photo by: Lauren Florence

River quarterback Kabel Isaly throws a pass during the first half of Saturday’s Division VII, Region 27 playoff game against Caldwell at St. Clairsville’s Red Devil Stadium.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — Entering his 23rd year at the helm, St. Clairsville football coach Brett McLean feels last year’s 9-3 season was a great building block for this upcoming season.

The Red Devils impressed all season long before bowing out in the second round of the playoffs.

“We had a very successful season with a nine-win team,” McLean said. “Wins don’t come easy. We got a playoff win but we bowed out a little earlier than we wanted to. I think attrition wore on us as the year went on and that’s what we’re trying to prepare for this year. We have to try to keep gas in the tank but it will be important that we keep energy throughout the entire season because it can be emotionally draining going up against rivals and quality programs each and every week.”

While St. Clairsville does return some great talent at most positions, there were some key losses to graduation.

“We’re losing a strong senior group that had a lot of character and leadership,” McLean said. “We lost our starting quarterback Andrew Vera who was a great player. He played in the OVAC All-Star Game and the North-South All-Star Game. We lost Drue Joswiak who played in both all-star games as well and was an all-state kid. Marcus Rector and Jamarcus Webster are both going to Wheeling University to play. Jacob Walker was a 1,300-yard running back for us last year. Those kids catapulted us into this year and hopefully this group of seniors will emulate the good that they learned from them.”

It’s always tough to replace those senior leaders on and off the field but McLean believes it can help build character for this year’s team.

Coach Brett McLean discusses the upcoming season

“The biggest thing I’m looking for right now is building some character,” McLean said. “We’ve got a great group of seniors again. I love them to death. We have to be mentally strong and fight through adverse conditions when it gets tough. When it gets tough at practice, when it gets tough in games and when it gets tough in life. That’s what I want to see from this group because our character will be tested every single week.”

Also with several spots up for grabs, McLean sees the position battles fueling each player and pushing them to be better in all aspects of the game and it all starts on the offensive line.

“We have a lot of kids on the roster and it’s creating competition at every single job,” McLean said. “When that happens it can make you better than you are without competition.

“Every position is wide open for us but we do have returning starters. We have three guys up front on the offensive line in Perry Patrone, Griffin Fogle and Bradyn Galloway who are true returning starters so we will lean heavily on them. J.R. Adams and Wyatt Toothman had some playing time on the line last year as well. Some young guys in Troy Neal, Kambel Sall and Liam Tomlin will compete and solidify eight or nine spots on the line.”

Many eyes in camp are on the quarterback competition as three young gunslingers are battling out for the starting spot this year.

“Brady Schafer, Colt Westlake and Sam McLean are all in the mix for the quarterback job,” McLean said. “We’re really excited about the competition there. All of those guys have had some varsity minutes at times.”

The St. Clairsville running game will have several guys toting the football after the graduation of Walker a year ago.

“Walker was the primary ball-carrier last year but Dino Burk and Gavin Schoolcraft both return. Dino had a season ending injury in Week 3 last year and was just starting to sprout for us. He’s healthy and excited to get back in the mix. With that injury, Schoolcraft got a lot of playing time so we’re excited to have them back. We have some depth there too with Ollie Muhly because we are excited about what he can do. It’s always going to take three or four running backs to get the job done and that’s what we are shaped for.”

Lining up at receiver for the Red Devils are Cole Thoburn, Colt Westlake, Tyson Pastor, Gage Wolfe, Drew Gasber and Tearyn Dukes.

With Jozwiak gone to graduation, the tight end position will be an intriguing spot to watch with Brennan Stout, Brody Saunders, Ryan Newton and Colten Florence all vying for playing time.

Marcus Bush, Max Fogle and Micky Balgo will spend time at fullback.

Handling the kicking duties will be senior Jacob Meager with MaKenna Booth and Parker Galloway also vying for time.

The Red Devils have a large portion of the defense coming back next year with the linebackers leading the way.

“Our linebackers are the core of the team,” McLean said. “Max Fogle and Brennan Stout are returning starters at inside linebacker, while Gavin Schoolcraft, Harison Kazmirski, Dino Burk and Micky Balgo are all vying for playing time.”

While there is a lot of depth at linebacker, McLean and company certainly have no lack of players on the defensive line either.

“On our defensive front, Brody Saunders is returning at defensive end and J.R. Adams is returning at defensive tackle. Marcus Bush and a host of about 25 other guys can also play there too. We probably have more guys who can play defensive tackle than any other position on the team so we will rotate guys in and out to look for the best combination to keep players fresh. We’ve been blessed with some strong kids over the last several years and the competition will make the best rise to the top. Kyle Rankin is doing a tremendous job at defensive end for us and he will see a lot of time there. Colten Florence has also thrown his hat in that ring.”

Filling out the defense will be a plethora of returning players in the backfield.

“Westlake and Thoburn both started at corner for us last year,” Coach McLean said. “Dukes started and Caleb Walz saw a lot of time. A lot of guys back there are returning starters. Drew Gasber, Ollie Muhly and Tyson Pastor are going to see time there too.”

Filling out the roster are seniors Civin Murray, Toby Miller, Chris Somerville, Griffin Fogle, Jacob Thornton, Shaun Gettings and Jordan Clemons; juniors Julian Kingery, Jakob Brannan and Ryan Ivey; sophomores Rowan Mellott, Kaden Clifford, Derrick Panepucci, Nico Jacob, Jace Carpenter, Kolton Ferguson, Guy Vcelka, Daelyn Harris, Therron Fillon, Brody Bolyard, Grady Gwalchmai, Jacob Tomich, Levi Shunk, Jace Isaly, Masin Samaniego, Asa Sabo, Tom Wolfe, Alex Renner, Dane Kinney and Malachi Greathouse; and freshmen Eligha Hill, Tyler Schubert, Matheson King, Dareion Williams, Griffin Pastor, Kale Fisher, Tim Crain, Mason Wilt, Hugo Sustaita, Bo Donley, Brody Russell, Carson VanDyne, Ronevan Calvert, Dalton Neff and Landen Serrano.

Assistant coaches include Don Giffin, Kevin Sacco, Ben Frye, Chris Patrone, Eric Gay, Gary Hull, Vern Ridgway, Steve Hicks, Anthony Skrabak, Mike Jacob, Chris Balog, Jeremy Schafer, Chris Fogle, John Kutcher, Alex Krupa and Tyler Tonkovich.

“We’re excited for the season,” Coach McLean said. “We are hoping for good health and we have a majority of our coaching staff back. They are great guys and I put a lot of demands on them and they always answer the call.”