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MARTINS FERRY — Don’t look now, but high school football season is just around the corner.
The long wait for gridiron action is over, with a brand new football season in the Ohio Valley starting on Thursday with a slate that will see teams such as Shadyside, Martins Ferry, Bridgeport, Frontier and River in action as a preamble to another slate of games on Friday and Saturday.
Each year brings new stars and storylines to the forefront of fans’ attention. The Times Leader’s 2024 Pigskin Preview debuts in today’s edition with the low-down about teams up and down the valley, the stories all coalescing to paint an exciting picture of what this season has in store for fans this season.
NEW FACES
UNDER CENTER
There’s no position more important to a football team than quarterback, and many teams will embark on their journeys this year with a new helmsman directing their offense.
In Shadyside, sophomore Jayden Johnson will take over for three-year quarterback Ben Wach as one member of a whole new cast of characters for the Tigers.
There are also teams where a starting signal-caller has yet to be 100% determined — to the public, at any rate.
At River, talented 100-touchdown scorer Kabel Isaly leaves big shoes to fill, with last year’s tight end, senior Peyton Blue, and running back, senior Lucas Dennis, in the running there. Union Local returns senior QB Isaiah Tomolonis, and junior QB Colby Carpenter, who was the starter at season’s end after Tomolonis suffered an injury in week six. Buckeye Local has options at QB, with senior Alex McDiffitt having made a midseason transition to quarterback last year and with junior Grant Dombroski coming out for the team this year.
Ryan Dornon and Chaz Gasser are in the running for quarterbacking duties at Beallsville.
BACK FOR MORE
Returning to the fray this year are a cluster of teams who made deep playoff runs last year — and whose expectations have not dipped this season. Barnesville returns star quarterback Casey Carpenter and many players along the line after posting a 10-0 regular season and going to the Division V, Region 19 semifinals. River made it to the Division VII, Region 27 semifinals. St. Clairsville returns its backfield of quarterback Brady Schafer and runningback Dino Burk after getting to the Ohio Division IV, Region 15 quarterfinals. Monroe Central is also bringing back its quarterback, two-sport star Tucker Howell, after getting to the Division VII, Region 27 quarterfinals.
TAKING THE REINS
The Ohio Valley will see new faces on the sideline as well as under center, with two new hires hoping to build up their programs in their first year as head coaches. Buckeye Local’s Chris Kiedaisch and Bridgeport’s Andrew Yahn will begin their inaugural voyages this year, hoping to start strong with the Panthers and Bulldogs. Buckeye Local will face Bellaire — in the Big Reds’ first game under their new stadium lights at Nelson Field — on Friday, while Bridgeport will take on Frontier on Thursday.
