By Tom Williams

williams@vindy.com

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.

6Bryce McKenzieWR-DB5-8160Jr.

7Chris YanniWR-DB5-6125Fr.

8Dustin MartsoffRB-LB5-7155Jr.

9Josh SpeelmanWR-DB5-8145Fr.

10Chandler ChafinsWR-LB5-8170Jr.

10Isaac ReamWR-DB5-9155Fr.

11Kole McKenzieRB-LB5-9195Sr.

12Noah WestRB-LB5-9175Fr.

15Michael ClendenningRB-LB5-10185Fr.

20Chris SigleyRB-LB5-8155Sr.

21Robert JohnstonRB-LB5-10175Jr.

22Trevore McLaughlinQB-DB5-10150Jr.

23Jason KeyesRB-LB5-8140Jr.

24Chase HillardWR-DB6-1185Sr.

25Devon ZellersRB-LB5-10185Jr.

30Dawson CainRB-DB5-10145So.

32Logan BobbyRB-LB5-9185Sr.

33Justin FlowersRB-LB5-8180Jr.

34Torey CalioRB-DB5-8165Fr.

35Seth MarshallRB-LB5-9205Sr.

50Tyler KellyOL-DL5-10190Jr.

50Chad MaysOL-LB5-11165Fr.

53Justin McNicolOL-DL6-1205Jr.

53Jacob MorganOL-DL5-10220Fr.

54Jason JohnstonOL-DB5-10220So.

55Terry AdkinsOL-LB6-2245So.

55Damien EmerittOL-LB5-7145Fr.

56Dalton ZellersOL-LB6-2210Sr.

59Cody RiddleOL-DL6-2225Sr.

60Logan HughesOL-LB5-8165Fr.

61Mike BockOL-DL5-10205Fr.

61Trent YoungOL-DL5-10225Jr.

62Tristen ClendenningOL-DL6-2235Jr.

62Alex O’RourkeOL-DL5-8195Fr.

63Michael PinkertonOL-DL6-1250Sr.

64Zack ThomasOL-DL6-2145Fr.

70Mike WoodburnOL-DL6-0245Jr.

72Colton BeckwithOL-DL5-10295Sr.

72Parker SommersOL-DL5-10220Fr.

75Cade O’RourkeOL-DL5-8195Fr.

76Jason SimsOL-DL6-2285SR

77Wyatt AbragbriteOL-DL5-9200Fr.

78Andrew GibsonOL-DL6-0300Fr.

78Ben SmithOL-DL6-4275So.

79Austin LawrenceOL-DL6-3275Sr.

81Davonte GistWR-DB6-1185Sr.

82Zak KestnerTE-LB6-1175Fr.

84Oshea VantilburgWR-DB5-11145Fr.

85Steven WrightWR-DB5-10175Sr.