ST. CLAIRSVILLE — When area high school football teams hit the fields for their openers this week it will be the result of lots of work put in by lots of people.

Players and coaches normally grab most of the spotlight. But a visit to any practice or game illustrates the importance of a special fraternity — equipment managers.

As long as there’s been football, equipment managers have been part of the game. Really, they do more than handle equipment. It’s their main job, but these days they serve as a ”jack-of-all-trades,” handling almost every need during a game or practice that a coach doesn’t have time for — on and off the field.

For St. Clairsville head coach Brett McLean, he has two men with that title — Chris Patrone and Gary Hull.

Patrone has been with the Red Devils since 1997 and took on the role of equipment manager when McLean was hired as head coach in 2002. Hull, meanwhile, came on board in 2007.

Both were previously coaches in the St.C. system and both agree they couldn’t do their job without the other.

”I couldn’t do it myself,” Patrone confessed during a break in practice Friday at Red Devil Stadium. ”I honestly wouldn’t be able to do it.

”We try to help each other as much as we can”.

The duo work in concert with each other, each handling well-defined duties.

”I’ll do the outside work getting the equipment ready and Chris takes care of all the inside stuff,” Hull said.

The pair are always on the move during a practice, each tending to one task after another, many of which arise on the fly.

”Every day is busy,” Patrone stressed.

This week begins the heavy work, as the Red Devils, and the rest of the Ohio Valley’s teams, begin the 10-week journey they hope takes them to a playoff berth. St. Clairsville hits the road for Carrollton on Friday, meaning there’s packing to be done for Patrone and Hull.

While the coaches plot strategy, equipment managers — or as Patrone suggests a better term ”Director of Football Operations” — take care of a plethora of behind-the scenes tasks. Things like organizing uniforms, making sure helmets are safe and in good working order, and providing ample amounts of water for players.

That’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to an equipment manager’s duties. They vary from day to day and week to week.

”We have equipment repairs almost daily,” Hull said. ”Lose a buckle, lose a chin strap. It’s constant, that’s all.”

It’s true. Patrone and Hull work with the team year-round, through all the off-season work up through summer conditioning and the season.

Hull mainly takes care of the outside things, while Patrone oversees inside duties like uniforms, of which the Red Devils have a multitude of combinations and options

He’s even the one who makes sure players are wearing the right equipment on game nights.

”When they come out for warmup,s I’m like the NFL fashion police,” Patrone said smiling. ”I inspect every kid from head to toe to make sure they’re wearing the proper equipment and that nothing’s broke.”

Then, after the games, he’ll wash those unis, staying as late as 3 a.m. doing so.

”I’ll do that and Gary will clean up the sideline,” Patrone said. ”We work well. We just divide everything up. We get along great.”

After more than a decade together, Hull and Patrone have developed a system, one both men believe has served the program well.

”We just know what needs done,” Patrone said.

Things go smooth most times, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t challenges. The biggest they face is when a player endures an equipment failure during a game. It’s their job to resolve the issue as quickly as possible to get the player back in the game safely.

”If they have to come out, (the coaches) are looking at us,” Patrone said laughing.

There are tense moments, but the two men have nothing but admiration for the St. C. staff and all of the players who’ve come through.

”They’re very appreciative of everything we do,” Patrone said. ”They really treat us well. It’s a close-knit group we have here.”

For Hull, it’s about relationships.

”The biggest part for me is being around the kids,” he said. ”I’ve been around the kids since, oh boy, 1987 in the midget league and then came out here.

”It’s all about the kids.”

If you know of someone in sports in the Ohio Valley whom I could feature as an Ohio Valley Unsung Hero, drop me a line at rthorp@timesleaderonline.com or via Twitter @RickThorp1