Correspondent file photo / Michael G. Taylor McDonald’s Kyle Puckett (8) celebrates after teammate Drew Zajack (10) crosses the goal line against Western Reserve last season.

McDONALD — The McDonald Blue Devils are motivated heading into the 2025 season and look to leave their mark in the program’s 100th season.

A 12-man senior class, led by quarterback Kyle Puckett, fullback Drew Zajack and wide receiver Jordan Perry, has sparked a resurgence within the program over the past two seasons. They finished 7-3 in the regular season last year — their best record since going undefeated in 2018.

They won five of their final six games, earning Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference wins over Jackson-Milton, Waterloo, Lowellville, Campbell and Mineral Ridge.

The Blue Devils entered the OHSAA Division VII, Region 25 tournament on a high note, earning the No. 6 seed and a first-round matchup against No. 11 seed Lowellville, whom they had beaten 42-14 just a few weeks earlier. However, their season came to an end with a 34-20 loss on their home field.

“It left a really bad taste in our mouth,” Zajack said. “Last year we were 7-3, riding high after a win over (Mineral) Ridge. Just to go in and basically get stumped and lose against Lowellville.”

Head coach Dan Williams added, “They still talk about that. We didn’t play up to our expectations. They (Lowellville) came in and played really well, but our kids aren’t happy with the way that finished, especially losing at home in a playoff game. I think we’re going to use that as motivation.”

Each season brings a new beginning, though, and this iteration of Blue Devils has an opportunity to set everything straight and take their success another step further. Williams returns about seven starters on both sides of the ball after losing a senior class of nine. Puckett, Zajack and Perry are a crucial part of that group. But others, such as running back Casey Miller and lineman Jacob Bowser, will also play significant roles, and they all have their minds set on one thing.

“We all know that this is our last ride and we have to make the most of it,” Zajack said.

To commemorate and celebrate their 100th season, the Blue Devils will host an event on Aug. 29, during their Week 2 matchup against Columbiana. Williams said they have invited alumni back for the event and have around 150 people signed up already.

The longtime McDonald coach said it has added an extra layer of motivation for his players: “The kids are excited about the 100th year. It’s something they can remember and I think they want to go out with a bang with this 100th year too. I think it’s a little extra motivation. I haven’t talked to them about it, but they know there’s an event and they know some things are going on for the 100th year. So I think that adds to them wanting to leave their mark on the tradition here.”

OFFENSE

Two years ago, Puckett and Zajack split time at quarterback in a spread offense. Last year, Williams switched back to the Wing-T, an offense he’d utilized for 18 seasons before switching to the spread about six or seven seasons ago. It paid off as the Blue Devils produced nearly 30 points and 300 yards per game.

Standing at 6-foot-3, 215 pounds, Zajack was moved to fullback and rushed 133 times for 789 yards and 10 touchdowns. Four different players — Casey Miller (506), Jayden Taylor (363), and Tobias Domitrovich (254) — rushed for over 250 yards and combined for 31 touchdowns.

Zajack will stick at fullback, Miller will slot in at tailback after playing wingback last season and Preston VanMeter, Jonathan Black, and Josh Krumpak are all getting reps at wingback. Williams also plans to expand the playbook and add a few wrinkles.

“It was a big year last year for installation. That’s a tough offense to install, and we ended up doing it and getting it done,” Williams said. “I thought we were pretty productive out of it. This year, the kids came in the summer and they knew what was going on. They knew the way they had to motion or not motion, the alignments, the formations, and it was a much easier transition getting ready for the season to start. The familiarity is definitely there with the offense, and of course, we can put a few more wrinkles in.”

McDonald also has the personnel to spread teams out. Puckett returns under center after completing 61% of his passes for 1,005 yards and eight touchdowns. Perry, Puckett’s leading receiver, caught 17 passes for 310 yards and four touchdowns last season while averaging 18.24 yards per catch. However, he missed the final two games of the season after getting injured against Springfield in Week 9. He returns opposite Krumpak, who Williams described as a “dynamic runner,” giving the Blue Devils the weapons to beat teams deep.

“Krumpak is a guy who runs like a 4.5 40 and has great hands,” Williams said. “Then we have Jordy Perry, who is 6-3, 190 pounds. So, if we get those guys on the field at the same time, it puts pressure on the defense, so we’re excited about that. We can definitely throw a few other wrinkles in on offense.”

Senior Luke Frederick, junior Brady Shobel, and sophomore Tyler Nalbach should have a presence in the passing game at tight end as Williams looks to replace James Hipple.

The Blue Devils are still figuring out their best five-man combination up front. Junior Amari Carayol will start at center after starting as a sophomore and Bowser, a three-year starter at tackle, will slot in at right tackle. The other spots are up for grabs.

Williams said senior Andre Blake and junior Christian Whitsel are competing for tackle spots while senior Arthur Zaccone and sophomore Carter Koma are competing for the guard positions.

“We have a lot of competition up front. We haven’t really nailed down the front five,” Williams said.

DEFENSE

The Blue Devils run a 4-4 defense and are still filling a few holes as their season opener against Champion on Aug. 22 approaches.

Zajack returns at defensive end while Carayol and Bowser will return at tackle. Williams said they are testing out Whitsel and sophomore Cayden Davis for the other defensive end position.

The linebacking corps is where their real holes exist. Junior Dom Sampson is the only player returning with experience. He was the third linebacker in McDonald’s rotation last season and tallied 11 tackles in seven games. He’ll slot in at inside linebacker and Williams is looking to fill the other three positions.

VanMeter, Black, and juniors Mason Marvin and Caleb Gallner will compete for spots at outside linebacker. Shobel, Nalbach and Koma will work into the inside linebacker rotation.

McDonald has everyone back in the secondary with Klockner and Perry at cornerback. Miller returns at safety. Williams said Krumpak will also be “sprinkled in” around the secondary.

SPECIAL TEAMS

The Blue Devils have plenty of experience returning on special teams. Zajack will be the punter for the third straight year and Klockner is the long snapper and PAT snapper.

Miller and Krumpak will handle the return duties, while soccer player Anthony Larson will handle PAT duties.