealed the victory.

The final: SSJP 32, Madonna 30.

SSJP’s win that Saturday evening was, I believe,

its only one in the series with Madonna and definitely was the highlight of Ryan’s senior season.

Game 2: Location: Tiger Stadium in Massillon (not sure if it was Paul Brown Tiger Stadium then or not); Season: 1962; Teams: Big Red and Massillon; The Reason: Big Red ended 31 years of football frustration by storming from behind to collar the Tigers 14-8. Steubenville has not won at Massillon (against the Tigers that is) since that October night.

Unlike some longtime Big Red fans in my age category, I actually DID attend this game.

John Kirker, the legendary sports editor of the Herald-Star, reported the crowd for the game was announced at 12,869, roughly 5,000 supporting the Crimson and the Black.

Through the years, that number has swelled to tens of thousands.

What a game it was.

Big Red entered unbeaten (4-0) and was ranked 10th in the state.

Those dreaded Tigers were 2-2.

The first half ended in an 8-8 standoff. The score wouldn’t change until very late in the third quarter.

That’s when Ray Terry took a handoff from Bob

McCosky, slipped through the middle of the Massillon defense, and raced 61 yards to score.

Even today, I can still see Ray Terry running to daylight inside Massillon’s historic stadium.

The defenses took over in the fourth quarter and Big Red hung on for the huge win. When the final gun sounded, thousands of Big Red fans streamed onto the field. I was among that number.

Needless to say Steubenville celebrated the victory for days to follow.

I can still remember arriving home and seeing people on the streets or on their porches. Horns were honking away. It truly was a surreal scene.

Game 3: Location: Harding Stadium; Season: 1977; Teams: Big Red and Catholic Central; The Reason: Hmm, hopefully the words that follow will provide an explanation.

Let me point out I did not actually witness this game. I was a little busy on Oct. 22, 1977, tying the knot with my bride (Carol) of nearly 39 years. Yes, I was one of those people who got married on the night of a Big Red-Central football game.

Remember that back in 1977, the annual city

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From Page 8

championship contest still was a huge deal. It was a date circled on everyone’s calendar. It was a game that divided the city, in a positive way of course.

At the time we set our wedding date, I had no idea it would conflict with “the game.” I am a Big Red grad while Carol graduated from CCHS. As the date of our wedding spread, the No. 1 question I received was this: “Seriously, you’re getting married on the night of the Big Red, Central game?”

I can remember people actually leaving our reception to make kickoff. I can recall guests huddling in a back room at the Mingo K of C, listening on the radio.

The band (Court Street) gave constant updates on the score.

To this day, I still take grief for the conflict. If you didn’t experience the city football rivalry, you probably can’t comprehend the seriousness of my scheduling error. Yes, it was that big of a deal!

By the way, Catholic Central earned a 16-0 victory that night. Suffice it to say, some of my Big Red buddies were glad they avoided the stadium that fall night.

So those are my three.

There several others which barely missed the list including Big Red’s 1984 state championship victory (I will never forget watching that game with my longtime best friend Dennis Madama), Big Red’s loss in the 1987 Ohio title game (the first time I took my son to watch the Big Red) and Catholic Central’s battle with Delphos St. John in the 2005 Division VI championship encounter (it was a joy watching my nephews Jared and Justin Mosti suit up for that one).

As the 2016 season approaches, here’s hoping you see a memorable game or two during the fastest 10 weeks of the year.

Aug. 24, 2016

Harding

115

From Page 113

Middle School. In the summer, it can be used as weight room.

“Previously, we had to transform the Big Red locker room into a wrestling room for Harding,” he said. “Now Harding wrestlers will have a new home.

“Visiting teams also will have their own entrance to the stadium. There are steps and ramps to enter the southwest side of the stadium.”

The restoration work on the stands reduced seating on the home side to 4,200, down about 420 seats according to Bauman. The east end zone can accommodate 1,700 fans.

State-of-the-art LED lighting also has been installed at stadium, another major improvement as Bauman noted.

“The whole field is covered now, it’s just beautiful,” he stated. “The system is so state of the art, we can turn the lights on from our cell phones.”

Previously, Melinda Young, city schools superintendent, reported more changes are planned for the stadium when the Calvin Jones statue project is completed.

“We plan to replace the current fencing around the entrance to the stadium with wrought iron fencing,” she was quoted as saying. “We will shift the main entrance to more in line with the statue and will have a brick walkway installed entering the stadium.”

Ted Gorman, the Big Red principal and chairman of the Calvin Jones Statue Committee, is still hoping to break ground on the project in the spring.

Designed by worldrenowned sculptor Jerry McKenna, the bronze statue of Jones, base included, will stand 6-feet, 8-inches and will be placed in front of Calvin Jones Way. Residents, businesses

and organizations can still help support the overall project through outright donations, but they also can buy an 8-by-8-inch brick for $500 as a way, for example, to honor a friend, loved one, classmate or event. Each brick can accommodate six lines or 15 characters, including spaces. Checks can be mailed to Steubenville City Schools, Attn: Calvin Jones Statue Project, 420 N. Fourth St., Steubenville, Ohio 43952.

