MCCOMB, Ohio — McComb overview:
2023 Record: 11-3 (Division VII Regional Finalist)
Head Coach: Kris Alge (27th year)
Top Returning Players:
Elijah Gibbs, Senior OL (2nd Team All-BVC)
Braydon Shoop, Senior LB (3rd Team All-BVC)
Octavian Gonzales, Senior DB (3rd Team All-BVC)
2024 Schedule:
WEEK 1 8/23 vs. KIPP Columbus
WEEK 2 8/30 @ Crestview
WEEK 3 9/6 vs. Liberty-Benton*
WEEK 4 9/13 vs. Arcadia*
WEEK 5 9/20 @ Ada
WEEK 6 9/27 vs. Van Buren*
WEEK 7 10/4 @ Leipsic
WEEK 8 10/11 @ Arlington*
WEEK 9 10/18 vs. Riverdale*
WEEK 10 10/25 @ Elmwood*
*Denotes Blanchard Valley Conference game
A standard that continues to impress. McComb has made a habit of deep playoff runs over the past decade.
Three straight 11-win campaigns to go along with three State Semifinal appearances and an OHSAA Championship (2018) in that span.
"Personally, I love it. I can't imagine coming out there and not having that expectation to go 10-0," senior Elijah Gibbs said. "It pushes everyone out here just to get better."
The Panthers don't believe this Fall will be any different with strength and conditioning serving as a focus this offseason. Yes, there are some new faces jumping into varsity roles but the expectation of playing football under head coach Kris Alge far outweighs any experience.
"Our O-line is amazing. We're looking to run the ball a lot this year," senior Braydon Shoop said. "We've been working on passing. Receivers are getting some work in and our junior quarterback Grady Schroeder is doing really good."
A group who clearly understands the objective at hand and have routinely capitalized on that quest. Although the drive to succeed is self-imposed amongst players and coaches, it's difficult to entirely erase the memory of coming up one point short of a State Final Four berth.
McComb fell to Patrick Henry in the Division VII Regional Finals following a missed extra point with over two minutes remaining. The Panthers were called for a personal foul after scoring a touchdown.
"We put footballs in the locker room and they want their football to have playoffs, conference championships on it," Alge said. "They don't want to be that team that sticks out with a losing record."