ASHLAND — Welcome to Ashland Source’s 2026 high school football preview. Over the coming days, we’ll preview all the schools across the county. Each preview features this season’s schedule, last season’s performance, statistics, a player to watch 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 2026 Preview
Division: II
Region: 7
Conference: Ohio Cardinal Conference
Coach: Scott Valentine
Last year: 10-2
Playoff Appearances: 16 (2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2020, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2007, 2006, 2003, 1987)
Playoff Record: 15-16
PLAYER TO WATCH 👀
Killian O’Brien: A 6-foot-1, 185-pound senior wideout, O’Brien caught 40 passes for 760 yards and 12 TDs last fall and had 34 receptions for 726 yards and eight TDs as a sophomore. O’Brien also picked off five passes as a junior. He has offers from Georgetown, Autin Peay, Ashland, Walsh and West Liberty.
BY THE NUMBERS 📊
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Interceptions for senior defensive back Jeff Hickey last season. The Arrows picked off 18 passes in 12 games.
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School records for graduated quarterback Nathan Bernhard. He owns career marks for passing yards (8,817), passing touchdowns (tied for first with 76), total yards (10,991), total touchdowns (127), completions (631), attempts (1,006), rushing yards by a quarterback (2,174) and rushing touchdowns by a quarterback (51).
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Rushing touchdowns for senior running back Grayson Baith last year. Baith carried the ball 81 times for 509 yards and caught 19 passes for 227 yards and two TDs before suffering a knee injury in a Week 10 loss at Lexington. He missed Ashland’s playoff run.
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Tackles for junior linebacker Liam Hubacher last fall. He is Ashland’s top returning tackler.
2025 RESULTS
Ashland 43, Bay 10
Ashland 42, Marion Harding 7
Ashland 35, Clyde 21
Ashland 34, New Philadelphia 7
Ashland 42, Dover 7
Ashland 38, Madison 7
Ashland 48, Mansfield Senior 19
Ashland 40, West Holmes 7
Ashland 52, Wooster 7
Lexington 43, Ashland 35
Playoffs
Ashland 56, Mount Vernon 21
Columbus DeSales 33, Ashland 29
2026 SCHEDULE 📅
Aug. 21 — at Bay
Aug. 28 — at Marion Harding
Sept. 4 — CLYDE
Sept. 11 — NEW PHILADELPHIA
Sept. 18 — at Dover
Sept. 25 — MADISON
Oct. 2 — MANSFIELD SENIOR
Oct. 9 — at West Holmes
Oct. 16 — at Wooster
Oct. 23 — LEXINGTON
TWO MINUTE DRILL ⏱️
Coach Scott Valentine enters his 30th year as a head coach. He needs five wins to reach 200 career coaching victories. There are holes to fill — most notably at quarterback after the graduation of Ohio Division II Offensive Player of the Year Nathan Bernhard. Junior Liam Hubacher is the leading candidate for the job. Ashland will also have to replace career tackles leader Gunner Lacey, who made 416 career stops. The Arrows also lost Gabe Baith and Carson O’Brien. Baith is the career receptions leader (177) and O’Brien converted 62-of-64 PATs and booted six field goals last year. He’s kicking at Ashland University. Ashland is again in Region 7 of Division II, a meat-grinder that includes Massillon and Big Walnut. The Arrows own a 15-game home winning streak.
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.