MARTINS FERRY – While the numbers might be slightly down from a season ago, the talent level certainly isn’t at Martins Ferry.

The Purple Riders return 20 letterwinners from a team that went 5-5 in the regular season before dropping a Division VI, Region 23 playoff encounter to East Knox, 35-17. However, they were 5-2 at one point before dropping their last four.

Martins Ferry is switching divisions this year, however. It will bump up to D-V, Region 17 along with Bellaire, Buckeye Local Edison and Harrison Central.

Head coach Justin Kropka, entering his third season at his alma mater, has 53 kids out this fall. Of that number, only seven are seniors and 10 are freshmen. In the middle two grades, the total is 36 – 18 in each class.

“It’s a process but the numbers have continued to improve,” Kropka said. “We’ve got a small senior group this season, but we’re excited for them and the upcoming season. This is the first season that we haven’t had to teach the kids how to put the pads in their pants.

“We’re still going to be extraordinarily young. The amount of freshmen and sophomores in our two-deep scares me, but they’re a talented bunch and that’s kind of where we headed. All of these kids have been in the program, so we know what they can do and we have a little better idea where to put kids.

“We had a great offseason and I hope that leads to some more depth.”

Coach Justin Kropka discusses the upcoming season

Offensively, the majority of this unit returns with skilled athletes at nearly every position.

The Purple Riders are led by returning first team all-Ohioan Alex Reese (6-6, 220). This senior tight end/defensive end has already received NCAA Division I offers as most of the MAC schools have shown interest in him so far, plus a couple of bigger D-I schools.

“He’ll be able to pick and choose where he wants to go,” Kropka noted. “He’s not only a good football player, but he is a great kid. He is probably the easiest sell to college’s that I’ve ever had. He’s very good in the classroom and a great example for the younger guys as our leader. He does everything the right way.

“Sometimes when you’re a big fish in a small pond, you get big-headed but he’s not like that at all,” Kropka stressed. “He helps the younger kids and is a tremendous positive force.”

Reese also earned Tri-Eastern District Defensive Player of the Year last season after posting 34 tackles for losses, 86 total tackles and 13 quarterback sacks. He caused three fumbles, recovering two of them.

Another senior, Tev’n Williams (5-11, 185), will do a lot of things for the Purple Riders. Not only is he the starting tailback, but he can split out as a wide receiver. He also plays defense and is the team’s punter. He was third team all-Ohio last fall.

“He has obviously carried the workload for us at tailback,” Kropka said. As a junior, the speedster carried 146 times for 1,116 yards, an average of 7.5 yards per carry while scoring 12 TDs. He also caught 33 passes for 377 yards and two touchdowns. He finished with 96 points.

Returning at quarterback is senior Ayden Ludolph (5-9, 175). He completed 95 of 145 passes for 1,176 yards and a dozen six-pointers last season. He was picked off six times. He also ran 114 times for 859 and 12 TDs. Like Williams, Ludolph also averaged 7.5 yards a carry.

“Those three guys – Reese, Williams and Ludolph – have been our main guys for the last three years,” Kropka explained. “They’ve had to carry the brunt of the work, but now we feel we can give them some help this year.”

Sophomore Colby Kropka (5-11, 180), son of the head coach, also drew praise.

“He did a really good job as a backup quarterback last year for us. He will also play some safety for us and we feel very comfortable with him at quarterback.”

Juniors Maurice Barnett (5-10, 150) and Luca Shane (5-11, 185) should supply some of that much-needed help, as will Florida transfer Jacoby Thomas (5-7, 145). The sophomore has speed and agility.

“He got a lot of playing time last year as a sophomore. Maurice really came into his own some last year and we’re looking for bigger and better things from him this year,” Kropka said. “Luca has lettered two years for us and will start at fullback,” Kropka said. “He has put on about 20 pounds of muscle, and can also play tailback because of his speed. ”

Freshman Walkquem Cox (5-10, 175) is another player that Kropka is excited about.

“He can be a threat for us in the backfield. If he plays his cards right and does things the right way, he could be the next guy that colleges are coming to see,” Kropka admitted. “We feel that we can do different things with Tev’n because of what Walkquem brings to the table.

“It’s going to be tough to keep him off the field.”

Cox will start at outside linebacker.

Other running back candidates are seniors Jase Mahoney (5-7, 150) and Cole Kennedy (5-9, 150); junior Kaden Holmes (5-8, 170); sophomores Gunner Disher (5-8, 155) and Kadence Luckett (5-8, 165); and freshman Jacob Ball (5-9, 160).

Another freshman that has been a surprise is Elijah Roby (6-1, 165).

