ANDOVER — There has been little secret to Pymatuning Valley’s run of success — a literal statement if there ever was one — over the past seven seasons.
From 2019-25, the Lakers won six Northeastern Athletic Conference championships.
Despite ceding the NAC title to Fairport Harding last season, PV has qualified for the OHSAA postseason each of the past six seasons.
Coach Neal Croston’s championship formula has been a tough defense and a run-oriented, two-headed rushing attack.
He has that again in 2026, with junior quarterback Justin Britton and senior running back Kasen Bailey.
Taking over for an All-Ohioan Ryan Croston, Britton threw for more than 2,000 yards and rushed for more than 500 last season as the Lakers finished 7-4 and averaged 34.5 points per game.
Britton’s passing ability was showcased last season as PV struggled at times to run the ball.
“Justin, for his first year starting, he did a great job,” said Neal Croston, who is 84-81 in 16 seasons leading the Lakers.
“He developed into an awesome player. I think in the scrimmages I kind of held him back. We were still more heavy on the run, more tight formations. I had to get out of my own way and say, ‘you know what, our best players were our skill guys and our quarterback’, so once we let him spread the ball around, he did an awesome job throwing the ball.”
Britton, much like Tyler Bean and Ryan Croston, will take the lion’s share of responsibility in key situations.
“You want the ball in his hands, whether it’s running or passing,” coach Croston said. “He’s all business. He’s going to be the first one on the field and the last one off. He’s been a leader for our baseball team and especially our basketball team so it wasn’t like he was coming into football not knowing how to be the leader. He’s just a competitive kid.”
Bailey rushed for more than 900 yards despite missing two games because of injury. Sophomore Wyatt Toothman contributed 300-plus yards in 2025.
“Kasen is a competitor,” Croston said. “I asked him to get in the weight room this offseason and he’s done that. He had to play running back and linebacker for us last year; you have to be physical all the time.
“So he understood that if he wanted to meet certain goals for himself and team goals he had to do extra. He’s seen a couple guys go play in college so he understands if he wants to do that, he’s got to pick it up himself.”
Croston will again be ready to use multiple formations, depending on the situation.
“When we got in the playoffs last year, both [Bailey and Toothman] got hurt, like in the first quarter,” he said. “So in the offseason I thought, well, we better have a third back. So the third guy we’ve been using is actually one of our linemen, [junior] John Schlecht.
“So, he’s going to play a little fullback for us. I think with having those three guys in the backfield, whether they’re all back there at once, or just one or two, that gives us a few options.”
PV graduated its top receivers, Sean Croston, Jayce Fulkman and Alex Simon.
But seniors Will Baugher and Paddie Ferrie have varsity experience and are ready to take over.
“We also have two freshmen receivers, Adam Croston and Dash Vickery,” Neal Croston said.
If those names sound familiar, well, they should. Both are the last in two families of PV’s standouts. Ryan Croston and Ty Vickery led the Lakers to 28 wins in their four seasons of varsity action, including a 10-2 mark in 2024.
Toothman, Schlecht and Baugher will also share time at tight end.
Of course, the Lakers’ success is also the result of a strong lifting program and tough, physical linemen. This season is no different.
“I think the reason I’m saying our offense is a strength is up front, on the line,” coach Croston said. “We’ve got Seth Beach, a three-year starter at center, so that’s nice.”
Senior Carter Tisch returns for his second season as a starter, and Schlecht will rotate between fullback and the line.
“[Schlecht] is athletic, a really good player,” Croston said. “He just came out [for football] last year, so we mainly just focused on defense with him.”
The other candidates for the line are juniors Nathan Timlin, Alonso Salazar and Kile Gore.
“We have more options than in the past where’s it’s always been like, we have these five guys,” Croston said. “This year we have a little more options where we can rotate some guys, keep them fresh.”
Croston said he’ll enjoy the opportunity to use his entire roster.
“We’re still always going to play our best guys both ways,” he said. “I would rather have my best guys out there, a little bit tired, than a second- or third-string guy. But we should have a few different options, whether we want to go with a heavy package with more tight ends and running backs, or more spread. Whatever we feel is best for that game.”
Despite Britton’s impressive passing statistics from last season, Croston would prefer a balanced attack.
“With the experience we had at receiver last year, the way they were catching the ball, that was our strength,” he said. “Last year, there were times when we had third down or fourth and three yards to go, we had to pass. I want to see us be able to run the ball when we need to get that first down. The run game will be Justin’s best friend if we can get that going like we did two, three years ago.”