Ohio roundup: Gallipolis healthy with high hopes in 2008

GALLIPOLIS, Ohio -- Coming off a disappointing 4-6 season that was riddled with injuries, Gallipolis coach Matt Bokovitz is looking forward to seeing his team take the field.

Last season he had several young players gain valuable experience because of the injury situation.

"Our starting quarterback got hurt and we had several injuries hit us, but we had a lot of young kids play," Bokovitz said. "We hope that the lumps of yesterday turn into valuable pieces for us."

Bokovitz will have four full-time starters returning on offense and five on the defensive side. Those players will be key to getting back above the .500 mark against a brutal schedule.

"Athens and Point Pleasant are supposed to have the best teams they've had in years, Ironton is always tough and Logan has won the league five years in a row," Bokovitz said.

For Bokovitz, the offensive line will be solid in the pass-happy attack, led by three-year starter Robert Daniels. Joining him up front are Clint Saunders and Jon Kyger.

Those players will be protecting Kruize Wandling, who started five games last season, or sophomore Ethan Moore at the quarterback spot. Both are locked in a tight battle.

Beau Whaley, Quintin Nibert and Evan Wood all return at receiver.

Defensively, Daniels and Kyger will be the defensive tackles with Tyler Wachs at nose guard. Jared Gravely is an NCAA Division-I type kid who will see time at fullback and defensive end.

Saunders will bring experience to the linebacker position while Whaley and Nibert will lock down secondary positions. Wood will also start at one of the safety spots.

Schedule: Aug. 22, at Athens; Aug. 29, vs. Point Pleasant; Sept. 5, at Ironton; Sept. 12, at Logan; Sept. 19, vs. Jackson; Sept. 26, vs. Portsmouth; Oct. 3, at Chillicothe; Oct. 10, vs. Wellston; Oct. 17, vs. Zanesville; Oct. 24, vs. Marietta.

River Valley

CHESHIRE, Ohio -- As the Raiders get ready for their first season under coach Jared McClelland, there will be several changes from the team that went 2-8 a year ago.

McClelland, who replaced Greg Deel, has seven offensive starters and six defensive starters back.

"The offensive and defensive line are huge question marks for us, but we feel great about our skill people," McClelland said.

The Raiders finished the season's final two games strong even though both went down as losses. River Valley fell to Chesapeake, 28-23, and came back in the regular-season finale to push OVC co-champion Coal Grove to double-overtime before the Hornets prevailed, 32-31.

"We had a great game with Coal Grove that we lost and a lot of our returning kids were key in that game," McClelland said. "That's something that our kids reflect and try to build upon."

Players returning to the mix include Clayton Curnutte, a 1,000-yard passer last season. He will share quarterback snaps with Jordan Deel while Deel will also see time at receiver.

In the backfield, Zach Baird returns with needed experience while running behind tight end Zak Deel, who McClelland said is "possibly his best athlete on the field."

McClelland said having been in the system for a decade, much will remain the same. But, he has made a bigger push for work off the field.

"We really stress conditioning and toughness because we have a lot of kids playing both sides of the ball," McClelland said. "They'll have to play through those bumps and bruises."

Schedule: Aug. 22, at Minford; Aug. 29, at Oak Hill; Sept. 5, vs. Meigs; Sept. 12, at Eastern; Sept. 19, vs. Waterford; Sept. 26, vs. South Point; Oct. 3, vs. Fairland; Oct. 10, at Chesapeake; Oct. 17, at Coal Grove; Oct. 24, vs. Rock Hill.

Portsmouth

PORTSMOUTH, Ohio -- The good news for Portsmouth coach Curt Clifford is that he has a pair of NCAA Division I-bound offensive tackles.

The bad news is that out of 60 kids out for the team this year, 44 are freshmen, sophomores or first-year players.

"We are going to have a lot of guys starting out there that don't even have a driver's license," Clifford said.

Senior John Prior is headed to Florida State and will play left tackle and defensive tackle while Penn State-bound Nate Cadogan is the right tackle and defensive end. However, in between them will be two sophomores and a first-year junior.

The unit will be blocking for sophomore quarterback Josh Myers, who Clifford said is the "total package." Myers will have three experienced targets with Malik White, Fo Johnson and Storm Bratchett.

"Those guys are fast, athletic and they have great hands," Clifford said. "It's exactly what a young quarterback needs. It takes a lot of the burden off Josh."

Defensively, linebacker Aaron Montgomery and safety London Malone are also back.

Impact newcomers include defensive end Jason James, linebacker Tre Underwood and cornerback James Lawson. Clifford also said Ryan Jordan will make noise at outside linebacker and Myers might even see time at safety.

Schedule: Aug. 22, vs. South Point; Aug. 29, at Portsmouth West; Sept. 5, at Wheelersburg; Sept. 12, at Jackson; Sept. 19, vs. Chillicothe; Sept. 26, at Gallipolis; Oct. 3, at Warren; Oct. 10, vs. Ironton; Oct. 17, vs. Marietta; Oct. 24, vs. Western Brown.

