Ohio Valley Ironmen quarterback Javonte Howard looks for a receiver during a game from last season. He is one of several key returnees this year.

MARTINS FERRY – Now that the Ohio Valley Ironmen have a new league (Continental Football League), new home (Martins Ferry Purple Rider Stadium) and new opponents (Michigan, Indianapolis and Cincinnati), General Manager/Head Coach Manny Matsakis can get to work on his roster.

The long-time football guru has a good start with 22 returning players from a team that went 3-0 in its inaugural season before the remaining teams on the schedule backed out of their scheduled contests.

‘We will have a 40-man roster when the season starts,” Matsakis said. “The players will start reporting to camp in mid-May, with our first game on May 30 at Michigan.”

NEW LEAGUE

“The Continental Football League was what the original Wheeling Ironmen played in back in the 1960s,” Matsakis said. “There are eight teams in the league – four in the North and four in the South. In the North with us are the Indianapolis Capitols, who won the last CoFL championship in 1969; the Michigan Arrows and the Cincinnati Dukes. Those are legacy teams.

“Down South you have the San Antonio Toros, who actually played Indianapolis in that 1969 championship game; the Fort Worth Braves, who were also in the league before; and then we have two new additions in West Texas, the Midland area; and the Texas Syndicate, which will play just north of Austin.”

Each team in the North will play the others home-and-home, as will the teams in the South. Then, the top 2 teams in the North and South will meet in the playoffs, with the No. 1 playing the No. 2 in each division. The championship game will be played in the North at a site to be determined, Matsakis added.

“Even though we are going to play way better competition than we did a year ago, I want to give our guys the chance to step up and play against these really good teams. We returned most of the guys that we wanted off of last year’s team. We still have some roster spots open, but as I’m sitting back watching all the talent these other teams are signing, San Antonio has about 12 guys with NFL experience, I have to be careful with who I sign. I want to make sure we can compete, but we have to build as if we are.”

SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL

“Sunday nights just feel more like football nights,” Matsakis said of the change from Saturday night. “People can go wherever they want on the weekends and still come out and see the Ironmen play on Sunday night.”

RETURNING STANDOUTS

QB-Javonte Howard

RB-Jeremiah Nelson

WR-Cahsid Raymond; D’Ago Hunter; Said Sidibe

DL-Chance Knight

“He is a tremendous talent. There are a couple CFL and UFL teams looking at him,” Matsakis said of the former Linsly and Marietta College standout who resides in Bridgeport.

TRAINING CAMP ROSTER

Aiden Ferguson; Deontae Veney; Anthony Beitko; Jada Byers; Jaylin Mack; Jha’Qwori Austin; Khyree Marshall; Kyle Sapp; Ameer Hollowell; Colten Menges; Kedonis Haslem; Dox Aitken; Isaac Parks; Joseph Boykin; Kevin Thurmon; Leon Crawford III; Caleb Ham; Joshua Holley; Nicholas J. Turner and former West Liberty running back Quincy Wimbush.

“We are still looking to add at least three more offensive linemen, one or two more wide receivers and a backup quarterback,” Matsakis divulged.

NEW RULES

“The first three quarters are NFL rules, except for the wide receivers who only need one foot in bounds for a legal catch.

“However, in the fourth quarter the rules will change to some modified Canadian Football League rules with what is called the ‘Continental Shift,”‘ Matsakis said. “It is similar to the CFL and designed for teams to try and stage a comeback.

“You’ve got three downs to get 10 yards and a first down, so that changes the game right there,” Matsakis added. “You also have what is called the ‘waggle and rook motion’ where the receivers who are off the line of scrimmage can move towards it, while the outside receivers can move laterally at the same time. Your running back can also move forward before the snap, so you can have up to five guys in motion when the ball is snapped.”

During that time, the play clock will also drop from 40 seconds to 20 seconds in the fourth quarter, according to Matsakis. “I love the NFL, but what I don’t like is in the fourth quarter and a team is ahead by 14 points they are just milking the clock. You can’t do that in this league because you’ve got to give the ball back really quick. I think it will allow for some amazing comebacks.”

NEW COLOR SCHEME

Matsakis also said the Ironmen will don Silver-and-Black uniforms and helmets this season. Going away from the Blue-and-Gold.

“There still may be a blue or gold highlight for WVU and Pitt,” he said.

SEASON OPENER

The Ironmen will travel to Michigan to meet the Arrows on May 30.

HOME OPENER

Ohio Valley will welcome the Indianapolis Capitols to Purple Rider Stadium inside the Dave Bruney Football Complex in Martins Ferry on June 7.