High school football is back: Bloom-Carroll sets the standard for area teams

CARROLL – For nine Lancaster-area high school football teams, Aug. 1 was the first official day of practice as they gear up for the season opener in three weeks on Aug. 22.

As far as setting the standard in the area, Bloom-Carroll has been one of the winningest teams in Central Ohio during the last three years with an impressive 33-8 record during that span, including a sparkling 26-1 record in Mid-State League-Buckeye Division play.

The Bulldogs have played in 12 playoff games during the last three years and have a combined record of 8-4 in the postseason, including a state runner-up finish in 2022.

More: Meeting at mid-field before each game meant more than you will ever know, coach McKinney

On Friday, the Bulldogs were going through the paces during a relatively cool practice with temperatures hovering around 75 degrees, which is a far cry from the 90-degree heat earlier in the week.

Three-year starting senior linebacker Aidan Scholz could not contain his excitement about being back on the field.

“Everyone has a little pep in their step, and we are all ready to get going,” Scholz said. “We are like hounds, and we are ready to pounce. We are just glad to be back out here. Everything leading up to now was preparing us for real practices. It’s time to lock in and get to work. We understand that Bloom-Carroll has been such a dynamic program, and we don’t want to be that class that takes a step back.”

Bloom-Carroll is coming off a 9-3 record in 2024, and after winning a first-round playoff game, were knocked out in the second round.

“Our guys are hungry,” said Bloom-Carrol coach Jeremy McKinney, who is entering his fourth season at the helm. “We didn’t like the way the season ended last year. They wanted to start lifting as soon as the season ended. We have been working since December to get to this point, so to be able to get out here and start running around is a great feeling.”

Bloom-Carroll has won seven consecutive MSL-Buckeye Division titles.

“Every group is unique, but this senior group wants to uphold the tradition that we have developed, and they have taken that upon themselves to do that,” McKinney said. “We have 27 seniors, which is the biggest senior class that’s ever been at Bloom-Carroll. They were freshmen when we were state runner-up, so all those guys were there for that. They want to make their mark and leave their own stamp on the program.”

With the season less than three weeks away, McKinney said the Bulldogs’ two scrimmages will be crucial in preparing for the season opener.

“Every year, it feels like it gets quicker,” McKinney said. “I do miss the days where you had a couple of weeks before the first scrimmage, but you do feel that urgency, and you almost feel like you are behind at this point. You have to navigate things a little differently. That first scrimmage will tell you where you are at, and you can see what your strengths and weaknesses are. The second (scrimmage) is like a game week.”

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

This article originally appeared on Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: High school football is back: Bloom-Carroll sets the standard for area teams