Ready for some football? New Philadelphia, Dover open 2024 against non-league opponents

The 2024 high school football season gets underway this week, with many schools eyeing highly successful campaigns.

Here’s a look at the area’s season-opening games. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. unless noted.

Thursday's game

Fairless at Sandy Valley

Sandy Valley, which returns 15 lettermen from a 7-5 playoff team of a year ago, will officially kick off the 2024 campaign when the Cardinals entertain the Fairless Falcons at 7 p.m.

The Cardinals have looked strong in preseason scrimmages and feature one of the top receivers in the area in returning All-Ohioan Lukas Gilland.

Fairless will be trying to improve on a 4-7 team which lost to South Range in the first round of the playoffs last fall.

Friday's games

New Philadelphia at Louisville

Last season: New Philadelphia 42, Louisville 21

Veteran New Philadelphia , coming off a 6-5 playoff season from a year ago, opens the season in a non-league contest at Louisville against what is expected to be an improved Leopard team, which finished 1-9 in 2023.

New Philadelphia doubled up the Leopards last fall at Woody Hayes Quaker Stadium, but Quaker head coach Mike Johnson says his team is preparing for a stronger Louisville team this time around.

“It seems like they’re disciplined, and they look physical coming off the ball, and we’re going to have to match that physicality,” Johnson said of the Leopards. “It looks like they have a couple running backs back and a couple wideouts back offensively. Defensively, they have some linebackers and a couple DB’s back.

"It looks like on defense that they’ve switched from a 3-4 to a four-man front, so it looks like they’re going to be a little different defensively from last year. It’s just something else to prep for, which is good for us.”

New Philadelphia will counter with one of the most veteran quarterbacks in the Tuscarawas County area in senior signal-caller Keaton Fausel. Fausel is a talented dual threat as a runner and passer for the Quakers. Two of his top targets will be returning seniors wideouts Carson Long and Pete DiDonato.

“This is Keaton’s third year,” Johnson said. “He’s veteran who can throw it and who can run it and do a lot of different things, so we’re really excited about Keaton.”

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Green at Dover

Last season: Green 14, Dover 6

Dover, which has six home games this fall, will entertain the Federal League’s Green Bulldogs at Crater Stadium.

Dover’s Hall of Fame coach Dan Ifft begins his 30th season as the Crimson Tornadoes’ boss and will be working with a team of approximately 45 players (sophomore-through senior class this season).

With three returning leaders along the offensive line in Ryan Lengler, Jack McKinnon and TJ Arnold, Ifft said the goal is to be effective at running and throwing the football to keep opponents guessing while fully utilizing the Tornadoes’ great speed at several positions.

“We want to be more balanced," Ifft said. “There will be multiple formations, multiple motions and multiple shifts.”

Leading the Tornadoes is returning starting quarterback Jack Judkins, a junior, who enjoyed an outstanding sophomore season in 2023 when Dover won its last four regular-season games, finished 6-5 and made the Division III playoffs.

Last year, Green finished 10-4 and advanced deep in the DII playoffs. On offense, one of the top players for Green is junior running back Evan Reed (5-foot-11, 160).

River View at Garaway

Last season: Did not play

Garaway, coming off the best season in school history when the Pirates went 14-1 and advanced all the way to the Division VI state semifinals, will open the 2024 campaign when the Pirates host the River View Black Bears in a non-league contest. River View is a new opponent on Garaway’s slate.

Garaway is back up to Division V this season but is in a very favorable region (Region 17) and should be one of the strong contenders to challenge for a title in that region.

The Pirates return some outstanding skill from last season, led by quarterback Brady Geibel and running back Dillon Soehnlen, who were both named to the Ohio Prep Sports Writers All-Ohio team last season.

River View is coming off an 0-10 campaign in 2023 and will be looking to improve its offensive production after scoring a collective 24 points all of last season.

Akron Ellet at Indian Valley

Last season: Indian Valley 33, Akron Ellet 14

Indian Valley, which should be one of the stronger teams in Tuscarawas County again this fall, will entertain the Akron Ellet Orangemen in its opener at Braves Stadium.

The Braves, who were 9-4 and advanced into the third round of the postseason in 2023, losing a close 42-35 decision to Steubenville, will once again be a punishing team on the ground, led by returning junior All-Ohio running back Grady Kinsey, who racked up 1,446 yards and powered his way to 29 touchdowns a year ago.

Indian Valley also returns a veteran offensive line which should pave the way for Kinsey to have another huge season.

