Liberty-Benton won an outright Blanchard Valley Conference title last season with an undefeated conference record and the Eagles are expected to challenge to repeat this season.
It won't be easy for Liberty-Benton to claim consecutive conference titles as Leipsic, McComb, and Pandora-Gilboa will all be primed to knock the Eagles from their perch atop the league.
Here is a look at the five area Blanchard Valley Conference teams:
LIBERTY-BENTON
■ Coach : Scott Garlock, ninth year
■ Last season : 9-2 overall, 7-0 BVC
■ Top players : Senior Brayden Lemire, 6-2, 195, WR-S; Trevin Lieb, 6-2, 170, QB; Garrett Nealis, 6-1, 185, K; Juniors Seth Elchert, 6-3, 185, WR-S; Zach Elchert, 6-3, 195, RB-LB; CJ Barbara, 6-4, 200, WR-DE; Austin Collert, 5-11, 170, RB-LB.
■ Outlook : Liberty-Benton returns six starters on both sides of the ball from the team that won the league last season. The Eagles have seven seniors and 16 returning lettermen. Led by returning All-Ohio wide receiver Seth Elchert (Toledo recruit) and returning all-league performers Zach Elchert, at running back and Lemire at wide receiver, Liberty-Benton should be strong at the skill positions offensively with Lieb returning at quarterback. Seth Elchert caught 74 passes for 1,052 and 12 TDs last season and the University of Toledo commit will be the top target for Lieb. Lemire caught 36 passes for 610 yards and five TDs last year. At running back, Zach Elchert, rushed 126 times for 773 yards and 11 scores in 2023. Barbara and Collert return to anchor the defense after each garnered second-team all-league honors last season. Collert recorded 45 tackles and 17 tackles for loss from the linebacker position last year, and Barbara added 39 tackles and eight sacks at defensive end.
“Overall, we need to stay healthy as numbers are down and we are lacking overall team depth,” Garlock said. “We will have multiple players playing both ways this year.”
MCCOMB
■ Coach : Kris Alge, 27th year
■ Last season : 11-3, 5-2 BVC
■ Top players : Seniors Braydon Shoop, 6-1, 175, RB-LB; Elijah Gibbs, 5-11, 255, OL-DL; Madden Amador, 6-1, 265, OL-DL; Donavin Hepperly, 6-0, 180, WR-DB; Haiden Ebright, 5-8, 140, WR-DB; Octavian Gonzales, 6-1, 165, WR-DB; Jake VanAtta, 6-2, 180, OL-DL, Trace Bryan, 5-8, 170, LB.
■ Outlook : McComb is coming off a solid season which came to an end with a heartbreaking 40-39 loss to Patrick Henry in a fourth-round playoff game in Division VII. The Panthers have to replace several key players from that team including star running back Braxton Althauser and several key linemen. Gibbs and Amador return to anchor the offensive line and create running lanes for Shoop. Hepperly, Ebright, and Gonzales provide experience in the defensive secondary.
“We have to grow up fast,” Alge said. “We have a tough first three games. I like our attitude and work ethic but health and depth are always a concern.”
ELMWOOD
■ Coach : Greg Bishop, eighth year
■ Last season : 3-8 overall, 2-4 BVC
■ Top players : Seniors Brady Mareches, 6-0, 160, WR-DB; Jesus Almaraz, 5-8, 185, RB-LB; Gavin Solarik, 5-9, 170, RB-DB; Jack Hummel, 6-3, 240, OL-DL; Andrew Traxler, 5-9, 175, RB-DL; Sophomore Owen Traxler, 5-10, 160, QB.
■ Outlook : Elmwood returns nine starters on offense and defense and has 10 seniors and 14 returning lettermen. The strength of the offense will be an experienced offensive line with talented running backs, while the front seven will anchor the defense. Depth at receiver and in the defensive secondary are potential areas of concern.
“We enter the 2024 season with experience,” Bishop said. “Our focus is improving every single week and focusing on the fundamentals. Our kids have been working hard in the offseason and have had a no-nonsense approach to practice and weights. Our goal is to be 1-0 every week, have tunnel vision on each opponent, and take it one week at a time.”
VAN BUREN
■ Coach : Ethan Percer, second year
■ Last season : 3-7, 2-5 BVC
■ Top players : Seniors Mason Thorla-Lopez, 5-11, 150, WR-DB; Grady Mason, 5-11, 175, QB-LB; Lucas Harrington, 5-10, 160, WR-DB; Juniors Brody Scoles, 5-10, 155, RB-LB; Tommy Bassinger, 5-10, 165, OL-DL; Will Rampe, 6-1, 145, WR-DB.
■ Outlook : Van Buren returns a good group of skill position players led by Mason at quarterback, Thorla-Lopez and Harrington as pass-catchers, and Scoles at running back, but will rely on an offensive line that is a hardworking group, but is undersized. Defensively the strength looks to be in the secondary. With eight seniors and nine returning lettermen, there is a good core coming back.
“Our team is fortunate to have an experienced skill group paired with a hardworking line,” Percer said. “Their dedication and effort are the foundation of our success this season. Making the playoffs and making a run is a goal for our team this year and with this group's determination, we believe we can achieve it.”
ARCADIA
■ Coach : Derek Kidwell, first season at Arcadia
■ Last season : 2-8 overall, 1-7 BVC
■ Top players : Senior Nick Myers, 5-6, 160, RB-LB; Juniors Blayne Coleman, 6-0, 230, OL-DL; Owen Smith 6-1, 190, OL-DL.
■ Outlook : Arcadia, under new coach Kidwell, will be young, returning just four starters on both sides of the ball and featuring just two seniors. The running game should be in good hands with Myers at running back and Coleman and Smith provide blocking up front. Depth is a big area of concern for Kidwell.
“We will be very young this year, But have a few players who can really impact a game,” Kidwell said. “We need to stay healthy in order to be competitive this season.”
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