New Lexington football: Rebuild year? Think again.

NEW LEXINGTON — Usually, a school the size of New Lexington loses a big senior class, it takes a bit to recapture the magic.

That shouldn't be the case this season, as the Panthers have eyes on a reload in their bid to repeat as Muskingum Valley League-Small School Division champions.

Senior receiver Jerek Braglin gives fifth-year coach Kevin Board one of the league's most dangerous threats, even as no other starters return on offense.

Just four return on defense, including none along the line. Some eager beavers are hungry to prove their worth, however. Many were on a reserve team that finished 8-1 in 2022.

That gives Board some optimism.

"Even though we lost a lot, we got a lot of guys a ton of meaningful reps last year," Board said of an 8-3 campaign. "I feel like we are so much deeper this year. We can put guys in at any spot and have a backup to every single one. Last year, it was 'if this guy goes down or this guy goes down, oh boy.'"

Offense: New faces everywhere, including at QB

Three linchpins are gone in running back Hunter Rose, receiver Tatem Toth and quarterback Lukas Ratliff, all of whom earned All-Ohio mention as seniors.

Replacing Ratliff, a running and passing threat now at Marietta, is no small task. Dual-threat Junior lefty Isaiah Stephens (6-0, 160) and senior Drew Barnette (5-11, 190), an anticipatory passer, are next in line.

Stephens engineered a 98-yard touchdown drive against Nelsonville-York in a 7-all tie in the first half of their game situation scrimmage on Oct. 11.

"He has been my quarterback for a while now," Stephens said. "We've had a connection since biddy league. Obviously, we had a great quarterback last year in Lukas Ratliff. Isaiah and me, we have a connection. I couldn't ask for a better quarterback."

The explosive Braglin (6-3, 160) figures to turn many heads. He caught a team-high 43 passes for 513 yards (16.2 average) with five TDs, and had two others called back due to penalty.

Seniors Caleb Back (6-2, 165) and Trace Wollenberg (5-10, 165) and juniors Bentley Hanson (5-10, 150) and Talon Schwendeman (5-9, 165) will also play receiver roles, with senior Jack Wright (6-0, 200) and junior Carson Kellogg (5-9, 165) the next up at running back.

"Caleb Back is one of the of the fastest guys in our program and he is able to be a vertical threat for us," Board said. "Bentley has started since he was a freshman on defense. He has been good enough to play wide receiver, we just haven't needed him. He has shown this summer that he is right there with Jerek as a top receiving threat."

Brady Kennedy, now at Marietta, was among the heavy line losses, and this year's unit will be smaller.

It will also be quicker behind tackles Lane Baker (5-7, 185 sr.) and Tristan Braden (6-0, 200 soph.), guards Chase Shriner (5-8, 200 soph.) and Malakai Thresher (6-4, 235 jr.) and center Eli Stephens (6-3, 240 fr.). Thresher was due to be a two-way starter as a sophomore before a knee injury ended his season prematurely.

Colton Toner (5-10, 175 jr.), Bo Baker (6-3, 280 soph.) and Tucker Lones (6-3, 245 soph.) are also battling for playing time.

Defense: Veteran secondary will be a strength

The team allowed 290 yards per game and 31 touchdowns in 2022, but converted just 32 percent of their first downs. They were often building early leads in those games.

With just one starter back in the front seven, a seasoned back end will be needed to be even better.

Cornerbacks Hanson and senior Cameron Dumolt (5-10, 180) and safety Wollenberg are the headliners in the secondary in taskmaster Nick Phillips' 3-4 scheme. The vacant free spot is manned by sophomore Malachi Rider (5-6, 145) and Kellogg.

Thresher has been a force at end during the preseason along the line, where every face is new in ends Wright, Andrew Spicer (6-2, 185 jr.) and Braden, and nose men Shriner and sophomore Bo Baker.

The linebackers behind them feature two key figures inside in Lane Baker and Harrison Ratliff (5-9, 155 soph.), who was the team's fifth-leading tackler as a freshman. Nick Finley (6-1, 200 jr.) and Corey Adam (5-8, 175 jr.) are the newcomers outside, along with backups Back and Spicer.

Outlook: 'We'll play that underdog role if we need to'

Board feels his team will "fly under the radar" after losing so much firepower, adding that West Muskingum, given its returning production from last year's playoff team, rightly deserves the attention.

"And Morgan is going to be tough," Board said. "I think the Small School Division is going to be a battle. Our goal every year is we want to compete for that Small School title. We will play the underdog role if we need to."

A 12-man senior class will need plenty of help from their younger up-and-comers. Early returns are positive.

"This team, I come here every day wanting to be with these guys," Braglin said. "Last year, we had some people as teammates who did the wrong things outside of school and in practices, stuff like that. This team brings a different type of energy. I'm just really ready for this season."

Board can sense it.

"This group just feels like a real tight-knit group," Board said. "They talk about culture, doing the right things and doing things well. Sometimes you play with teammates you don't necessarily like to be around. This group really enjoys playing with each other."

Inside the Huddle

Key returnees: Jeric Braglin (WR), Lane Baker (LT/ILB), Bentley Hanson (WR/C), Trace Wollenberg (WR/S), Chase Dumolt (C), Harrison Ratliff (ILB).

Key newcomers: Malakai Thresher (G/DE), Isaiah Stephens (QB), Chase Shriner (G/NG), Carson Kellogg (RB/S), Jack Wright (RB/DE), Caleb Back (WR/OLB).

Coaching staff: Kevin Board (HC/OC), Nick Phillips (DC), Chad Cook, Ryan Lewis, Michael Spurgus, Bill Padgett, Seth Russell, Dan Morgan, Jeff Wolfe, Doug Sheppard.

Classification: Division IV, Region 15.

Last Muskingum Valley League title: 2022

Last playoff appearance: 2022 (10 total)

Regional titles: 2 (1976, 2008)

This article originally appeared on Zanesville Times Recorder: New Lexington High School football: Rebuild year? Think again.