Countdown to football: North Baltimore

2025 Record: 4-7 (2-6 NWCC)Head coach: Greg Bishop, 1st year, 2nd term (12-18 at North Baltimore, 48-67 overall) KEY GAME: Week 2, at Hardin Northern. Hardin Northern was a Northwest Central Conference contender last season. North Baltimore wasn't. North Baltimore did finish the 2024 season well, however, winning two of its last four games and making the school's first playoff appearance since everybody advanced during the COVID pandemic of 2020. And the Tigers posted their best record since going 6-4 in 2017 with arguably the youngest team in the league. Of the 28 players on the 2024 roster, 21 were freshmen and sophomores. Following a season opener against Bucyrus, North Baltimore jumps right into NWCC play and Hardin Northern will be a quality test for a young North Baltimore team with a year's experience under its belt.INTERESTING FACT: The 2025 season will be Greg Bishop's second go-round at the Wood County school just across the Hancock County line. Following a 2-8 record in his first year at North Baltimore (2013), Bishop guided the Tigers to back-to-back 5-5 records in 2014 and 2015 with teams that could put points on the board in bunches. The Tigers averaged 31.1 points a game in 2014, and 26.4 a year later. Bishop also maneuvered the Xs and Os for some pretty impressive teams at Elmwood, including the 2021 team that averaged 43.6 points a game and went 10-2, and the 2022 team that averaged 39.2 and went 12-2.MAGIC NUMBER: 16. That's the age teenagers need to be to get a drivers license, but a lot of North Baltimore players were hitching rides or getting dropped off last season. Of the 28 players on the 2024 roster 21 were freshmen (12) or sophomores (9). There's never a guarantee all will return, but a year's experience in the weight room and on the field could make a big difference for the Tigers this season. NORTH BALTIMORE2025 SCHEDULEDate Opponent Home/AwayAug. 22 Bucyrus H 29 Hardin Northern* ASept. 5 Elgin* H 12 Cory-Rawson* H 19 Waynesfield-Goshen* A 26 Lima Perry* HOct. 3 Ridgedale* A 10 Ridgemont* H 17 Crestline A 24 Upper Scioto Valley* H*Northwest Central Conference games