To pay online visit squareup.com/market/shsr edzone. All donations are tax deductible. Questions can be directed to (740) 282-9741.

After graduating from Big Red, Jones earned AllAmerican honors three times at the University of Iowa. He was the first African-American play to win the Outland Trophy, presented annually to the

top lineman in college football.

He also became the first African-American to be featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated. That took place in the Sept. 27, 1954, edition.

A 1952 graduate of SHS, Jones declined offers to play in the National Football League because of lower wages that were paid to African-American professional football players and joined the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the CFL, where he quickly made a name for himself and was chosen to play in the Canadian League AllStar game in Vancouver.

Jones died in a plane crash on Dec. 9, 1956, over the Canadian Rocky Mountains while playing for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the East-West All-Star Game.

Jerry McKenna is making the statue.

“I played the same year as Calvin Jones so that kind of made it easy for me, and that sculpture had to be completely authentic, from the shoes to the helmet,” he said in a June story by Janice Kiaski. “I have a storeroom that’s got everything you can imagine — football uniforms back to the 1920s and probably a hundred helmets, leather and plastic, the whole evolution of the helmet.

“I happen to have my

old football shoes from the same season, 1955, identical to the ones Calvin wore. I went online and found a Wilson 2012 which was only made for two years. It was the exact helmet he was wearing on the cover of Sports Illustrated that he appeared on, and everything else I had in my inventory to outfit.

“This has been a labor of love because this has taken me right back to my senior year of high school in 1955.”

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117

WCCHS

Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be joined by senior speedsters Dom Stevenson and JaQuan Jackson, giving the Maroon Knights a trio of more than capable backs. Kahle, junior classmate Brandon Russell, senior Dylan Baker and freshman Manuel Miller will all battle for carries.

At fullback, senior Tyler Riedel (6-2, 200) is a guy no defender wants to see coming through the line as a lead blocker. Dawson Wear, junior, and Brandon McFarland, a junior, could also log time. Also watch Murray here. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;We are deep at running back,â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Young said.

The same could be said of the offensive line.

Junior Patrick Duffy and sophomore Luke Duplaga will likely man the tackle spots. Guards are seniors Chantz Chambers, Clayton McCabe, junior Luke Lawrence and sophomore Michael Runkle, who can also play tackle.

Lawrence and junior Trey Denniston (6-0, 300) could be seen at center, while Timmy McCabe and Hayden Manns are a couple of intriguing freshmen. Other linemen battling to see the field are sopho-

From Page 91

Seniors Dylan Baker, John Burkhalter, Chantz Chambers, Austin Crebs, Luke Fahey, JaQuan Jackson, Clayton McCabe, Michael Niggemyer, Jacob Pleva, Tyler Riedel, Isaac Rine, Dom Stevenson.

Juniors Patrick Brown, Trey Denniston, Patrick Duffy, Robert Kahle, Luke Lawrence, Blake Peluchette, Tyler Roth, Michael Runkle, Brandon Russell, Jake Stryker, Isiah Threets, Dawson Wear.

Sophomores Hayden Beresh, Luke Duplaga, Kyle Frum, Will Kent, Brandon McFarland, Bray Price, Griffin Stenger, Baron Vogrin.

Freshmen Nate Adams, Peyton Anderson, Jaylen Creighton, Michael Horan, Hayden Manns, Tim McCabe, Curtis McGhee III, Manuel Miller, Adam Murray, Jacob Rine, CJ Rose.

mores Griffin Stenger, Baron Vogrin, Hayden Beresh, Will Kent, junior Tyler Roth (5-10, 300) and freshman CJ Rose. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s go a little harder and suck it up a bit,â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Young said he has told this group.

Defensively, the Maroon Knights are also loaded.

It starts at linebacker where Young says â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got an array there.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Chambers and Riedel are back

inside, where fans can also expect to see Murray. Peluchette has earned one outside backer post with Jackson â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;possiblyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;&#x2122; at the other one. Burkhalter and Stevenson return at cornerback, with Baker the free safety who could be spelled by Wear.

Up front, the ends look to be Clayton McCabe and Niggemyer, while the inside tackles are Denniston, Duplaga and Timmy McCabe. Other candidates along

the line are Horan, Pleva, Stenger, Vogrin, Beresh, Runkle, Kent, Rose, Duffy, Roth and Manns.

Jake Stryker returns as the kicker. Freshman Peyton Anderson is the understudy.

Young is assisted by Ed Anderson, Jamie Bordas, Felix Bruno, Brett Clough, Shannon Kuchinski, Phil Pest, Jason Rine, Randy Russell, Chance Siebieda, Mason Werner and Jim Wolfe. The Physical Therapists are J.T. Thomas, Justin Kiger and Adrian Moses, while Dr. Jeremy Tiu serves as physician.

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EVERY KICK COUNTS

Often underappreciated, kickers can be game-changers. There is a lot more that goes into a kick than just putting it through the uprights. These four area kickers go through the process to prove that every kick counts.

