MAKING UP the Ohio backfield for Sunday’s 63rd annual Rudy Mumley OVAC All-Star Charity Football Classic is this group of players. Front row, from left, are Steve Beros (Buckeye Trail), Billy Merryman (Shadyside), Brock Davis (Buckeye Trail), Robbie Davia (Harrison Central) and Brandon Hunter (Toronto). Back row, from left, are Kyle Rader (Monroe Central), Dustin Sadlowski (Shadyside), Joey Wheeler (Shenandoah), Troy Starr (River), John Earliwine (St. Clairsville) and Mark Markakis (Steubenville).

WEST LIBERTY — In the week’s leading up to this Sunday’s 63rd annual Rudy Mumley OVAC All-Star Charity Football Classic, Ohio and Buckeye Trail head coach Randy Thompson knew his team had some firepower. He’s now learning it first hand as practices are well under way here for this weekend’s 7:15 p.m. kickoff. However, the problem in most all-star games is getting all 11 players on the same page for a matter of execution. “We’ve looked a little better each time we’ve stepped on the field,” Thompson said. “When we first went out Sunday we didn’t look very good at all, but we’ve gotten better since then and we’ll continue to improve and work on things because the kids are really responding well to everything.” The Ohio squad plans on implementing a two-quarterback system with Shadyside’s Billy Merryman and Harrison Central’s Robbie Davia sharing the duties. “For the most part, our offense is much like many teams, but the terminology is all different,” Thompson said.