Starving for success, Lancaster set to usher in the McKinney era

LANCASTER — The high school football season gets underway this week in what should be another exciting year.

With the Ohio High School Athletic Association reducing the playoffs from 16 teams to 12 in each region a year ago, qualifying for the postseason could be a little tougher. The playoffs begin Oct. 30, but before we get there, teams are preparing for their 10-game regular season schedules, including Lancaster.

The Golden Gales are starving for success and haven’t had a winning season since 2018. Lancaster is putting all its chips on first-year coach Jeremy McKinney. He was ultra-successful at Bloom-Carroll, and the Gales are hoping he can work his magic and bring the program back to respectability.

More: Lancaster football goes all in with hiring of Jeremy McKinney as coach

There is plenty of talent returning, but learning how to win and getting over the hump will be the biggest hurdle for the Gales. Again, the talent is there, the coaching is there; now they have to go out and prove it on the field.

Here is a closer look at the Golden Gales as they prepare for their season opener on Friday, Aug. 21.

Hasn’t won since 2018 — believe and understand how to win.

Coach: Jeremy McKinney (first season; went 41-12 in four seasons at Bloom-Carroll)

Conference: Ohio Capital Conference-Buckeye Division

2025 record: 3-7

Key returners: Brody Broeckel, Sr., QB; Jahmeir Gordon, Sr., RB/DB; Brody Clay, Jr., OL/DL; Nik Brown, Sr., OL/DL; Aaron Daniels, Sr., OL/DL; Xavier Milliser, Sr., OL/DL; Jack Pompey, Sr, WR; Kellen Knoch, Sr., WR; Gunnar Bell, Jr., K/P; Issac Boyden, Sr., LB; Landon Burke, Soph., DB; Geno Capretta, Sr., LB; Ethan Chambers, Sr., OL/DL; Josiah Caldwell, Soph., WR/DB; Jack Crist, Sr., TE/LB; Dominic Darnall, Sr., WR/DB; Landon Evans, Jr., OL/DL; Bryce Fox, Sr., DB; Kyson Jones, Sr., WR/DB; Wyatt Krutsch, Sr., K/P; Isaiah Miller, Jr., RB; Michael Pennington, SR., OL/DL; Max Sims, JR., LB/WR; Brett Toronto, Sr., WR/DB; Jackson Utt, Sr., RB/DB; Ace Zommerman, Jr., LB/TE.

Key newcomers: Elijah Brown, Sr., WR; Cam Crawford, Sr., TE/DL; Jackson Reynolds, Sr., LB; Collin Thomas, Sr., LB; Ryder Smith, Sr., DB.

Coach McKinney’s take: “We have been working this offseason and preseason to instill our culture and program as a new staff. Led by our 31 seniors, our players have worked very hard, have brought positive energy every day, and they are excited for the opportunity to show their work on Friday nights. They understand the tradition and expectations that come with playing for the Golden Gales and are eager to add their names to the history and legacy of Lancaster Football.”

Schedule

Aug. 21: Hilliard Darby

Aug. 28: at Delaware Hayes

Sept 4: at Marysville

Sept. 11: at Teays Valley

Sept. 18: Groveport

Sept. 25: Pickerington Central

Oct. 2: at Logan

Oct. 9: Reynoldsburg

Oct. 16: Canal Winchester

Oct. 23: at Newark

Tom Wilson is a sports reporter for the Lancaster Eagle-Gazette. Contact him at 740-689-5150 or via email at twilson@gannett.com for comments or story tips. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @twil2323.

This article originally appeared on Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: Starving for success, Lancaster set to usher in the McKinney era