Dom Rogers Edison

Dan Zdinak Toronto

Logan Starr Harrison Central

Q: How long have you been kicking field goals and what makes you stick with it?

A: I have been kicking field goals ever since i was in seventh-grade. I've been sticking with it because I enjoy being the kicker and my team needs me.

A: I have been kicking two years. I just like to compete anyway I can.

A: I loosen up and prepare to kick in game situations by playing the full drive on either offense or defense before our field goal unit is called upon.

A: I loosen up by just stretching my legs and going over my steps to kick the ball.

A: For stretching, whenever the team gets close to the end zone, I go through the motion of kicking the ball off the tee.

A: The longest field goal I ever attempted was 45 yards, however the longest field goal I have ever made was 35 yards.

A: My longest attempted was 50 yards in practice. The longest I ever made in a game was 43 yards in my sophomore season.

A: I've been kicking field goals for three years and what makes me stick with it is that my coach doesn't really give me an option.

Q: How do you loosen up and prepare to kick in a game situation?

Collin Williams Oak Glen A: I first started kicking my eighth-grade year. I learned to do it on my own down at City Park in Chester. Coach Ian Whittington said, 'You can go somewhere with this.'

A: I do band stretches, leg swings and I measure everything to get comfortable in the situation.

Q: What's the longest field goal you have attempted, in a game or practice? What's the longest you have ever made?

A: The longest I have ever attempted was from 40 yards, without pads or a uniform on.

My friends and I were seeing how far I could go. After a couple of tries, I made it from 40.

A: The longest I attempted and made was 61 yards in practice.

In a game, I hit a 52-yarder last year against Madonna. It felt pretty nice when I saw it go through.

A: Your plant foot. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re too far in front, you will kick the ball low. If your plant foot is too far back, you will kick it high but get nothing on it. Your hips help when you have them pointed in the right direction.

A: Focusing on the ball and swinging through the whole way. Don't let your leg short out. Keep your ankle and knee locked. Keep your eye on the ball and not worry about what's going on around you.

A: Whenever you make it, it's kind of like a rush. You look up and see the ball, then the crowd goes nuts and the band starts playing. It's a really cool feeling.

A: Nerve-racking. After you kick it you just have to wait to see if it went through. When it finally goes through, it's like an elephant lifted off your chest.

Q: What's the most important part about lining up a good kick?

A: Getting a clean snap and a good hold, or no field goal will ever be made. If one of those two positions fail to do their job, it won't be a successful kick.

A: One of the most important things in lining up a good field goal is to have an aiming point through the uprights and trying to hit that point.

Q: What kind of feeling is it when you see the ball finally fly through the uprights?

A: Exhilarating and relieving.

Kicking field goals can be a game-changer and every point counts. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s always a good feeling.

A: It feels great, especially when the ball comes off your foot well. It almost feels as if you didn't even kick the ball and it just takes off soaring.

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122

Red Devils

mission, St. C. hasn’t faced a lot of adversity during the last several seasons. But, the coaching staff has spent time trying to create adverse situations during practices.

“We push the kids through adverse situations every day, so when they’re faced with it on the field, they’ll be able to react accordingly,” McLean continued.

The one area on a football team every coach wants experience is at quarterback. St. Clairsville certainly has that in senior Zach Bigelow (6-0, 200), who is embarking on his third season as the starter.

A season ago, Bigelow — an all-Ohio selection last year — completed 100-of-191 passes for 1,525 yards and 11 touchdowns. He was picked off eight times. A member of the Red Devils’ all-Ohio 4x1 team, Bigelow showed his speed on the football field, too. He ran for 525 yards and 7 touchdowns.

“Zach has lived two different lives as our quarterback,” McLean noted. “We asked him to throw it a lot as a sophomore and then we slowed it down somewhat last season. He’s really become a vocal leader and his teammates are reacting well to leadership.”

Sophomore Dustin Carrothers is Bigelow’s top backup. When the Red Devils’ throw, Bigelow’s options are plentiful.

The top returnee is senior DeVon Harris. He caught 24 passes for 300 yards and three touchdowns last season. He, too, was a member of the Devils’ 4x1 team that finished fourth in the state.

Senior Logan Williams is expected to take on an expanded role in the passing game. He caught 7 passes for 153 yards last season.

Senior Malachi Mellema — a state champion in the high hurdles in June — is another speedy receiver

Aug. 24, 2016

target. He saw his junior season cut short after suffering a rib injury later in the season.

Those receivers who McLean expects to contribute include junior Jayden Starks, sophomores Craig Bober and Justin Heatherington.

The balance of the receivers include seniors Zack Clark, Dustin Tomich, Jacob Keen; and sophomores Greg Norman, Braedyn Mihalic, David Mellema, Hunter Southwood and Caige Hepburn.

Along with his receivers, McLean is also high on his tight ends. Junior Matt Greenwood is expected to be the starter, but he’s been pushed in camp by senior Laden Thompson, who is a converted quarterback.

Sophomore Andrew Elerick is another who is pushing hard for action.

Other tight ends on the roster include seniors Chris Kuhn, Shawn Heatherington, junior Andrew Landeen and sophomore Ketler Hoppin.

