Jackson Polar Bears 2024 high school football schedule, preview

JACKSON POLAR BEARS

• HEAD COACH: Jay Rohr, third year, 11-12
• LAST YEAR: 5-6, 2-4
• POSTSEASON: Division I, Region 1

Jackson football’s returning lettermen (20)

• Kyler Behling, TE-LB, 5-10, 190, Sr.
• Lucas Benson, TE-LB, 6-2, 185, Sr.
• Mitchell Braucher, LB, 6-2, 185, Sr.
• Noah Colando, WR-DB, 6-2, 200, Sr.
• Robbie Eberhardt, OL-DL, 5-11, 265, Sr.
• Lucas Ecrement, QB, 6-0, 175, Jr.
• Alston Ellis, TE-DL, 6-3, 215, Sr.
• Brennan Ertle, OL-DL, 6-3, 265, Sr.
• Teigen Essig, OL, 6-0, 210, Sr.
• Nolan Foster, RB-DL, 5-11, 200, Sr.
• Cooper Geissinger, WR-DB, 6-2, 150, Sr.
• Nathan Kuntz, WR-DB, 6-0, 170, Sr.
• Evan Mauser, OL-DL, 5-10, 195, Sr.
• Cooper Mizeur, K-P, 6-0, 165., Jr.
• Vann Riordan, RB-DB, 5-6, 160, Sr.
• Zach Saleh, RB-LB, 5-10, 180, Sr.
• Kristian Satterfield, RB-DB, 5-8, 165, Sr.
• Foster Stanley, RB-LB, 6-0, 180, Sr.
• Keegan Stanley, TE-LB, 6-2, 195, Jr.
• Jordan Warmath, LB, 5-11, 190, Sr.

Jackson football’s impact players

Lucas Ecrement is back and healthy for his third season as a varsity quarterback. The dynamic Ecrement threw for 2,086 yards and 18 touchdowns, while rushing for 468 yards and two TDs, as a sophomore before injuring his knee in a Week 10 loss at North Canton. "He's devoted himself to being healthy and being ready for this moment," head coach Jay Rohr said. "I think Lucas is ready to take the next step in every aspect of the game." ... Jordan Warmath led Jackson in tackles each of the last two seasons, including 142 stops last year. He and fellow linebackers Mitchell Braucher and Foster Stanley headline an experienced Jackson defense that Rohr expects to be a strength. ... Noah Colando is a weapon with good size at wide receiver. He caught 40 passes for 511 yards and four TDs as a junior. ... Evan Mauser and Robbie Eberhardt are experienced two-way linemen for the Polar Bears. Mauser totaled a team-high 10.5 sacks last season.

What's new with Jackson football in 2024

Veteran coach Badre Bardawil takes over as the Polar Bears' offensive coordinator after coming from McKinley. Rohr expects Jackson's spread offense to have more of a hybrid feel under Bardawil, getting into more running formations than last year. ... Jackson has high expectations for junior Max Cowles (5-7, 150), who lost his sophomore season to a broken collarbone suffered in the Hoban scrimmage. Cowles should make an impact at wide receiver and in the secondary. "We hope he doesn't have to come off the field very much," Rohr said. ... Perry transfer Vann Riordan, who was one of the Panthers' leading tacklers last year, is expected to play on both sides of the ball for Jackson. He is in the mix for carries with Stanley and senior Kristian Satterfield and will be part of Jackson's secondary. ... Senior Jack Lancy hasn't played football since eighth grade. But Rohr believes Lancy will be a factor at wide receiver and in the secondary. The same goes for senior Nathan Kuntz, who stepped up to play quarterback in Jackson's first-round playoff loss last year when Ecrement was out. "He's going to be a stud on both sides of the ball," Rohr said of the wide receiver/cornerback.  ... Senior Kyler Behling's progress at linebacker could free up guys such as Stanley and Satterfield for more carries on offense.

Jackson football’s outlook

Jackson opens the season with a trip to Mentor, then hosts a Fitch program that consistently produces talented teams. Fitch replaces Mayfield, which had been Jackson's Week 2 opponent each season going back to 2015 except for the COVID-altered 2020 season. Mayfield moves to Week 4 with Jackson's open league week rotating there after it being Week 9 last season. This will mark the first time Jackson won't face Central Catholic since 2015. ... Jackson's 5-6 record last year marked its first sub-.500 season since 2010. But the Polar Bears don't sound like they're down in the dumps. Rohr says he loves the leadership this group has displayed, led by the senior class. "There are no pointing fingers," Rohr said. "They're pushing each other and letting the coaches push them." ... In addition to Eberhardt and Mauser, tackle Brennan Ertle and center Teigen Essig are back with starting experience on the Jackson offensive line. ... Rohr feels really good about his special teams. Cooper Mizeur is back to handle the kicking and punting duties after a strong sophomore season. Long snapper Lucas Benson is a big part of that special teams equation. ... Rohr had two of his staff members from last season leave to become athletic directors (Beau Balderson at Sandy Valley and Zachary Michel at Fairless). Veteran coach Phil Mauro also did not return. Along with Bardawil, Rohr added Bobby Staudt from Green to coach Jackson's wide receivers and Andy Benson to be his operations guy.

Jackson football schedule for 2024

• Aug. 23 at Mentor
• Aug. 30 FITCH
• Sept. 6 STOW
• Sept. 13 at Mayfield
• Sept. 20 at Green
• Sept. 27 at Perry
• Oct. 4 LAKE
• Oct. 11 GLENOAK
• Oct. 18 at McKinley
• Oct. 25 HOOVER

Home games in all CAPS. All games at 7 p.m., unless noted.

A look at the Blue Streaks: Lake 2024 high school football schedule, preview

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Jackson Polar Bears 2024 high school football schedule, preview