Harrison Central at Claymont

Last year: Harrison Central 36, Claymont 19

Claymont officially kicks off the coach Buddy White era when the Mustangs entertain the Harrison Central Huskies.

White, a former Claymont football standout during his playing days, accepted the Claymont job in the offseason. He has been a very successful Division I head football coach in the Columbus area and brings much excitement to the Claymont community.

The Mustangs, who were 3-7 last season, will be led by returning junior quarterback Nolan McMorrow.

The Mustangs return over 20 numeral-winners from last year and should be a strong team on the offensive side of the football again.

White said a key for his team on defense will be cutting down on missed tackles which hampered the Mustangs last fall.

Waynedale at Tusky Valley

Last season: Waynedale 21, Tusky Valley 6

Tusky Valley will play its first game under new head coach Jeremy Taylor, when the Trojans welcome the Waynedale Golden Bears to Zoarville.

Taylor is the former defensive coordinator at Malvern where he enjoyed much success.

Tusky Valley, which was 4-7 and a playoff team last season, features a big, veteran offensive line, led by 6-8, 315-pound senior tackle Dylan Congdon. The Trojans will be looking to pound the football at opponents with their running game.

A player to watch in the Trojans’ backfield is sophomore Diego Bautista.

Newcomerstown at Berne Union

Last season: Newcomerstown 42, Berne Union 7

Newcomerstown, which is eyeing another successful season under head coach Dirk Gadd, will travel to Berne Union to kick off the 2024 campaign.

The Trojans return a wealth of talent from last year’s 7-5 team which advanced to the second round of the Division VI playoffs.

Newcomerstown returns 15 letter-winners, including 11 seniors and should be a strong playoff team, along with Ridgewood, in Division VI Region 23.

One of Newcomerstown’s top players is running back Dom Singer.

Rittman at Strasburg

Last season: Rittman 27, Strasburg 0

The Tigers and head coach Jimm Morris will be looking for continued improvement throughout the season. Strasburg returns a number of players but is still a young football team.

The Tigers were 3-7 last autumn but won two of their last four football games, as many of its younger players gained valuable experience.

Ridgewood at Coshocton

Last season: Ridgewood 22, Coshocton 21

Ridgewood, which returns a veteran team from last year when it was 8-4 and advanced to the second round of the postseason, goes on the road to rival Coshocton to initiate the 2024 season.

The tradition-rich Generals, who have dropped from Division V to Division VI this season, should be one of the powers challenging for the Division VI Region 23 championship.

Meanwhile, the Coshocton Redskins will be looking to improve on a 3-7 finish of a season ago.

Carrollton at East Liverpool

Last season: Did not play

The Warriors will be under the direction of a new head coach this fall in Storm Hill, a former Carrollton standout. Carrollton returns 20 seniors from the Warriors’ 6-5 playoff team of a season ago.

East Liverpool, coached by Paul Cusick, is expected to be one of the stronger teams along the Ohio River. The Potters return many of their skilled-position players from last fall when they were 6-4.

Valley Christian at Malvern

Last season: Did not play

Malvern, 10-2 and a playoff team last year, features one of the top air games around, led by returning 6-5 All-Ohio quarterback Jared Witherow, who passed for over 2,400 yards and 30 touchdowns in 2023.

Meanwhile, Valley Christian, which loves to run the football under head coach Andy Hake, will feature some outstanding running backs who can take it the distance on any play.

Valley Christian is a new opponent on the Hornets’ schedule.

West Holmes at Triway

Last season: West Holmes 41, Triway 7

West Holmes finished 10-3 and advanced to the third round of the Division IV playoffs a season ago but will be under the direction of a new head coach this fall in Keaton Leppla, a West Holmes alumnus.

Saturday's game

Conotton Valley at Tuscarawas Central Catholic

Last season: Conotton Valley 41, Tuscarawas Central Catholic 0

Tuscarawas Central Catholic will get its 2024 season underway when the Saints entertain the Conotton Valley Rockets at 7 p.m. TCC alumnus Giovanni Ionno begins his first season as the Saints’ head coach.

Ionno says he plans to run the football. In particular, TCC will be looking to improve its offensive scoring output after scoring just 41 points last season.

Conotton Valley, which was 4-7 and a playoff team last fall, throws the football and was impressive in its preseason scrimmage at Wellsville. The Rockets are led by senior quarterback Zach Puttnam.

This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: Ready for some football? New Philadelphia, Dover open 2024 against non-league opponents