Though the Red Devils are blessed with a veteran

quarterback and plenty of speed on the perimeter, consisting of a couple of guys who played key roles on the Red Devils’ state track championship in June, McLean doesn’t plan on abandoning his running game in favor of the pass.

Figuring out who is going to take over Ferns’ role as the Red Devils’ bellcow at running back has been one key area.

McLean doesn’t think any of his players will get as many touches as Ferns did, but those carries will be spread out.

Senior Gage Cuiksa — who had nine carries last season — is expected to be the first option at tailback.

Members of that committee include sophomore Justin Heatherington, senior Joey Maroon, junior Matt Butkus and sophomores Brady Kolb, Luke Watt and Kyle Storer.

Sophomore J.T. Porter is vying for time.

The Red Devils’ offensive line will have new faces with four starters gone. However, the guys stepping into full-time jobs

aren’t totally raw since the Devils battled injuries up front last season.

The line is anchored by senior center Trey Elerick, is embarking on his third season as a starter.

Junior John Hawley is expected to get the call at at one of the tackle spots.

Junior Luke Sorge is penciled in at one of the guard spots.

The remaining two spots have been a battle between the likes of juniors Tanner Younkins, Garret Matis, Geno Drake, freshman Javon Lyons and senior Devin Helt.

Also in the mix are senior Nick Schramm; juniors Shane Tomlin and Hunter Cook; and sophomores Brandon Biery, Luke Ewing, Declan Dombrowski, Justice McCamick, Colton Skukan, Chase Espen and Trey Delguzzo.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Red Devils will once again employ a base 4-4 defense. Replacing Ferns and Stewart at the inside linebacker spots will be tough, but in more ways than just their tackle stats.

From Page 85

Greenwood returns at one of the defensive end spots. Hawley is expected to take over the end. A rotation among Trey Elerick, Sorge, Helt and Younkins will be established for the defensive tackle spots.

In the linebacker group, Maroon has some experience and will be at an outside backer. Storer is slated to take over at outside spot with Carrothers also in the mix. Cuiksa is ticketed for one of the inside linebacker spots. Kolb — who moved to St. C. from Norwin, Pa. — is expected to move into the other inside post.

There is experience in the secondary. Starks and Williams are the corners.

Mellema was a starter there until his injury last season. Justin Heatherington also saw quality action.

Greenwood is the incumbent at kicker. Thanks to his right leg, he scored 57 points last season. He connected on six field goals. He’s been pushed in camp, however, by Mellema. He is expected to take over the punting duties.

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Aug. 24, 2016

Linemen

123

COMMUNICATION IS KEY

From Page 88

Chemistry, cohesion and communication are a factor for an offensive lineman, almost as much as body, brawn and brains.

“If you don’t communicate, you’re not going to have good blocking,” Allison said. “You can’t just focus on yourself all the time, you have to adapt to certain situations and let your teammates know when something is coming up.”

Gaining that cohesion takes time. It may not be a natural fit right away, but taking the time to develop a working relationship is worth it in the end.

“We’re lucky, here at Harrison, that we’ve been playing together for quite some time,” said Stull. “We know our tendencies and that helps our chemistry on the line.”

The offensive line may be stronger and more physical than the opponent’s defensive line, but that doesn’t always mean the plays will be positive each time out.

“If we don’t have good communication, the defense can do whatever they want and we wouldn’t be able to pick it up,” Ingram said. “We have to be alert and ready to relay information to our guys.”

When the inevitable botched play occurs, that’s when it’s most important to have a connection with the guys around you. It’s all fine and dandy when the offense is moving the chains and scoring, but the true mark of articulation comes when the mood is dim.

“We just talk it out,” Waggoner said. “We have each other’s back because we’re family. We won’t ever get on each other. We’re always positive and encouraging, even when something does happen to go wrong.”

Offensive linemen need to keep their ears open when the coaches are talking, too.

“You have to be coachable and you have to help out the guys around you,” Allison said.

NO OTHER WAY

Offensive linemen, other than the center, may never get to touch the ball in a game. They may never catch the ball or throw the ball, but the players doing so wouldn’t have the same opportunities if the offensive line wasn’t there.

The goons and hogs are better seen, rather than heard.

“My favorite part about playing the line is that it almost goes unnoticed,” Keyes said. “Some names are plastered everywhere for rushing 1,000 yards or throwing 20 touchdown passes, but we’re silently recognized for making any of those plays possible. I get to knock heads and fight in the trenches so the all-stars behind me can be as good as they are.

“I absolutely love coming off the ball and making a solid block. To see our back break it loose for a big gain is one of the best feelings ever. We make the game possible and that’s what I love about it.”

This is a story for the unsung heroes of the gridiron.

Without this, the linemen may not see their name in a postgame report or on a weekend news report.

And they are perfectly fine with that.

“My favorite part about being a lineman is waking up the day after a game, I see my brothers’ names in the papers for scoring touchdowns and racking up rushing yards,” Fuscardo said. “It is the best feeling in the knowing that my linemen and I did our job to make the holes for our guys to run through.

