“Unfinished business is a good way to put it.”
No one involved in Pendleton County Wildcat football felt any satisfaction with last year’s deep playoff run, except as a step up to greater accomplishments. The team lost to Wheeling Central and their powerful running game and stout defense in the playoffs last year. Under the current head coach, it was the program’s fourth time in the semifinals.
“We’re getting back 10 starters on each side of the ball,” said Zac Smith, head coach. He noted that the one loss was pretty significant. “We’re losing one key man in Chase Owens, I don’t think we can fill his role with just one person, either. Everybody’s going to have to work harder this season.”
Owens had 75 receptions for 1,140 yards, was first on the team in catches and second to his brother, Travis, in yardage. He was also third on the team in tackles with 48 and picked off two passes.
Opponents this year will continue to have to keep focus on juniors Colton Roberson and Travis Owens. Remarkably, the areas that Roberson did not lead the team in, Travis Owens pretty much did. Owens led in every pass reception statistic except catches. Roberson led in passing, rushing, tackles, interceptions, rushing touchdowns, and fumbles, both caused and recovered.
Those statistics earned Roberson the unofficial player of the year award in Class A, Review for clarity; at minimum: ‘all-state team captain’ → consider ‘All-State team captain’ if it is a formal designation. He also earned an offer from Marshall University, whose offensive coordinator, Rod Smith, should be familiar to Wildcat followers. Smith played at Glenville State under Rich Rodriguez before serving as Franklin High School offensive coordinator.
Rod Smith has experience with fast, smart, physical, and strong-armed quarterbacks, having coached Pat White at West Virginia University and Denard Robinson at Michigan.
In front of that quarterback stands the foundation of any team, the offensive line. Rarely does a school-based team get to return every starter on an offensive line. “We’ve got some strength up front, guys who have been here playing,” Zac Smith said.
Coach Smith noted that Ty Heavner “has been a two and a half year starter.” Also “Albert (Ramos-Rivera) has been another one starting for two years.” Bryce Basagic has between two and three years of starting experience. The young pup, Sam Eason, “only” has a year and a half of starting experience “under his belt.”
Roberson’s style of play resembles, at times, Major Harris, a former West Virginia University quarterback. Like Harris, he will have multiple downfield options to complement his ability to run past or over would-be tacklers. In Owens, he has a tall receiver with great speed and even greater leaping ability. In last year’s opener, Owens helped to dissect the Class AAA Keyser Golden Tornado defensive backfield.
Smith shared that Britton Lough and Cam Wyatt “looked good in the offseason.” Consider: ‘an average of a little more than 20 yards per catch’ (remove ‘per game’) Wyatt played bigger as last year’s season progressed, catching 30 for 622.
The coaching staff would likely prefer to see another player lead the team in rushes and rushing yards, however. Coach Smith shared “Braylon will have to step up a little bit more from the backfield.” Braylon Willis stood in and performed well when senior Kam Redmon fell to injury. He brought production to the backfield with 5.8 yards per carry and 421 yards in 11 games, but coaches will expect him to bring more balance to the offensive attack.
Last week, the team played Greenbrier West in a scrimmage. “It looked like a first scrimmage,” noted Smith. He stated that the defense allowed a big play to open the game, but controlled the opposition most of the contest.
“They got mind fried a little bit,” said the head coach. He explained that the team “lost” fundamentals and techniques practiced all summer. “There were more mental mistakes than physical,” he said, adding that “we can correct that.” The team also committed to weight training in the offseason and has returned bigger and stronger.
“There’s plenty to work on, both sides of the ball,” he added.
Pendleton County faces a front-loaded schedule this season with four of the first five games coming against perennially tough rivals Petersburg, East Hardy, Moorefield, and Tucker County. State powerhouse Cameron also once again serves as the regular season’s coda.
CAPTIONS:
Outside of two players, every Wildcat in this photo taken in the big opening season win over Class AAA Keyser last year is back for Zac Smith, head coach.
