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OVAC All-Star Game Kicks Off Tonight

WHEELING — The Ohio and West Virginia teams have went through a steamy week of practices. The Queen of Queens have had their talent show. The McDonald’s Band and Cheerleaders have fine tuned their instruments and routines, respectively. It’s game time!

The OVAC Rudy Mumley All-Star Football Game represents the start to the fall high school sports season. The 71st edition of the late July spectacle is slated to kick off at 7:15 tonight inside what-is-expected-to-be a stacked Wheeling Island Stadium. Gates open at 5:30.

Ohio leads the all-time series 43-26 and there’s been one tie. However, West Virginia has won four of the last six — including 35-7 last year — after the Buckeyes had reeled off 14 of 15 from 1995-2009. Since the OVAC took over sponsorship of the contest in 1972, Ohio holds a 28-15-1 mark.

Both head coaches — Ohio’s Kevin Gunn of Cambridge and Chris Daugherty of Wheeling Park — expect a hard-hitting, physical game in their first go-round.

“They’ve got a lot of great talent,” Daugherty said of the Buckeyes. “Offensively, they’ve got the capability to throw the ball or run it. Defensively, they’ve got some great athletes there, too.”

Gunn said he and daugherty have talked during the week of preparations.

“You know what they are going and try to do, but you don’t know,” Gunn said. “I know they like to use five-man fronts and zone blocking schemes, so we’ll have to prepare accordingly.”

When Ohio has the football, Meadowbrook’s Dalton Wiggins will get the start at quarterback. He will be backed up by Caldwell’s Tanner Clark and Steubenville Central’s Tony Barber.

The tailbacks will be Martins Ferry’s Andrew Hython and Travis Stenson of Harrison Central, while the fullbacks will be Drew Lowery of Toronto and Shadyside’s Stevie Doughty.

Harrison Central’s Brandon Mitchell leads a talented cast of wide receivers, which also includes Arjay Burress of Martins Ferry; Austyn Porter of Harrison Central; and the Cambridge duo of Josh Lewis and Josh Seckman. Lining up at tight end will be Matthew Barbour of Martins Ferry and Shadyside’s Mason Campbell.

“We’ve got some very talented kids that we want to get in space,” Gunn said of his offensive strategy. “We’ll definitely spread the field.”

Manning the trenches will be center Cole Susac of Barnesville; guards Michael Furbee of St. Clairsville and Indian Creek’s Zach Williams, while Caldwell’s Chance Rucker will play one tackle and Justin Kilburn of Monroe Central the other.

Defensively, the Buckeyes will utilize the 3-4 alignment with Barnesville’s Logan Castello at nose guard. The down tackles are Barbour and Campbell.

Lining up as inside linebackers will be St. Clairsville’s hard-hitting duo of Cole Skaggs and Jakob Stewart, while Hython and Indian Creek’s Zach Cole will roam the outside.

The secondary consists of Mitchell and Union Local’s Demitree Turner at the corners, with Lewis and Buckeye Local’s Nathan Bloom at safeties. River’s Joey Flannery will also play safety.

East Liverpool’s Austyn Dozier could play fullback or linebacker, while Monroe Central’s Tanner Potts, Shenandoah’s Michael VanFossen, Caldwell’s Clay Poling and East Liverpool’s Charles Iacobucci are all listed as two-way linemen.

Adam Fox of Cambridge will handle the placekicking and kickoff duties. Campbell will be the punter.

West Virginia, like its border rival, will spread the ball out all over the field.

Taking the snaps from center will be Morgantown quarterback Zayne Hern. His backup is Valley’s Trey Streets. Weir’s fleet-footed Kam Brown is listed as the featured back. He will be spelled by Magnolia’s Tyler Anderson and John Marshall’s Chase Gump.

On the receiving end of the aerials will be Wheeling Park’s Jamez Coles, Parkersburg South’s Cole Day and Linsly’s Cole Griffin. Oak Glen’s Cyle Perez could also see time on the outside. Magnolia’s Kyle Ritz is the tight end, while Perez can also play there.

Anchoring the offensive line will be John Marshall’s Gage Adams at center. The guards will be Mitchell Powers of Morgantown and Clay-Battelle’s Tanner Six. Manning the tackles are Wheeling Park’s Richard Blackwell and Magnolia’s Zack Haught.

Defensively, the Mountaineers will also employ a 3-4 alignment with Weir’s Kyle Baldwin at nose guard. Blackwell and Madonna’s Nate Martin will be the tackles.

Gump and Wheeling Park’s Clay McDonald will serve as inside linebackers, with Linsly’s Von Wooding and Wheeling Park’s Isaiah Myers on the outside. Wheeling Central’s Brandon Angalich and Cameron’s Wyatt Mackey will also see action here.

Coles and University’s Kaleb Jennings will man the corners, while Brooke’s Matthew Lazear is the strong safety. John Marshall’s Austin Skrzyneki is the free safety. Brooke’s Justin Loughrie is listed here, as well.

Weir’s Brandon Taylor, Oak Glen’s Noah Flowers and Bishop Donahue’s Dylan Druschel are listed as two-way linemen.

Morgantown’s Brady Hatch is the punter. Wheeling Park’s Chase Adams handles the kicking duties.

“These kids are all stars for a reason,” Daugherty, who guided Wheeling Park to its first-ever W.Va. Class AAA state championship last fall, said. “We knew they were leaders for their schools. We also knew they practiced and worked hard.

“Our biggest concern was getting them all on the same page as far as x’s and o’s goes.”

He said Anderson has been a pleasant surprise.

“With all the stuff we were throwing at them, we didn’t think anyone would pick it all up,” he noted. “But the Anderson kid has shown his versatility and could end up playing multiple positions.”

While Gunn reported no serious injuries, Daugherty said Taylor is questionable, but should be able to play.

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