Here are 10 area high school football players to keep an eye on as football season nears

LANCASTER − The high school football season is less than two weeks away with the regular season kicking off on Aug. 23.

As always, the goal for each team is to qualify for the playoffs, and there seem to be several area teams who should be fighting for a playoff spot at the end of the year.

While several key players graduated, there are still several talented players returning this season, and some will be looking to make a name for themselves.

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Here are 10 players to watch in the area this fall:

Quarterback: Ethan Thanthanavong, Sr., Bloom-Carroll

He has passed for more than 3,000 career yards as a two-year starter. As a sophomore, he helped lead the Bulldogs to a Division III state runner-up finish after passing for 1,235 yards and 10 touchdowns, and last season Thanthanavong followed it up by passing for 2,153 yards and 23 touchdowns and ran for four more scores.

Running back: Danny Blair, Sr., Fairfield Christian Academy

took home Division VII Central District Player of the Year honors and was named first team All-Ohio as a junior after rushing for 1,431 yards and 19 touchdowns on 200 carries.

Running back: Owen Ruff, Sr., Fairfield Union

Ruff earned first team All-Southeast Division II District honors and was honorable mention All-Ohio after rushing for 1,538 yards and 17 touchdowns as a junior.

Wide Receiver: Rusty Hutchinson, Jr., Bloom-Carroll

Playing at Fairfield Christian Academy as a sophomore a year ago, Hutchinson finished with 28 catches for 816 yards and 13 touchdowns and returned five kickoffs for touchdowns. He has transferred and will play at Bloom-Carroll this season.

Defensive back: Hyde O’Rielley, Sr., Fisher Catholic:

O’Rielley has earned first team All-Central District and All-Ohio honors in the last two seasons. As a junior, he finished with 65 tackles, two sacks, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and two interceptions. He also caught 39 passes for 702 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Linebacker: Cody McCoy, Sr., Lancaster

McCoy, had a breakout season a year ago, finishing with more than 70 tackles, and is expected to take on an even bigger role at linebacker for the Gales. Voted as a team captain his junior year, McCoy brings a lot of leadership.

Kicker: Treyton McKee, Sr., Bloom-Carroll

McKee is one of the top kickers in the state. He has verbally committed to Bowling Green State University. A year ago, he was named first All-Central District, the Kicker of the Year in the Mid-State League-Buckeye Division and honorable mention All-Ohio.

Quarterback: Hunter Clark, Sr., Fairfield Union

Clark, a two-year starter, is expected to be even more of a weapon this season. A year ago, he was named first team All-MSL first team All-Southeast District and honorable mention All-Ohio after accounting for 897 total yards and 10 touchdowns.

Quarterback: Grant Keefer, Sr., Fisher Catholic

Keefer, a four-year starter, passed for 1,859 yards and 13 touchdowns and ran for 384 yards and three touchdowns a year ago. He was named first team All-MSL, first All-Central District and honorable mention All-Ohio.

Quarterback, Brody Burke, Jr., Lancaster

Burke showed a lot of poise as a sophomore first-year starter a year ago and was voted team captain. With a year under his belt, that game experience should pay dividends this season and the Gales are expected to put more on his plate and let him throw the ball even more.

Tom Wilson is a sports reporter for the Lancaster Eagle-Gazette. Contact him at 740-689-5150 or via email at twilson@gannett.com for comments or story tips. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter @twil2323.

This article originally appeared on Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: Here are 10 area high school football players to keep an eye on as football season nears