By Stephen Smoot
Pendleton County’s football season ended last weekend on a shredded and worn field of muck and mire, but provided much this year to remember and inspire.
In the second round of the playoffs, the Wildcats fell to the Tucker County Mountain Lions. The rough conditions of the field made footing uncertain and kept Wildcat receivers from getting the separation they normally achieve to make big plays. Also, Tucker County had expanded its repertoire since the midseason contest in Franklin, developing a productive passing game to complement their running attack. They used those advantages to move on past the Wildcats 50-0.
All that said, Pendleton County football took giant steps forward as both a team and as a program in 2024.
The squad sent notice to West Virginia Class A that they had taken a giant step forward, building on last year’s 5-5 record. Last year, the Wildcats relied on a power running attack complemented by the steady quarterback play of James Vincell.
This year, the team featured even more speed at the receiver position. With an experienced senior quarterback behind center, Zac Smith, head coach, took the offense into another gear.
A formidable opponent awaited Pendleton County in the first game of the season. Greenbrier West came into Franklin ranked number one. Statewide media crowed about their famous assistant coach, former West Virginia Mountaineer and Philadelphia Eagle Owen Schmitt while rarely mentioning the Wildcats.
That changed after the game.
Pendleton County corralled the running game of Greenbrier West partly through big defensive stops from players like Ty Heavner and Bradey Bowers, but also due to the offense jumping out early 21-7. Vincell excelled on both sides of the ball, inspiring Smith to exclaim that he “played with a lot of heart” in the 27-21 upset win.
Vincell said after the game, “We’ve got to move on from this one,” because top 10 ranked East Hardy waited for the Wildcats in Baker the very next week. The Cougars relied on their tough defense and strong running game, but could not muster much offense against Pendleton County. The Wildcats took out the second highly ranked team in as many weeks, winning 14-13.
The next week, a Petersburg team led by a sensational freshman quarterback seemed to have all the answers against the Wildcats and took a 31-20 win.
Pendleton County traveled to Richwood for the next game, coming away with both a big win and a big loss. They outscored the Lumberjacks 50-26, but lost Vincell to injury for the remainder of the season. Not only did the team lose its senior starting quarterback, but also one of its big playmakers in the linebacking corps as well.
Smith has always repeated the mantra “find a way” as the mission statement of the team. They found a way by earning a key first down against Greenbrier West to keep the ball away from their offense in the closing minutes of the contest. They found a way to stop the Cougars high powered run game.
Now they had to find a way to continue their winning ways without a player who formed a huge part of the heart of the team.
Freshman Colton Roberson had played some receiver and even occasional snaps at quarterback. His run for a first down clinched the Greenbrier West win, and he had settled in as a reliable playmaker on defense.
Now he had to take his place behind the wheel of the high-powered offensive machine that Vincell had steered to big victories.
Roberson showed poise and skill in a loss to Tucker County in Franklin, then had three consecutive games in which he could get accustomed to running the offense. The team dominated in wins at Tygarts Valley and against Pocahontas County in Franklin.
Then, in probably the most complete performance of the season, Pendleton County dismantled a formerly successful and proud bigger school program in Virginia’s Stonewall Jackson High School, crushing them 54-26.
Moorefield loomed large as the season wound down. After Pendleton County’s miraculous double overtime victory in Hardy County last season, their players, coaches, and fans had the 2024 date circled as one for revenge. The Wildcats jumped ahead and seemed in control until the fourth quarter. Moorefield, who had moved to Class AA and would make the playoff in that category, had worn down the Wildcat defense.
Then, the Yellow Jackets made their own improbable comeback to put the game into overtime.
Once again, Pendleton County found a way to escape, once again taking a close win in a huge game over the opponent they love to beat.
A setback to Cameron closed out the regular season, but seven wins, including two against bigger schools, earned Pendleton County a home game for the playoffs.
But against who?
Enter the judicial system. End of season lawsuits delayed both the football and volleyball playoffs. When the lawyers were done with their work and the West Virginia State Supreme Court made its rulings, the stage was set for the Wildcats to host . . . the Wildcats.
Meadow Bridge traveled from Fayette County with their Wildcat mascot and their blue and white colors. That is where the similarities ended, however.
Pendleton County raced out to a big lead early with Meadow Bridge outgunned. The Fayette County version of the Wildcats used power formations behind a massive offensive line. Pendleton County switched to use goal line defenses to slow their running game considerably. Once the contest became one of passing offenses, the home team accelerated ahead and won the first round of the playoffs handily.
Going into next year, Pendleton County has a young, but experienced team. They had a taste of success and will work until next August to “find a way” to take the next step toward the top tier of Class A football.
