Football is back, baby!

With the Grove City, Lakeview, Mercer and Slippery Rock high school football teams starting heat acclimation practices on Monday and beginning full-contact practices next week, let’s take a look back at the 2024 campaign and what they have returning this season.

Complete team previews — with returning seniors and team photographs — will run in the upcoming issues of the Sharon Herald and the Allied News.

GROVE CITY

Head Coach (season, overall record): Sam Mowrey (12th season, 77-45)

2024 Record: 3-6

Points For: 14.9

Points Against: 27.7

Key Losses: Lucas McCreadie, Clayton Martin, Ja’Zier Leonard, Ta’Rel Richardson-Heasley, Nathan Greer, Hunter McElroy, Carl Bubenheim, Ian McCreary, Ryan Faler, Jack Wolfe.

Key Returners: Jaxyn Wilson, Drake Moore, Keith Vandergrift, Jonah Stucchio, Jesse McCoy, Andres Navarro, Delathian Boanes, Logan Dice, Patrick Faler, Jordan Gamble, Karson Heckathorn, Jimmy Cooper.

Season Outlook: The Eagles will look to rebound from their first sub-.500 season since 2015 when Mowrey’s club went 1-9. … After going 3-1 to start the season, Grove City’s 2024 season took a turn for the worst following a heartbreaking 21-17 loss to Fort LeBoeuf at Forker Field on September 21. … Following the aforementioned loss to the Bison, the Eagles were outscored 179-34 over their final four contests — including just 13 points in losses to Sharon, Hickory and Conneaut.

LAKEVIEW

Head Coach (season, overall record): Blake Reddick (second season, 5-6)

2024 Record: 5-6

Points For: 23.6

Points Against: 22.9

Key Losses: Leyton Zacherl, Blake Skiles, Brayden Booher, Carsen Boitnott, Jonny Husband, Luke Lumley, Garet Guthrie, Tanner Vincent, Luke Sheidy, Brycen Heckman, Robert Seabrease.

Key Returners: Gavin Schell, Owen Reynolds, Julian Zacherl, Karson Mathieson, Caden Long-Lyons, Ethan Johnson, Wyatt Maxwell.

Season Outlook: After graduating 11 of their 28 players from the 2024 season, roster numbers could be an issue for Reddick and Co. this fall. … Lakeview returns just three offensive starters and four on the defensive side of the ball from their District 10 playoff loss to Greenville. … The Sailors will need to replace the bulk of its rushing and passing attacks (Skiles, Booher and Leyton Zacherl) as well as two-way starters on the line (Guthrie, Heckman, Vincent, Sheidy). … Schell (38-187) and Reynolds (14-74) will be the top returning rushers, while Julian Zacherl (10-133) is the top pass catcher.

MERCER

Head Coach (season, overall record): Jeff Lockard (seventh season, 24-34)

2024 Record: 2-8

Points For: 8.3

Points Against: 30.7

Key Losses: Jaheim King, Colin Wise, Asa Davis, Brady James, Colton Davis, Cameron Knight, Pereston Peterson, Will Guy, Tyeler Bidlack, Anthony Allen.

Key Returners: Alex Leftheris, Parker Puskar, Ben Godfrey, Owen Algoe, Rider chiappini, Preston McCloskey, Shayne Aites, Myles Glaros, Parker Barish, Kyle Suhrie, Derrick King.

Season Outlook: After upsetting Franklin 8-7 in the season opener, the Mustangs dropped their final eight contested games. Mercer earned a forfeit victory over Kennedy in Week 9. … Outside of scoring a season-high 31 points against Reynolds and 13 points against Greenville in 2024, Mercer was limited to single digits — including shutout losses to Lakeview and Slippery Rock — in 7-of-9 games.

SLIPPERY ROCK

Head Coach (season, overall record): Larry Wendereusz Jr (ninth season, 39-52)

2024 Record: 3-7

Points For: 9.8

Points Against: 30.7

Key Losses: Cooper Glass, Cole Pearson, Talon Hoover, Colton Boyer, Klint Shamblin.

Key Returners: Doug Popovec, Logan Schlobohm, Alex Cornelius, Gavyn McDougall, Fred Campagna, Zach Lasko, Owen Long, Cole Schwartz, Kaine Humphrey, Peyton Reich, Kolbie Magill, Lamont Patterson, Liam Throm, Brayden Hemphill, Cole Staab, Jacob Reich.

Season Outlook: The Rockets were extremely young in 2024 and it showed when Slippery Rock was shutout four times, while the defense surrenderd 35 or more points in 7-of-10 games. … The status of quarterback Fred Campagna could be up in the air after he suffered his second major shoulder injury during the 2024-25 school year in a skiing accident during basketball season. … With the departure of long-time offensive coordinator Chris Saunders, Slippery Rock will have a new offensive scheme this fall.

Note: The football tab will be in the Aug. 20 edition of The Herald and Allied News.