High School Football Preview: Ashland enters 2023 as a team of potential

Scott Valentine returns to lead the Ashland High School football team this season, where he previously coached the Arrows from 2002-2018.

Under the direction of Sean Seder in 2022, Ashland posted a 6-5 overall record and 4-3 slate in the Ohio Cardinal Conference, making an appearance in the Division II state playoffs where they lost to eventual state champion Toledo Central Catholic.

Valentine guided Madison last season but with the Arrows this year he hopes to improve on both records and says it won't be easy.

"We will not have the varsity experience that last year's team had," Valentine said. "With the big senior class last year, now we have mostly newcomers. We feel good about the group we have."

Offense

Ashland will again employ a spread offense, led by sophomore quarterback Nathan Bernhard, who is back healthy after an injury-riddled 2022 season. Three-year letterman senior Cayden Spotts returns on offense at running back.

"He is a strong runner and should be a big part of our offense," Valentine noted. "I think our team strength will be our overall team speed."

Others expected to contribute on offense include senior letterman Isaac Stewart at wide receiver, junior wide receivers Jayden Goings (6-3, 176) and Michael Franz (5-9, 155), along with sophomore running back Gabe Baith.

Defense

The Arrows will run multiple defensive sets and will be led by Spotts at linebacker, seniors Austin Downing and Josh Pancake also at linebackers, senior Owen Repp at defensive tackle, junior Nolan Larue on the line, junior Joey Isenhart at guard, junior Cooper Smith on the line, junior Tyler Sauder, Stewart, Goings and Franz at defensive backs, and sophomore Gunner Lacey also able to help at linebacker.

"Austin should be a contributor on both sides of the ball," Valentine said. "Tyler will be the leader in the secondary for us, then contribute as a receiver. Gunner is a returning starter on defense and we will need him to have a big year."

Gamebreaker: Nathan Bernhard, QB, so.

"Offensively, Nathan will be a big part of what we do," Valentine said of his versatile signal-caller.

Keeping Bernhard healthy will be key and he'll have to adapt to some new wide receivers as Ashland lost many good ones from last year. The 6-foot-5 sophomore is already being recruited by big-time college programs. He's the type of talent who can elevate an entire team.

Ohio Cardinal Conference

"West Holmes is the returning champion so I feel they are probably the favorite," Valentine said. "Mansfield Senior is always good. We hope to be near the top at the end of the season."

Ashland hosts River Valley in independent play at 7 p.m. Friday at Community Stadium.

This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: Football: a season preview of the 2023 Ashland Arrows