Stark County High School Football: What you need to know for the 2022 season

High school football is set to return this week in Ohio.

In the Stark County area, two games kick off the season Thursday before the rest of the area's teams jump into action Friday night.

For all of the teams in the area, and around the state, their ultimate goal is a trip to Canton for the OHSAA state championship games in December.

Our sports writers will be there over the next four months to share the stories of our teams in their journeys to league titles, rivalry games and the state playoffs.

To get ready for the 2022 season, we've been talking to area coaches and players over the last month and sharing stories not found anywhere else.

Each team's schedule can be found here.

Read on to find breakdowns of all of our area's teams. But before that, let's look at some of the players we expect to be among the best in the area this season.

• Who are Greater Canton's top high school football quarterbacks? Here are 10 to watch

• Who are Greater Canton's top high school football running backs? Here are 10 to watch

• Who are Greater Canton's top high school football receivers? Here are 10 to watch

• Who are Greater Canton's top high school football offensive linemen? Here are 10 to watch

• Who are Greater Canton's top high school football linebackers? Here are 10 to watch

• Who are Greater Canton's top high school football defensive backs? Here are 10 to watch

• Who are Greater Canton's top high school football defensive lineman? Here are 10 to watch

• Who are Greater Canton's top high school football specialists? Here are 5 to watch

Find out more about some of those top players:

• At McKinley, senior Cynceir McNeal is 'that guy' who is ready to lead the Bulldogs in every way.

• In North Canton, Hoover's Luke Roach looks for more after breakout football season.

• Read about about Lake's Matt Sollberger, Ty Miller, who are pushing each other to make plays and grades for the Blue Streaks.

• At Green, some new faces are eager to write new story after the program's memorable 2021 season.

• Massillon seeks another deep playoff run and the Tigers make it clear 'We think we got a gem': in young quarterback Jalen Slaughter.

• Alliance is looking to turn things around in the EBC and make its return to the playoffs led by Kayden and K'vaughn Davis, who seek advice from their uncle, a former Alliance star and Michigan State Spartan.

• Also in the EBC, a coach quite familiar with the area, Phil Mauro, makes his debut as coach of Marlington. The Dukes likely will be led by Beau Himmelheber,who is set to follow in the footsteps of older brothers.

• In the PAC-7, the Fairless Falcons aim for that 'next level' after their historic 2021 season.

• The PAC-7, which featured five playoff teams a year ago, adds another 2021 playoff team to the mix, as Canton South joins the league and Poochie Snyder returns at QB to lead the Wildcats through their new journey.

Federal League football previews

Canton McKinley:Bulldogs football preview

GlenOak:Golden Eagles football preview

Green:Bulldogs football preview

Jackson:Polar Bears football preview

Lake:Blue Streaks football preview

North Canton Hoover:Vikings football preview

Perry:Panthers football preview

Stark County Parochials / independents

Canton Central Catholic:Crusaders football preview

Louisville:Leopards football preview

Massillon:Tigers football preview

St Thomas Aquinas:Knights football preview

PAC-7 football previews

Canton South:Wildcats football preview

Fairless:Falcons football preview

Northwest:Northwest football preview

Tuslaw:Mustangs football preview

Eastern Buckeye Conference football previews

Alliance:Aviators football preview

Carrollton:Warriors football

Marlington:Dukes football preview

Minerva:Lions football preview

Inter-Valley Conference football previews

East Canton:Hornets football preview

Malvern:Hornets football preview

Sandy Valley:Cardinals football preview

For more high school football news, listen to the FridayNightOhio Podcast

2021 Stark County-area final regular season standings

Federal League Football Standings

• x-Hoover ..............6-0...... 8-2

• McKinley ..............5-1.....  6-4

• Jackson .............. 4-2...... 8-2

• Green ...................3-3...... 7-3

• Lake .....................2-4...... 5-4

• GlenOak .............. 1-5.....  3-6

• Perry .................... 0-6...... 2-8

• x-Wins outright league title

Stark County Independents / Catholic Football Standings

• Massillon .................... 8-2

• Central Catholic.......... 4-6

• Louisville .................... 2-8

• St. Thomas Aquinas ... 0-7

PAC-7 Football Standings

• x-Fairless .................6-1..... 9-1

• x-Triway....................6-1..... 7-1

• Northwest .............5-2..... 6-4

• Manchester ...........5-2..... 6-4

• CVCA.....................3-4..... 6-4

• Orrville....................2-5..... 2-8

• Loudonville.............1-6..... 1-9

• Tuslaw ...................0-7..... 1-9

• x-Share league title

Inter-Valley Conference Football Standings

North Division

• Malvern .................5-0..... 8-2

• East Canton ..........3-1..... 5-3

• Buckeye Trail ....... 2-2 .... 4-5

• Tusc. Cent.Cath. .. 2-3 .... 3-7

• Newcomerstown .. 1-3 .....1-5

• Strasburg ............. 0-4 .... 1-8

• x-Wins outright division title

South Division

• Garaway ............... 5-0 .... 10-0

• Ridgewood ........... 4-1 .... 9-1

• Indian Valley ......... 3-2 .... 6-2

• Sandy Valley ........  2-3..... 6-4

• Claymont .............. 1-4 .... 1-8

• Tusky Valley .......... 0-5..... 1-9

• x-Wins outright division title

Eastern Buckeye Conference Football Standings

• x-West Branch ........ 6-0..... 10-0

• Carrollton ................ 4-2..... 7-3

• Salem ...................... 3-3..... 7-3

• Canton South .......... 3-3..... 7-3

• Alliance ................... 3-3..... 3-7

• Marlington ............... 2-4..... 3-7

• Minerva ................... 0-6..... 0-10

• x-Wins outright league title

Want to look back at the 2021 regular season? Visit our Week 10 scores from last year, which also includes scores and info from the entire regular season.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Stark County High School Football Guide for the 2022 Season