When one of the OHSAA’s smallest football-playing schools graduates 11 off a squad which earned a Division-VII playoff berth, is waving a white flag in order the following season?

Not at Beallsville High, where head coach and West Liberty U. product Rusty Bondy begins his fourth season at the Blue Devil helm with a new twist on offense, starting Friday night at Dave Caldwell Field against Zanesville Bishop Rosecrans.

“We lost a lot of talent at the skill positions,” said Bondy, whose 6-5 record club a year ago earned a four-hour Region 27 playoff trip to Portsmouth Notre Dame after concluding regular season play with a 4-hour bus ride to Van (W.Va.).

“I’m a believer in winning games at the line of scrimmage,” added Bondy, who played in the ’81 OVAC All-Star contest, “and we want to rely on our experienced returnees up front to help us develop our skill positions. Hopefully good things will come from there.”

The Blue-and-White roster numbers 22 and have geared up for Week 1 with a revamped offense. “We’ve made changes according to our personnel, switching from the wishbone to power formation with a dose of triple-option in the works,” Bondy mentioned.

Six senior lettermen lead the way as Dalton Fulton (6-2, 265) and Aaryn Baker (6-3, 255) are bookends on both sides of the ball. Kyler Graham (5-10, 170) is a two-way tackle, while Anthony Dunn (5-10, 165) and Joe Osborne (5-9, 155) are senior guards.

Rounding out the 12th grade list is tight end Logan Taylor (6-3, 175), who is stationed at linebacker on ‘D’.

Coach Rusty Bondy discusses the upcoming season

Two of the six junior Blue Devils penciled in along the line are center Cody Harley (5-8, 220) and guard Blake Johnson (5-11, 195), while Randy Henthorn (5-11, 140) can go at tight end and linebacker.

In a battle for the quarterback job is Ryan Dornon (5-11, 140), while guard/tackle Michael Ware (5-9, 165) and two-way back Kaleb Stephens (5-11, 140) complete the juniors.

Bondy is excited about his sophomore group of six, including back Gabriel Eing (6-1, 150), “a transfer from Corning Miller and a 4.0 student,” and Hunter Cole (5-7, 135), QB-1 early in practices “and a smart, athletic kid who I believe can run the option.”

Beallsville’s fullback is a chiseled sophomore Jayden Billingsley (6-2, 245), whom Bondy said, “is big, strong, fast, and doesn’t have an ounce of fat on him,”

Carter Tatsch (5-3, 140) is a center/noseguard, while Chaz Gasser (5-7, 135) is among the quarterback hopefuls. Two-way back Dakota Ware (5-6, 130 complete the 10th grade.

As is always the case at BHS, freshmen find their way for playing time out of necessity and Bondy has four on the varsity roster.

A tight end candidate is Jameson Bable (6-3, 200), an OVAC Jr. High track discus record-setter, and tailback Logan Tomolonis (5-8, 145). Other frosh are tight end Brendon Morris (6-2, 180) and guard/linebacker Carter Cole (5-8, 140).

“We went to Warren for 7-on-7’s against some really good teams and was pleased how the kids performed,” said the BHS boss, “but we’ve returned to a balanced line on offense and a base 5-3 on D.”

Graduation stripped Big Blue of some two-way standouts, including fullback/linebacker Connor Hagan, now wrestling at Wheeling University. Also gone is a trio participants in the BACF All-Star game – Marky Louden, Garrett Perkins, and Colton Shriver, while Brandon Necessary, Reed Smith, Thorn Stofell, James Palmer, Matt Stonebreaker, Tucker Otto, and Brady Moats earned their diplomas.

Probable offensive lineup for the Devils includes: center, Harley; tackles, Baker, Fulton; tight ends, Taylor or Bable; guards, Johnson, Dunn, Graham; backs, Billingsley, Eing, Morris or Tomolonis; quarterback, Cole or Dornon.

“It’s been a slow, improve-as-we-go process, but as our linemen have led the way in practice so our skill players will grow into their roles for success,” added Bondy.

Beallsville’s rich tradition in football includes reaching the state semi-finals in ’94 and the majority of the Big Blue staff are BHS grads. Assistants include Dave Wiles, defense; Rusty Lucas, offense; Mancel McFrederick, line, along with volunteers Paul Kanzigg, line; Rodney Schneider, special teams; Tommy Mellott, line, and John Yocum, quarterbacks.

Three new opponents are on the schedule as Bishop Rosecrans, Belpre and Wirt (W.Va.) replace Millersport, Paden City, and Van.