By SETH STASKEY

Times Leader Sports Editor

HANNIBAL — The bar has been raised at River.

Now it’s simply a matter of sustaining the level at which the Pilots have played the last several years.

Though the Pilots, who finished 10-0 last season before falling to Columbus Bishop Ready in the opening round of the Division VI playoffs, were hit relatively hard by graduation to a tune of six starters on offense and seven on defense, Mike Flannery likes what returns.

“We have some big question marks, but we feel confident about things,” Flannery said. “The expectations and goals are always high here. We’re going to be playing several young kids.”

Flannery, who endured a stressful offseason for a myriad of reasons, took a close look at his coaching future before obviously opting to return to the sidelines.

While the reasons were plentiful for his thinking, seeing how hard his returning players were working in the offseason really ignited him once again.

“I like these guys’ character,” Flannery said. “That involves a lot of things. It’s not about their size and bench press. It’s about their character, and I think we have some tough kids.”

Another big part of his motivation has been the fact that River will be breaking in so many new faces.

“We’ve spent a lot of time evaluating the kids to see where they can play,” Flannery said. “We want to get our best 11 guys on the field at all times.”

When he takes a look at his squad for this season, Flannery quickly rattled the key cogs in the Pilots’ attack. Now he and his staff are tasked with finding the complementary pieces.

“We have to come up with nine or 10 guys who can contribute,” Flannery said. “We’re rebuilding around our veteran players.”

When a team features a two-time first-team all-Ohio selection, who just happens to return at quarterback, as its leader, that’s certainly not a bad place to start. And Flannery is well aware of what senior Lukas Isaly (5-10, 175) is capable of doing.

Isaly is coming off a junior campaign — his first as the quarterback — in which he threw for more than 1,600 yards and rushed for better than 1,100 yards, while accoutning for some 40 touchdowns en route to every post-season accolade imaginable.

“Lukas is definitely going to be better (than he was),” Flannery said. “Anytime you have 11 games under your belt, you’re bound to be better. Lukas is not a rah-rah guy or one who will get on you in the huddle, but he expects everyone else to play with his effort.”

Senior Drew Wagnild (6-0, 200) is a versatile player who Flannery plans to utilize in a bevy of ways. He can line up at running back, wing, receiver or tight end. He also serves as Isaly’s chief understudy at quarterback.

Junior Hunter Dennis (5-9, 175) will also see carries as he gets the call at running back. Sophomore Stone Thompson (6-0, 160) has also been solid in camp and is expected to see time in the backfield.

Two freshmen, who Flannery is especially high on and expects to see time in some capacity, are also in the mix at running back. They are Carter Dennis (5-10, 165) and Michael Johnson (5-9, 150).

Depth is supplied at running back by senior Cole Brown (5-7, 170), sophomores Colton Lawrence (5-10, 205), Austin Kinney (5-9, 165), freshmen Jake Rose (5-7, 115) and Chase Lawrence (5-9, 150).

With some inexperience — outside of Isaly — in the backfield, Flannery expects to be more of a wide-open offensive attack this fall. The Pilots won’t abandon the ground game, but they could utilize more four and five-wide sets.

“Last year, we were pretty multiple offensively,” Flannery said. “We’re changing some things up. We have some really young kids who we think are capable and they’re mixing it up. We’re pretty excited.”

While Wagnild could end up being the leader of the receiver group, he’ll be joined on the outside by senior Grant Williams (5-9, 150), sophomore Cooper Van Camp (6-0, 160) and senior Cole Hinerman (6-2, 195). Also working their way into the mix are sophomore Ethan Goudy (5-7, 125), Alex Rufener (6-0, 165) and senior Peyton VanCamp (6-1, 170).

Technically listed at tight end, but very likely to see time as a split out is senior standout Drew Dietz (6-2, 220), who is another member of that returning corps.

“I really believe that Dietz and Wagnild are not only two of our top players, but two of the top players in the entire Ohio Valley,” Flannery said.

Along with the veteran presences at running back, another reason for the Pilots’ ground success was due to an experienced offensive line. Flannery and his staff return just one starter, Luc Baker (6-0, 305) to the trenches.

“We may change some things to help these younger guys up front,” Flannery said. “We’re not going to lineup and play smash mouth. We feel confident in some of the people we have to catch the ball.”

Baker will either be at guard or tackle and Flannery feels comfortable with him in either spot. Senior Ethan Lively (5-10, 212) is expected to take over the center duties. Talented sophmore Heath Rosen (5-9, 180), who lettered last season, is ticketed for a guard spot. Senior Zac Talbot (5-8, 175) is penciled in at guard after missing all of last season due to injury.

The other tackle spot has been a battle between junior Kaine McLeod (5-11, 205), senior Hunter Dotson (6-2, 250), sophomore Jonas Schmidt (5-9, 190) and sophomore Cy Craft (6-0, 185).

