Frontier head coach Damon Metheney speaks to players prior to a game against St. Marys last season. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

A decade ago, Damon Metheney suited up for the Ohio squad in the annual Battle Against Cystic Fibrosis All-Star Football Classic.

At 7 p.m. Friday at Bill Hanlin Stadium, the Frontier graduate will be back on the BACF sidelines, this time as head coach for the Buckeye State.

“It’s a huge honor,” Metheney said. “With that many seniors on one team and that many special players on one team, to have the honor to be their coach is really special. The cause is really good and it’s a good thing all the way around.”

Metheney is entering his fourth year as the head coach of his alma mater, having led the Cougars to a 9-22 record and a playoff berth in three seasons.

Three of his former players — Hunter Taylor, Aidan Wolfe and Ethan Hartline — will suit up one last time for Metheney on Friday.

“They’re a really special group of guys,” Metheney said. “Those guys have been there since I’ve been the head coach. I have good chemistry with those guys. They’re fun to be around. It’s been a fun environment this week. I’m going to miss those guys on Fridays, but it’s cool to have one last go-around.”

The Ohio squad did a walk-through on Sunday and has practiced each day this week in preparation for the game. Metheney talked about the challenges of installing a game plan for what will be his first all-star game as a head coach.

“It started a little shaky,” he said. “It’s kind of a battle getting guys to collaborate and learn different lingos, but it’s starting to come together. We’ve simplified it a lot. There’s only so much you can teach in a week. Most systems you spend a whole summer with.”

Metheney talked to the players about their positional preferences and is hoping for them not to play both sides of the ball.

“We asked players where they wanted to play — you’re going to perform best at the spots you want to be,” he said. “The guys who didn’t care where they played, we put them where it made the most sense. Most of the guys are playing just one side of the ball.”

River High School has seven players on the Ohio roster, making the Pilots the most well-represented school on the team.

Braden Johnson, Trail Thompson, Gunner Bennett, Hunter Strawn, Aiden Milhoan, Tyler Winkler and Carter Pilot will represent River, which has lost to Frontier in the regular-season finale each of the last two years.

“All of them are pretty talented,” Metheney said. “I’ve coached against them for four years.”

Marietta (Owen Riley, Kobe Alexander, Braiden Plaugher, Teddy Bauer) and Eastern (Josiah Kerns, Matt Marcum, Ronnie Golden, Hayden Wilcoxen) each have four players on the team.

Riley is expected to get the bulk of the snaps at quarterback for the Buckeye State, while Buckeye Trail’s Mason Todd will rotate there.

Nelsonville-York standout Austin Gautier will be Ohio’s primary ball-carrier.

“He’s a two-time Offensive Player of the Year in their league,” Metheney said. “He’s a talented running back.”

Alexander, Riley, Brown, Thompson and Buckeye Trail’s Sammy Brown all will get some carries as well. Barnesville’s Jack Anderson will play in the slot and get some targets.

Fort Frye’s Blake Wheeler is a first team All-Ohioan who will lead the defense at linebacker.

Elsewhere on the Ohio roster are Eric Carr, Davin Dickel and Tyler Steele of Warren; Cadon Riley, Trevin Zimmer and Ryker Hutchins of Waterford; Wyatt Cohen and AJ Rutter of Monroe Central; and Brody Goodrich of Nelsonville-York.

Metheney, who will be joined by his coaching staff at FHS, thinks Ohio will be able to run a balanced offense.

“It will depend on the flow of the game,” he said. “We’ve got a strong, talented offensive line. I think we’ll run the ball well, and I don’t think there will be any restrictions on throwing the ball.”

Metheney played for Ohio as a wide receiver in 2016, when West Virginia claimed a 24-7 victory. He’s hoping to get some redemption as a coach. The Mountain State leads the all-time series 16-14. Ohio has won the last two meetings.

“With a game like this where there’s short preparation, it’s really which team can retain the most information and execute their offensive plays the best,” Metheney said. “Minimal mistakes are the key. Whichever team messes up less will win this game.”