ASHLAND — High School football season begins on Thursday night this year in Ashland County, with Hillsdale at Ravenna Southeast and Crestview at Loudonville.
Ashland will be in action at Community Stadium on Friday night, when Tri-Valley comes to town.
Here’s a closer look at those matchups.
Tri-Valley at Ashland: The Arrows welcome Tri-Valley to Community Stadium to open the season. Like the Arrows, the Scotties were 8-2 last year and reached the third round of the playoffs. Tri-Valley averaged almost 28 points a game last year, but lost a talented group to graduation.
Ashland returns one of the top defensive players in the Ohio Cardinal Conference in senior Kadin Schmitz, who has verbally committed to Navy. Schmitz had 142 tackles last fall, including 67 solo stops. The Arrows lost quarterback Declan Rohr to graduation, but junior Landon McFrederick will trigger the Arrows’ high-powered offense after starring at receiver last fall.
Junior receiver Jonathan Metzger had 37 catches for 426 yards and five touchdowns last year. Junior receiver Colton Johnson could be primed for a breakout season. He was used sparingly in the offense last fall but averaged more than 40 yards on kickoff returns. Sophomore running back Kaydan Spotts showed flashes of brilliance during Ashland’s playoff run last year and rushed for 188 yards and a touchdown on 48 carries. Senior linebacker Braylen Hider had 90 tackles and caused three fumbles last year.
For those who can’t attend, this game will be livestreamed at Ashland Source’s Facebook Page.
Crestview at Loudonville: The Cougars lost four All-Ohioans to graduation, including quarterback Ross Kuhn. Junior Hayden Kuhn will replace his older brother under center and will operate by a veteran offensive line. Seniors Connor Morse and Brier Godsey return in the backfield after combined for 502 yards and 10 touchdowns on 80 carries last year. Senior Gabe Smedley is a sure-handed receiver who caught 29 passes for 396 yards last year. Coach Steve Haverdill brought on former Lex coach Tim Scheid as Crestview’s defensive coordinator and Scheid installed a 3-3 defense.
John Battaglia takes over for Kevin Maltarich at Loudonville after serving as the Redbirds’ offensive coordinator. Loudonville advanced to their third round of the playoffs last year despite winning just once during the regular season. The Redbirds, who will join the Knox Morrow Athletic Conference as a football-only member next fall, lost talented quarterback Logan Huffman to graduation but return plenty of talent.
For those who can’t attend, this game will be livestreamed at OH.Report.
Hillsdale at Ravenna Southeast: The Falcons will debut their new artificial surface when they host Lucas in Week 2, but first Hillsdale hits the road for a Thursday night opener at Ravenna Southeast. The Falcons boast one of the Wayne County Athletic League’s most exciting players in receiver and defensive back Justin Zeigler. The senior caught 49 passes for 626 yards and eight touchdowns, including a single-game record 17 receptions in a Week 6 loss to Northwestern. Zeigler is also the program’s career leader with 10 field goals.
Hillsdale has to replace 2020 Wayne County Athletic League Player of the Year Ty Williams, who is playing for Division II Hillsdale College in Michigan. Senior running back Ethan Goodwin will see his role expanded after rushing for 160 yards and two touchdowns on 47 carries last year. Senior Cole Sinnett will move from receiver to quarterback, taking over for the graduated Caden Mutchler. Sinnett had 18 catches last fall, including a pair of TDs.
Ravenna Southeast was 5-4 with a playoff victory last year. The Pirates surrendered 12 or fewer points six times last year.
