PICTURED ARE two of the area’s top senior football players, who will serve as the leaders for their respective teams this season, which begins officially on Thursday. Standing is River’s Lukas Isaly, while Martins Ferry’s Dalton Hoover is sitting. Both had all-Ohio seasons in 2016. ...

By ED LOOMAN For The Times Leader WELLSBURG—Mac McLean enters his fourth season as Brooke’s football coach with “a lot of confidence” in his “number ones.” The key, however, to rebounding from last season’s injury-riddled, 2-8 season lies with “the supporting ...

By STEPHEN HAWKINS AP Sports Writer Either Oklahoma or Texas won the last seven Big 12 championship games. When the conference title game resumes this season after a six-year hiatus, the Red River rivals could be facing each other for the second time that season. Or maybe it will be a ...

By JOSH STROPE For The Times Leader UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — After years trying to rebuild from the Jerry Sandusky scandal, Penn State finally looks to be back among the nation’s elite programs. The Nittany Lions won the Big Ten and went to the Rose Bowl last season and enter 2017 ranked ...

By RICK DeLUCA Times Leader Sports Writer Ohio Valley football coaches are tested every year, on the field and off. With declining enrollments, shrinking squads and competition with off the field activities, they are a rare breed that deserves much more credit than they are usually ...

By Ralph Cox For The Times Leader WEIRTON — It is easy to think that when a high school football team loses 13 players — a couple of them all-staters — that the following year will involve rebuilding. With 15 returning lettermen, veteran Weir High coach Tony Filberto is looking to ...