The Ashland Arrows are preparing for the 2026 campaign as members of the Ohio Cardinal Conference in Region 7, a league known for its competitive balance and deep playoff traditions.
A year ago the team posted a 10‑2 record, extending its streak of playoff appearances to sixteen and finishing with a 15‑16 record in the postseason, a testament to the program’s resilience.
Key Players and Statistics
Senior wideout Killian O’Brien returns as the centerpiece of the offense, having posted 40 catches for 760 yards and twelve touchdowns last season, while senior defensive back Jeff Hickey contributed six interceptions that helped the squad rank among the top defenses in the league.
The departure of quarterback Nathan Bernhard, a former Ohio Division II Offensive Player of the Year who holds multiple school records, leaves a sizable void, but junior linebacker Liam Hubacher is emerging as the leading candidate to take the snap under center.
Coach Scott Valentine, now in his thirtieth year at the helm, is chasing a personal milestone of two hundred career victories, a goal that adds extra intrigue to the team’s quest for another winning season.
The schedule features a gauntlet of opponents, including traditional rivals such as Massillon and Big Walnut, as well as non‑conference matchups against Bay, Marion Harding, Clyde, New Philadelphia, Dover, Madison, Mansfield Senior, West Holmes, Wooster and Lexington.
Despite the turnover, the Arrows hope to preserve their 15‑game home winning streak and to prove that the rebuilding process can translate into another deep playoff run.