After a 5-6 campaign in 2025, the West Liberty-Salem Tigers enter the 2026 football season looking to take another step forward in a competitive Ohio Heritage Conference. Now in the second year of the Brad Jarzab experience, the Tigers look to build on the foundation laid a year ago.
The Tigers endured a difficult start last season, dropping their first two games to Jonathan Alder and Benjamin Logan. From there, however, West Liberty-Salem found its footing, winning four straight games, including OHC victories over Fairbanks and Greenon. The Tigers finished the regular season 5-5 before falling to Carlisle in the postseason.
While last year's record may not have matched the program's recent standards, there were plenty of encouraging moments. West Liberty-Salem showed the ability to compete with some of the conference's better teams and put together several convincing victories along the way.
The biggest challenge entering 2026 will be replacing a senior class that saw a lot of winning during their time in the Orange and Black. The Tigers will need their returning players to provide leadership while younger players step in and prove they are ready for increased responsibility of expanded roles that come with being called to action.
One area that will receive plenty of attention is the offensive production. In 2025, quarterback Beckett Sullivan threw for 1,421 yards and 12 touchdowns, while Corbin Wallace led the rushing attack with 841 yards and eight touchdowns.
Wallace exits with graduation, and the Tigers look to fill that void with a collection of talents returning for the Tigers. Silas Krabill will be looked on to shoulder the load and help carry the burden.
The Tigers will also have to navigate a conference that continues to provide plenty of challenges. West Jefferson, Mechanicsburg and Northeastern all finished ahead of West Liberty-Salem in the 2025 OHC football standings, while the Tigers will once again see familiar opponents throughout the league schedule.
An exciting addition to the Tiger fandom atmosphere will debut at the start of this new season. Newly installed renovations to Tiger Stadium hope to reinvigorate the community and display the support the community has behind their hometown squad.
For West Liberty-Salem, the goal entering the new season is clear: build on the lessons of 2025 and turn close games and stretches of success into a more consistent season.
With another year of development behind the program, the Tigers will look to establish themselves early, find their identity and compete for a spot near the top of the OHC.
The 2026 season presents a fresh opportunity for West Liberty-Salem — and the Tigers will look to make the most of it.
