ASHLAND — Welcome to Ashland Source’s 2025 high school football preview. Over the coming days, we’ll preview all the schools across the county. Each preview features key players, this season’s schedule and what fans can expect under the Friday night lights.
Today, we preview the Ashland Arrows. You can find all of our high school football previews here.
Graham Auto Mall is proud to back our area’s local athletes and help Ashland Source provide fans in-depth coverage of the upcoming high school football season.
Ashland Arrows 2025 Preview
Division: II
Region: 7
Conference: Ohio Cardinal Conference
Coach: Scott Valentine
Last year: 12-1
Schedule 📅
Aug. 22 — BAY
Aug. 29 — MARION HARDING
Sept. 5 — at Clyde
Sept. 12 — at New Philadelphia
Sept. 19 — DOVER
Sept. 26 — MADISON
Oct. 3 — at Mansfield Senior
Oct. 10 — WEST HOLMES
Oct. 17 — WOOSTER
Oct. 24 — at Lexington
BY THE NUMBERS 📊
5
Undefeated regular seasons in 118 years of Ashland football after the Arrows went 10-0 last fall. Ashland won two home playoff games, including a decisive 27-14 victory over Columbus DeSales in the regional quarterfinals — arguably the greatest home win in program history.
59
Receptions for receiver Gabe Baith last fall. The slippery senior had 894 receiving yards and five TDs.
8
Touchdown catches for junior wideout Killian O’Brien last year, a team high. O’Brien caught 34 passes for 726 yards.
29
Turnovers forced by the Ashland defense last year. The Arrows picked off 17 passes and recovered 12 fumbles.
PLAYERS TO WATCH 💪
QB Nathan Bernhard
The Appalachian State-bound senior had the greatest junior season by a quarterback in program history last fall. Bernhard completed 181-of-299 passes for 2,895 yards and 24 touchdowns and rushed for 1,221 yards and 22 TDs on 206 carries.
LB Gunner Lacey
The 6-foot, 190-pound senior made a team-high 140 tackles, including a team-leading 29 tackles for loss. He was an All-Ohio first-team pick.
CRYSTAL BALL 🔮
The Arrows won their first outright Ohio Cardinal Conference championship since 2011 last fall and there’s no reason to think they won’t be in contention to repeat this year. Bernhard may be the best quarterback in program history, joining such luminaries as Taylor Housewright and Marcus Fuller. The supporting cast is as good as it gets as four of Ashland’s top five pass-catchers return from a year ago.
Love high school football? So do we! 🏈
Stay ahead of the game with exclusive updates, behind-the-scenes coverage, and expert analysis from veteran sports reporter Curt Conrad.
