Football Preview 2017

Cambridge Look to Make Playoffs Trip

By BUBBA KAPRAL CAMBRIDGE — It was a season to remember for Cambridge. The Bobcats punched their ticket into the 2016 OHSAA playoffs for the initial time during the Kevin Gunn Era. The Bobcats did so by posting a 7-3 record against a punishing schedule. Many players from that special season have graduated. The schedule, meanwhile, appears even tougher with the addition of Wheeling Park and Carrollton. “We had great team unity last year. The players rallied around each other. They didn’t want to let anyone down,” Gunn said. “The team bonding we had last year was ...

Experienced Group Returns for Madonna

By RALPH COX WEIRTON — There is some bad news to go along with the good news regarding Madonna. Bad news is that the 2-8 season of 2016 isn’t exactly what coach Darrin Hicks envisioned. Good news is this year starts out with 17 lettermen and 14 returners that got starting time last year. The 27-man squad also includes 12 seniors, which is the most seniors a Blue Don team has had since the 15 that were on the 2013 state championship bunch. That, along with a schedule more suitable to a Class A school, should equate to improvement for 2017. “Our kids have worked hard in the ...

Allen Takes Over at Barnesville for Johnson

By KIM NORTH BARNESVILLE — Usually it takes a season or two for a new head coach to transition his systems into a new program. That is not the case for Blake Allen who was elevated from offensive coordinator to head coach at Barnesville following the resignation of Matt Johnson after last season to take the boys’ basketball position. Johnson led the Shamrocks for the past five seasons. Allen, a 2007 Barnesville graduate, has been the offensive coordinator at his alma mater for the past two seasons, so everything will stay the same on that side of the ball. “The transition has ...

East Liverpool Looking to Put Plenty of Points Up

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 ...

Herbert in for the Long Haul at Buckeye Local

By RICK DeLUCA YORKVILLE — There is no hiding the lackluster numbers on the football of the past few years at Buckeye Local. Included are a 2-38 record the past four years, a current losing streak that has reached 22 games and an exodus of some followers that may have given up hope. Enter new head coach Roger Herbert and a new coaching staff and a group of young players that believe it’s time to get the Panthers program back on track. Herbert’s first go-around as a head football coach is one that few wanted to conquer, but the former Union Local assistant is well aware ...

Union Local Will Be New at Skilled Positions

By KIM NORTH MORRISTOWN — Although Union Local was a senior-laden team that started 5-0 and fell just shy of a Division V state playoff berth in 2016, Bruce Stiles, entering his fifth season as the Jets’ pilot, doesn’t see much of a dropoff this season. Stiles saw 14 seniors graduate from last season’s 7-3 squad, which was 7-1 until season-ending setbacks to Bellaire and Barnesville thwarted a possible playoff berth. Of that group, gone are nearly 3,000 yards of offense and more than two dozen touchdowns. “That senior class was with me from Day 1. They were a great group ...