SALEM — East Liverpool first-team Div. IV All-Ohioan defensive lineman D’Shawn Kirby pushed around a lot of opposing offensive linemen throughout his career.

The Ohio All-Stars are happy to have him.

Kirby, who helped led the Potters to a 7-5 season that included six wins in the last seven games, will be one to watch as the 46th annual Penn-Ohio Stateline Classic gets under way at 7 p.m. Thursday at Salem’s Sebo Stadium.

Kirby’s strength and agility allowed him to total 88 tackles with 30 for a loss along with 11 sacks and nine quarterback hurries in 2024.

The Potters turned in back-to-back playoff seasons for the first time since 1998-99 and were the first team in Ohio high school football playoff history to host a game as a 12th seed when it lost to West Holmes in the second round at Patterson Field. With the Ohio High School Athletic Association eliminating the 16-team playoff format in exchange for a 12-team format, the 2024 East Liverpool team will carry that unique distinction well into the future.

“I think we (turned it around),” Kirby said. “We went back-to-back in the playoffs and it has been a while since that happened. I’m just hoping they keep the train rolling for the next people to come up.”

Record-setting quarterback Gavin Wright (who will play safety) and wide receiver Blake Adkins are also a part of the Ohio team from East Liverpool.

“It’s just real nice to come out here with my friends that I played with all season,” Kirby said.

And that includes rivals.

“I’m excited to play with (Beaver Local’s Brock Severs),” Kirby said. “He’s a rival and it will cool to actually team up and see what we can do with each other instead of against each other.”

This will most likely be the last gridiron action Kirby sees as he will turn to his future outside of football after the game.

“I’m looking at getting into the trades, possibly electric,” Kirby said. “Something could switch up and change my mind, but right now I just want to go out here and play some football.”