Staff photo / Greg Macafee Pymatuning Valley quarterback Ryan Croston scrambles away from a Conneaut defensive lineman during a scrimmage at Pymatuning Valley High School earlier this month.

ANDOVER — Just a year ago, the Pymatuning Valley Lakers football team played many freshmen and sophomores out of necessity. This season, however, the Lakers have gained experience and depth that will allow them to be a stronger football team.

After finishing 4-7 and making it to the first round of the playoffs, Pymatuning Valley head coach Neal Croston said he knew the young group would have growing pains. Some of the problems, however, stemmed from the physicality of the game itself and the young players not being physically ready for the level at which they were playing.

“When you’re playing freshmen and sophomores, there’s going to be problems unless they’re physically gifted,” Croston said. “Some weren’t ready for varsity football at the time. We hung in there as much as we could. We’re looking to grow from last year, and I think we’re on the right path now.”

OFFENSE

The majority of the team returns for the 2023 campaign and with it comes more offensive weapons that will allow the team to be more diverse in its attack.

Ryan Croston will be leading the charge at quarterback. With a full year of experience at the position, Neal Croston says the junior signal caller is more confident in his abilities.

In tandem with the added confidence boost, more options in the backfield and on the outside will transition the Lakers from a nearly run-only offense to one that can spread the field.

“Last year we were one dimensional. Our quarterback was a first-time starter for the most part, and we had one other guy on offense to look at,” coach Croston said. “We didn’t have many other options to go with because guys were playing both ways. Some weren’t physically ready to carry the ball. Ryan has started throwing the ball a little more so now we can mix it up.”

Neal Croston said there are three or four guys who can handle the ball out of the backfield. Two of them are Luke Giddings and Sean Croston, who are both capable of running the ball and rotating out to the receiver position.

With a bare sideline last season, the chance at rotating in fresh legs was out of the question, so the boost in depth across the board helps limit the workload.

“We didn’t have the subs or guys ready to play varsity yet,” Neal Croston said.

“Not having only one or two guys running the ball 25 or 30 times per game will help us in all facets of the game. We’ll be able to distribute the workload evenly, but whoever has the hot hand will be running the ball.”

As a run-first team last season, the new year brings new opportunities to air the ball out. Leading the receiving group is Ty Vickery, who handled much of the running responsibility for the Lakers last year. The addition of Giddings in the backfield allows Vickery to be a threat on the outside. Similarly to Vickery last year, Giddings and Sean Croston will be tasked with hauling in passes as well.

Neal Croston is also looking forward to utilizing a tight end more so than last year. Jaren Nowakowski was featured on the defense, but “being banged up throughout the year” quelled his ability to be a strong tight end for the team.

“Last year, we didn’t have a tight end who could block a defensive tackle or linebacker,” Neal Croston said. “He gives us another threat we didn’t have last year.”

The diversity in the offense this season is what Neal Croston is most excited about.

“We don’t have to only run the ball. We can call play-action plays, we can run outside and we have guys who can pull and are stronger up front,” Neal Croston said. “We have things in the playbook we have the ability to run this year that we weren’t able to try last year. We were one dimensional.”

Of the stronger offensive linemen that can help open up the offense, Neal Croston is looking at Ben Crouser, Landen Paul, Damon Brainard, Stuart Jenick, Jon Finello and Ben Zarcrynski.

DEFENSE

On the opposite side of the ball, Neal Croston said the defense will be the strength of the team, specifically the linebacking group. He said the defense as a whole has strength and speed, something the team lacked a year ago.

The buffed up speed, Neal Croston said, starts with the defensive ends. Last year, the team gave up too many big plays and having good defensive ends will allow the coverages to shift and limit those types of plays.

“We have guys that are bigger and stronger so hopefully that helps us limit the big plays,” Neal Croston said.

“You don’t mind giving up that one drive, but when you give up a 70-yard run or an 80-yard pass, it just deflates you. Last year there were a couple of instances where it happened on the first drive or right before the half.”

Filling the role of those defensive ends are Brainard and Nowakowski. Rounding out the defensive front is Finello, Jenick and Max Smith. Neal Croston said he is looking at Finello to be the anchor on the line.

Clogging up the middle will be the quartet of Vickery, Giddings and Sean and Ryan Croston. Previously, Ryan Croston was an inside linebacker, but was moved to outside to limit the amount of times he has to give or take a hit. Neal Croston said he is most looking forward to the production of his linebackers.

“The linebacking corps will be the strength of our team because of their overall strength and speed. We have four really good players there,” he said.

Jayce Fulkman will be one of the defensive backs and Neal Croston said the experience Fulkman received last year will be vital to his success this year. Also in the defensive backfield will be Matthew Adkins and Alex Simon.

“(Fulkman) would always go up against the other team’s number one receiver if we thought the team had one, so it was baptism by fire. He got beat a few times but also competed. He’s doing a really good job over the summer,” Neal Croston said. “All three guys are a year older and have the experience now. We gave up a few big passes and that was because we didn’t have the speed on the (defensive) line to give us a good pass rush.”

SPECIAL TEAMS

Ryan Croston and Fulkman will punt and handle kickoffs. Handling the returns will be Ryan and Sean Croston, Vickery and Giddings.

The Lakers open the 2023 season Aug. 18 at Mineral Ridge.

2023 Schedule

Aug. 18 at Mineral Ridge 7 p.m.

Aug. 25 Cardinal 7 p.m.

Sept. 1 Grand Valley 7 p.m.

Sept. 8 at Rootstown 7 p.m.

Sept. 15 at Girard 7 p.m.

Sept. 22 Southeast 7 p.m.

*Sept. 29 at Fairport 7 p.m.

*Oct. 6 Mathews 7 p.m.

*Oct. 13 St. John 7 p.m.

*Oct. 20 at Windham 7 p.m.

*Conference game

2022 Results (4-7)

vs. Mineral Ridge (8-3) L 41-8

at Cardinal (5-6) L 47-6

at Grand Valley (2-8) L 27-6

vs. Rootstown (7-4) L 48-6

at St. John (2-7) W 40-0

vs. Fairport (4-7) W 38-12

vs. Windham (4-6) W 60-12

vs. Conneaut (8-3) L 28-6

at Toronto (6-5) L 34-8

at Mathews (8-3) W 24-14

#at Brookfield (10-2) L 48-16

Coaching staff

Head coach: Neal Croston, 14th season, 63-67 record

Staff: Kevin Brown, Jason Root, Andrew Root

Team facts

Division VI, Region 21

Northeastern Athletic Conference

Players on roster: 28

Returning letterwinners (13): Sean Croston, Alex Simon, Jaren Nowakowski, Ryan Croston, Jayce Fulkman, Ty Vickery, Matthew Adkins, Landen Paul, Ben Crouser, Brennan Moore, Stuart Jenick, Damon Brainard, Jon Finello.

2022 season: The young Pymatuning Valley Lakers finished the 2022 campaign 4-7 with wins over St. John, Fairport, Windham and Mathews, the latter of which was considered an upset. The Lakers made it to the first round of the playoffs, but lost to a tough Brookfield team.