LINSLY RUNNING back Luca DiLorenzo looks for room to run during a game last season. The Cadets are set to face one of the most challenging schedules in the Ohio Valley once again this season. Included are games with three of the top 10 winningest teams in Ohio in Martins Ferry, Steubenville and Dover.

WHEELING — Linsly School has always seemed to play one of the most challenging football schedules in the Ohio Valley Athletic Conference.

The reasons for that are plentiful, but at, or at least near, the top of that listing is the fact that head coach B.J. Depew wants his players to have as many lasting experiences as possible from their high school football career.

“The kids get excited for those (challenging) games on our schedule,” Depew said. “I think you have to consider what the lasting effect of playing high school football really is. I am not sure how many guys talk about the number of wins or championships they have, but instead they talk about the experiences and big moments.”

With the 2020 season scheduled to begin in a little over three months, the Cadets players will certainly continue that trend of playing challenging games. Actually, Linsly is lining up against three of the top 10 winningest programs of all time in Ohio High School history in Martins Ferry, Steubenville and Dover.

“We do not make a decision involving our schedule without considering the kids first,” Depew said. “I talked to some seniors and juniors to make sure they’d be up for that kind of challenge and everyone acknowledged how tough these schools are, but said, ‘let’s do it!’ It meant a lot to me knowing these kids wanted it.”

The Cadets will once again play at Martins Ferry, which sits fifth on the all-time list with a program record of 713-379-36, in Week 2.

Dover, which will be competing in the OVAC for just the second football season this fall, signed a home-and-home deal with the Cadets. This year’s meeting will be held at West Liberty University on Oct. 23. The Cadets will visit Tuscarawas County in 2021.

“Like a lot of schools, Dover scheduled out of necessity,” Depew said. “A lot of schools are looking for games and they struggle to get conference or local schools. They were looking and we were looking. They’d actually reached out to us in the past.”

The Tornadoes sit eighth on the all-time Ohio listing with a 703-367-44 record.

And in Week 10, another trip to Harding Stadium to take on Steubenville awaits the Cadets. Depew believes this series will continue for two more seasons, including Big Red playing Linsly at West Liberty in 2021.

Steubenville, which owns four state championships under Reno Saccoccia, is third in Ohio wins, trailing only Massillon and Canton McKinley. Big Red is currently 822-323-34.

“Us playing this type of competition goes back even further than a couple of years,” Depew said. “I remember we played Indian Creek in 2011 and I thought this was as big a game as we’ve been around. Then we played Parkersburg South for two years and we followed that up with playing Columbus DeSales for two years. We recently played Morgantown on a multi-year deal. Our kids walk away from all of these games with memories that will last a lifetime and can be proud of all of the challenges they’ve faced.”

On top of those three games, Linsly also has Weir, McGuffey, Pa, Allderdice, Pa., Kiski Prep and Cincinnati Shroder on the schedule.

Linsly’s schedule still has room for two games, but Depew believes he has found a school from Pennsylvania to fill the week five opening.

The Cadets are also looking for a week one opponent after learning Wheeling Central would not be continuing the long-standing series this season.

“I am very disappointed for all of the kids involved on both sides because I know how much they all looked forward to that game (between Central and Linsly),” Depew said. “I won’t quit on (trying to) find a game. The kids work hard and deserve to play a full schedule, and we have every intention of filling the opening, but I know it will be a challenge given the date.”