West Liberty-Salem is aiming for another run.
The Tigers finished the 2025 football season at 5-5 and qualified as the #12 seed in the Region 20 playoffs for Division V.
Last season, West Liberty-Salem entered as the #2 seed. They defeated Arcanum and Miami East by big margins, then won a shootout (45-42) over Waynesville. That put them in the regional final against Indian Lake, and they came away with a 21-14 victory.
The season finally ended against Ironton in the state semifinal.
This year’s squad has plenty of different faces at key positions, including Brad Jarzab taking over as coach from Dan McGill. Jarzab has been part of the Tigers’ staff since 2018.
The victories for WL-S came against Cedarville (21-15), Springfield Catholic Central (31-7), Greenon (17-13), Fairbanks (42-0) and Triad (42-7).
Losses were to Jonathan Alder (33-7), Ben Logan (24-0), Northeastern (27-24), West Jefferson (20-7) and Mechanicsburg (49-7).
Sophomore Beckett Sullivan has thrown for 1,228 yards on the season, completing 100 of 175 attempts (57.1 percent) with 12 touchdowns and seven interceptions.
The leading rusher is senior running back Corbin Wallace, who has 177 carries for 836 yards with eight touchdowns..
Silas Krabill, a junior, has run 40 times for 180 yards and Reese Oder, a senior, has picked up 103 yards on 16 carries. Sullivan has also run 45 times for 73 yards.
Oder is the team’s leading receiver with 45 catches for 516 yards and four touchdowns. Others in double digits are seniors Isaac Sertell, Dustin Bolton, and Cameron Pope. Sertell has 14 for 250 with four scores; Bolton 12 for 130 (1 TD) and Pope 10 for 108.
The Tigers defense has recovered six fumbles and made five interceptions.
Leading tacklers are senior linebacker Sam Strapp (86, 65 solo), linebacker Krabill (42, 36 solo), defensive back Bolton (33), lineman Aiden Hull (30), linebacker Carson Poppe (27)., and linebacker Pope (26).
On special teams, Jake Lauck has hit three of his five field goal attempts, and all 27 extra points. He made a 22 yard kick against Springfield Catholic Central, a 34 yarder against Greenon and a 37-yarder against Northeastern.
Naaman Stidham is the punter, with an average boot of 35.1 yards. Oder and Sam Kidd handle the kickoff and punt returns.
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Playing host on Friday will be the #5 seed Carlisle. The Indians went 8-2 on the year and 4-2 in the Southwestern Buckeye League, and were third in their division.
Carlisle has improved from a 5-6 record last season, which saw them fall to Bath in the first round of the playoffs.
They opened with nonleague wins over National Trail (42-6), Miami East (25-18) and Bethel (43-19).
After a 35-14 loss to Valley View, they topped Franklin 21-18, then lost again, this time to Franklin (41-7).
They enter the postseason on a four-game win streak. Those came over Waynesville (35-14), Oakwood (53-21), Madison (46-8) and Eaton (35-16).
Junior quaterback Kolby Morgerson (6-3, 190) is in his second year as the starter. This year, he has completed 121 of 169 passes for 1,779 yards, with 18 touchdowns and three interceptions.
He has kept the ball 78 times with 340 yards and nine touchdowns rushing.
The top rusher is sophomore Alex Collins (6-1, 185) with 137 carries for 1,099 yards and eight scores.
Others who may be a factor are junior Trent Snodgrass (5-9, 185) with 74 runs for 391 yards and four TDs, and senior Luke Richards (6-1, 220) with 42 carries, 262 yards and five scores.
The Indians have about 55 percent of their offense on the ground.
The other half is led by senior Ashton Pelfrey (5-9, 160) with 36 catches for 457 yards (5 TD); senior Drew Conger (6-0, 175) who has 29 receptions for 509 yards (7 TD); senior Clayton Jewell (6-4, 190) with 25 grabs for 409 yards (3 TD); and Richards (25-308, 3 TD).
The defense has recorded 14 interceptions and recovered six fumbles on the year. Pelfrey has five picks and Fox has made three.
The leading tacklers are linebackers sophomore Luke Langdon (5-11, 170) with 70 (54 solo); junior Caiden Lillie with 60 (44 solo) and sophomore Michael-Anthony Lista with 58 (44 solo), plus senior defensive back Wiley Plank with 51 (35 solo). Senior lineman Jackson McIntosh (6-0, 220) has made nine sacks.
The kicker is Conger, who has made one field goal and gone 28 for 30 on extra points. His punting average is 37.4 yards. Jake Fox, a junior (6-0, 170) handles the returns.
The winner of Friday’s game will move on to the regional quarterfinals to face #4 seed Graham.
