2024 football preview: Another playoff run? Expect to see more of the same from Garaway

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:

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

Garaway Pirates

The Pirates have turned into one of the great small-school powers in Ohio high school football under Wallick, who was named the Ohio Prep Sports Writers Division VI Ohio Coach of the Year last fall. Fans can expect more of the same from tradition-rich Garaway in 2024. The Pirates return 18 letter-winners from last year’s team, which won a fourth straight IVC South league title. That squad also set a school record by advancing to the Division VI state semifinals, falling only to eventual state champion Kirtland while giving the Hornets their closest game in the postseason.

With the talented All-Ohio 6-foot-4 senior Brady Geibel (2,800 yards passing in ’23) returning at quarterback, along with a bevy of returning receivers, Garaway should be a force on offense again, especially considering they have an outstanding returning All-Ohio running back in Dillon Soehnlen to balance out what should be an exciting offense to watch. The Pirates will have some inexperience on defense, but that side of the ball has always been outstanding under Wallick, so don’t expect any drop-off there.

Garaway has moved back up a division this season, going from Division VI Region 23 to Division V Region 17 where they should be a major player along with South Range.

“Indian Valley has a lot of returning starters, Ridgewood is obviously going to be a tough Week 10 for us, Sandy Valley graduated a little bit, but (head coach) Brian (Gamble) does a great job there, and they seem to reload every year," Wallick said. "Really with all the new coaches (at other IVC schools), you don’t know what to expect. We hope to be in the mix (for the IVC title) at the end, but the league is going to be tough.”

The Pirates will play three new teams on their regular-season schedule in River View, Cardinal Mooney and Malvern, who replace Bellaire, Carrollton and East Canton, respectively, on the slate. Garaway, which has six home games this fall, will open the 2024 campaign Friday night, Aug. 23 hosting the River View Black Bears.

Coach : Jason Wallick (24th season), 177-72 coaching record

2023 record: 14-1, including Division VI state semifinals

Classification: Division V, Region 17

Playoff appearances under current coach: 2011, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023

Key returners: Brady Geibel, Sr., QB, Dillon Soehnlen, Sr., RB, Bronson Speedy, Sr., WR/S, Jayce Wallick, Sr., WR/OLB, Braden Raber, Sr., WR, Bryce Yoder, Sr., OL, Colson Keller, Jr., OL, Micah Yoder, Jr., DB, Cameron Gazboda, Sr., WR.

Key newcomers: Micah Yoder, Jr., WR, Kaden Doane, Jr., WR/DB, William Miller, Sr., OL, Braxton Speed, Jr., OL, Brady Miller, Jr., OL, Matthew Frey, Soph., OLB, Wyatt Miller, Jr., ILB, Braden Raber, Sr., ILB, Ethan Roudebush, Jr., ILB, Vann Tango, Sr., DB, Wyatt Reifenschneider, Soph., DB.

Coach Wallick’s take: “ Overall we’ve got a lot of kids. We’ve got 66 kids on the roster, but with not a lot of valuable quality experience. We were fortunate enough obviously in a lot of games last year that they were able to get their feet wet in varsity games, so the overall experience level is down, but our expectations haven’t changed: Win a state title, that’s our ultimate dream. Also, we want to win the league that will put us in the playoffs. Our schedule is pretty tough this year with Cardinal Mooney and West Muskingum is still going to be really good in their league, and we play Malvern in a crossover (IVC) game, so we’re playing the top team in the crossover in that they won their side of the the league the last couple years. It’s a tough schedule, but I think it will prepare us, and hopefully allow us to have a nice, long playoff run again."

This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: 2024 football preview: Another playoff run? Expect to see more of the same from Garaway