Neither coach much mentioned the opponent, let alone trash talk the other, leaving that to the fans.

HUNTINGTON — In a preseason press conference, Morgan White and Abi Hugh talked about how their friendship helps them play as “one mind” on the pitch.

HUNTINGTON — At the start of every football season, there are questions for teams.

Portsmouth broke the seal on Tri-State high school football Thursday night at Lucasville Valley. Several more games are on tap in Ohio and Kentucky Friday and Saturday, while teams in West Virginia will wait until next week for their opening games.

ASHLAND — Drew Clark scored two goals and assisted on another Tuesday to lead Ashland to a 9-1 victory over Greenup County in boys high school soccer.

By now, Casey Legg’s journey from Cross Lanes Christian, a high school without a football team, to becoming the starting kicker at West Virginia University is well documented.

Trying to prognosticate anything in this year’s Big 12 is a lot like playing the shell game, with coiled rattlesnakes lurking under two of the three shells.

LLOYD, Ky. — Ashland (4-0) shut out its fourth consecutive opponent Tuesday, clobbering Greenup County 10-0 in girls high school soccer.

For a former pitcher, Wyatt Milum is a heckuva offensive tackle.

When two quarterbacks transferred to Virginia Tech in the offseason, there was an immediate question for the Hokies as to which would beat out the other for the starting job.

ROME TOWNSHIP, Ohio — Portsmouth West eagerly anticipates the opening of its new artificial turf football field in two weeks, but first must deal with the grass at Fairland.

HUNTINGTON — It took only 17 minutes for Ryan Holmes to make an impact on the field for the Marshall men’s soccer team.

HUNTINGTON — The first day of fall camp felt like a time machine for Marshall defensive lineman Owen Porter.

West Virginia assistant Jeff Koonz fielded questions during a media session on Monday, and with two responsibilities — special teams coordinator and inside linebackers coach — those inquiries covered a wide range.

HUNTINGTON — The expectations from outside of the Marshall women’s soccer team for the season ahead do not match up with what the team believes it is capable of achieving.

HUNTINGTON — By this point in his college football career, Henry Colombi has learned to adjust to his surroundings.

SOUTH POINT, Ohio — The Bengals vs. the Rams it isn’t, but Boyd County’s season-opening football game at South Point Friday has players acting as if it’s the Super Bowl.

CHESAPEAKE, Ohio — A winless season usually doesn’t spark enthusiasm, but that’s not the case at Chesapeake.

DANIELS, W.Va. — Cabell Midland won its fourth consecutive tournament Monday, defeating Shady Spring 229-248 in high school golf.

Every summer, when talk around town starts to turn to back-to-school plans and football practices, I am reminded that it is time to begin practicing for my upcoming season as well — hunting season.

Ryan Switzer’s NFL career may have just officially ended in July, yet he’s already working on a new beginning.

HUNTINGTON — Marshall began week two of preseason football practice Monday with a bit of renewed energy and focus after a lively scrimmage period Saturday following a week of walkthroughs and minimal contact.

One of the better high school football games in Southeast Ohio this weekend features two teams from Kentucky.

Welcome to Second Guess Tuesday. Here are the opinions du jour.

HUNTINGTON — Huntington St. Joe has restarted its baseball program and hired Barry Ellis to coach it.

HUNTINGTON — Two newcomers to the revived Sun Belt Conference men’s soccer league were picked to finish at the top, and both of them are from West Virginia.

HUNTINGTON — The Marshall University men’s soccer team kept its preseason stride with a 4-2 victory over Radford on Sunday evening, waiting out a nearly two-hour weather delay before entertaining the fans in attendance on a crisp, cool night in Huntington.

HUNTINGTON — Owen Chafin is looking for a new football home.

DANVILLE, Ky. — Eva Blanke scored four goals Saturday to lead Russell to an 11-2 triumph over Danville in girls high school soccer.

CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — Reghan Bee and Ashtyn Miller scored to lift Unioto (1-0) over Wheelersburg 2-1 Friday in girls high school soccer.

HUNTINGTON — Marshall is joining in on the sweeping trend of providing a way for student-athletes to cash in on their name, image and likeness, while providing its own twist on the initiative.

KENOVA — Pickleball might sound like a game kids made up in the backyard with a jar of Vlasics.

Everybody knows who Rasheen Ali is.

HUNTINGTON — Marshall’s first live scrimmage period of the preseason had a mix of everything you might expect out of the first live action of camp, but the effort of two Thundering Herd newcomers left a good impression on head coach Charles Huff and the rest of the coaching staff.

Ask Ohio Valley Conference high school football coaches about the league and they automatically talk about the race for second place.

MORGANTOWN -- Approximately 1,500 people descended on Mountaineer Field Saturday morning to get autographs from their favorite West Virginia football players and coaches during Fan Day.

MORGANTOWN — Left tackle Wyatt Milum had already accumulated a year of playing experience before sitting in front of the media for the first time on Saturday afternoon.

RIO GRANDE, Ohio — Marshall’s men’s soccer team got its 2022 season off to a strong start in its exhibition opener.

C.J. Donaldson is an enigma.

HUNTINGTON — The first full week of preseason practice is nearly in the books, and things are starting to pick up for the Marshall football team.

Faith Burnside scored three goals to lead Boyd County (1-0) to a 6-0 victory over Lawrence County (0-1) in girls high school soccer Thursday in Louisa, Kentucky.

HUNTINGTON — It’s a full schedule for the Marshall University women’s basketball team.

HUNTINGTON — Cabell Midland shot perhaps the best round at the Duke Ridgely Invitational longtime coach Matt Stead could remember.

ARTIE, W.Va. — It’s been 14 years since Tex Williams retired from coaching, but in some ways he’s busier than ever.

HUNTINGTON — Jim Cyrus knows how to celebrate his birthday.

HUNTINGTON — Late Herald-Dispatch sports editor Duke Ridgley’s column was called “Diamond Dust.”

HUNTINGTON — A partnership between Marshall University and a Kentucky brewery could result in a cold beverage for Thundering Herd fans at select sporting events.

HUNTINGTON — Thursday was scheduled to be the last summer workout for Marshall’s men’s basketball team.

HUNTINGTON — There were too many times when Marshall defensive coordinator Lance Guidry thought his plan to stop opposing running backs was working, but then “it” would happen.

Last week, our Chuck Landon wrote a column describing the quarterback battle at Marshall and how coach Charles Huff has yet to name a starter while the answer seems apparent.

The first bit of tackling, some situational work and some scrimmaging was held in Morgantown on Thursday, and by the conclusion, West Virginia coach Neal Brown had some highlights and lowlights to discuss in front of the media.

ONA — From Lake Erie to the Virginia border, Luke Salmons has sought an opponent without success.

HUNTINGTON — The Marshall volleyball and basketball teams will play on new courts this season following the purchase of two new playing surfaces that will be installed in the Cam Henderson Center this fall.

Remember when we last witnessed Willie Johnson?

CHESAPEAKE, Ohio — Perhaps no one is looking forward to the 2022 high school football season more than Marcus Burnside.

HUNTINGTON — Ahead of the 2022 season, new Marshall offensive coordinator Clint Trickett is focused on doing the best he can with the players that are here, but realizes the importance of creating an offense others want to be a part of.

WHEELING — Cabell Midland won its second high school golf tournament this week, taking the title of the Oglebay Invitational on Tuesday.

I am very excited that it’s officially time to start the discussion about hunting seasons and, especially, their opening days.

COLUMBUS — Name, Image and Likeness contracts might come to high school sports, but don’t expect them soon in Ohio.

SPRING VALLEY -- The list of Spring Valley football stars is extensive.

HUNTINGTON — The Marshall men’s soccer team has its sights set on accomplishing more than it did a season ago.