Others vying for action and providing depth are sophomore Zach Haney (6-0, 220), freshmen Kyle Price (5-8, 195), Tyson Randall (5-7, 200), Kobe Zola (5-6, 230) and Nate Bowers (6-0, 195).

Defensively, the Pilots are changing their approach and scheme. However, the overall identity of the unit is yet to be determined.

“I don’t care how good you are on offense or how good your skill people are, you have to stop people,” Flannery said. “We’re developing our people up front, and I have confidence that they’ll get there. I have seen what these kids did during the winter and we feel good.”

Flannery, who is running the defense this season, is looking for versatility on the defensive side.

“We would like to have about 15 guys who can step in and play multiple positions,” Flannery said. “One day a kid might be an outside linebacker and the next day he might be on the inside. We are adjusting to the personnel we have.”

The front four of the defense will consist of Baker, Talbott, Dietz and Rosen. The latter two will serve as the ends and are versatile enough to step back into the linebacking corps.

At linebacker, Dennis is a returning starter and Wagnild, who had 77 tackles and two interceptions last season, is also back.

On the outside, Van Camp, Williams and Carter Dennis are vying for action. Johnson could move into that role or play at cornerback. Isaly will quarterback the defense from his safety spot. He picked off five passes in 2016.

Lawrence, Thompson, Cooper Van Camp, Ruffner and Hinerman have all been battling to win the other corner post.

On special teams, Williams returns as the kicker. Isaly will serve as the punter.

The Pilots have taken part in scrimmages against Barnesville and Buckeye Local in a three-way event. They also faced Ritchie County and Edison.

“I wish the state would let you have five scrimmages, that’s how important they are to us,” Flannery said. “We don’t have the luxury to have game-speed bodies coming at us like some schools, so we need as many live looks as we can get. I would also like to put 20 pounds on every freshman and sophomore, but you don’t always get what you wish for.”

The graduation losses from a season ago included OVAC All-Stars Cody Saksa, Mason Ladyga and Luke Matusik. Others who collected their diploma are Dakota Smith, Trey Isaly, Braden Whetsell, Parker Caretti, Garett Greenlee, Collin Huffman, Tucker Boggs, Broc Miracle and Jake Dietrich.

“Every year the seniors lead you and you grow attached to them,” Flannery said. “It’s never never easy (moving) on without those guys who you’ve grown close to, but it’s part of high school sports. That was a great bunch of kids who set the benchmark for the younger guys.”

Not only has the bar been raised by the Pilots’ play on the field. The River administration and Switzerland of Ohio Board of Education has played a role in that, too.

Through the commitment to improve the facilities around Flannery Field, these are exciting times for all athletes at River, but especially the football players who will christen the newly installed artificial turf Friday against Bellaire.

“I never thought I would see a turf field in my time as head coach here,” Flannery said. “I compliment our administration, board of education and (athletics director) Mark Romick for finding the money, having a plan and getting it done. He had the plan and vision and (the field) is absolutely beautiful. Every kid in our school is going to benefit in some way, even if he or she doesn’t play football or sports.”

The work on the field commenced in late June and wrapped up earlier this month.

“I look at the field every day and just say, ‘wow!” Flannery said. “I just never thought it would happen.”

The Pilots will play five varsity games at home this season and the other five games are all on grass, so Flannery won’t totally abandon the Pilots’ practice field.

“There are still going to be times when we go down and practice on the grass,” Flannery said.

Along with the turf, a new pressbox was erected this summer, too. That complements the fencing, pavement and scoreboard which were installed prior to last season.

Flannery thought last season’s opening win at Bellaire served as a springboard for the remainder of the Pilots’ season. They posted a 20-17 victory in the heat at Nelson Field and never looked back.

With the Big Reds coming to Monroe County on Friday, Flannery realizes this game could once again serve as a trend setter.

“That (Bellaire) game set the tone last season and we’re hoping that happens again,” Flannery admitted.

The Pilots have three new opponents on the schedule, replacing Caldwell, Toronto and Columbus Crusaders. On the slate are home games with Linsly, Lucas and Meadowbrook.

“It’s a pretty demanding schedule,” Flannery said. “We’ve also moved down to Division VII, and we’ve been waiting a long time for that. We’re looking forward to it and we enjoy playing new opponents.”

Another subtle change to the Pilots’ schedule involves the game against cross-river rival Magnolia. The Pilots and Blue Eagles will meet on a Thursday evening.

Flannery’s coaching staff includes Joey Asturi, Brandon Gregory, Greg Keith, Chris Wisvari, Kevin Welsh, Dugan Dietz and Dylan Potts.

(all games begin at 7 p.m. unless noted.)

Aug. 25 — Bellaire

Sept. 1 — at Shenandoah

Sept. 8 — Monroe Central

Sept. 15 — at Magnolia

Sept. 22 — Meadowbrook

Sept. 29 — at Shadyside

Oct. 6 — at Bridgeport

Oct. 13 — Linsly

Oct. 21 — Lucas, 1 p.m.

Oct. 27 — at Frontier