Wheelersburg

WHEELERSBURG, Ohio -- Rob Woodward, an assistant the past five seasons, takes over as head coach.

"The quality of the program at Wheelersburg speaks for itself," Woodward said. "I'm excited to get this opportunity. I feel blessed. It's been a dream since high school to be a head coach."

On offense, the Pirates will show multiple formations, but the flex with a tight end and two backs will be featured the most.

"It's a personal preference," Woodward said. "I value the run game. We have the threat of the pass. We've got more speed and we want to utilize it."

Tyler Lang moves in at quarterback. "He's a threat to run or pass," Woodward said. "We hope to capitalize on his versatility."

Bryan White is the fullback and halfbacks are Jordan Schankweiler and Tyler Craigmiles. Nick Kemper, Andy Stegman are wide-outs and Scott Walker is the slotback. Zach Frowine returns at center to anchor the line.

"An area of concern is youth on offense," Woodward said. "The time together has not been in a pressure situation as a group of 11. We have to get the timing down. What's nice is we get to grow together in the transition."

Craigmiles, Walker and C.J. Adkins are the down linemen on defense. Keimper is one end and Caleb Leach and Drew Parsley are battling for the other end spot. White anchors the defense at linebacker. Jordan Schankweiler and Chase Holbrook are corners, Aaron Hopper is free safety and Lang is the strong safety. Aaron White handles placekicking and Lang is the punter.

"I like an attack style," Woodward said. "We'll use our speed."

Schedule: Aug. 22, vs. Ironton; Aug. 29, at South Point; Sept. 5, vs. Portsmouth; Sept. 12, at Greenup County (Ky.); Sept. 19, vs. Rock Hill; Sept. 26, at Lucasville Valley; Oct. 3, vs. Minford; Oct. 10, vs. Northwest; Oct. 17, at Waverly; Oct. 24, at Portsmouth West.

South Gallia

CROWN CITY, Ohio -- After losing 11 seniors from last season, South Gallia coach Justy Burleson has had a lot of movement on his depth chart.

Just how much?

Last year's starting center B.J. Stanley will now be taking snaps from center as the team's quarterback. And Burleson couldn't be more excited about it.

"Everyone thinks this is a big-time rebuilding year for us, but we are a touch quicker and faster," Burleson said. "We just have to play like it. We are playing a little slow right now because guys are learning two positions. If they have what I call the 'football epiphany' and decide that they are just going to be football players, they are going to be fine."

In addition to Stanley, South Gallia returns Caleb McClanahan, a three-year starter at tight end and defensive end, and Jacob Dotson, a right tackle and middle linebacker.

Burleson expects big things out of McClanahan and Dotson, an all-district selection last year, could anchor the defensive line if a younger player steps up at a linebacker position.

In the backfield, Jeff Clyburn will lead a running back-by-committee outlook with Jarrod Potter and freshman Dalton Matney also getting carries.

Schedule: Aug. 22, vs. Waterford; Aug. 29, at Eastern; Sept. 5, at Southern; Sept. 12, at Wahama; Sept. 19, vs. Ports. Notre Dame; Sept. 26, vs. Buffalo; Oct. 3, vs. Green; Oct. 10, at Sciotoville Community; Oct. 17, at Oak Hill; Oct. 24, at Symmes Valley.

Green

FRANKLIN FURNACE, Ohio -- After finishing 1-9 in 2007, the Green Bobcats are looking forward to a fresh start.

However, it might be more fresh than coach Dan Mercer wants it to be.

Green returns just five starters and seven players overall from last year's squad.

"Anytime you only bring seven kids back from the last year's team, you have some serious issues," Mercer said.

Matt Clarke headlines the returnees as a leader at quarterback and in the secondary while Billy Moore will be at running back and defensive back. Chad and Caleb Lewis will serve as the ends on both sides of the ball while Stacy Moore and Jeff Massey return to the offensive line. Moore will see time on the defensive line. Massey will be at linebacker and could even see reps at running back.

Mercer said that the numbers have improved from 20 players last season to 26 this season, and he is excited about his second year as the Bobcats' coach.

"They've adapted very well. Now the kids know me and what I expect and I'm pleased with the way they are responding," Mercer said. "I feel very good about our athleticism, and the attitude is great."

Schedule: Aug. 22, vs. Manchester; Aug. 29, at Fairview (Ky.); Sept. 5, vs. Burch (W.Va.); Sept. 12, at Grove City Christian; Sept. 19, at Southern; Sept. 26, vs. Symmes Valley; Oct. 3, at South Gallia; Oct. 11, at Ports. Notre Dame; Oct. 17, vs. Sciotoville Community; Oct. 24, vs. Oak Hill.

Contact reporters David Walsh and Grant Traylor at 526-2759. Send e-mail to dwalsh@herald-dispatch.com or gtraylor@herald-dispatch.com.