“That’s the best part about it.”

Maybe they aren’t so ugly, after all. Offensive linemen may just be the brightest bunch on the field.

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Aug. 24, 2016

Purple Riders

Daiquan Johnson, sophomore Logan DeLorretta, freshmen Devin Nice and Jawan Boxley.

At wide receiver, junior Cory Bennett will be one of the go-to-guys. He could also see time at tailback. On the other side, senior Zac Selby returns.

He saw a lot of action last season, catching 16 passes for 190 yards and two touchdowns.

They’ll be backed by senior Jeffrey Lucas, junior Shaun Jeter, senior Ryan Fox. Additional depth is supplied by sophomore Trent Rice and Goddard.

The tight end spot is always a key position in the Purple Riders’ offense.

Bruney is especially high on senior Jack Davis, who is slated to take the job over. Senior Logan Selby will serve as his primary backup.

Behind those two is sophomore Drake Dobson and junior RayQuan Prayear, who must also sit out the first five games after transferring from Bellaire.

Ferry’s offensive line is

solid with three starters back from a season ago.

Anchoring the line will be senior tackle Dom Wallace. Junior Hunter Bodkin is penciled in at a guard spot and senior Drake Rice is back at center.

“It’s definitely nice to have an entire side of the line back,” Bruney said.

“We have some talented kids working to win the jobs on the other side.”

Senior Keegan Hupp and junior Demetrius Dokes appear to be the leaders for the remaining tackle and guard posts, respectively. Dokes will also be Rice’s chief backup at center.

Bruney had high praise for the work put in by sophomore Shane Krob, who is expected to back up Wallace. Sophomore Ian Terrell is listed second on the depth chart behind Bodkin. Junior Jason Husvar is penciled in as the top backup to Dokes at guard. Bruney is also high on sophomore DeAndre Pugh, who is expected to back Hupp at tackle.

“What’s nice is we have

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some depth at most positions,” Bruney said. “I think we have 17 guys back who started at some point last season. Physically, I think we have a lot of kids who can play.”

On the defensive side, the Riders expect to be better at not allowing the big plays, which proved costly several times last season.

“I think we can be as good as we want to be if we have to play our positions,” Bruney said. “We can’t be undisciplined and run ourselves out of position. It’s tough when you have aggressive kids, which we do, but we just need to be a little smarter.”

The Purple Riders will once again employ a base 4-4 defense. Similarly to how he’ll do on the offense, Hoover will serve as the quarterback of the defense from his inside linebacker post.

He recorded a team-high 84 tackles last season. He will be backed up by Opic.

He’ll be flanked by Logan Selby. He made 45 tackles last season. Terrell Allen is also expected to see time.

At the outside backer spots, Straub is expected to take over one spot, while being backed up by Nate Boxley and Stan.

The other outside backer post belongs to Jacob Johnson. Dobson and DeLoretta will be his primary backups.

Along the defensive

line, Davis leads the way as a returning starter at end. He had 42 tackles and a team-high nine sacks last season. Hill and Drake Rice will provide depth. Bodkin and Wallace return at the tackle spots. They teamed for 41 tackles last season. Hupp and Pugh are the listed understudies.

Demetrius Dokes will be at the other end and Prayear will also see time.

The secondary should be a strength for the Riders. Bennett, who had 44 tackles and four interceptions, returns at a corner.

Jeter is at the other corner and Zac Selby and Bell will both see time at safety.

“I think we can be pretty stout (defensively),” Bruney explained. “We’re big and physical enough to play a lot of straight defense.

We’ll be attacking at times, too. I think we’re quick enough to be able to get some penetration to create some negative plays.”

Bruney indicated the Riders could really begin to hit their stride in the second half of the season when Hill, Allen and Prayear become eligible to get into the lineup.

“It won’t be a problem,” Bruney said of finding ways to get that trio on the field. “We’ll find ways to get our players on the field. All of those kids will be ready to go. Obviously, they’ve gotten work all summer, but

From Page 94

Bruney

they’ll also get work during the week for two hours on Tuesday and Wednesday part of the scout team.”

Freshman kicker Cody Olson is expected to handle the place-kicking duties. Dokes and Prayear are pushing Olson. They could actually help on kickoff duties. The punting chore is expected to go to Wallace, but Probst and Jacob Johnson have also gotten some looks there.

One of the areas that keeps Bruney going is the continuity on his coaching staff.

“I am happy and feel blessed to have the coaches that I’ve had,” Bruney said. “Many of them have been with me a really long time. I’ve coached a lot of them.”

At the varsity level, Bruney is assisted by Dirk Fitch, who oversees the offense, John Bennett (defensive coordinator), Chas Yoder (linebackers, running backs), Greg Bahen (outside linebackers, tight ends), Taylor Yoder (running backs, outside linebackers), Derek Edwards (receivers, defensive backs), Jim Fogle (line), Nick Stankovich (line), Anthony Reasbeck (quarterbacks, defensive ends) and Jim Hoover (line).

