2024 football preview: Strong season should be in the Cards for Sandy Valley

The start of the 2024 Ohio high school football season is right around the corner.

Most teams open Week 1 on Friday, Aug. 23, with a handful playing their season opener on Thursday, Aug. 22.

This week, we are holding our own kind of two-a-days with previews on two teams released each day. Here is one in a series of previews for area football teams:

2024 football preview: Tuscarawas County football coaches talk more than X's and O's

Mark your calendar: Team-by-team schedules for the Tuscarawas County area

Sandy Valley Cardinals

Brian Gamble has led the Cardinals to the Division V playoffs in five of his previous seven seasons as Sandy Valley’s head coach. The Cardinals, who averaged 30 points-per-game last season and made the second round of the playoffs, losing to eventual state champion Perry, will have to replace All-Ohio and All-Inter-Valley Conference signal-caller Nick Petro, a dual threat, who graduated.

But the Cardinals do return several offensive weapons, including two returning All-Ohioans in wide receiver Lukas Gilland and running back/linebacker Jack Murphy and look to be strong again.

“The IVC South has a ton of talent returning with every team," Gamble said. "Every Friday night in the IVC and in our non-conference games will be a dogfight night in and night out. We have put together a tough non-conference schedule with Fairless, Manchester, East Canton and Minerva. We are not looking ahead or taking any opponent lightly. Our ultimate goal is to “Ring the Bell” and come out with a victory by getting better each and every day."

Sandy Valley will go up against two new foes this fall in East Canton in Week 3 on the road and Tuscarawas Central Catholic, who the Cards will host in Week 5. The Cardinals kick off the season in an early Thursday, Aug. 22 game when they entertain the Fairless Falcons in an independent contest at 7 p.m. The Cardinals defeated the Falcons 29-22 last autumn.

Coach : Brian Gamble (8th season, career record 46-25)

2023 record: 7-5, including playoffs

Classification: Division V, Region 17

Playoff appearances under current coach: 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023

Key returners: Jack Murphy, Sr., RB/ILB, second team All-Ohio), Luke Williams, Sr., QB/OLB, All-IVC second team, Westin Little, Sr., OL/DL, All-Eastern District honorable mention, Lukas Gilland, Sr., WR/DB (first-team All-Ohio), Anthony Ross, Sr., WR/DB, Jaiden Flory, Sr., RB/LB, Angelo Rossi, SR., WR/DB, Micah Hoffarth, Sr., WR/DB, Shawn Brooks, Sr., WR/LB, Drew Graybill, Jr., QB/DB, Gino Tozzi, Jr., WR/DB, Jacob Gilland, Jr., OL/DL, Joey DeBellis, Jr., OL/DL, Caleb Deubner, Soph., QB/DB, Natch Overly, Soph., RB/DB.

Key newcomers: Jake Kandis, Sr., RB/DL, Cole Eckinger, Sr., RB/DL, Dallas Steiner, Sr., OL/DL, Brenson Long, Soph., OL/DL, Kage Stout, Soph., OL/DL, Bo Bernower, Soph., WR/DB, Caden Long, Freshman, OL/DL.

Coach Gamble’s take: “ We have 15 returning lettermen and only 12 seniors. We have five starters back on offense and six starters back on defense from last year’s team. Each year, every team is different. This year is no different with the expectations set high, with some new faces competing every day at a high level.

"We are excited for the playmakers we have back on both sides of the football. We are replacing All-Ohio quarterback Nick Petro due to graduation. We really like the progression of both quarterbacks (Drew Graybill and Caleb Duebner). We have a Division I commit Lukas Gilland-WR/DB (St. Francis University, PA) who is in line for a special senior season. We are starting to see the experience our team gained from last year really pay off so far in every aspect. Our players have made tremendous gains in our offseason weight program and on the field at this point. I feel I have one of the best coaching staffs around surrounded by Hall of Fame coaches and they have done a tremendous job every day we step on the field. We are competing at every drill in our practices and learning how to practice the right way at a rapid rate and that’s due to our players buying in and believing in their abilities while our coaching staff has been getting the job done on a daily basis. These seniors want to leave their mark on this program. We have elevated our expectations by setting lofty goals."

This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: 2024 football preview: Strong season should be in the Cards for Sandy Valley