ROOTSTOWN ROVERS
Rootstown football’s returning lettermen (17)
Rootstown football’s impact players
Blake Mullaly enters his third season as the Rovers’ starting quarterback after competing 52 of 91 passes (57.1%) for 872 yards and five touchdowns with one interception last year. Rootstown coach Tom Hannan said “we’re going to ask him to run the ball a little more this year,” helped by the fact the senior is “bigger and stronger than he’s ever been.” Mullaly is also a highly effective kicker, setting a school record with a 48-yard field goal last year, and will likely play some in the secondary. … Fellow senior Max McEwuen returns to lead that secondary after recording a team-high five interceptions a year ago. McEwuen is also “going to be a big part of our offense,” Hannan said, with the chance to wreak havoc with his speed, including on jet sweeps. … Speaking of wreaking havoc, Peyton Simms had a team-best four sacks and 10 tackles for loss in just 5½ games last season before tearing his ACL against Berkshire. The senior is “fully back now,” Hannan said, and “probably our best defensive lineman.” … Versatile senior Kiel Reuting “just does a lot of things for us,” according to Hannan. A capable ball carrier, Reuting also has “good hands” that allow him to excel at receiver. On defense, he’s capable of making an impact at both linebacker and defensive end for the Rovers.
What’s new with Rootstown football in 2026
For the fourth consecutive season, the Rovers will roll out a new defensive coordinator. This time it’s Jeff Bruno, who has prior head coaching experience at Brookfield and St. Thomas Aquinas as well as extensive coordinating experience. Expect “a lot of different multiple looks, three-man fronts” and more blitzing in 2026, according to Hannan. … Hannan also has a new strength and conditioning coach — Braden Wright, a star lineman from Rootstown’s Class of 2026. Hannan said he wouldn’t ordinarily hire someone so young, “but the kids respected him so well in his character” and the coaches felt the same and “he’s done a great job with our weight program this summer.” … With the graduation of bellcow back Damien Reuting, Rootstown will turn to an assortment of options to take those carries. Seniors Ayden Moyer and Kiel Reuting are “interchangeable” in a good way given both can play fullback and tailback, Mullaly will also take on increased carries at quarterback and McEwuen will take handoffs as well for the Rovers.
Rootstown football’s outlook
A year ago, the Rovers fell just short of the postseason, winning their first five games but going 1-4 the rest of the way. That was the first time Rootstown failed to qualify for the postseason since 2016 — although the Rovers didn’t play a postseason game in 2020, they technically made it (everyone did in a strange COVID-altered season). … Rootstown has a key ingredient toward a potential postseason return, Hannan said: “We have really good size for a Division VI school.” In addition to the aforementioned Simms, the Rovers have third-year starter Chase Moyer (6-4, 290) at left tackle and Luke Rogan (6-1, 190) getting “bigger and stronger” after starting every game at center a year ago. Junior Rylan Campbell (6-2, 275) is expected to excel at nose guard while also potentially playing on the offensive line and sophomore Aiden Long started all 10 games at defensive end as a freshman and is “very disruptive,” Hannan said. Junior Shelton Nicely (6-2, 310) and freshman Riggs Heckert (6-3, 260) add further size up front. Seniors Christian Adkins and Devin Wright should also make an impact at tight end and the offensive line, respectively, while another senior, Jackson DeAngelis, should join Ayden Moyer and Reuting in forming a stout linebacker corps. … Also watch for potential breakout seasons by junior Carson Saltsman and sophomore Grayson Rantilla.
Rootstown football schedule for 2026
Contact Jonah L. Rosenblum at jrosenblum@recordpub.com and follow him on Twitter at @JLRSports.
This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: Rootstown High School football schedule, lettermen, 2026 preview
Reporting by Jonah Rosenblum, Ravenna Record-Courier / Record-Courier
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Jonah Rosenblum, Ravenna Record-Courier | USA TODAY Network
