Warren head football coach and Marietta High School graduate Andy Schob will lead the Ohio squad into action in Friday nights 19th annual BACF (Battle Against Cystic Fibrosis) All-Star game at Don Drumm Stadium.
After serving as an assistant coach in the past, this will be Schob's first time as head coach of the Buckeye squad.
"It's a lot of fun seeing different kids that you have heard about or some that you've played against and see them play together," said Schob who will be beginning his third year as head coach of the Warriors this fall. "It's a really good time."
With only five practices to get prepared for the game, Schob and his coaching staff have been pleased with the progress of their squad as they prepare to battle the Mountaneer squad.
Offensively the strength of the Ohio squad appears to be in the depth and quality of the running backs.
Shenandoah's Shane Crum, Monroe Central's Kole Hogue, Marietta's Dustin "Deeder" Baker, River's Austin McConn, and Meig's Jeffrey Rousch all figure to get some carries.
"We've got some really good running backs," said Schob, "We got some really nice lineman so we will definitely try to spread things and run the ball."
Schob has been especially impressed with the 6-foot-1-inch 215 pound Crum as well as Baker whom Schob coached when he was head coach at Marietta in 2008 and 2009.
"Crum is big and fast, runs well and has great vision," said Schob. "Baker has just got better and better, his vision is really good."
While Schob has plenty of depth in the running game, the quarterback position features only two players who had high school experience in Marietta's Justin Futrell and Warren's Jeremy Hastie.
"We will run a little bit of wildcat with Hastie and some I and some pro spread offense with Futrell,' said Schob.
Receivers who figure to see action for the Buckeye are Josh Winland and Jeremy Fivecoat from Warren, Tyler Abrams, Darren Hesson, and Jeremy Border from Caldwell as well as Alex Hannum of Shenandoah and Zachary Sayre from Meigs.
Defensively Schob's team will run a 3-5 stack defense to take advantage of a very strong line backing squad, including Hogue.
"You talk about the picture of a what a football player should be, it's Hogue," said Schob. "He's just a talented hard-nosed football player."
While the Mountaneer squad had somewhat of a struggle in filling out it's roster for the annual clash, Schob has 33 players eagerly anticipating Friday night's contest.
"We called the coaches and called some of the kids directly and talked to them about what this game means," said Schob. "Once you talk to them they are excited once they understand what this game is all about."
The game will also mark the last time, for at least the near future, that Schob will share the sidelines with his son Jason who is moving from the Warrior coaching staff to assume the position of offensive coordinator this year for the Tigers and new head coach Adam Eichorn.
"Its a good situation for him,' said Andy Schob, himself a 1986 graduate of MHS. "It's his home school and I am excited for him."
With a large crowd expected to attend the game, Schob is thrilled to have the opportunity to lead the Buckeye squad into battle.
"It should be a good time for a good cause and its a chance to coach some of the kids that I coached when I was here again," said Schob.
Schob looks forward to his return to Don Drumm Stadium as the home team once again.
"It will be fun seeing a lot of people I know that I've talked to who are coming to the game and hopefully they will be cheering for us instead of against us this time," joked Schob.
Kick-off is scheduled for 7 p.m Friday night.
