2026 Football Preview: Gallia Academy Blue Devils

GALLIPOLIS — One bad break isn’t going to break the Gallia Academy Blue Devils spirit.

A possible severe injury to senior quarterback Max Canaday looks like it could derail the Blue Devils hopes for a good season.

But second-year head coach Dalton Jarrell is determined that the Blue Devils will battle through the adversity.

“We have a pretty good senior class. Most of these kids have started as sophomores, so they’ve got a lot of game experience,” said Gallia coach Dalton Jarrell.

“These kids have worked their tails off. They want to be a good team. We still have the same goals ahead of us. Canaday) is one of the best players in the area, but I made it clear that we’re not going to let one player dictate our season.”

The quarterback situation is up in the air after senior starter Max Canaday — possibly the best offensive player in the Ohio Valley Conference — suffered a knee injury and his status is uncertain.

If Canaday is unable to go, senior Brock Shelton will move from wide receiver to quarterback.

“Shelton isn’t as big as Canaday, but he’s a dynamic athlete, too. He’ll do a good job for us,” said Jarrell.

The running back will be senior Connor Nichols with senior Wyatt Warren and junior Bryden Howell getting some carries.

Warren finished fourth in the state wrestling tournament last winter.

The wide receiver position has senior Jack Allison and sophomore Casey Blair as the outside receivers while sophomore Jaxon Angel and Warren — who didn’t play last season — will be in the slot.

The center will be senior Kole Loveday who started last season along with senior left guard Jackson Loveday and all-district senior right guard Logan Kenney.

Sophomore Owen Cardwell (6-5, 265) is the left tackle and the biggest player on the team. The right tackle is junior Anton Haas who was All-Ohio last season.

“Without Canaday, we’ll be run heavy and not put as much pressure on Shelton. But we’ll throw the ball to keep teams honest,” said Jarrell.

The tight end will be sophomore Ayden Wolford.

The Blue Devils will use a 3-4 base with Keeney the nose guard and Haas and Jackson Loveday the defensive ends. Loveday was All-Ohio last season.

The inside linebackers are Tyshawn Clendenin and Nichols with Shelton and Warren on the outside.

The secondary has Allison and Blair at the cornerback spots with junior Grant Owens the strong safety and senior Christ Henry the free safety.

In the Ohio Valley Conference, Jarrell said it should be a competitive race.

“We had high hopes that we could compete for it. Obviously, Coal Grove is always tough. They’re physical and they don’t change. Rock Hill has some athletes and they probably have one of the best athletes in (Braylon) McClellan,” said Jarrell.