By KIM NORTH

Times Leader Sports Writer

BRIDGEPORT — For the third time in the last four seasons, Bridgeport has a new head football coach.

Gary Krol was hired when Zack Melton resigned after last season following a two-year stint in leading the Bulldogs. Melton had replaced Rudy Vavrock who brought the program back to prominence.

Krol is no stranger to football. After graduating from Martins Ferry High School and the University of Dayton, the 49-year-old got his start in the coaching profession as an assistant at Western Connecticut State University in the mid-1990s. He then had stops at Millersville University, Westminster University and West Liberty where he spent nine seasons with the Black-and-Gold as the offensive coordinator.

“I was lucky enough to get the head position at St. John Central prior to last season, but I wasn’t lucky enough to have enough boys to play,” Krol said. “I was super excited when this position became available and the administration gave me an opportunity.

“At Bridgeport we just want to have fun,” he continued. “I’m trying to bring some excitement to the program and teach the kids to practice hard, which you know in the equation of hard work is the only formula for success. We’re just trying to get the kids to understand how to practice harder because those hard-working habits lead to success in the long haul.”

Krol, who had served as St. John Central’s athletic director last school year, inherits a Bridgeport squad that has had just one winning season — 2014 — since going 12-1 in 2010 with an outstanding group of talented athletes. The Bulldogs are 19-41 since that magical campaign.

“It’s going to be a challenge, absolutely, but I think we’re ready for it,” he noted. “We have a lot of young kids that are athletes. If we can get them in the right positions and they can take some coaching, we may be able to surprise some people.”

Bridgeport has 27 kids on the roster this season, which means a lot of kids will be seeing double duty.

“We’ve been conditioning really hard,” he said. “The kids have been working extremely hard and have been real receptive to everything we’ve put in front of them. Now we’ve got to figure out a way to save their legs for game day.”

He said the transition has been fairly smooth.

“I’m bringing in most of the stuff that I’ve done and am familiar with,” Krol continued. “Lucky for me, these kids are smart enough to pick things up on the fly. I’m trying to put as much in as I can and see what sticks, what the kids are capable of, and then utilize the plays that the kids are good at. We also need to find matchups that are favorable for us in moving the ball down the field.”

Offensively, the Bulldogs will line up in multiple sets and spread the field.

Junior Tino Kusic (5-10, 170) returns at quarterback. He started eight games as a freshman and threw for nearly 700 yards and seven TDs. He also ran for 74 and another score. However, he suffered a broken arm in the final scrimmage before last season and missed the entire campaign.

“Tino has shown some really good promise,” Krol revealed. “He looks fine. After everything he went through, he went on to wrestle in the state tournament and play baseball. He hasn’t shown any apprehension at all.”

His backup will be senior Jeremiah Booker (5-10, 180) who saw some action in the shotgun last year when he passed for 983 yards and nine scores, but he will be a wideout this fall.

“Jeremiah is an athlete, but I like him better as a receiver,” Krol admitted. “He can do some good things out there.”

Booker is listed as an inside receiver in Krol’s spread offense, along with classmate Garett Duncan (6-0, 200), who also qualified for the D-III state wrestling tournament last winter. He moves from fullback where he ran for 442 yards and a pair of TDs. He also had three TD catches.

Outside receivers are seniors Mannix Doyle (5-10, 160), Logan Zusack (5-8, 150) and John Michael Simmons (6-1, 170). Doyle, who had five catches for 141 yards and a TD last winter, and Zusack, who both previously played at St. John Central, caught four passes last season. Simmons played wideout and quarterback a year ago.

“All of those guys have good hands and decent speed,” Krol said of the potential pass-catchers.

Other receivers include juniors Chandler Rodgers (6-2, 160) and Tristen West (6-0, 170) and freshman D’Zayreon Richmond (5-7, 145).

In the backfield are senior Kane Kasprowski (5-10, 180) and junior Jarett Deaton (5-10, 170). Kasprowski didn’t play last season after playing at St. John Central as a freshman and sophomore.

Freshman Jonathan Bugaj (5-9, 165) and junior Anthony Barsotti (5-9, 185) are also in the backfield mix. Barsotti lettered as a frosh, but didn’t play a year ago. Also listed are sophomores Jera Massey (5-10, 180) and Jacob Bain (5-8, 150).

