CJ looking forward to opener in new stadium

As good as that sounds, it gets considerably revved up because the Eagles will host small-school state football power Marion Local of the mighty Midwest Athletic League in the season opener Aug. 26. It’s a rare regular-season matchup of a Greater Catholic League Co-Ed North Division team and a MAC power that won four straight small-school state titles from 2011-14 and was a state runner-up last season.

“That’s going to be a great atmosphere and our kids are going to be front and center of that,” CJ football coach Marcus Colvin said Monday during a break in two-a-day practice. “That’s my chill-bump moment, thinking about that for our kids. That is just going to be an amazing atmosphere.”

The preseason began for football, cross country, field hockey, golf, soccer, girls tennis and girls volleyball. The golf regular season is up first, starting Friday, followed by girls tennis Aug. 12. Like CJ, most area football teams play their openers Aug. 26.

CJ lugs a four-game losing skid into this season after going 2-8, the only losing season in Colvin’s five years as coach. Transfers of key players also doomed the Eagles. But that led to a bevy of underclassmen who became starters, many of whom return.

That includes junior quarterback/safety Ryan Peltier and junior receiver/corner Keshaun Owen, a starter since his freshman year.

“We just keep working our young guys, building them up and getting them strong for our first game to open up the stadium,” said Owen.

All three GCL North rivals — Alter, Carroll and defending league champ Fenwick — hung lopsided losses on offensively challenged CJ last season.

“The interesting thing is we’re still young,” Colvin said. “We’ll be a little more experienced, but young in terms of age. It was a tough year, for sure, but you learn a lot. I learned a lot about myself and those kids and about our program. I still feel as confident today as I ever did. We’re excited about these kids’ development during the offseason and what we’re able to put out there this year.”

CJ is at Miamisburg in Week 2. Like CJ, Miamisburg also will make its debut in a new stadium on campus. CJ plays Meadowdale at Welcome Stadium in Week 3 then starts conference play at Fenwick in Week 4.

The Eagles have 63 players grades 9-12, including eight seniors. Football teams are permitted a maximum three preseason scrimmages or two scrimmages and a fund-raising jamboree contest.

“We’re really excited to get back to our first game,” CJ senior Jake Kinnear, a receiver/defensive back, said. “We’re going to have a lot of people there and we should have a good season to bounce back from last year.”

CJ’s boys and girls varsity and JV soccer teams will be the first to play at the new stadium on Aug. 20.