Photo by Seth Staskey Senior running back Jacksan Price (4) has powered Union Local during its 3-0 start to the season.

Losing an All-Ohio running back in the first game of the season would be a big blow to any team. Luckily for the Union Local Jets, they just so happened to have another highly-talented tailback chomping at the bit.

UL senior Jacksan Price opened as the Jets’ starting tailback in 2021 and got off to a great start, running for 126 yards and three touchdowns in the team’s season-opener. It was in that opener, however, that Price suffered the leg injury that would cost him the rest of the season.

In his place, Hayden McCrate stepped in and earned All-Ohio accolades by running for more than 1,200 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Fast-forward to 2022 and the Jets looked to have one of the most lethal backfields in the valley with McCrate back and Price fully healthy.

As fate would have it, however, this time McCrate went down in the season-opener and Price has been the one shouldering the extra load. And as if to make up for the time he missed last season, Price has been running like a man possessed as the Jets have started the season at a perfect 3-0.

In week one, Price ran for 147 yards and four touchdowns. In week two, he topped that with 186 yards and four more scores. Finally in the team’s most recent 60-14 win over previously-undefeated Martins Ferry, Price one-upped himself once again, going for 234 yards and a trio of touchdowns.

“Jacksan is pretty good,” UL coach Bernie Thompson said after the win. “He and (quarterback) Carter (Blake) came to us early in the week and said ‘give us the ball.’ We planned to ride them and they did their job.”

Price’s rushing total through three weeks of play sits at 567 yards and 11 touchdowns on 44 carries. That works out for a 12.9 yard-per-carry average.

He’s also shown the ability to break the big one, scoring a long touchdown in each game so far this season. He went 47 yards to the endzone in week one, 67 in week two and for 72 yards against the Purple Riders.

Price and the Jets will face another tough test this week with undefeated Harrison Central coming to town for a battle of 3-0 teams.

Offensive Player of the Week

Jacksan Price, Union Local — Ran for 234 yards and three scores while continuing to fill in for injured All-Ohioan Hayden McCrate. Scored on runs of eight, 11 and 74 yards. Also had a two-yard scoop and score touchdown on defense.

Defensive Player of the Week

Raymond Kovalesky, Linsly — Racked up 18 total tackles, eight of which were solo stops with one being a tackle for loss. Also forced a fumble as the Cadets came oh-so-close to knocking off Fairmont Senior.

Special Teams Player of the Week

Ashton Collett, John Marshall — Made the difference in a defensive slugfest between John Marshall and Weir by breaking off a 90-yard kickoff return touchdown as the Monarchs won 13-6.

Ground Gainers

Brayden Roth, Bellaire — Ran for 72 yards and a pair of scores as the Big Reds pocketed their first win.

Skyler Ebright, Buckeye Local — Opened the scoring with a 91-yard jaunt to the endzone, finishing with 135 yards on the ground.

Dylan Palmer, Buckeye Local — Powered the Panthers with 120 rushing yards and three touchdowns.

Michael Marshall, Bridgeport — Ran for 106 yards and a touchdown on just eight carries.

Gavin Moore, Brooke — Averaged better than 10 yards a carry with 12 totes for 131 with a pair of touchdowns.

Mykel Quito, Harrison Central — Went for 127 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries.

Gavin Bozica, Steubenville — Carried the ball 21 times for 90 yards and a pair of short-yardage touchdowns for undefeated Big Red.

Triston Bates, Valley — Averaged an absurd 14 yards on 18 carries for 256 rushing yards and four trips into the endzone.

Lorenzo Ferrera, Wheeling Central — Ran wild for 206 yards on just 10 carries. Scored on runs of four, 20, 33 and 56 yards. Also returned a kickoff 60 yards before flipping the ball back to Paxton Marling so his fellow senior could celebrate senior night with a score of his own.

Isaac Martin, Wheeling Central — The tough-running freshman gained 112 yards on just eight carries and scored from 33 yards out.

Aerial Attack

Jake Heatherington, Bellaire — Threw for 164 yards and a touchdown while running for 20 more yards and another score. Also connected on three PAT kicks.

Colin Jackson, Bridgeport — Continued his torrid start to the season with 248 yards and four passing touchdowns to go with 106 rushing yards.

Colson Wichterman, Cameron — Found the endzone on half of his completions throwing for 119 yards and three touchdowns on 6-of-11 passing. Also ran for 29 yards and another touchdown.

Gage Cline, Edison — Didn’t throw a ton of passes, but made them all count, tossing three touchdowns for 77 yards on eight completions. Also ran in a score.

Hayden Cassidy, Harrison Central — Threw for 192 yards and two touchdowns on 12 completions and added a third touchdown on the ground.