Up front the Bulldogs have a group of guys trying to find a permanent position.

“We’ve got some kids that have played in the past, but they might not play that same position this year just because of what we are doing,” Krol explained.

In the mix are seniors Levi Bryant (6-0, 215), Ronald Hundley (5-9, 220) and Layne Dunlap (6-1, 240), along with juniors Anthony Allen (5-11, 200), Hunter Duffey (5-10, 185), Ethan Leiffer (5-9, 170) and Ryan Stewart (5-9, 170), and freshman Ty Roberts (5-9, 170).

“They are all battling for a spot. As coaches, we’re trying to see which five are the best and then put them in positions where we can have an aggressive-type of line. We’ve got some decent size, but we won’t be real big across the line.”

Other linemen are seniors Carlton Justice (6-1, 200) and Tanner Heslop (6-1, 215), junior David Falcone (6-5, 260) and sophomore Noah George (5-9, 210). Justice is another former SJC gridder, while Falcone is called a “project” by the head coach.

“He is a big kid that has never played football before,” Krol said of Falcone. “We’re trying to get him acclimated to the aggressiveness of football. He’s picking it up.”

Defensively, Bridgeport will use a 4-4 or 4-3 scheme, according to Krol.

“You’ll see a lot of the same names on this side of the ball,” he added.

The ends will be Allen, Hundley and Massey, while Bryant and Dunlap will man the tackles. Also in the hunt for playing time are Stewart, Justice, Duffey, Leiffer, George, Heslop and Falcone.

Manning the linebacker slots will be Booker, Deaton, Duncan and Kasprowski. Their backups will be Barsotti, Bain, Bugaj, West and Roberts.

Simmons will play free safety and Kusic strong safety. The corners will be Zusack and Doyle. The backups are Rodgers and Richmond.

According to the head coach, Booker and Duncan will handle the punting and kicking duties.

Three teams are new to the 2017 schedule. They are Beallsville, Carrick, Pa., and Madonna. The Blue Devils and Blue Dons return to the slate after brief absences. They replace Barnesville and Youngstown Christian. Carrick takes the place of Bishop Donahue, which closed following the 2016-17 school year. They make up half of the Bulldogs home games. The other three are Conotton Valley, River and Cameron. Road contests are at Southern Local, Toronto, Paden City and Shadyside.

“Our schedule is always tough, but I think we can compete week-in and week-out,” Krol admitted. “Hard work is what is going to get us in the games and performance will keep us there.”

Krol, who will also serve as offensive coordinator, said the coaching staff, which returns three members, has also made the transition a smooth one. The staff includes defensive coordinator and former BHS all-Ohioan and WLU standout Nate Maleski, former All-American punter at WLU Griffin Yocum (special teams) and John Tankovits (offensive line). New to the staff is Tony Francis (defensive backs/wide receivers). Krol coached the two former Hilltoppers during his lengthy stint on the hill.

“Knowing Nate and Griff and the trust and loyalty I have for them has really helped out. They both played while I was at West Liberty, so that was really important to me in keeping them on the staff.”

Lost to graduation were Dane Cash, Thomas Coyne, Eli Williams and Jace Johnston, who missed the season with a knee injury. Of that group, Cash contributed the most with 149 yards and three TDs on the ground and 211 stripes and three more six-pointers via the air. Coyne led the team with 19 receptions for 255 yards and four touchdowns. Williams, like Johnson, missed the season with an ankle injury sustained early in the campaign.

Bridgeport opens the Krol era Friday night at Southern Local. After a trip to Toronto in week two, Bridgeport opens at home against Madonna on Hall of Fame Night on Perkins Field inside Bill Jobko Stadium.

(All games

begin at 7 p.m.)

Aug. 25 — at Southern Local

Sept. 1 — at Toronto

Sept. 8 — Madonna

Sept. 15 — at Paden City

Sept. 22 — Conotton Valley

Sept. 29 — Beallsville

Oct. 6 — River

Oct. 13 — Carrick, Pa.

Oct. 20 — at Shadyside

Oct. 27 — Cameron