2024 football preview: Powerful O-line, fast linebackers will fuel Tusky 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.

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

Tusky Valley Trojans

Coach Jeremy Taylor, a former Malvern defensive coordinator who enjoyed great success with the Hornets, assumes the head coaching post at Tusky Valley this season and inherits a team that went 4-7 and made the Division VI playoffs last fall, falling to Fort Fyre 35-21 in the first round.

The Trojans will be fueled by a big, powerful offensive line on offense and some fast, aggressive linebackers on the defensive side of the football.

"We’re right about 30 (players), but I think we’ll have a couple more," Taylor said. "We have one senior, some juniors and some sophomores starting (on the offensive line) so it’s a good mix. They all have playing experience, and they’re all big and athletic, and it’s probably the strength of our team right now."

The Trojans have bumped up in classification this year, going from Division VI Region 23 to Division V Region 17.

Tusky Valley, a member of the Inter Valley Conference South Division, will play one new opponent on its slate in the East Canton Hornets who visit Zoarville in Week 5. East Canton replaces Strasburg on the Trojans’ schedule. Tusky Valley will entertain the Waynedale Golden Bears in its season opener Friday night, Aug. 23. The Trojans defeated the Golden Bears 21-6 last year.

Coach : Jeremy Taylor (1st season)

2023 record: 4-7, including playoffs

Classification: Division V, Region 17

Playoff appearances under current coach: none

Key returners: Diego Bautista, Soph., RB/LB/S, Joey Cotleur, Jr., OL/MLB, Luke Miller, Soph, QB, Hunter McGuffin, Sr., QB, Jesse Carr, Jr., RB, Dylan Congdon, Sr., OL/DL, Ben Congdon, Jr., OL/DL, Jayden Hickman, Jr., OL/DL, Tilor Waltz, Sr., WR/DB

Key newcomers: Brody May, Jr., WR/FS.

Coach Taylor’s take: “ Offensively, we’re a pro-style spread system is the best way to describe it right now. It’s going to be heavy run, slash pass. I think Diego (Bautista) is going to have an explosive year at running back. He’s a sophomore, but he’s playing hard, and I think he’s going to have a big year for us. Defensively, we’re still an odd front. We’re in a 3-5-3, and that’s kind of what we’re sticking with. We have a lot of good hybrid-like linebacker personnel. I want to contend for an IVC championship and want to cross the threshold and have a winning season. I think 7-3 or 6-4 is a modest goal for the team we have, with the offensive line talent we have. I’m just looking forward to it (the season).”

This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: 2024 football preview: Powerful O-line, fast linebackers will fuel Tusky Valley