Beaver Local returns 15 starters, eyes better year

August 24, 2014 at 12:00a.m.

LISBON

Agreeing on your top rival when you’re an independent team can be a challenge.

Beaver Local is about to begin its second season as an independent after withdrawing from the All-American Conference. Ask the players and head coach which game will get them most fired up and the answers vary.

“East Liverpool is a big rival here,” said head coach Jeremy McElroy who begins his third season. “It’s huge, it’s the Ohio-State-Michigan game for us.”

This year’s Beaver Local-East Liverpool comes in Week 9.

“It’s a game that we shoot for,” McElroy said. Then he added: ”Crestview is another [opponent] we shoot for.”

Senior LB/RB back Kole McKenzie agreed with his coach’s second choice.

“They will be a good test,” said McKenzie of the Rebels, last year’s Division V Region 17 runners-up.

Senior lineman Jason Sims didn’t hesitate when asked which opponent fires him up.

“East Palestine for sure,” said Sims who plays right tackle on offense and nose tackle on defense.

Sims also mentioned Oak Glen, Buckeye Local, Crestview and East Liverpool.

No one mentioned Niles, the only AAC team still on the Beavers’ schedule.

Last season, Beaver Local opened with a 36-7 loss at Crestview and finished 2-8.

Along the way, a lot of younger players got into games, sparking hope that this year’s team will be better.

No one is more confident than McKenzie.

“We’ll finish well above .500,” McKenzie said. “It’s obviously a big year for me. It’s my last year so I want to make it the best year possible and have the best season I’ve ever had.”

Told of McKenzie’s positive enthusiasm, McElroy grinned.

“Good,” he said. “He’s a good senior leader.”

OFFENSE

The Beavers have eight starters returning on offense, including junior quarterback Trevore McLaughlin who passed for 501 yards and six touchdowns.

“He’s progressed,” McElroy said. “He’s now anticipating things, which makes it nice. We’ve kind of changed things up with him, put more of an onus on him pre-snap.”

Junior running back Robert Johnstonled the Beavers’ offense with 752 yards on 157 carries. He scored five TDs.

Receivers are Hayden Grafton and Bryce McKenzie. Also returning with Sims to the line are Austin Lawrence, Colton Beckwith and Cody Riddle.

“Last year, we were young and played about eight sophomores,” McElroy said, adding the biggest differences are “the simple things of reaction instead of thinking and playing faster. Those make them better players.”

DEFENSE

Seven starters return, including Sims and Riddle on the line. The secondary is anchored by Bryce McKenzie, Chase Hillard and Chris Sigley. Kole McKenzie and Dustin Martsolf are veteran linebackers.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Hillard is the punter and kicker.

OUTLOOK

The Beavers’ schedule is as nontraditional as a current Mahoning Valley parochial school. Locally, they’ll be challenged by Crestview, Niles and East Liverpool. Interesting tests will come against teams from down the Ohio River — Buckeye Local, Indian Creek, Oak Glen (W.Va.) and Claymont.

“Buckeye Local and Indian Creek have become new rivals,” Kole McKenzie said. “East Palestine has been a big rival for us and lately Crestview has been big.”

Would you rather play them later?

“Oh no, I want to open up with them.”

Sims concurred

“I’m the same way,” Sims said. “It’s a great rivalry, right along Route 7.”

ROSTER

1Elliott CollinsWR-DB5-9145Sr.

1Shane WrightWR-DB5-8140Fr.

2Justin DavisWR-DB5-8155Jr.

3Luke CallQB-LB5-9175Fr.

4Hayden GraftonWR-DB5-9155Sr.

4Hayden WilsonWR-DB5-7135Fr.

5Dalton BakerWR-DB5-8145Sr.