ASHLAND — Welcome to Source Media’s 2024 high school football preview. Over the coming days, we’ll preview schools across Ashland, Richland and Knox Counties every day leading up to Week 1.
Today, we preview the Ashland Arrows. You can find all of our high school football previews here.
McDonald’s 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 2024 Preview
Division: II
Region: 7
Conference: Ohio Cardinal Conference
Coach: Scott Valentine
Last year: 5-6
Insider: The Arrows will compete in Division II this year after reaching the Division III playoffs last fall.
Schedule 📅
Aug. 23 — at River Valley
Aug. 30 — at Marion Harding
Sept. 6 — LINSLY (WV)
Sept. 13 — NEW PHILADELPHIA
Sept. 20 — MAPLE HEIGHTS
Sept. 27 — at Madison
Oct. 4 — MANSFIELD SENIOR
Oct. 11 — at West Holmes
Oct. 18 — at Wooster
Oct. 25 — LEXINGTON
BY THE NUMBERS 📊
135-66
Head coach Scott Valentine’s career record at Ashland. Valentine is in the second year of his second stint at his alma mater after piloting the program from 2002 to 2018.
21
Total touchdowns for junior quarterback Nathan Bernhard last year. The Division I recruit threw for 13 TDs and rushed for eight more scores.
8
Ohio Cardinal Conference championships won by the Arrows. Ashland’s last OCC title came in 2020 when the Arrows shared the title with West Holmes and Wooster. Ashland’s last outright crown came in 2011.
1-4
Ashland’s record in its final five games last year. The Arrows were 4-2 before staggering to the finish line.
KEY RETURNING PLAYERS 💪
QB Nathan Bernhard
Completed 173-of-275 passes for 1,718 yards and 13 TDs and rushed for 266 yards and eight TDs last year.
DB Tyler Sauder
The Ohio Cardinal Conference first-teamer made 100 tackles and picked off three passes last year.
CRYSTAL BALL 🔮
The Arrows boast plenty of talent at the skill positions led by QB Nathan Bernhard. Ashland’s fortunes rest along the offensive and defensive lines.