By RICK THORP

Times Leader Sports Writer

OLD WASHINGTON — When Donnie Kerns took the Buckeye Trail football reins last year one of his first objectives was to change the culture.

Following a 6-4 campaign, it appears he’s on his way toward doing that.

While the Warriors didn’t qualify for the playoffs in their final season as a member of the Pioneer Valley Conference, they served noticed to area teams they won’t be looked upon as a doormat any longer.

”Last year was a good year,” Kerns, a Trail graduate and former Warriors assistant said, ”probably a better than expected year for us.”

Behind quarterback Troy Pontius and linebacker Carter Streiff, the Guernsey County school started 4-1 and finished two spots from a post-season berth in Division VII, Region 27. The final stretch of games included losses to River and Fort Frye, teams that finished the year a combined 22-2. Another loss — the season opener — came against another playoff entrant, Ridgewood.

The Warriors travel to West Lafayette on Saturday night to face the Generals again, this time as a member of the 14-school Inter Valley Conference. There are 13 football-playing schools, with Hiland not fielding a program.

While Ridgewood is an IVC member, the contest is not a conference one. The Warriors, members of the IVC North, or small-school, division for football, will play fellow division members Strasburg, Malvern, Tusky Central, Sandy Valley and East Canton during the final five weeks of the season. Those games will count toward the conference standings. Crossover contests against North, or big-school, division foes Claymont and Indian Valley, won’t.

In addition to Ridgewood, Buckeye Trail will also face IVC member Newcomerstown in Week 2. A September 8 home game vs. Barnesville is the only game slated against a non-IVC opponent. Kerns said Ridgewood will replaced by ex-PVC foe Caldwell in Week 1 next season.

Kerns isn’t quite sure what the overall IVC slate will present for his club, but he’s confident his squad will be ready to make another run at a possible post-season berth.

”I like where we’re at,” he said. ”We have 39 kids on the roster and I’d say almost all of them were here for (conditioning) religiously. And, if they weren’t here, they weren’t sitting at home; they were playing another sport or something.”

The goal now, Kerns said, is to take the next step and build on 2016. And, in doing that, Kerns has adopted a mantra that worked well for Warrior teams of the 1990s.

”We’re ‘The Wolfpack,”’ he said. ”We stick together and have each other’s backs.”

Kerns peaks highly of his returnees on offense, especially an offensive front that boasts athleticism and speed.

”We are probably as athletic on the offensive line as we’ve been here in a long time,” Kerns stated. ”Every kid has a strength. They’re either fast, strong, or both.

Ranging in weight from 202 to 303 pounds, the Warriors have been plenty of flexibility up front, leading with center Kirkland Davis (6-0, 236).

”He was an all-district player last year,” Kerns said of the senior and three-time letterwinner who played guard last fall. ”He’s our anchor.”

Another returnee is junior Xavier Herman (5-9, 221). He’ll play at left guard. The right guard spot will come out of a battle between a pair of sophomores — Clay Howes (5-9, 209) and Ronnie Rominger (6-0, 194).

Senior Chandler Hixon (5-11, 195) moves from fullback to left tackle. Sophomore Gage Reed (6-2, 215) is the top candidate at right tackle.

Others likely to be moved in and out include: juniors Blaize Roe (5-6, 186) and Joey Bridgeman (5-9, 303), and sophomores Dylan Berry (6-1, 253) and Colin Weaver (5-7, 182). Kerns also likes the potential of two freshmen — Liam Kelly (5-9, 199) and Nic Burris (5-7, 205).

Senior Geno CizMadia (6-1, 209) will line up at tight end, with classmate Matt Stimpert (5-9, 177) also getting looks. Sophomore Josh Green (6-0, 190) could also have his number called.

Three players eyeing receptions at wide out include: senior Trey Dougherty (5-6, 135) and juniors Dylan Beaver (6-0, 150) and Logan McVicker (5-9, 144).

”We only have one on the field most of the time, but sometimes we have two,” Kerns noted.

Jimmie Nealy (6-6, 185), a senior transfer from John Glenn, junior Brandon Rominger (6-1, 183) and sophomore Trey McGilton (5-8, 132) are also in the mix.

Junior Zach Grafton (5-11, 148) replaced Troy Pontius at quarterback.

”He started last year at wide receiver and had some really big catches,” Kerns said. ”We kind of knew last year this is the guy we wanted (this year).”

Kerns explained Grafton isn’t the same type of player as Pontius, now at Marietta College, but he expects him to fill the void well.

Isaac Hickman (5-11, 164), who Kerns said ”has a nice skill set for sophomore,” will be the backup. Freshman Connor Puskarich (5-10, 151) could also see some snaps.

While Pontius and his more than 1,700 all-purpose yards were lost to graduation, the Warriors do have back in the fold senior Austin Snodgrass (5-8, 166), who recorded more than 700 yards rushing and 12 touchdowns last year from his tailback spot.

”He’s just one of the all-time greats at Trail,” Kerns said of Snodgrass, a three-year letterwinner. ”The record books show it. We have to find a away to get him the ball 30 times a game; he needs to touch it that many times. And, as fast as he is, he’s best between the tackles.”

Sophomore Jack Parry (5-11, 201) and freshman Marcus Masters (5-4, 171).

Another three-year letterwinner — Chase Stillion (5-10, 179) — will play halfback. Junior Seth Hughes (5-9, 169) will back him up.

Like the offense, Kerns sees his line as the strength on the defensive side.

”We’re going to have some type of rotation between Bridgeman, Herman, Davis, Barry and Reed,” Kerns said.

At middle linebacker, CizMadia is being moved from end. He’ll be joined by returning starter Hixson. Brandon Rominger and Parry will battle for the other spot.

Stillion and Stimpert will play at outside linebacker, with Hughes and Masters in the mix, too.

Corner is up in the air with four players in the mix. They are: Beaver, Dougherty, McVicker and Hickman.

Snodgrass will man a safety spot, with McGilton. Grafton, Kerns said, will be kept off field on defense.

Hughes, who enjoyed a record-setting season in 2016, returns as kicker. CizMadia or Hickman ill handle the punting duties.

”I can promise that our kids are going to play hard,” he said. ”And, from doing that, we’ll win more games than people expect us to win.

Kerns is assisted by Kevin Spiker (offensive coordinator), Gene CizMadia (defensive coordinator), Terry Parry (special teams coordinator), Bill Hartmeyer, Darrell Davis, Dave Deal, Brian Jackson, Rick Stillion, Charlie Deal and Clint Pekari.

(All games begin at 7 p.m. )

Aug. 25 — at Ridgewood

Sept. 1 — Newcomerstown

Sept. 8 — Barnesville

Sept. 15 — at Claymont

Sept. 22 — Indian Valley

Sept. 29 — at Strasburg

Oct. 6 — at Malvern

Oct. 13 — Tusky CC

Oct. 20 — Sandy Valley

Oct. 27 — at East Canton