‘Storm’ blows into Community Field

A new “Storm” is brewing at Community Field this year as Storm Hill takes over the reins of the Carrollton Warriors football team, replacing Jim Tsilmos, who stepped down after five years at the helm. The Warriors reached the playoffs the last four years under Tsilimos.

The road to the playoffs will be tougher for the Warriors this year as they moved up to Division III, Region 11 this year after playing in Division IV since 2016.

Hill, a CHS alumnus and longtime varsity assistant coach, will be leading an experienced team onto the field as the Warriors have 20 seniors and 13 juniors taking the field Aug. 23 for the season opener at East Liverpool. He will be counting on this group to step up and fill the holes left by last year’s seniors.

“We have a very strong group of seniors who have stepped up to be the new leaders of our team,” Hill said.

Warriors lost to graduation last year include Ty Pridemore, Ryan Kiko, Josh Carman, Aiden Shaw, Preston Jackson, Alessio Mema, Gunner Burgett, Carter Matozskia, Owen Spilker, Nick Lawrence and Quentin Rosenberger.

Fourteen of the returning seniors are lettermen. They include Garrett Broadwater (DB/WR), Levi Crider (LB/WR), Landyn Jackson (DL/OL), Landon James (DT/TE), Richard Johnson (LB/OL), Gabe Moore (LB/TE) Micah Moore (OLB/TE), Braylen Murphy (DB/WR), Dalton Naylor (LB/TE), Dillon Naylor (DL/OL), Dalton Sweeney (OLB/RB), Matt Wayt (DL/OL), Jacob Whitmore (DB/QB) and Angelo Wilson (DL/OL).

Returning junior lettermen include Hunter Allison (OLB/QB), Tucker Burgett (DL/OL), Tanner Johnston (DB/WR), Jamasen Powell (LB/OL), and Hayden Thomas (OLB/RB).

Marcus Brooks (OLB/TE) is the lone returning sophomore who lettered.

Hill is expecting others to fight for playing time. They include juniors Isaac Husted (DB/WR) and Jayven Johnson (OLB/TE) as well as sophomores Levi Kiko (DB/WR), and Jaden Murphy (DB/WR).

One of Hill’s concerns this season is the offensive line. 

“The offensive line must be a focal point of our success. If they are able to establish the line of scrimmage, then it opens up additional options in the passing game,” he said. 

Hill is looking to  rely on the arm of Whitmore and put the ball in the air more than in recent seasons.

“We are looking to open  up the offense with a passing game this year,” he said.

“Quarterbacks Jacob Whitmore and Hunter Allison have clocked many hours this spring with our skill group, installing a new offensive structure under offensive coordinator (Zade) Deitz that we look forward to using,” he concluded

Along with Deitz, assisting coaches include Josh Beadnell, Nick Piergallini, Cameron Clapper, Kris Booth and Dan Westlake. The freshmen will be coached by Butch Wood, Travis Haugh, Tim Albrecht and Kevin Owens.

Hill sees returning champion West Branch as the favorite to win the EBC this season. “The league as an entirety is very competitive across the board. There will be no nights off,” Hill said.

The Warriors open the season on Aug. 23 with a trip to East Liverpool.