Part 1: Ashland County's top returning offensive football players

For most sports fans, football season is their favorite time of the year. That means Friday high school football gamedays are right around the corner. With that, the Ashland Times-Gazette is highlighting the top returning offensive football players in Ashland County this fall. This will be Part 1.

Jayce Hopek, Black River

Hopek was a workhorse for the Pirates in the backfield last season. As a sophomore, Hopek led Black River with 979 rushing yards on 196 carries and seven rushing touchdowns. He averaged 80.9 rushing yards per game and produced four 100-yard rushing games. With Black River losing some key offensive starters from last season's 8-4 team, Hopek just might be shouldered with carrying more of the load as a junior.

Ayden Reymer, Crestview

Crestview didn't have quite the season in 2023 (4-7 record) that they are typically used to having but a huge bright spot for the Cougars was sophomore Ayden Reymer. Taking over running back duties full-time last season, Reymer rushed for a team-high 1,430 yards on 242 carries and 15 rushing touchdowns. He averaged 130.0 rushing yards per game and was a Second-Team Firelands Conference selection. If the Cougars get back to their winning ways, Reymer will play a major role in that.

Tyson Ringler, Crestview

Another Cougars player who could play a more of a substantial role in Crestview's offense this season is Tyson Ringler. If Crestview looks to throw the ball more, Ringler would be a good target. As a junior, the wide receiver had 30 catches, 477 receiving yards, averaged 47.7 receiving yards per game and three touchdown catches. He was a First-Team Firelands Conference choice. Playing free safety, Ringler also had one interception and one fumble recovery.

Gavin Barker, Crestview

A three-year starter for the Cougars, behind center Barker didn't allow a single sack and was a First-Team Firelands Conference selection as a junior. As an inside linebacker, Barker averaged 11 tackles per game and lead the team with three forced fumbles.

Hayden McFadden, Hillsdale

Hillsdale put out one of the area's top offenses in 2023, as the Falcons ran the triple option offense that led to a 7-3 season. As a sophomore, Hayden McFadden emerged as not just the Falcons top pass-catcher but one of the leading receivers in the Wayne County Athletic League. The 6'0" wide receiver had a team-high 34 catches, 660 receiving yards and 10 touchdown catches. During the season, McFadden broke the school record for the longest touchdown catch, which was 98 yards. With Hillsdale losing two of their best offensive players in quarterback Jack Fickes and Braylen Jarvis, who did a little bit of everything for the Falcons, McFadden's role could increase.

Grayson Allis, Hillsdale

As one of the team captains as a junior, Allis led the charge on the offensive line as a right guard. A starter in his sophomore and junior years, Allis was the Falcons top lineman for an offense that threw for 1,095 yards and rushed for 2,202 yards. Allis was a First-Team Wayne County Athletic League selection last season.

AJ Brown, Hillsdale

Brown proved to be one of the more consistent kickers in the Ashland/Wayne County area in 2023, as the sophomore made 35 of 38 extra points and went 4-for-4 on field goals (32, 24, 23, 22 yards). Look for Brown to keep it up in 2024.

jsimpson@gannett.com

Twitter/X:@JamesSimpsonII

James Simpson II is a sports reporter with the Ashland Times-Gazette, and was recently at the Mansfield News Journal. He is a self-published author and has gotten the opportunity to interview sports figures like Bernard Hopkins, Norm Nixon, Vince Dooley, Jimmie Johnson, etc., for stories at different publications. He also produced a pretty cool feature on late NBA great Wilt Chamberlain.

This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: Part 1: Ashland County's top returning offensive football players