“He’s had a really great camp. He will see some time at wide receiver and in the defensive secondary,” Kropka added.

“We really like junior and sophomore receivers, but we are so talented with Alex and Tev’n, they are the only ones keeping them off the field right now,” Kropka noted.

Sophomores Keenan Lucey (5-9, 155) and Christian Shutler (5-7, 145), along with juniors Gavin Mulvey (6-0, 170) and Jermale Thompson (6-1, 155) have shown promise.

Also listed at wideout are senior Jamel Smith (6-0, 165); junior Chuckie Thompson (5-6, 130); sophomores Ayden Mercer (5-8, 140) and Michael Shaw (5-9, 155); and freshmen Colton Nixon (5-7, 135) and Maddox Painter (5-11, 165).

Tight ends are juniors Thomas More (6-0, 165), Nate Wasemann (6-0, 195), Wesley Sarko (5-10, 160); sophomores Jacob Theaker (6-1, 175) and Nathan Shaefer (6-2, 165); and freshman Luca DeArdo (6-0, 165).

When speaking about the offensive line, Kropka’s eyes lit up.

“We have no seniors among our top 10 linemen,” he offered. “We’re pretty solid up front.”

Junior classmates Tayson Palmer (5-10, 230) and Ethan Palmer (5-9, 185) pace the guys in the trenches.

“Tayson did a good job for us last year and Ethan was having a really good year last season until he got injured,” Kropka recalled.

Another junior, Jaxson Leonard (5-10, 210) has earned a spot on the line.

“Has worked his way from 15th on the depth chart last year to being our starting center this year.

A pair of promising sophomores – Alex Carpino (5-9, 265) and Malachi Giles (6-0, 245) – will see plenty of playing time.

“Alex started at the center for us last year. He did a good job and will be in the rotation up front for us, while Malachi is another kid we think has a chance to play on Saturdays. He has all the ability in the world.”

Also listed as offensive lineman are senior Braxton Norton (5-10, 245); juniors Carter Stenger (5-10, 195), David Freese (5-11, 170), Santino DeArdo (5-11, 195), Demitrious Ray (5-9, 275) and Saquan Carthen (5-8, 235); sophomores R.J. Welshans (5-10, 175), Aiden Giffin (5-10, 160), Zander DeLeau (5-10, 185), Elijah Zinn (5-10, 220) and Mehki Pearson (5-10, 210); and freshmen Clayton Snyder (5-10, 190), Brodie Hinton (5-9, 190), Tanner Roth (5-8, 150) and Bryden Volan (6-0, 155).

“Another freshman that kind of caught our eye during camp is the Snyder kid,” Kropka said. “He will play a lot for us.”

Defensively, Reese and Theaker are back at the ends, with More, Shaefer, Wasemann, Sarko and Luca DeArdo also listed.

The tackles are Tayson Palmer, Carthen, Snyder, Hinton, Giffen, Stengwer, Volan, DeLeau, Santino DeArdo, Freese, Zinn, Pearson, Giles, Carpino, Norton and Ray.

Welshans will man the middle linebacker spot.

“Had a good year at linebacker for us last year. He’s already become our leader on defense. More mature than his years,” Kropka added. “We’re expecting big things from him.”

Ethan Palmer, Shane, Leonard, Disher, Ball, Holmes and Roth are also listed as inside ‘backers, with Mahoney, Nixon, Kennedy, Patterson, Mulvey, Cox and Luckett on the outside.

In addition to Ludolph, Roby and Williams in the secondary, Barnett, Thomas, Shutler, Smith, Lucey, Chuckie Thompson, Jermale Thompson, Mercer, Shaw and Painter are also listed.

“The Thomas kid will probably play significant time, if not start for us, at corner or safety,” Kropka said.

Senior Luis Carneiro (5-8, 145), a foreign exchange student from Brazil, is listed at placekicker, but Kropka said Theaker will handle most of the kicking duties.

There are four new faces on the Purple Riders schedule, including River, Brownsville, Pa., Cambridge and Rootstown. They replace Lancaster Fisher Catholic, Newcomerstown, Weir and Wheeling Central.

Kropka is assisted by Anthony Reasbeck, who returns to the staff after a couple years hiatus, Bryan Mays, Gregg Bahen, Austin Yackey, Curt Secrist, Mikale Roby, Shane Gasmire, Tom Zinn and Matt Shreve.

Lost to graduation were Baron Lucey, Turner Krol, Kaden Archer, Carter Bennett, David Maguire, Matt Kennedy, Travis Trout, Andrew Leiffer, Shayden Fogle, Cam Beasley and Nisiah Carthen.