Nordonia Knights 2024 high school football schedule, preview

NORDONIA KNIGHTS

• HEAD COACH: Jeff Fox , 13th year, 88-49
• LAST YEAR: 8-3, 4-2
• POSTSEASON: Division II, Region 5

Nordonia football team’s returning lettermen (20):

• Caleb Aiken, 6-0, 215, LB, Sr.
• Blake Allen, 6-0, 170, CB, Sr.
• Ben Bollas, 6-4, 220, DL, Sr.
• Jordan Byrd, 6-1, 220, LB, Sr.
• Brenden Chadock, 5-10, 155, WR, Sr.
• Ben Chesser, 6-1, 195, QB, Sr.
• Sam Collins, 5-11, 180, WR/DB, Jr.
• Rocco Delorenzo, 5-10, 185, RB, Sr.
• Gabe Hart, 6-3, 280, OL, Sr.
• Jordan Jackson, 6-3, 260, DL, Sr.
• Liam Kountz, 5-8, 180, RB, Sr.
• Matt Kraus, 6-0, 215, DL, Sr.
• Grant Lefeld, 6-2, 250, OL, Sr.
• DK Liverpool, 6-4, 250, OL, Sr.
• Louis Montesano, 5-10, 185, LB, Sr.
• Vince Natali, 5-10, 185, CB, Sr.
• Danny Ours, 6-2, 190, WR/DB, Sr.
• Ricardo Ruffin, 5-11, 165, WR/DB, Jr.
• Owen Smotek, 5-10, 185, WR/DB, Sr.
• Connor Whapham, 5-8, 180, RB/LB, Jr.

Watch Ohio High School Football Live on the NFHS Network all season

Nordonia football’s impact players

As you can tell by the returning letterwinners, this is an incredibly deep Knights senior class with a ton of playoff experience. The program has put together three consecutive eight-win seasons. … Nordonia has a leg up on much of the Suburban League National Conference with dual-threat quarterback Chesser (131-of-228 passing, 1,836 yards, 18 TDS; 327 yards rushing, four TDs) and running back DeLorenzo (155 carries, 922 yards, six TDs) returning for their senior seasons. … Lefeld, Hart and Liverpool return on an offensive line that is expected to make the Knights formidable on offense. … Division I prospect Jackson will be the anchor on a defensive line that returns linebackers Aiken and Byrd. … Natali and Allen return and will have a bigger presence with All-Ohioan Israel Petite gone to graduation.

What's new with Nordonia in 2024

Expect Kountz and Osbey to help DeLorenzo in the backfield to give Nordonia a more balanced attack. … Ours, Smotek and Collins will be counted on to take on bigger roles with Petite gone. … Gavin Kanar is the offensive tackle who will take on a huge role with Asher Wilson graduated. … The Knights will also look to two-way star Collin Atha to contribute at wide receiver and defensive back. … All-Ohioan Brendan Hermensky has graduated as well, which puts sophomore Karsen Fisher in the limelight. … Division II second-team All-Ohioan Connell Rafferty leaves a hole in the kicking game.

Nordonia football’s outlook

Fox has made no bones about pushing up from third place in the SL National Conference, which has been a landmine of a league. With so many returning starters back at the skill position and a group of  very talented newcomers, the push to dethrone league champion Wadsworth and win a conference title is very much a realistic goal for the Knights. It all starts with Chesser and DeLorenzo, who aren’t afraid to take the reins for Nordonia.

Nordonia football schedule for 2024

• Aug. 23 at Bedford
• Aug. 30 at Berea-Midpark
• Sept. 6 MAYFIELD
• Sept. 13 at Solon
• Sept. 20 NORTH ROYALTON
• Sept. 27 TWINSBURG
• Oct. 4 at Wadsworth
• Oct. 11 HUDSON
• Oct. 18 at Stow
• Oct. 25 BRECKSVILLE

Contact Brad Bournival at bbournival@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter at @bbournival

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This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Nordonia Knights 2024 high school football schedule, preview