WOODSFIELD — Jay Circosta is now in his 50th year of coaching high school football. That is a remarkable and elongated feat.

Along the way, he has coached more than 500 players, be it at Woodsfield High or now Monroe Central. The names and faces change each season, but two families have taken the field for Circosta like no others during the last half century.

The Habigs (six) and Schumachers (five) have teamed up to produce 11 quality gridders for Circosta, dating back to the 1971 season. The Schumacher quintet — Andy, Greg, Steve, Luke and Johnny — also own another impressive distinction, as all five earned first-team all-Ohio honors.

“It was a very nice ceremony, honoring two great families. It was ironic we honored 11 former players. That is enough for a football team,” Circosta said. “It was the first time in 50 years that I have come out of the locker room at halftime. But these two families have meant so much to my program that I needed to be there.

“Both families were very supportive of me and gave us outstanding young men, in addition to outstanding football players,” the coaching legend added. “These 11 former players were responsible for a lot of the success we have enjoyed here. It was nice to recognize them. Jerry Calder deserves much of the credit for spearheading the ceremony.”

The two-family gridiron pipeline began flowing with Chuck Habig in 1971 and continued through Johnny Schumacher in 1998.

Here is a capsule look at the Habig Six:

1. Chuck Habig: Played from 1971-74. His teams went 26-10-3. He was a junior on first 10-0 team in Woodsfield High history.

2. Dan Habig: Played from 1972-75, part of Redskin teams that went 28-10-1. He was sophomore on that first 10-0 team and was chosen to play in the 1975 OVAC All-Star Game.

3. Brad Habig: Played from 1975-78. His teams went 30-9. Brad’s son, Mike, made the 2009 OVAC All-Star Team.

4. Wendall Habig: Played from 1977-80, part of teams that went 31-8-1. He made the 1981 OVAC All-Star Team.

5. Bruce Habig: Played from 1978-81 where his teams went 28-11. He played in the 1982 OVAC All-Star Game.

6. Brent Habig: Played from 1981-84. His teams went 22-17-1. He played with the first Schumacher family member, passing the torch of tradition.

All the Habigs were linemen. The Schumacher run of brothers was launched by Andy.

1. Andy Schumacher: Played from 1981-84. His teams went 22-17-1. He played in 1985 OVAC All-Star Game. The first-team all-Ohioan went on to star at West Liberty. Andy’s son, Marcus, represented Monroe Central in the 2011 OVAC All-Star Game and also played for the Hilltoppers.

2. Greg Schumacher: Played from 1984-87. His Woodsfield teams went 14-26. He earned first-team all-state honors, played in the 1988 OVAC All-Star Game and played at West Liberty.

3. Steve “Moose” Schumacher: He played from 1988-91, helping the Redskins to a 33-7 record. He was a member of Woodsfield’s third unbeaten team in 1991. He was first-team all-state and played in the 1992 OVAC All-Star Game. In addition, Moose was the 1991 state wrestling champion and state runnerup in 1992.

4. Luke Schumacher: Played from 1992-95, going 35-3. He was on two unbeaten teams — the 1993 Woodsfield squad, which was also the school’s final year of existence, and the 1995 Monroe Central team. The first-team all-stater played in the 1996 OVAC All-Star Game. He went on to play for Jim Tressel at Youngstown State, helping the Penguins win the 1997 national championship.

5. Johnny Schumacher: Played for Monroe Central from 1995-98 with the Seminoles amassing a 35-5 mark, including the undefeated 1995 squad. The first-team all-stater went on to play at Youngstown State, helping the Penguins to a national runner-up finish in 1999.

The Schumacher football family tree branches out to include Lance LaFollette, who is married to Angie Schumacher, sister to all the five gridders. LaFollette starred at Woodsfield from 1975-78, helping lead the Redskins to a 30-9 mark. He played in the 1979 OVAC All-Star Game and went on to perform at West Liberty.

“It’s nice to honor these 11 individuals who played a big part in helping to build the football tradition we have here,” Circosta said. “Hopefully, we do more to honor the great teams we have had, including six unbeaten teams.”

BUBBA’S BITS

FORMER WHEELING Central grid great and track weightman state champion Aaron Schneid has been named as assistant track coach at University High in Morgantown. He also has a teaching position at the school. Schneid is one of the young and upcoming prep football officials in the OVAC. Across town, meanwhile, former Shadyside High standout Steve Blinco is the head girls’ track coach at Morgantown High.

THE STEELERS have been a dysfunctional team since their national anthem tunnel statement at Chicago. They were nothing short of pitiful a week ago against the Jaguars. Much will be found out about the Black & Gold’s character when the team travels to Kansas City today to face the best team going in the NFL.

SINCE TAKING over at Michigan, Jim Harbaugh is 1-4 against his chief rivals: Ohio State and Michigan State. The Buckeyes will make it 1-5 on Nov. 25.

FORMER WHEELING Central and West Liberty grid star DeVaughn Gordon is now assistant strength and conditioning at East Carolina University. He was at North Carolina Central last year.

WEST VIRGINIA Northern Community College is hosting former Pittsburgh Steeler standout Rocky Bleier on Wednesday in conjunction with National Disability Employment Awareness Month. Bleier will be speaking at WVNCC?s B&O Auditorium at 7 p.m. about overcoming injuries sustained in the Vietnam War to become a four-time Super Bowl champion. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, call 304-214-8938 or email to kserig@wvncc.edu.

THE U.S. men’s soccer team is being kicked to the curb for failing to make the World Cup in 2018. It’s hard to fathom with all the great athletes and resources this country has that we cannot field a soccer team capable of beating Trinidad.