2024 high school football season on the horizon
By Keno Sultan
Stark County Prep Press
CANTON--19 Stark County head football coaches commiserated over dinner, social hour, laughs and a very good time at least for one night.
In two weeks, they will be testing each other's minds on the football field of battle through 10 regular season games and maybe again in the 11th week or further.
Wednesday night at St. Haralambos Greek Orthodox Church, it was the annual high school football coaches dinner to kickoff the start of the 2024 season. Last season it was Massillon and Canton South that emerged as the hottest teams in the county as both completed undefeated regular seasons and made deep playoff runs with the Wildcats finishing 14-1 as their only setback came in a valiant effort against eventual Division IV state champion Cleveland Glenville and the Tigers ended 52 years of playoff futility that ended with the program capturing their first state playoff title to go with their 24 Associated Press state poll championships (the most before the playoff era) with a 7-2 win over Akron Hoban in the Division II state championship while garnering national recognition in the process not to mention their defense setting a staggering nine state records on defense to cap their 16-0 season, the first wire-to-wire undefeated state champion since the 1997 Canton McKinley squad accomplished the feat in the big school division 26 years ago.
Here is the preview of each team in the county and comments from their respective head coaches:
Alliance Aviators
Head Coach: Tim Goodman
Years at school: 4
Last season's record: 6-5 (lost to Aurora in Division III first round playoff)
Returning Lettermen: N/A
Season Outlook: "We play a strong schedule this year with a lot of Stark County foes. We also face Marlington and Minerva and we are excited to go against those guys as well."
Canton South Wildcats
Head Coach: Matt Dennison
Years at school: 4
Last season's record: 14-1 (PAC-7 champions, lost to Cleveland Glenville in Division IV state semifinal)
Returning Lettermen: N/A
Season Outlook: "We are going to be a young team but we have a lot of talent. We talked about building a program and this is a program year for us. This is the year that we establish ourselves as a program at Canton South. We play a tough schedule but we don't back down from anyone."
Central Catholic Crusaders
Head Coach: Jeff Lindesmith
Years at school: 11
Last season's record: 7-5 (lost to Kirtland in Division VI first round playoff)
Returning Lettermen: N/A
Season Outlook: "We are all about preparation, accountability, and effort. I was taught that by coach Lowell Klinefelter years ago. We are going to play teams that are more talented than us and we have to win those battles."
East Canton Hornets
Head Coach: John "Spider" Miller
Years at school: 9
Last season's record: 2-8
Returning Lettermen: N/A
Season Outlook: "We have six juniors that are returning seven sophomores who played as freshmen last year. We are playing hard and working hard."
Fairless Falcons
Head Coach: A.J. Sarbaugh
Years at school: 7
Last season's record: 4-7 (lost to South Range in Division V first round playoff)
Returning Lettermen: 19
Season Outlook: "We have 53 guys this year which is the most we have ever had from 9-12. We have nine seniors this year and five captains."
GlenOak Eagles
Head Coach: Scott Garcia
Years at school: 17
Last season's record: 7-5 (lost to Lakewood St. Edward in Division I second round playoff)
Returning Lettermen: 15
Season Outlook: "We had a great offseason. It started in the weight room and our kids have brought into the challenge and want to get back to where we want to be. Our weight numbers have been unbelievable. Our junior class is very talented and our sophomore class is also talented too."
North Canton Hoover Vikings
Head Coach: Brian Baum Sr.
Years at school: 10
Last season's record: 6-6 (lost to Green in Division II second round playoff)
Returning Lettermen: 20
Season Outlook: "Last year we played a lot of young guys. This year we return a lot. The expectations are there. It's a tough and challenging schedule for us. We have guys developing into veterans."
