By Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

Finally, the wait is over.

The 2024 high school football season is on the verge of the first kickoff and there’s plenty of anticipation and excitement in the air

Generally the most anticipated game is the Ironton Fighting Tigers and the Wheelersburg Pirates.

Ironton won 17-14 last season at home and these two local titans will meet Friday at Wheelersburg.

Ironton has a lot of starters returning led by Missouri wide receiver commit Shaun Terry.

But Ironton has solid talent across the board on offense and defense which includes All-Ohio lineman Aiden Layne and All-Ohio quarterback Braden Schreck.

Wheelersburg lost some key weapons on offense but the Pirates always field a strong defense.

ThePirates  offense will rely on junior quarterback Braylon Rucker (6-0, 180) who is a three-year letterman.

The number one receiving targets are junior Kenyon Evans (6-2, 175) along with senior Xander Mowery (6-0, 160) and junior Landon McGraw (6-2, 190).

The running backs are led by senior Jake Clevenger (5-9, 141)

A veteran offensive line is led by senior left tackle Landon Evans (6-1, 225), senior Parker Cantrell (5-9, 260) and junior center Ryan Meeker (6-3, 300).

The team was hit hard on defense but returning is Evans at linebacker Logan Evans, junior outside linebacker Elijah Brown (5-10, 175) and Mowery at defensive back.

Junior linebacker Brady Doss (6-1, 210) and junior defensive lineman Ison Emnett (5-10, 220) are expected to make contributions on the defensive side.

Now, there are some other key games to start the season including the Portsmouth Trojans at Lucasville Valley Indians on Thursday.

On Friday, the Coal Grove Hornets play at Greenup County and the Musketeers have high hopes for their team this season.

The Musketeers won in overtime last season but the Hornets have the running tandem of 1,000-yard rushing Kaden Murphy and big fullback Caden Turner.

The Fairland Dragons will be looking to see how well they filled a lot of holes on both sides of the ball.

Fairland won last year when quarterback Peyton Jackson scrambled for a touchdown on the final play of the game.

Jackson is gone and senior Ethan Wall will step in that role in his first varsity start.

West has a huge offensive line and a solid running game.

The Chesapeake Panthers will host the injury depleted Symmes Valley Vikings in the Battle For The Paddle.

The Panthers have a big offensive and defensive line that will be a test for the Vikings who will be without quarterback Bronx Carpenter, guard and linebacker Caiden Mount and center Tucker Ross who suffered injuries in their scrimmage against Wellston last week.

The South Point Pointers are very young across the board including on the offensive and defensive line. The Pointers have 11 linemen and 6 are freshmen who will be tested against a veteran Boyd County Lions team.

To make matters worse, the Pointers must open on the road.

The Green Bobcats host Federal Hocking as 79-year-old Larry Hall exits retirement and returns to the sidelines for his debut with the Bobcats.