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By TRACY WATSON
EAST LIVERPOOL -- A total of 26 letterwinners, including six starters on both sides of the football return at East Liverpool for the 2017 campaign as Coach Josh Ludwig attempts to get his Potters past the .500 mark.
Entering the 120th year of football at the school, East Liverpool dug an early hole with 0-4 start last season, but managed to finish 3-3 down the stretch for a 3-7 ledger. However, the Potters played only four teams with winning records along the way.
With four offensive skill players returning, Liverpool may have the opportunity to put points on the board quickly. Junior quarterback Peyton Reed (5-foot-10, 160 pounds) leads the way with the ability to throw the football or tuck it and run. Senior Peyton Adkins (6-0, 165) and sophomore Logan Bennett (5-8, 140) are the main backups with freshman Nate Davis (5-8, 135) waiting in the wings.
A pair of juniors should kick-start the rushing attack with Jalen Moman (6-2, 248) as the lead running back and Lane Kopras (5-8, 205) at fullback. Sophomore Derek Carter (5-8, 145) should also see plenty of playing time with others available that include seniors Michael Loy (5-11, 160) and Matthew Ketchum (6-1, 180) and junior Levi Turner (5-10, 155).
Sophomore and freshman backs are Dawson Wiley, Devon Keys, Landon Bailey and Jaymin Jackson.
Adkins is the team's main receiving threat, and only returning starter, but could get plenty of help from juniors Troy Croskey (6-1, 170) and Noah Wheaton (5-10, 150). The remainder of the receiving corps includes seniors Noah Hall (6-1, 155), Matthew Ketchum (6-1, 180) and Logan Torma (5-11, 150) along with juniors Sobaan Razi (5-8, 140), Levi Turner (5-10, 155), Shaylon Brently (5-9, 165), Cory Weyand (5-8, 155) and Caleb Hockenberry (5-11, 155).
Others are Trevor Wern, Kaleb Bailey, Nathan Latshaw, Kaeden White and Caleb Walker.
Battling at tight end are seniors Blayke McCloud (6-2, 190) and Tyler Rawson (5-11, 175) along with junior Aidan Watkins (5-9, 205) and sophomore Logan McKenzie (5-10, 180).
A trio of offensive linemen are back in senior Jake Cornell (5-11, 235) and juniors Joaquin Johnson (6-2, 225) and P.J. Morris (5-8, 225). But there is plenty of help, and players who will contribute, including seniors Ryan Fox (6-1, 250) and Ketchum along with a strong group of sophomores in Kaz Zubay (6-0, 220), SKylor Wooley (6-3, 235), Koby Plum (6-3, 215) and Caleb Learn (5-8, 220).
The remainder of the linemen are juniors Rylee White (5-8, 160) and Justin Watkins (5-10, 165), along with sophomores and freshmen Hayden Nicholson, Dalton Owens, Cameron Bryant, Colin Bryant, Jordan Watson, Hayden Nicholson and Shawn Underwood.
Even with Reed back under center, and a strong receiving corps, the Potters are looking to returning the to the rushing attack to get things done out of their multiple formation sets.
"Offensively we are looking to get back to the ground game after of year of airing it out, mainly for clock management and game control," Ludwig said.
The defense is loaded with speed and feature four linemen returning along with three linebackers. Leading the line will be Cornell, Johnson, Morris and Moman with Loy, who finished with 151 tackles and was Honorable Mention All-Ohio, Kopras and McKenzie at linebacker.
Other seeing action on the defensive front will be Zubay, Wooley, Plum, Learn, Fox and Ketchum while McCloud will be the top reserve at linebacker. Also at linebacker are Wiley, Keys, Cameron, Jackson, Weyand, Hockenberry, Cornell and Rawson.
Available on the front line will be Aidan Watkins, Zubay, Owens, Justin Watkins, Cameron Bryant, Colin Bryant, White, Watson, Nicholson and Underwood.
The defensive backfield will be all new, with plenty of battles still being waged. The senior group includes Torma, Adkins and Hall with juniors Razi, Croskey, Turner, Reed, Brentley and Wheaton. With the remainder including Woodyard, Carter, Bennett, Wright, Williams, Mapp, Davis, Landon Bailey, Wern, Kaleb Bailey, Latshaw, White and Walker.
Juniors Kamren Klakos and Dominik Vallera are the team's kickers.
"We are looking to fly to the ball on defense and play 11 as one," Ludwig said. "We will also have great team speed. Overall, we are looking to have a successful season, with team speed and discipline playing a big part in that."
Ludwig's coaching staff will consist of Alvan Thompson, Ian Whittington, Jeff Wright, Andy Vulgamore, Willie Leavelle, Bill Potts, Jim Crane, Mike Crane, Eric McMahon and Kyle Weyand.