Atley Cowan, Linsly — Cowan followed last week’s impressive debut with 262 yards and three touchdowns against Fairmont Senior.

Lucas McAllister, Madonna — Passed for 211 yards and five touchdowns in his debut as the Blue Dons’ starter.

Andrew Vera, St. Clairsville — Turned in a great all-around performance, going 11-of-17 on pass attempts for 232 yards and three touchdowns while also running for 51 yards and a score.

Brett Phillips, Wheeling Park — Completed 13-of-21 pass attempts for 141 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Also ran for 41 yards and a score on just four carries.

Mr. Everything

CJ Hannahs, Barnesville — Carried the ball 21 times for 104 yards and a 13-yard touchdown while also completing eight passes for 119 yards through the air.

Taison Starr, Barnesville — Ran for 75 yards and two touchdowns, caught three passes for 64 yards and returned a fumble 30 yards for a score on defense.

Payton Neely, Cameron — Showcased his play-making abilities by running eight times for 106 yards and two touchdowns and catching three passes for 67 yards and two more scores.

Jacob Coffield, John Marshall — Scored the Monarchs’ lone offensive touchdown with 79 rushing yards and a two-yard score. Completed three passes for 63 yards.

Luca DiLorenzo, Linsly — The move to receiver is working for the former QB as he scored an 80-yard touchdown and finished with 116 yards on four receptions. He also nabbed an interception on defense.

Chase Littleton, Madonna — Made two touchdown receptions and also returned a fumble for a score on defense.

Kholton Goodlin, Oak Glen — Led the Golden Bears with 116 rushing yards on 18 carries while also finding the endzone. Was also credited with 15 stops on defense, 12 solo.

Isaiah Tomlonis, Union Local — Stepped in at QB because of an injury and completed three passes for 78 yards and a touchdown. Also ran for 15 yards and a score and had a 64-yard pick-six on defense.

Gavin Derby, Valley — The sophomore QB dazzled with five touchdowns on offense and two interceptions on defense. He completed four passes for 121 yards and three scores while running for 186 yards on 18 carries and two more touchdowns.

Malachi Stromile, Weir — Ran for 67 yards and Weir’s lone score and also completed six passes for 69 yards.

Mykel Davis, Wheeling Park — Had a 60-yard kickoff return touchdown.

Good Hands Team

Ray Ray Pettigrew, Bellaire — Finished with 106 yards on five receptions, including a 50-yard touchdown.

Avery Jackson, Bridgeport — Showed a great connection with his QB brother, making seven receptions for 104 yards and three touchdowns.

Tre Rex, Harrison Central — Made four receptions for 94 yards and two touchdowns for the victorious Huskies.

Baron Lucey, Martins Ferry — Caught a 68-yard touchdown, finished with 74 yards on two catches.

Tyson Pastor, St. Clairsville — Racked up an even 100 yards on four receptions, including a 48-yard touchdown.

Patrick Higginbotham, Valley — Only made three receptions but made the most of them, scoring on all three and racking up 111 yards.

Jerrae Hawkins, Wheeling Park — Reeled in five passes for 73 yards and touchdowns of 37 and 15 yards.

Wrecking Crew

Logan Gaschler, Brooke — Credited with 10 tackles, nine solo, with 2.5 tackles for loss.

Adam Angel, Cameron — Made nine tackles and blocked a punt for the Dragons.

Justin Vergona, Indian Creek — Made 13 tackles, eight solo, including one behind the line.

Luca Morelli, Indian Creek — Was all over the field with 11 tackles, six assists and a sack.

Caleb Bodo, Indian Creek — Did a little bit of everything with seven tackles, a sack and a pass break up.

Brody Cottrill, Linsly — Made a dozen stops, seven solo, while also registering a sack, forcing and recovering a fumble.

Drue Jozwiak, St. Clairsville — Made 10 solo tackles and 12 overall.

Charlie DiSaia, Wheeling Park — Made eight stops with two coming behind the line of scrimmage.

Isaiah Zelaski, Wheeling Park — Picked off a pair of passes as the Patriots won big.

Big Boot

Evan Lough, Barnesville — Booted five point-after attempts through the uprights.

Liam Watson, Edison — Kicked true on six point-after attempts.

Santiago Graneros, Linsly — Was perfect on three point-after attempts while also nailing a 32-yard field goal.

Jacob Meager, St. Clairsville — Connected on a 22-yard field goal with a pair of PATs.

Eli Tucker, Wheeling Central — Was perfect on seven point-after attempts and also picked off a pass as one of the Knight’s starting linebackers.

Aiden Forget, Wheeling Park — Impressed with a 41-yard field goal while also connecting on three PATs.