File Photo Martins Ferry’s Walkquem Cox takes a carry during a game last season. Cox and the Purple Riders will host Expression Prep on Friday in their week one game inside the Dave Bruney Athletic Complex.

MARTINS FERRY — Every week one opponent is a bit of a mystery, but none more so than the week one opponent of the Martins Ferry Purple Riders, who are set to face Expression Prep from Huntington, W.Va. in their opening outing of the 2025 season.

A prep school known for basketball, Expression Prep will greet the Purple Riders on the gridiron Friday at the Dave Bruney Athletic Complex as a bit of an unknown.

“We had some teams kind of under contract that kind of backed out on us at the last minute,” Martins Ferry head coach Justin Kropka said. “So we needed a home game desperately

“I don’t really know a ton about them. Obviously their basketball programs, one of the top in the country, and I think they assumed that they would maybe have the same immediate success in football that they did in basketball, but it takes a little longer to build a football program. They’re young, they got some kids from Huntington High.”

When 7 p.m. rolls around on Friday, not many in the stadium will know what to expect from the Purple Riders’ opponents– including Kropka.

“You don’t know what you’re going to get when they step off the bus. So as a coach, that makes me nervous. You know, I like to be a little over-prepared, not under-prepared, but you know, they’re coming here and we’ll play whoever gets off the bus.”

A much more known quantity are the Purple Riders themselves, who are coming off a 9-1 regular season and a playoff victory in OHSAA Division V. Martins Ferry returns much of last year’s team, but the seniors who did graduate were some of Ferry’s most important players, including four-year starting quarterback Ayden Ludolph, Youngstown State commit Alex Reese, and electric tailback Tev’n Williams.

“We have a lot of guys back, so it’s not necessarily all new,” Kropka said. “Just the three guys that have touched the ball for us the last three years, they’re all three gone, so we’ll have some different guys. Obviously, anytime it’s week one of high school football, you’re excited.”

“It’s an exciting time for the community, especially in the Ohio Valley. YIt’s a special place to play and that makes it a special place to coach.”

Martins Ferry will get their first look at junior Colby Kropka, coach Kropka’s son, as a varsity starter under center, while sophomore Walkquem Cox, who had an immediate impact as a freshman running back, may have an even bigger load to carry.

“Anytime you’re replacing a four-year starter quarterback like we are, that’s a tough ask, I’d rather it be somebody else’s kid that has to fill-in for a four-year starter,” Kropka joked. “The school’s all-time leading pass, you know, that’s big shoes to fill. But if anyone can handle it, it’s Colby.

“He’s got a really good arm, obviously knows the system well. He’s started at shortstop for the baseball team for two years since he was a freshman, so he’s used to big moments. I’m not worried about that aspect of it. He’s got great command of the huddle. You know, he gets guys lined up and he’ll change the play if he needs to. Obviously it’s exciting coaching your son, but, you don’t really think about that during the game. I go into football mode and it’s “QB 1″ out there. It could be anybody. But then after a game, after practice, I still get to be a dad. So that’s pretty enjoyable.”

Cox will be playing both ways this year, picking up some of the slack in the running game while also occupying a spot as a defensive end, where Reese played last year.

“I told him, don’t get wrapped up in people’s expectations,” Kropka said. “He’s got to do the little things. We obviously think he has a chance to be a special player. This year, he’s going both ways, and he’s doing a lot of other things for us that maybe won’t show up in the stats, the carries or the touchdowns, but he’s doing a lot more this year. We’re actually counting way more on him this year than we were last year.

“He kind of surprised even us last year with how good of a season he had, how ready he was to be a varsity football player. Well, I told him, now you’re not surprising anybody. Teams are going to load the box on you, they’ve all heard of Walkquem Cox now, so you’re not going to sneak up on anybody. He’s pretty underrated on defense. He’s a very good defensive end, and I think we’ll be able to spell him a little on both sides of the ball and hopefully keep him healthy.”

Cox ran for over 1,100 yards with 13 touchdowns last year.