(Games at 7 p.m. unless noted)

Week 1

Woodrow Wilson at Steubenville, 5:45 p.m.

Wheeling Central at Catholic Central, 7:45 p.m.

Thursday, Aug. 25

Oak Glen at Weir Cambridge at Indian Creek East Liverpool at Edison Claymont at Harrison Central Martins Ferry at Buckeye Local Toronto at Wellsville Brooke at Huntington, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Aug. 26

Madonna at Bishop Donahue

Saturday, Aug. 27

Week 2

Pittsburgh USO at Steubenville Edison at Weir Catholic Central at Oak Glen East Liverpool at Indian Creek Rhodes at Harrison Central Toronto at Bridgeport Buckeye Local at Union Local Morgantown at Brooke, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 2

Tusky Catholic at Madonna

Saturday, Sept. 3

Week 3

Madonna at Wheeling Central

Thursday, Sept. 8 West Holmes at Steubenville Indian Creek at Oak Glen Edison at Buckeye Local Weir at John Marshall Toronto at Sebring McKinley Brooke at University, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 9

Weekly Prep Schedule Harrison Central at Bellaire, 12:30 p.m.

Western Reserve at Catholic Central

Saturday, Sept. 10

Week 4

Oak Glen at Madonna

Thursday, Sept. 15 Steubenville at Boardman Catholic Central Toronto Indian Creek at Buckeye Local Keyser at Weir Beaver Local at Edison Harrison Central at Union Local Brooke at Hurricane, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 16

Week 5

Dover at Steubenville St. Clairsville at Indian Creek Shadyside at Toronto Martins Ferry at Harrison Central Weir at Petersburg Edison at Union Local Wheeling Park at Brooke, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 23

Saturday, Sept. 24

Buckeye Local at Bellaire, 12:30 p.m.

Catholic Central at Warren JFK Oak Glen at Warren Local

Donahue at Catholic Central

Week 6

Friday, Oct. 14

Akron SVSM at Steubenville Union Local at Weir Oak Glen at Edison St. Clairsville at Harrison Central Toronto at Conotton Valley Madonna at Mathews John Marshall at Buckeye Local Indian Creek at Brooke, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 30

Bellaire at Catholic Central, 8 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 1

Week 7

Steubenville at Ursuline Harrison Central at Edison Beallsville at Toronto Indian Creek at Martins Ferry Oak Glen at East Liverpool Buckeye Local at Beaver Local Brooke at Parkersburg South, 7:30 p.m.

Weir at Fairmont Senior, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 7

Madonna at Parkersburg Catholic Bishop

Saturday, Oct. 8

Week 8

Cardinal O'Hara at Steubenville Catholic Central at Edison Harrison Central at Oak Glen Warren Local at Weir River at Toronto Indian Creek at Beaver Local Buckeye Local at East Liverpool, 7:30 p.m.

John Marshall at Brooke, 7:30 p.m.

Cleveland Lutheran East at Madonna

Saturday, Oct. 15

Week 9

St. Clairsville at Steubenville

Thursday, Oct. 20

Edison at Toronto Oak Glen at Buckeye Local South Range at Indian Creek Harrison Central at River View Weir at East Liverpool, 7:30 p.m.

Brooke at Buckhannon-Upshur, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 22 Madonna at Catholic Central

Friday, Oct. 21

Week 10

Edison at Indian Creek

Thursday, Oct. 27

Canada Prep at Steubenville Toronto at Madonna Buckeye Local at Harrison Central Beaver Local at Oak Glen Weir at Brooke, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 28

Catholic Central at St. John Central, 12 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 29

Week 11

Clay-Battelle at Madonna

Friday, Nov. 4

2016 OVAC Season WEEK 1 D.C. Woodrow Wilson at Steubenville, 5:45 p.m.

Wheeling Central at Steubenville Central

Thursday, Aug. 25

University at John Marshall Oak Glen at Weir Cameron at Hundred Martins Ferry at Buckeye Local Southern Local at Bridgeport Magnolia at Shadyside Anacostia at Morgantown Gilmer County at Beallsville Monroe Central at Union Local Frontier at Shenandoah Toronto at Wellsville Newcomerstown at Barnesville Liberty Union at Caldwell East Liverpool at Edison Claymont at Harrison Central Cambridge at Indian Creek Tygarts Valley at Valley Ridgewood at Buckeye Trail Conotton Valley at Strasburg Akron North at Beaver Local Fort Frye at Belpre Meadowbrook at John Glenn Paden City at Symmes Valley Brooke at Huntington Ripley at Parkersburg South Wheeling Park at Perry Traditional Academy Carrollton at St. Clairsville, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Aug. 26

Shenandoah at River Bellaire at Wheeling Central (at WJU) Toronto at Bridgeport East Liverpool at Indian Creek Edison at Weir Linsly at Martins Ferry Monroe Central at Shadyside Steubenville Central at Oak Glen Morgantown at Brooke Beallsville at Clay-Battelle Bridgeport, W.Va. at Wheeling Park Southern Local at Conotton Valley Meadowbrook at Barnesville University at Parkersburg South Buckeye Local at Union Local Mountain Ridge at John Marshall University at Steubenville Cleveland Rhodes at Harrison Central St. John Central at Strasburg Beaver at West Branch John Glenn at Cambridge Fort Frye at Newcomerstown Racine Southern at Frontier Tyler at Doddridge County Valley at South Harrison East Palestine at Wellsville Coshocton at St. Clairsville, 7:30 p.m.

