D.L.Burnworth

  Seth Taylor Jackson High School OL/DL 2028 6’4”, 305 Jersey Number—78 What will it take for Jackson to make a deep playoff run this season? Young players stepping up and playing well, as well as players staying healthy throughout the season and into the playoffs. What makes you a good teammate? Encouraging others to give it their all in the weight room, practice, school, and games. Can the band and cheerleaders really get you fired up before and/or during the game? Absolutely, Jackson has 160 band members. They both create an amazing atmosphere. How do you get over a bad practice or game? Learn from mistakes and be dedicated to hard work. Which away stadium is the worst to play in? Explain It is a tough environment to play at Wheelersburg. Their fans always show up and get loud. Which away stadium has the best overall atmosphere? Miami Trace has great facilities, which make for a nice atmosphere. Which part of your game do you believe is the strongest? Using my strength and ...

  Latavis (TJ) Walker Jr. Buena High School (ARI) SS/WR 6-0, 185 Jersey # 11 Awards won or earned: Voted Defense Player of the Year for the team and 2nd Team All-Southern Region LB Post a small recap of last season with personal highlights and any other big moments you have and/or memories you have from last season, whether it be a game, the bus ride to or from the game, or any other thing that sticks out. It was the 1st round of the playoffs. I had an amazing game on both sides of the ball: 137 yards receiving, 7 tackles 82ds on a pick-six. Plus it was the first playoff home win in 40 years. Who or what got you started playing football? My dad got me into football; he played college football. What keeps you motivated to play the game? I really want to play college football at the next level. What are your personal goals for the 2025 season? I want to have 800 yards receiving, over 90 tackles, and 5 interceptions. I want to make 1st team on both sides plus win a state championship....

Nicholas Bandstra Tri-County North HS Head Coach/PE & Health Teacher   Proud Graduate of Ohio University #GoBobcats!! What is the toughest part of leaving a head coaching job?   Leaving Bradford was tough because it wasn't a professional decision; it was a factor that I could not control. We pretty much had everything going in the direction that you would want with player buy-in, numbers, and a supportive administration. However, I had to leave because I had a family member whose health got very bad, and my wife needed to be closer to them. Those are tough conversations to have, but as I told the players, "I can't preach family and ignore my own." What will you most remember about your time at Bradford?   The relationships that were made. We had a really good group of kids, staff, and community. I am appreciative of all the hard work they put in during the year I was there. What were some of the biggest reasons you took the job at Tri-County North? ...

  Bodie Smith Newark High School QB 2026 5’11 194 Jersey Number 12 Awards won or earned 1st Team All-Advocate 2nd Team All-OCC If you want, you can post a small recap of last season with personal highlights and any other big moments you have and/or memories you have from last season, whether it be a game, the bus ride to or from the game, or any other thing that sticks out. One of my favorite moments from the season was always the day after games when we would go in for a film session at 7am and then get some McDonald’s breakfast after that and go watch the JV ball out. What makes you a good teammate? Being the locker room guy who tries to make people laugh, but also when it comes to serious times, we’re all locked in, and when they aren’t, I let them know. Last time we spoke you, you said to better your game, you needed to get better at running the football and making plays with your feet. Were you able to achieve those things? As of right now, I have increased my 40 time by .2 se...

Malachi Lamerson Piketon High School Left guard (current), right tackle 2027 6’1 and 230 Jersey Number 54 Awards won or earned: Honorable mention to all SVC Post a small recap of last season with personal highlights and any other big moments you have and/or memories you have from last season, whether it be a game, the bus ride to or from the game, or any other thing that sticks out. Some of my favorite moments from last season were beating Paint Valley, and the bus rides home after wins were always fun because everyone was always pretty happy. What are you going to miss from the 2025 class? I’m going to miss my friends and the competition they gave me in practice. Piketon went 7-4 last year, including a first-round playoff loss. What will the 2025 team have to do to better improve on the 2024 season? We will need to work on feeding off the momentum we get. If that may be the defense getting a goal line stand, the offense needs to feed off that and make something happen. The last time w...

  Luke Gullion Piketon Quarterback 2026 6’0 183 Jersey Number 1 Awards won or earned: All-League and Honorable Mention All-State Post a small recap of last season with personal highlights and any other big moments you have and/or memories you have from last season, whether it be a game, the bus ride to or from the game, or any other thing that sticks out. Making the playoffs and eating every Thursday away game with my teammates. What was the high point of the 2024 season? Beating Paint Valley What was the low point of the 2024 season? Losing back-to-back weeks against Zane Trace and Unioto What makes you a good teammate? I would say I’m a good teammate because I try to bring the best out of everyone. How often do you work out with your receivers and running backs on your own? After track practice every day and on Sundays. Which teammate is most likely to do something to get a laugh at practice just to break up the tension? My right guard, Harrison Alexander. Who has been the best t...

    Mason Wheeler Ironton High School DL/ATH 2026 6’ 225 lbs Jersey #64 Awards won or earned:State champion in football and 2x power lifting state champion Who or what got you started playing football? My brother was the reason I started playing and is a huge part of my love for the game. What motivates you to continue playing football? The thought of making my family and the town of Ironton proud. What is the strongest part of your game? Definitely my strength and explosiveness. What part of your game are you hoping to improve before the season begins? My agility and ability to finish rushes with the quarterback on the ground As a football player, what has been your biggest moment? Winning the state championship and getting to bring that title back home Would you rather beat your rival and miss the playoffs or lose to your rival and make the playoffs? The goal of every season is to win the state championship, so I’d rather make playoffs. With this being your final high school...

  Brice Johnson Zane Trace High School Defense end and running back 2027 5’10in 210lbs 3 Words from Brice I plan to step up my game this season and work towards POY. What will you miss the most from the 2025 class? I’ll miss the friendship and the energy. What have you accomplished during the off-season to help you become a better player? I run track, so working on sprints and conditioning while still lifting has definitely contributed to me becoming a better football player. What do you feel the strongest part of your game is? I feel the strongest part of my game is playing hard every play and keeping the intensity all game. How do you believe power lifting helps you when it comes to football? I think it helps the most with keeping my strength, power, and explosiveness throughout the game. LB/DE/FB, of the three positions, which one do you like playing the best? Explain I love running back and everything about it, but there is just something about getting around that offensive tac...

  After working my shift, I made a quick stop in Dublin for a much-needed workout, and then I headed to Worthington to watch Kilbourne host Whetstone in softball. For Kilbourne, this was their senior night game, which had to be rescheduled a few times thanks to Mother Nature. The Wolves scored a single run on an error to take the 1-0 lead after one inning of play. The Braves locked it up in the 2nd inning when Sophie Schroeder scored on an error. The Wolves' offense howled big in the bottom of the 2nd inning, starting with an RBI single from Mallory McKinney to make this a 2-21 game. Andris Studdard doubles in two with a hot shot, making this a 4-1 game. Josie Janosy made this a 5-1 game with a double. Becca Boue' doubled to make it 7-1. Karris Studdard laced a single to make this an 8-1 game. The Wolves got a Boue' single in the third to increase their lead to 9-1. Whetstone was able to make this a 9-2 game on a single by #48 (not on the roster.) Then a throwing error allo...