2018 OVC Football Offseason Talk and Outlook

[Pa Trojan]

I never considered the Trojans a power house, in any league, we had three really good teams in the early part of the century, but have struggled in years prior and after,its just a matter starting a new era,Im getting older, my dream of seeing a Trojans State Title, is very grim in my lifetime

[14U]

I think it’s bigger picture than just kids, players, coaches. In my opinion it’s how the towns are these days!! People moving to get away from the bad things happening, shootings, drugs and prostitution. In both towns u have gang members from bigger cities coming in and ur town is getting scary for kids not wantin to play football so they transfer or move out to county schools where all this isn’t happening. Just look how the school size has went down big time for both schools. I don’t see any out of town coach bring his family in this mess, would you? In house is the only coaches you will find to coach in these messed up towns or situation. Portsmouth and Ironton use to be a great town to bring up ur family and watch great football games, not now

[YOU'RE TIGER BAIT]

I never considered the Trojans a power house, in any league, we had three really good teams in the early part of the century, but have struggled in years prior and after,its just a matter starting a new era,Im getting older, my dream of seeing a Trojans State Title, is very grim in my lifetime

pa, let's agree to disagree. Portsmouth has been a powerhouse of a southern ohio football program I believe. though they have never won a state championship game. they won many league titles and have a storied playoff history, and always played an aggressive, exciting, challenging schedule. they have not had the type of success as ironton and wheelersburg playoff wise.but anyone that has ever been affiliated with the Ironton/Portsmouth game knew it was a river battle you did not want to miss, ever. I know they have lost their way success wise as of late. maybe even the last decade. but they are certainly a force to be reckoned with when they are on their game. and here's hoping that their next coach will return them back into southern football power again.

[YOU'RE TIGER BAIT]

I would absolutely love to see an ironton/ny series again. but ironton's schedule does not mention Russell, ky or Ashland, ky. I cannot imagine those teams not continuing their rich playoff histories in these series'. Russell has finally taken a few from the tigers. but the Ashland/ironton series has been being played since the dinosaur were around. likely nearly as long as the ironton/Portsmouth series. I can't see them not renewing. but if they don't it could create some exciting possibilities for old rivalries to rekindle.

[YOU'RE TIGER BAIT]

maybe ironton could restart a rivalry, with ny, Portsmouth west, Athens, Jackson, logan or somebody or somebody like valley,oak hill, Minford or the like.

[Osu fan]

If my tigers are able to avoid the injury bug this season, I think they easily win the OVC and make the playoffs! And I may be in the minority here, but I think Vass gives them the best chance to do both.

[Geronimo]

I see GAHS right at the top! 8-2 guess.

[Pa Trojan]

Been a Portsmouth Trojan Football fan for 45 years, Sure we have had some nice runs over the years,but honestly those runs have been few and far between in the past 45 years. Trojans did play very tough opponenets for most of these years, but not often have we been a state ranked team, and never on a year in basis for a long period of time. Power houses expect it each and every season, we have never been very consistant

[trojandave]

Portsmouth has never been a consistent power in football since the inception of the playoffs in 1972. Since that year, the Trojans have made the postseason only 9 times in 45 years, with no appearances in the last 10 years. They have advanced to the Final 4 twice, in 1984 and 2000, but lost in the semifinals both times. Ironton, Wheelersburg, and Gallia Academy all have a lopsided series lead vs. Portsmouth during that 45 year span. During that period also, league titles were non-existent. The Trojans never won the OKAC in 8 years, SEOAL in 7 years, and have not won the OVC to date. The perception of Portsmouth as a football power were just that, a perception.

9 times in 45 years making the playoffs speaks for itself. 80% of the time the Trojans are on the outside looking in.......and that's not even making the top 8 in the region, let alone advancing past the first round.

[YOU'RE TIGER BAIT]

dave, those facts surprise me. it seemed like more to me, it really did. I love the ironton rivalry and hope it always continues.

[svac83]

they were definitely somewhat improved. but rock hill strummed them.

Blue devils were just trying to figure out how to deal with losing there top offensive and defensive player in this game. They began to build a ton of depth this year.

They have had solid weight room numbers ever since conditioning opened back up even though they have several that play basketball and wrestle I still here they are having good attendance.

[golfis4me]

Here’s how I see it going.