Williamstown at Magnolia, 7:30 p.m.

Bishop Donahue at Hundred, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 2

Tuscarawas Central at Madonna

Saturday, Sept. 3

River at Bellaire, 12:30 p.m.

Mogadore at Linsly, 1:30 p.m.

Madonna at Bishop Donahue

WEEK 3

WEEK 2

Friday, Sept. 9

Saturday, Aug. 27

Buckeye Trail at Caldwell

Thursday, Sept. 1

Madonna at Wheeling Central

Thursday, Sept. 8

West Holmes at Steubenville Webster County at Tyler

Consolidated Linsly at Beaver Local River at Monroe Central St. Clairsville at Meadowbrook Weir at John Marshall Valley at Cameron Waterloo at Conotton Valley Edison at Buckeye Local Allderdice at Wheeling Park Hundred at Clay-Battelle Parkersburg South at Morgantown Indian Creek at Oak Glen Shadyside at Caldwell Union Local at Martins Ferry Buckeye Trail at Frontier Barnesville at Magnolia Brooke at University Waterford at Fort Frye East Liverpool at Salem Cambridge at Canton South Paden City at Tygarts Valley Wellsville at Lowellville Toronto at Sebring Malvern at Southern Local Shenandoah at Newcomerstown Harrison Central at Bellaire Hannan at Bishop Donahue Oak Glen at Madonna Western Reserve at Steubenville Central

Saturday, Sept. 10

WEEK 4 Madonna at Oak Glen

Thursday, Sept. 15 Harrison Central at Union Local Meadowbrook at Shadyside Morgan at Shenandoah Warren at Parkersburg South Valley at Bishop Donahue Cameron at Frontier Southington Chalker at Beallsville Keyser at Weir

Friday, Sept. 16

Indian Creek at Buckeye Local Paden City at Bridgeport Beaver Local at Edison Buckeye Trail at Barnesville Caldwell at Monroe Central Steubenville Catholic at Toronto Magnolia at River Steubenville at Boardman St. John at Lowellville Conotton Valley at Rootstown Logan at Cambridge Johnstown Northridge at Fort Frye Ravenna Southeast at East Liverpool Tyler at Ravenswood Brooke at Hurricane Morgantown at Washington Wheeling Central at Williamstown McDonald at Wellsville Southern at United Local Martins Ferry at St. Clairsville, 7:30 p.m.

Wheeling Park at University, 7:30 p.m.

John Marshall at Bellaire, 12:30 p.m.

Kiski Prep at Linsly, 1:30 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 17

WEEK 5 Martins Ferry at Harrison Central Parkersburg South at John Marshall Martinsburg at Morgantown Columbus Crusaders at River Meadowbrook at Buckeye Trail Bridgeport at Conotton Valley Bishop Donahue at Cameron Linsly at Beallsville Hundred at Paden City Shadyside at Toronto Monroe Central at Fort Frye St. Clairsville at Indian Creek Edison at Union Local Barnesville at Shenandoah Beaver Local at East Liverpool Clay-Battelle at Valley Wheeling Park at Brooke Dover at Steubenville Cambridge at Coshocton Frontier at Waterford Calhoun County at Tyler Wellsville at Western Reserve Wheeling Central at Magnolia Springfield Local at Southern University at Fairmont Senior

Friday, Sept. 23

Buckeye Local at Bellaire, 12:30 p.m.

Weir at Petersburg, 4 p.m.

St. John at Youngstown Valley Christian Caldwell at Waverly

Saturday, Sept. 24

Oak Glen at Warren Steubenville Central at Warren JFK

WEEK 6

John Marshall at Buckeye Local St. Albans at Wheeling Park Lutheran East at Beallsville Tygarts Valley at Clay-Battelle Cameron at Paden City Bridgeport at Barnesville Union Local at Weir Shenandoah at Buckeye Trail Frontier at Fort Frye Toronto at Conotton Valley Oak Glen at Edison Shadyside at River Indian Creek at Brooke Magnolia at Monroe Central Conneaut at Beaver Local Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary at Steubenville Linsly at Wheeling Central Musselman at Morgantown St. Clairsville at Harrison Central Greenbrier East at University Martins Ferry at East Liverpool Cambridge at Marietta Lisbon at Wellsville Southern at Columbiana Parkersburg South at Buckhannon-Upshur River View at Meadowbrook Valley at Parkersburg Catholic, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 30

Madonna at St. John, Noon Bellaire at Steubenville Central

Saturday, Oct. 1

WEEK 7 Conotton Valley at Cameron Wheeling Central at Shadyside Paden City at Clay-Battelle Morgantown at Wheeling Park Bridgeport at River Fort Frye at Buckeye Trail Harrison Central at Edison Monroe at Shenandoah Beallsville at Toronto Bellaire at St. Clairsville, 7:30 p.m.

