St. Clairsville boasts size and talent

August 21, 2018

By SETH STASKEY Times Leader Sports Editor ST. CLAIRSVILLE — Whether it’s a practice, an opponent or even as it pertains to evaluating itself, St. Clairsville doesn’t plan to leave a stone unturned. Quite simply, for Brett McLean, the entire season boils down to the word “prepared.” And by that, the veteran Red Devils coach doesn’t just mean studying extra film or going over an opposing team’s tendencies a few extra times during the course of a week. To reach the levels at which St. Clairsville coaches, players and even fans have become accustomed once again, McLean, ...

Thompson takes over at Union Local

August 21, 2018

By SETH STASKEY Times Leader Sports Editor MORRISTOWN — Someone may have to pinch Bernie Thompson. The personable, 25-year old has actually been pinching himself basically every day since March when he hired as the football coach at his alma mater, Union Local. “It’s still a little surreal,” Thompson said early in camp. “I found myself, at times, sitting around and thinking, ‘wow! I am the head coach (at Union Local)’” The reality of the matter, however, comes to fruition Friday night when Monroe Central comes calling for the season opener. “To be able to coach a ...

Expectations on the rise in Barnesville

August 21, 2018

By SETH STASKEY Times Leader Sports Editor BARNESVILLE — In many ways, the 2017 Barnesville football season was a learning experience. Head coach Blake Allen — who experienced his fair share of learning last season — is now looking for his team to take what it learned and apply it to the upcoming season. How quickly they’re able to do that may just go a long way in determining the amount of success the Shamrocks can enjoy as they bid to rebound from an uncharacteristic 3-7 campaign. “Our kids maintained a good attitude and got better each week last year,” Allen said. ...

Bellaire features increased depth

August 21, 2018

By SETH STASKEY Times Leader Sports Editor BELLAIRE — Mark Spigarelli is certainly aware of the expectations that surround the Bellaire football program. After all, other than a handful of seasons that he spent coaching at West Liberty, Spigarelli has been a part of the Big Reds program basically since his playing in the mid 80s. But, even if he had only been in Bellaire for one season, he understands, realizes and appreciates that 3-7 seasons just aren’t going to cut it. Unfortunately, that’s the exact kind of season the Big Reds were dealt in 2017 as they broke in ...

Ray returns to the OV to coach Bridgeport

August 21, 2018

By KIM NORTH Times Leader Sports Writer BRIDGEPORT — The head coaching carousel at Bridgeport continues in 2018 as Martins Ferry native Fred Ray takes over the Bulldogs’ helm. The 37-year-old follows in the footsteps of another Martins Ferry alum, Gary Krol, who led Bridgeport to a 3-7 mark in his lone season. Krol took over Zack Melton who lasted two seasons. “I think the kids are doing the best they can considering all they’ve been through over the past several seasons,” Ray allowed. “There has been so much transition over the past few years, but the kids have done well ...

Buckeye Local aims to restore the roar

August 21, 2018

By RICK DELUCA Times Leader Sports Writer CONNORVILLE — Roger Herbert came to Buckeye Local last fall set on re-building the Panther football program. He endured a winless season as the school’s third coach in three years. Talking to Coach Herbert, it takes just a minute of the conversation to see that he is certainly a coach that looks ahead and doesn’t waste his time looking back. He is optimistic about the approaching 2018 season, which opens Thursday at home against rival Martins Ferry, but he is realistic in his thinking. He works on the moment while building for the ...