1. Coal Grove (defense will hurt losing a lot of starters, but tons of talent returning for the grove with what will be a solid senior class)
2. Rock Hill (tons of talent comes back, played a lot of underclassman last year)
3. Ironton (has the talent, who knows if they can put it together after the garbage fire that started last year, players “maybe” transferring will impact too)
4. Gallia (The new coach is building a program, returns solid players, you could flip them or ironton.)
5. Fairland (lost their two best players, return Lambiotte, Wilcoxon, and Sowards, but not a whole lot more)
6. Portsmouth (shaky coaching situation and if the rumors of Parker to the burg are true, Portsmouth will be a bottom feeder
7. Chesapeake (could flip them or Portsmouth depending on if Parker plays. The quarterback is a heck of a runner, just still don’t see much there this year)
8. South Point (Hopefully they can get players out to play, tough situation there with the youth)

What is the "tough situation there with the youth" at South Point?

[GalliaGrad78]

Here’s how I see it going.

1. Coal Grove (defense will hurt losing a lot of starters, but tons of talent returning for the grove with what will be a solid senior class)
2. Rock Hill (tons of talent comes back, played a lot of underclassman last year)
3. Ironton (has the talent, who knows if they can put it together after the garbage fire that started last year, players “maybe” transferring will impact too)
4. Gallia (The new coach is building a program, returns solid players, you could flip them or ironton.)
5. Fairland (lost their two best players, return Lambiotte, Wilcoxon, and Sowards, but not a whole lot more)
6. Portsmouth (shaky coaching situation and if the rumors of Parker to the burg are true, Portsmouth will be a bottom feeder
7. Chesapeake (could flip them or Portsmouth depending on if Parker plays. The quarterback is a heck of a runner, just still don’t see much there this year)
8. South Point (Hopefully they can get players out to play, tough situation there with the youth)

What is the "tough situation there with the youth" at South Point?

My guess is the drug use/ testing.
I wish that all high schools would drug test for all extra curricular activities.
I give South Point props for testing and doing the right thing even though it decimated their football team. Seems they have their priorities in order.

[YOU'RE TIGER BAIT]

I agree.
about the testing.

[Pa Trojan]

As do I .

[trojandave]

I am 100% for drug testing, and I salute the South Point administration for doing the right thing, probably knowing that there would be some fallout that would come with it.

[Beergoggleblues]

I 100% support it. They stuck with it even if it meant half there team was gone. Earlier in the year I heard peake was starting winter of this year. True or not who knows but I think it's awesome

[golfis4me]

All for it. My understanding at South Point is that a student who fails and wants to play again must attend drug counseling and is required to miss 30 percent of the season.

To put this in perspective though,194 of the 198 students who are participating in extra-curriculars at South Point passed the drug test. https://goo.gl/59YQbo. Injuries hurt them much more than losing a few to drug tests. Losing your 1st and 2nd string QB's for the year to injuries and having to go to a freshman was a tough way to start a season for an already young team.

[YOU'RE TIGER BAIT]

All for it. My understanding at South Point is that a student who fails and wants to play again must attend drug counseling and is required to miss 30 percent of the season.

To put this in perspective though,194 of the 198 students who are participating in extra-curriculars at South Point passed the drug test. https://goo.gl/59YQbo. Injuries hurt them much more than losing a few to drug tests. Losing your 1st and 2nd string QB's for the year to injuries and having to go to a freshman was a tough way to start a season for an already young team.

THAT IS AWESOME. I ALWAYS SAY TEACH YOUR KIDS TO HUNT AND FISH , THEN THEY'LL NEVER HAVE THE EXTRA MONEY TO SPEND IT ON DRUGS N ALCOHOL.

[YOU'RE TIGER BAIT]

does anybody know if the contracts are just to be signed later with Ashland as Russell showing as open dates. or are these series on hold or something.


IRONTON
24-Aug-18 A WHEELERSBURG
31-Aug-18
7-Sep-18 A PROCTORVILLE FAIRLAND
14-Sep-18
21-Sep-18 H SOUTH POINT
28-Sep-18 H CHESAPEAKE
5-Oct-18 A IRONTON ROCK HILL
12-Oct-18 H COAL GROVER DAWSON-BRYANT
19-Oct-18 H GALLIPOLIS GALLIA ACADEMY
26-Oct-18 A PORTSMOUTH