Football Preview 2017

Depth, Athleticism Boost Outlook of Monarchs

By SHAWN RINE GLEN DALE — If the assimilation of quality depth is the key component to contending at the West Virginia Class AAA level, John Marshall will be far more prepared to navigate the storm than it was last season. The Monarchs welcome back a wealth of returnees on both sides of the ball from a 2-8 team that was not only young, but was hit with some key injuries. Entering his sixth season at the school, Coach Rick Goodrich is excited about the potential. ‘‘I think we’re making progress and we’re much better than we were when we first got here,’’ he said. ...

Rare Difficult Season Doesn’t Sit Well in St.C.

By SETH STASKEY ST. CLAIRSVILLE — Not many motivational speeches have been needed around St. Clairsville’s football camp this summer. That’s what happens when a team so accustomed to winning at a high rate experiences a ‘down’ season. Or the type of season that head coach Brett McLean said, “left a sour taste in all of our mouths.” The Red Devils, who have qualified for the postseason 10 times in the last 12 seasons, limped to a 4-6 finish in 2016. “That hasn’t sat well around here,” McLean, who is entering his 16th season, said. “It’s just not the ...

Numbers Dwindle, But Same Expected at Ferry

By SETH STASKEY MARTINS FERRY — Dave Bruney has experienced it before. He’s not one to get caught up in the number of players listed on the roster. He prefers the quality of the players listed. As the veteran Martins Ferry head coach prepares for his 39th season at his alma mater with a roster that features 42 players in grades 9-12, Bruney took a trip down memory lane to his first season as a head coach, which came in 1978 at Bridgeport. “It is what it is,” Bruney said of his team’s numbers. “We won the OVAC championship in Class 3A in 1978 and we had only 26 ...

Tradition Never Graduates at Big Red

By ED LOOMAN STEUBENVILLE—As veteran coach Reno Saccoccia likes to say— year in and year out, “kids graduate. One thing, however, that never graduates is tradition.” Saccoccia and his 2017 Steubenville squad will be looking to “add to the tradition of Big Red football when it opens its season Friday against visiting Upper St. Clair, Pa. “Something we are proud of here is our tradition,” Saccoccia, who is entering his 34th season as coach, said. “Our goal each year is to add to the tradition. Right now, we’re part of the tradition but it’s very important for us ...

Bellaire Intends to Build Off Playoff Berth

By KIM NORTH BELLAIRE — It had been awhile since Bellaire fans had something to cheer about at Nelson Field. The 2016 Big Reds advanced to the Ohio Division VI state playoffs and finished 6-5 under first-year coach Mark Spigarelli, a Bellaire alum. “We had a real good year,” Spigarelli recalled. “That was mainly due to having great senior leadership. Those 11 guys — two came over from St. John — helped put this program back on the map. A lot of people said it was because of me, but it wasn’t me. The kids just needed someone to direct them in the right spots, and they ...

‘Finish’ Is the Mantra of Shadyside This Season

By SETH STASKEY SHADYSIDE — As he prepared for the 2017 season, Mark Holenka had several thoughts running through his head. Many tied into the tough-to-swallow way in which last season ended in the Division VII regional quarterfinals against Harvest Prep. Just three seconds away from defending the Fleming Field home turf and advancing, the Tigers allowed a hail mary to be completed, giving Harvest Prep a 40-37 victory, leaving Holenka, the players and fans in total disbelief. “It was definitely a tough ending,” Holenka said. “If you’re writing a movie, the miraculous, ...