By Tom Williams

williams@vindy.com

LISBON

Last season, the Lisbon football team celebrated the 20th anniversary of its 1995 Division V state championship with the Blue Devils’ best season in more than a decade.

The Blue Devils posted wins over two of the Inter-Tri County League’s best programs (Crestview and South Range). They also defeated East Palestine, the surprise winner of the ITCL Red Tier.

And yet those wins weren’t enough to secure a league title. That’s because the league split into three tiers last year. In Week 7, Columbiana defeated Lisbon, 34-28, in overtime to win the first ITCL White Tier crown.

“We’re going to try and take back what we let slip through our hands last year,” senior lineman Jake Liberati said of the Columbiana loss. “This year, we’re going to do our best to come out on top.”

The Blue Devils lost a stellar group of seniors led by Liberati’s brother Josh at quarterback.

“[Last year] was amazing, being a part of the Lisbon’s comeback team,” senior safety/wide receiver Seth Davis said.

Offense

“We have some holes, but we feel we’re as athletic and maybe even a little more athletic then we were last year,” Coach Jim Tsilimos said. “We changed some things on both sides of the ball to fit our athleticism.“

The biggest switch is moving senior Colin Sweeney from wide receiver to behind center.

“He understands the speed of the game,” Tsilimos said. “Our offense is going to fit his skill.”

Seniors Jason Thompson and David Toot are the running backs. Liberati and Bailey McCullough will anchor the line.

DEFENSE

Thompson and Davis will be linebackers while McCullough and Liberati will be in the trenches.

Special teams

Sophomore Justin Sweeney returns as kicker and newcomer Marcus Nenichka will be the punter.

OUTLOOK

Tsilimos expects another competitive season.

“This senior group has been successful all the way through, the juniors behind them are pretty athletic,” Tsilimos said. “We have a lot of optimism.”

The winner of the Lisbon-Columbiana game should determine the league crown.