Stark County High School Football Preview: Coaches talk about upcoming 2024 season

Alex D. Krassas Event CenterPhoto byGene Simmons Ohsfbmedia.com File Photo

CANTON, OH- Wednesday night was filled with football essence as 19 coaches shared some insight for the upcoming Ohio High School Football season, Stark County coaches convened inside Alex D. Krassas Event Center on the campus of St. Haralambos Church.

Here is what they had to say:

Tim Goodman (Alliance)

Goodman gave a number of athletes he has entering the season, with 76 from 9-12 with only 5 seniors and spoke on key regular season games against Canton Central Catholic week 5 and Louisville week 2, "The EBC kinda gets lost in the shuffle sometimes out in Stark County, because were kind of the armpit of Stark County as they call it." said Goodman.

Matt Dennison (Canton South)

Opening up Dennison stated his years in the game of football with over 40 and 31 as a head coach, South is without state semifinalist quarterback 'Poochie' Snyder due to graduation, "We have to find new leaders," said Dennison. Coming into the season with 52 kids in the program he is going back to smash mouth football.

Jeff 'Trucker' Lindesmith (Canton Central Catholic)

Jeff mentioned he has had the biggest number of rostered athletes with 61 in grades 9-12, with 19 seniors to lead the way, having to order more helmets and gave thanks to all those senior's parents for all they do, "The success of our program guys, I've known this and was taught this, It's all about preparation, accountability, and effort." said Lindesmith.

John 'Spider' Miller (East Canton)

"We are a young team" said Miller, with only having 30 kids with three seniors which is six more than the hornets had last year, also have athletes that are participating in other activities such as golf, band and cross country, "They're fighting hard, they're working hard so we'll find out Friday and next week against Minerva where we stand." said Miller.

A.J. Sarbaugh (Fairless)

With 53 athletes, nine of them are seniors and a Sophomore quarterback Michael Ritterbeck, and loosing three seniors that moved on to play Division II college football the Falcons are going to see what they are made of, "We'll find out what we are made of quickly on Friday we scrimmage Indian Valley who's a very tough well coached football team." said Sarbaugh.

Event Media GuidePhoto byMens Club of St. Haralambos Church

Scott Garcia (Canton Glenoak)

Garcia was really excited his numbers at the middle school level, stating he has 100 kids out to play, mentioned his numbers where down at the senior level but relying heavily on the returning guys Burt, Potter, returning Center and Safety, "It's a small group but a talented group and we're excited about those guys." said Garcia. Not to mention the addition of Jerome 'Ghost' Cox a transfer from Canton South.

Brian Baum (North Canton)

With 35 freshman Baum is poised they will be as good as anybody in future seasons at Hoover, "We gotta continue with this young roster they're developing into veterans to continue to develop to get better as football players," said Baum. The Vikings will scrimmage Ashland at home, then Alliance with a season opener against Akron Buchtel.

Jay Rohr (Massillon Jackson)

Jay Rohr has numbers at all levels, pretty excited at his youth football numbers sitting at 475, that says something about where he wants to be in the coming years flirting with about 180 guys in grades 8-12 is a blessing, "I'm certainly blessed to be in the situation I am right now," said Rohr. The excited and blessed coach mentioned some staff changes adding Badre Bardawil as offensive coordinator coming over from Canton Mckinley, Lucas Ecrement will be the single caller for the Polar Bears.

Dan DeGeorge (Uniontown Lake)

Head Coach DeGeorge emphasized how tough his upcoming schedule is and how strong the Federal League is, 138 athletes rostered for the Blue Streaks led by four senior captains Charlie Christopher 3-year returning linebacker, "Best linebacker I've ever coached," said DeGeorge. Ryan Lippy (DE), Cohen Stull (T), Dylan Sponseller (WR) round out his captains.

Chris Kappas (Louisville)

"My first year, very humbling experience," said Kappas after going 1-9 in his first campaign as the leader of the Leopards, returning this year with 80 players from 9-12 adding 18 seniors, "Our senior class is a very special class." also mentioned some staff changes that were important to the success of the program that had to be done thanking his administration for having his back.

Joe Cardinal (Marlington)

Sitting at 63 athletes coming into the season he likes those numbers, "I'll be the first time we have a freshman team in about a decade;" said Cardinal. With 14 seniors, "We've been lifting four days a week since January," said Cardinal noting Bryce McCord will be the starting quarterback who threw for over 1400 yards through six weeks succumbing to an injury that slowed his progress.

Nate Moore (Massillon Washington)

Massillon opens up the season on the road for a match up in Beaverton, Oregon at Nike headquarters pretty exciting for the defending OHSAA Division II State Champions, the tigers will also play three top 50 teams in the nation to round a week 2 match up vs. Canton Glenoak with a week 5 match up against 3x OHSAA Division I defending State Champion Lakewood St. Eds, "The Massillon Tigers have a very aggressive schedule, once again this season we're going to play a national schedule if not international," said Moore "We're still the Massillon Tigers."

Antonio Hall (Canton Mckinley)

Hall opened up dispelling the rumors of multiple transfers that came to Mckinley football program in a joking manner, saying only four have transferred in, he was also excited about his athletes academics stating that he has five guys above a 4.0 gpa adding 12 guys above a 3.5 gpa, 21 guys above a 3.0 gpa, "So very proud of what our guys accomplished in the classroom," said Hall "In my opinion the league is wide open this year seeing what everybody has done in the off-season."

Tim Speakman (Minerva)

Speakman talked about the 'team' as a whole during his preview, "We truly have to play as a team" said Speakman who stated there is no one stand out athlete on his team, making improvements in the strength department, footwork and football IQ to try and win some games by changing the culture, "I'm here to tell you that, that culture is starting to change." Citing his kids with challenging disabilities and low numbers he was very optimistic about the upcoming season.

John DeMarco (Canal Fulton Northwest)

Graduating 5 seniors DeMarco was optimistic about his returning to be seniors and letterman, talked highly about returning players one in particular was running back Parker Craft who the offense will run through, "Our offense is going to run through Parker Kraft, he was kinda the number two guy last year rush for close to like 900 yards in eight games," said DeMarco.

Zach Slates (Massillon Perry)

Slates talked about safety after almost losing one of his marquee during the 2023 campaign, purchasing guardian caps etc, for his athletes also bringing back longtime Perry coach Keith Wakefield to be defensive coordinator, he is returning 22 seniors with nine returning on both sides of the ball, "So there is a lot of expectations for our kids," said Slates.

Kevin Henderson (Louisville St. Thomas Aquinas)

With 10 returning letterman and numbers is up Henderson emphasizes they are still a very young football team, "Our five seniors have yet to taste a victory at St. Thomas," said Henderson as he read from his notes. St. Thomas has moved from Division 7 to Division 6 for the 2024 campaign, "As I mentioned our schedule I know that there are some teams that looked at their schedule, saw St. Thomas and penciled in that big 'w'," he continued to say. Key players were DJ. Cross, Josh Smothers and My'Kel Gilmore.

Brian Gamble (Sandy Valley)

With 50+ athletes on roster Gamble says this is the biggest roster he has had, 12 seniors with four returning on offense they seemed primed and ready to go, "Were really athletic," said Gamble.

Broc Dial (Tuslaw)

Dial in his first year at Tuslaw coming over from a very successful Dalton program was very short and did not offer any insight on his program at the podium but had this to say, "Really looking forward to coaching and playing the PAC it's really a competitive league," said Dial.

**Former Cleveland Brown quarterback Bernie Kosar spoke about his health issues (Parkinson's Disease) to help raise awareness**