Buckeye Local at Beaver Local Logan at John Marshall East Liverpool at Oak Glen Brooke at Parkersburg South Caldwell at Frontier Indian Creek at Martins Ferry Rosecrans at Barnesville Ritchie County at Tyler Steubenville at Ursuline

Friday, Oct. 7

Dover at Cambridge Magnolia at Marietta Coshocton at Meadowbrook University at Hampshire Leetonia at Wellsville Lisbon at Southern Local Weir at Fairmont Senior, 7:30 p.m.

Western Reserve at Linsly Maryland School for the Deaf at St. John Bishop Donahue at Steubenville Central Sheldon Clark at Hundred Madonna at Parkersburg Catholic

Saturday, Oct. 8

WEEK 8 Friday, Oct. 14

Pittsburgh Carrick at Martins Ferry Indian Creek at Beaver Local John Marshall at Brooke Valley at Frontier Cardinal OรกHara at Steubenville Contton Valley at Beallsville Belpre at Shenandoah Warren at Weir Hannan at Paden City Cameron at Clay-Battelle Bellaire at Shadyside River at Toronto Steubenville Central at Edison Buckeye Trail at West Muskingum Fort Frye at Caldwell Harrison Central at Oak Glen St. Clairsville at Union Local Bishop Donahue at Bridgeport St. John at Wheeling Central (at WJU) Barnesville at Monroe Central Buckhannon-Upshur at University Buckeye Local at East Liverpool St. Marys at Magnolia Cambridge at Zanesville Meadowbrook at Claymont Tyler at South Harrison Wellsville at United Local Morgantown at Riverside Southern Local at Leetonia

Hundred at Hancock, Md.

Madonna at Steubenville Central

Lutheran East at Madonna, 1 p.m.

Linsly at Columbus Bishop Ready St. John School at Shenandoah, noon

WEEK 10

Saturday, Oct. 15

WEEK 9 St. Clairsville at Steubenville

Thursday, Oct. 20

Monroe Central at Frontier West Muskingum at Caldwell Edison at Toronto South Range at Indian Creek Shadyside at Bridgeport River at Buckeye Trail Oak Glen at Buckeye Local Van at Cameron Princeton at Wheeling Park Shenandoah at Fort Frye Bishop Donahue at Paden City Beaver Local at Martins Ferry Hundred at Conotton Valley John Marshall at Morgantown Doddridge County at Valley Brooke at Buckhannon Upshur Tyler at Magnolia Weir at East Liverpool New Philadelphia at Cambridge Columbus Bishop Ready at Meadowbrook Harrison Central at River View Linsly at Columbus Crusaders Parkersburg South at Greenbrier East Preston at University Wellsville at Columbiana Clay-Battelle at Southern

Friday, Oct. 21

Barnesville at St. John, Noon Union Local at Bellaire, 12:30 p.m.

Beallsville at Wheeling Central, 1 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 22

Edison at Indian Creek

Thursday, Oct. 27 Canada Prep at Steubenville Shadyside at Bishop Donahue South Harrison at Paden City University at Morgantown Valley at Tyler Bridgeport at Cameron Buckeye Trail at Monroe Central Union Local at Barnesville Bellaire at Martins Ferry Frontier at River Beaver Local at Oak Glen Toronto at Madonna Caldwell at Shenandoah Meadowbrook at Cambridge Montcalm at Hundred East Liverpool at St. Clairsville Weir at Brooke Wheeling Park at Parkersburg South Beallsville at Hannan Wellsville at Southern Local Wirt County at Fort Frye Linsly at Beaver Eastern Clay-Battelle at Clarksburg Notre Dame

Friday, Oct. 28

Steubenville Central at St. John Conotton Valley at Rosecrans

Saturday, Oct. 29

WEEK 11 John Marshall at Wheeling Park Clay-Battelle at Madonna Wheeling Central at Bishop Donahue Paden City at Valley Cameron at Pocahontas County Tyler at St. Marys Parkersburg South at Parkersburg

Friday, Nov. 4

Magnolia at Moorefield, 1:30 p.m.

Rappahannock at Hundred, 2:30 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 5

Have a safe and victorious football season!

games begin at 7 p.m. unless noted)

(All

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TONY FILBERTO WEIR HIGH

STEVE DALEY CATHOLIC CENTRAL

DARRIN HICKS WEIRTON MADONNA

Saccoccia’s club is coming off a Division IV state runner-up appearance.

He’s 343-66 with 26 playoff appearences, 16 regional titles, 4 state runner-ups, and 3 state championships.

Filberto’s contingent seeks a third straight trip to the Class AA postseason. The Red Riders were 7-4 last season and 15-7 the past two years, both ending in firstround exits from the playoffs.

Daley’s squad just missed the playoffs in back-to-back 6-4 seasons after appearances in 2013 & 2014. He is beginning his sixth year as the head coach. The Crusaders are 27-16 the past four years.

Hicks is in his first season as the Blue Dons’ head coach.

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