ANDOVER — Pymatuning Valley’s run of success since 2019 has coincided with a stout defense. Outside of the 2022 season, the Lakers have allowed an average of just 14 points per game over six of the past seven years.
Last fall, PV registered four shutouts, including three in a row against Windham, Cardinal and Grand Valley in weeks 8-10. It was no coincidence that the Lakers won only one of five games when they allowed more than 18 points in a 7-4 season, which ended with a 35-13 loss at St. Clairsville in the first weekend of the OHSAA postseason.
“We kind of changed things up last year to more of a 4-3 [alignment] but giving the linebackers a little more freedom,” Coach Neal Croston said. “Our linebackers are really aggressive and we want them playing downhill rather than just reacting. We try to get a lot of tackles for loss, put teams in bad [down and distance] situations.”
Sean Croston led the team last year with more than 20 tackles for loss, but he’s graduated. Kasen Bailey was the second-leading tackler in 2025 with around 8-10 tackles behind the line.
Bailey returns as an outside linebacker, and freshman Adam Croston, 5’8”, 155, is slated for the other outside position. The top candidate for the inside linebacker spot is junior Vinny Jones 5’5”, 135.
“Vinny is a smaller kid but he’s aggressive,” said Neal Croston.
Up front, sophomore Wyatt Toothman, 6’1”, 235 and junior John Schlecht, 6’1”, 250, were tackles last season, but are moving outside.
“I think they are going to create havoc,” Croston said. “They both have good size and long length, which you want outside to keep containment. And they both have a good motor.”
Inside, senior Drake Limestoll, 5’8”, 185, who played last year for the first time, along with juniors Nate Timlin, 6’0”, 250, Kile Gore, 5’10”, 215 and Alonso Salazar, 5’6”, 260, are the leading candidates.
“Once we kind of figure out what we have, we’re gonna decide who plays offense and defense better,” Croston said. “If they start on offense they’ll be second team on defense. We can rotate, stay a little bit fresh inside.”
Regardless of who is in the game, Croston wants an attacking mindset.
“Our guys are a little bit smaller this year,” he said. “We don’t have guys benching 350, 400 pounds, and so we’re trying to create more havoc by what we’re doing, and not reading, reacting. That was fine before with the guys we had, I mean, we played great defense the last six years now, but we’re trying to be more aggressive and come up and take things away.”
Also moving positions will be seniors Will Baugher, 6’1”, 185 and Padraig Ferrie, 5’8”, 160. Both started at safety in 2025 but will be the cornerbacks this season.
“We like to use our corners to press coverage and to help on the outside run,” Croston said. “Those are two of our more physical kids and they’re going to come up and hit you. I like them out there.”
The candidates at safety are junior Justin Britton, 6’3”, 195, who rotated in last year, and freshman Dash Vickery, 5’10”, 150.
“Justin knows our defense and the angles and it really showed at the end of the year, especially against Grand Valley,” Croston said. “He came up and made a couple big hits and pass breakups.”
Caden Logue, 5’8”, 150, a senior, is also getting a look in the secondary.
“We have more depth at the line positions than we do at the skill spots,” Croston said.
Croston traditionally likes to go for 2-point conversions, but he has three kickers with experience. Ferrie will handle the extra points and field goals, while Baugher and senior Mackenzie Kribbs will kick off.
“With Will, it’s going to be a line drive and he’s probably going to be in on the tackle. You just don’t always know where it’s going,” Croston said. “Mackenzie, if I ask her to kick it 20 yards and high, she’ll do that.”
Ferrie missed just one extra point all season, Croston said, and is accurate to about 30 yards.
Bailey will handle the punting duties.
Ferrie, Baugher and Bailey are the scheduled returners.
“Our number one goal is always to be competitive in the non-conference,” Croston said. “This season we have Mineral Ridge, LaBrae, Valley Christian, Mogadore and East Palestine.
“Our thing is to be competitive, give ourselves a chance in the fourth quarter against those teams. I thought for the most part we did that last year.”
The second goal is to win the Northeastern Athletic Conference. The Lakers lost their showdown to Fairport Harding, 19-14, and didn’t win the NAC for the first time since 2018.
The third goal is to make the postseason. Last season, PV was in Division V, Region 17, and lost to St. Clairsville, 35-13, in the first round.
This year, the Lakers return to D-VI, Region 21, where defending state champion Kirtland is the favorite, along with Jeromesville Hillsdale, which has played for a state title in D-VII the last two seasons.
“We’re back in [Division] six this year; whether that helps us, I don’t know,” said Croston said. “But, if we can get a few out of conference wins and win the conference, usually, that’s been the way we got in the playoffs.”