High school football preview 2021: Pioneers happy to be in new league, and SWC happy to have them

Change is in the air this fall and it should add some spice to the local football scene. Elyria High is now a member of the Southwestern Conference, renewing rivalries with Midview and North Ridgeville from the old Erie Shore Conference while starting some new ones with Amherst, Avon and Avon Lake in Lorain County and Berea-Midpark and Olmsted Falls from nearby Cuyahoga County. Gone from the SWC are North Olmsted and Westlake, following Lakewood, which left last year, to the Great Lakes Conference. At one time, the SWC had only one Lorain County school. It now has six. The longest bus rides Elyria will have are trips to Berea and Olmsted Falls as opposed to the hour-long treks to Mentor and Solon it used to have as a member of the Greater Cleveland Conference. "It'll be nice," said Isaiah Johnson, one of Elyria's 21 returning lettermen. "Better to stay close than travel an hour away." "Going into this new league will help us out a lot," Elyria coach Devlin Culliver said. "It's still stiff competition but it's different for us. We were one of the smallest schools in the GCC. Playing field is a little more even for us. It's tough driving all the way from Elyria to Mentor. Those long trips and then you have to get off the bus and play tough opponents. Made for a tough life for us." "I like the new rivalries," said Elyria senior Zander Lowery, a three-year starting offensive lineman. "I'm not underestimating any of those teams out there but I'd like to see what they've got. I'd like to be prepared for any challenge when I get on the field." Elyria didn't fare well in the GCC, losing its last 23 games. "They were in a brutal league, so it's kind of tough to gauge exactly what they'll do," Avon Lake coach Matt Kostelnik said of the Pioneers. "I've met (Culliver) several times and he seems to be a great guy. It's going to add another level of competition to our league. Having another big school in our conference is only going to elevate our competition." The Shoremen have won 11 of the 13 times they've faced the Pioneers in the past — many by wide margins. Avon, on the other hand, has never played Elyria in football but Eagles coach Mike Elder welcomes the challenge. "Elyria certainly understands how to compete because they were in a league that was ultra-competitive," he said. "I think our league got better bringing in Elyria. Elyria is used to great competition." "We're definitely excited," Avon senior linebacker/running back Trevor Norman said. "They're going to be tough but we're going to be ready." "I'm excited to see new competition," said Avon junior linebacker/running back Gavin Ehrhardt. "Obviously with the teams that left, it was nice to see them. We'll see some different looks on offense and defense. I think Elyria will be a good addition to the conference." Midview has always been a rival of the Pioneers dating back to the Erie Shore days. Elyria has a slim 9-7 margin over the Middies, including last year's 50-28 win. Midview coach Luke Beal and his team are looking forward to rekindling the rivalry. "They're right in our backyard," Beal said. "Anytime you play a team that close, I'm sure there are a lot of kids that know each other. Hopefully this can turn into a big rivalry. I know our kids are looking forward to it." "They're a crosstown rival for us," Midview senior linebacker Tyler Smith said. "We've been playing them in the past so it's definitely fun to keep playing them. They're a great team with elite speed and great coaching." "It's super exciting," Midview senior wide receiver/cornerback Bryce Newton said. "We know a lot of their guys and they know a lot of ours. They definitely bring something to the table having come from the GCC, which is probably one of the hardest conferences in the state." "I always love playing Elyria," said Midview senior quarterback Ethan Surdock. "It's always a good game between the two of us, so hopefully we can take the win when we play this year." "My girlfriend goes to Midview," Lowery said. "It would be nice to see them afterward for bragging rights." Elyria and North Ridgeville, the other old Erie Shore rival, haven't played since 1996 but the Rangers are looking forward to the renewal as well. Elyria has a 9-6 lead over the Rangers in past meetings. ""Elyria is a program with a storied history of great teams and great players," Rangers coach Bryan Morgan said. "I think they'll fit well with the SWC and be able to compete on a weekly basis. I'm looking forward to continuing the border rivalry." "They'll definitely bring a chip on their shoulder," Rangers senior tackle/defensive end Dain Bartlebaugh said. "Being the first year in a new conference, they want to make a statement but we're a lot like Elyria. We're essentially a brand new team with a new culture. We're going to bring that same mentality." "They've been facing some pretty good teams," Rangers safety/wide receiver Kosta Thrasivoulou said of the Pioneers. "We know it's going to be a really good game when we face them." "I think the SWC just got stronger," Elder said. Contact Tim Gebhardt at 329-7135 or at timothygeb@msn.com.