Correspondent photo / Lowell Spencer Columbiana head coach Bob Spaite, left, and quarterback Hayes McCoy work at an offseason passing camp over the summer.

COLUMBIANA — Columbiana Clipper head coach Bob Spaite is “cautiously optimistic” regarding his team as they enter the 2025 high school football season.

“Just like every other team and every other year, we have to stay healthy. If we stay healthy, I like our chances,” Spaite said.

Staying healthy has been a thorn in the Clippers’ side over the past few years, with some of their key players unable to finish the year or play at full capacity.

“Depth at our level, well, any level, even the NFL, it’s the same thing. You feel really good about your first level, but after that, you’re trying to find guys,” Spaite said.

But perhaps more importantly, one key factor for this Clipper as they enter this year is getting off to a better start. For the past two years, the Clippers have started their campaign with four straight losses. In 2023, they bounced back by winning five of their last six contests, but last year, injuries and inconsistencies left them with a disappointing 3-7 record.

“Our schedule is front-loaded,” Spaite said. “We play Lowellville, McDonald, Western Reserve and United right out of the shoot. That isn’t an easy four to try to learn (for younger players). We have to get out of the shoot a lot faster than we have in the past few years. We have been a slow-start team, and some of that is due to depth and experience. We have gotten better as the year goes on, which is a good thing, but we need to be a lot better.”

“It’s a 10-game season, but you can’t just say we’ll get them in the second half of the season,” Clippers junior receiver and defensive back Drennan Bosela added. “If you want to be great, you have to be great in all 10 games. That’s what we are striving for right now.”

A significant concern for the Clippers team in 2025 is that they lack senior leadership. Only three seniors dot the roster: Braydon Clancy, OL/DL; Lucas Barber, FB/LB; and first-year player Zach Grant, who looks to play receiver and linebacker, and Spaite hopes to be able to use him on special teams.

“Our numbers are good. We are up over forty, which we haven’t been for the past four or five years. The enthusiasm is good, and I like the freshman class a lot. We have a lot of good, young kids. The downside is that we only have three seniors,” Spaite said. “It puts an extra burden on our juniors and some sophomores that would ordinarily be junior varsity guys, who will be varsity slash JV guys. It’s good news and bad news.”

That means there are plenty of guys that have to take a step forward this fall.

“We have all stepped up, some more than others, just because of our roles. I feel that everyone has come together on their own, and we look to be a great team this year, even though we only have three seniors,” Bosela said of the junior class helping with leadership. “The whole team is thinking about a league championship and playoffs. The season just started, so we have to go week by week, but that is definitely on the back of everyone’s mind.”

Spaite sees the EOAC as a two-team race. He looks at United as the team to beat, with Southern also being in the mix. But he was quick to point out that the league has become very balanced with great competition every week.

“Just like last year, it will come down to my old friend and fierce competitor, DJ Oglivie, who has transformed (United) into one of the strongest teams in the area and should be the favorite to win the league.”

OFFENSE

Spaite feels that as a team, they are much stronger than last year, with competition at every position, which should bring out the best in each of them. However, they lost 85% of their offensive production from last year with the graduation of Spencer Pruitt, who broke the Clippers’ season rushing record last year. They are also thin on the line with depth concerns.

Junior Hayes McCoy will take over the starting quarterback duties with junior Jensen Norquist and Danny Mangiarelli at tailback, with Barber at fullback and sophomore Ethan Lehnerd at halfback. Sophomore Senator Johnson (18 receptions, 154 yards) returns at receiver, along with Bosela. Junior Kaden Smith and sophomore Ethan Washburn will also see plenty of action. Junior Devin Brode and sophomore John Parks look to start at the tight end position.

“I think we will be a lot better than we have been in recent years,” Bosela said of the Clippers’ offense. “The chemistry that our team has is great since we have known each other for so long. I think we will be really good this year.”

The starting offensive line is where the Clippers have a lot of question marks going into the season. Returning starters in senior tackle Braden Clancy and sophomore center Will Croake will be Spaite’s anchors up front. Junior tackle Colin Pasco, sophomore guard Tony Baker, center Jaxon Dickey and guard Aiden Dennison will battle for the remaining starting spots.

DEFENSE

Spaite feels that overall, they are much stronger, and the veteran secondary will be their strength. However, he points out that the lack of depth with no experience at the middle linebacker position is concerning.

Clancy will be the anchor up front as a three-year starter at defensive tackle, with Norquist returning as an end. Sophomore Jacob Reash will be the starting nose guard, with Croake and Parks looking to start at the other end.

The linebacker position should feature Mangiarelli, junior Devin Brode on the inside and Barber, along with junior Cameron Conkle playing outside. Hayes will take over at safety with Smith as a backup, while Lehnerd and Johnson will be at cornerback. Lehnerd may also play some safety or linebacker, with Washburn seeing action at corner.

SPECIAL TEAMS

The graduation of Aiden Ratcliff leaves a big hole in the Clippers’ kicking game, as he was “Mr. Reliable” for them the past three years in field goals and extra points. Spaite plans on having open tryouts to see if they can find a reliable option to handle the kicking chores for this season.

Johnson, Nordquist, Bosela, Smith or Washburn may see action in a returner role with the Clippers, but it is also an open competition.