Jackson Polar Bears
Head Coach: Jay Rohr
Years at school: 3
Last season's record: 5-6 (lost to Berea-Midpark in Division I first round playoff
Returning lettermen: 20
Season Outlook: "We have 180 football players and I am blessed to be in the situation I am in. We have a new offensive coordinator, Badre Bardawil, who comes over from McKinley. Since January 4th we have had 110 players in the weight room and that is just tremendous."
Lake Blue Streaks
Head Coach: Dan DeGeorge
Years at school: 12
Last season's record: 9-4 (lost to Massillon in Division II regional semifinal)
Returning Lettermen: 21
Season Outlook: "We lost a lot from last season and we have lots of holes to fill. The Federal League is strong and we are going to be tested every week."
Louisville Leopards
Head Coach: Chris Kappas
Years at school: 2
Last season: 1-9
Returning Lettermen: N/A
Season Outlook: "We have made significant changes in our program. We had a great offseason. We want to set the tone and get Louisville football back to being the Louisville football it used to be."
Marlington Dukes
Head Coach: Joe Cardinal
Years at school: 2
Last season's record: 6-4
Returning Lettermen: 18
Season Outlook: "We have five offensive starters returning and four defensive starters returning. We have 14 seniors."
Massillon Tigers
Head Coach: Nate Moore
Years at school: 10
Last season's record: 16-0 (OHSAA DIVISION II STATE CHAMPIONS)
Returning Lettermen: 32
Season Outlook: "We have to take the next step like everybody else. We are right square in thinking about the development of our football team. Our focus is squarely on whatever we're doing at any given moment, at practice, whatever the drill, whatever the rep is. We return 8 starters on offense and three on defense. We're still the Massillon Tigers. We are still the men of Massillon."
Canton McKinley Bulldogs
Head Coach: Antonio Hall
Years at school: 4
Last season's record: 9-4 (lost to Lakewood St. Edward in Division I regional semifinal)
Returning Lettermen: 24
Season Outlook: "The Federal League is wide open and we go to GlenOak in week four. I am excited to see how our team is going to jell. That will determine our success.
Minerva Lions
Head Coach: Tim Speakman
Years at school: 3
Last season's record: 0-10
Returning Lettermen: N/A
Season Outlook: "We want to get Minerva back to where it once was. The commitment to that has been key in the weight room. We got a commitment to the weight room where everyone has been showing up. We will have a better chance to compete with teams this year."
Northwest Indians
Head Coach: John DeMarco
Years at school: 5
Last season's record 5-6 (lost to Canton South in Division IV first round playoff)
Returning lettermen: N/A
Season Outlook: "We graduated five seniors and we return a lot of lettermen and we are going to be competitive."
Perry Panthers
Head Coach: Zach Slates
Years at school: 4
Last season's record: 4-7 (lost to Lake in Division II first round playoff)
Returning Lettermen: 20
Season Outlook: "Our kids worked hard in the offseason. Last year was rough. We have 22 seniors this year and nine starters returning on offense and defense. They know what is expected for them."
St. Thomas Aquinas Knights
Head Coach: Kevin Henderson
Years at school: 2
Last season's record: 0-10
Returning Lettermen: 10
Season Outlook: "The numbers are up from last year and the attitude is improving. We have kids that are buying into our culture."
Sandy Valley Cardinals
Head Coach: Brian Gamble
Years at school: 8
Last season's record: 7-5 (lost to Lake County Perry in Division V second round playoff)
Returning Lettermen: N/A
Season Outlook: "Many of our veterans are starting to blend together. We return four offensive starters, six defensive starters and have 12 seniors."
Tuslaw Mustangs
Head Coach: Broc Dial
Years at school: 1
Last season's record: 2-8
Returning Lettermen: N/A
Season Outlook: Dial comes to Tuslaw from Dalton after coaching the Bulldogs to the Division VII state championship game, a 38-0 loss to Maria Stein Marion Local.
Keno Sultan is a writer for Stark County Prep Press. He can be reached at 330-445-4575 or email at KenoSultan@hotmail.com.
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