The Red Raiders and their fans are expecting to see a lot of Bryson Toronto in the end zone this year as this backfield, full of talented players including Toronto, Jaydon Cooper, Carson Lewis and quarterback Colt Hughes, is ready to menace opposing defenses with an aggressive ground game. (Press Pros Feature Photos by Brian Bayless)
After posting their third consecutive perfect regular season last fall, the Red Raiders have their eyes on a state championship.
London, OH — Located in between Columbus and Dayton, the medium-sized city of London offers a mixture of cornfields and farming, with boating and swimming at Choctaw Lake, and a vibrant small-town experience.
On Friday nights for most of the past three-plus decades, that community has also had plenty to make it proud based on the exploits of its rugged football program.
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There are only a handful of teams across Ohio that have built up a resume that includes consecutive perfect regular seasons each of the past three years, but the Red Raiders are one of those.
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They went 12-1 a year ago, at one point posting six consecutive shutout wins, before their season ended with a 33-16 loss in the Division III, Region 12 championship game to Tippecanoe.
“Community support is one of our biggest keys, and it’s helped us be consistent,” 12th-year coach Kyle Cutler said. “We’ve got that small-town feel, and it makes for a special atmosphere. London is a unique place. You’ve got tough, blue-collar kids. You get kids from all types of backgrounds and walks of life and it makes for a meaningful football experience.
“I enjoy that the student-athletes continue to show up and give their very best and engage in a difficult process. They’re willing to do hard things. It’s a tough sport, and their consistency and willingness to show up is one of the big reasons we’ve been consistent.”
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Head coach Kyle Cutler has high expectations this year with a state championship clearly in his sights.
Cutler has helped a program that thrived under former coach Dave Daubenmire from 1989-2000—including reaching a state semifinal in 1994—put together a current run of nine consecutive playoff appearances. The Red Raiders went 14-1 in 2024, with their season ending in a state semifinal loss to eventual champion Watterson.
London has now dropped to Division IV, Region 16 after competing in Division III the past seven seasons.
“We continue to compete on a high level because of our incredible coaching staff, the players’ loyalty to the program, a strong brotherhood, and the support of our community,” senior two-way lineman Brody Howard said. “Moving to Division IV does not change our mentality and how we perform. … The biggest goal for London football is to make it all the way to Canton and win a state title.”
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Jaydon Cooper smokes a Clyde defender during a scrimmage Thursday night.
The Red Raiders have been a run-heavy program throughout most of Cutler’s tenure—they attempted fewer than 50 passes last fall—and that’s not likely to change much this fall.
Junior Bryston Toronto, a second-team all-district running back who rushed for 1,127 yards and 19 touchdowns last season, figures to lead the offense.
“He’s a tough runner, short and stocky, who gets the uncomfortable yards,” Cutler said.
Seniors Jaydon Cooper and Dreux Prince and juniors Traivon Howard and Carson Lewis are others who could carry the ball this fall, and some of them will also line up at wide receiver along with sophomore Parker Clawson. Junior Lucas Goubeaux is expected to be at tight end.
The new quarterback is junior Colt Hughes, who figures to be a dual-threat option.
Also on the offensive line along with Howard are seniors Nixon Gross and Beckett Dytello and junior Bryce Peters.
Junior quarterback Colt Hughes is emerging as a dual threat for the Red Raiders. He’ll create lots of heartburn for his opponents’ defensive coordinators.
“I believe in the way we do things outside of football as a team helps us continue to understand each other on and off the field,” Dytello said. “Some of the keys that will help maintain and build off of last season is not getting comfortable at where we are in the moment and having the mindset as a whole that we can always do better than where we are.
“My role this upcoming season is to strengthen my character and confidence while also putting my team before myself and making sure I lead with examples instead of words. Some of my goals are to improve myself and the team while also showing love and appreciation for the community that we are strongly built around.”
Defensively, Cooper and juniors Vance Moersch and Isaiah Near are returnees at linebacker and seniors Donovan Griggs and Roysten Skaggs figure to lead the line. Clawson, Traivon Howard, and Lewis are expected to be the top players in the secondary.
Big things are expected out of Carson Lewis, a dynamic RB/WR/DB who can change the game on a single play.
Near was second-team all-district and had 15.5 tackles for loss a year ago.
Senior Elijah Noble returns at kicker after making all six of his regular-season field-goal attempts.
By the end of last season, London was missing nine key players due to injury.
“The main thing I believe when it comes to making a deep playoff run is No. 1, us taking care of our bodies and our minds to maintain staying healthy,” Toronto said. “Everyone needs to be bought into the process of maintaining discipline and cutting out any noise. The reason why the program has been so successful is because of humility and the work we put in at a high level consistently.”
London opens Aug. 21 at home against New Albany, a Division II program it edged 14-11 last season.
“The big key is probably replacing 19 seniors and their experience,” Cutler said. “They played a lot of games. Last year and the past couple seasons, it was the winningest class in school history, so you’ve got to get the younger players good at football and see what happens.”
After the game stop by for a winning ‘Big Buy’ at The Spot, in Sidney.