Following heavy losses from graduation, Greenbrier West head football coach Toby Harris was hopeful his young team could win enough games to make a return to the playoffs last year.
Fighting through turnover issues that plagued them all season, the Cavaliers scratched out six wins to make the postseason.
Last year’s hope has now turned into this year’s expectation.
With multiple players back from last year’s team, the Cavaliers not only feel like they can make the postseason but also a deep playoff run.
“We have been real pleased with them overall. Their attitudes have been great,” Harris said. “We have had some guys step up as leaders and we are really pleased that they are buying in to what we are doing. This is still a really young bunch and we have six seniors now. Two of them didn’t play last year, but we think they can really help us at the skill positions.”
Ty Nickell, Kadin Parker and Reney Cordial are all seniors that return from last year’s team. Ethan Holliday is also a junior that played at Greenbrier East a year ago, along with senior newcomers Dalton Heath and Mason Brown.
Nickell and Parker give the Cavaliers a lethal punch in the backfield. Nickell was a workhorse last year rushing for 1,470 yards in the regular season, averaging nearly nine yards per carry.
Parker battled an early season injury, but returned to average just under seven yards each time he carried the rock.
“Ethan is a defensive back, but we have also put him over on the offensive side at split-end and flanker. He will play both ways and play several positions for us. He looks like he will really help us,” Harris said.
Heath will be playing his first year of high school football, but has wrestled for the Cavaliers. Harris says he has looked good early and will likely play tight end and fullback.
Brown did not play last season, but did play for West as a sophomore. Harris sees him being a big help to a young and inexperienced line.
“We have a lot of experience in the backfield, but right now, the offensive line is a question mark,” Harris said. “We don’t have great big kids, so we are playing the smaller guys that played defense for us last year.”
Cordial is the lone returning starter on the line and he has taken on the responsibility to bring the young players quickly up to speed.
“I played left tackle starting in 8th grade and have played it ever since,” Cordial said. “Before every practice I make sure everyone of my centers get at least 50 snaps. I make sure we all know our run blocking schemes and pass blocking schemes before we go out and practice. Learn as one, build as one.”
“Reney will go both ways at tackle. He is our senior leader and a kid that really enjoys playing the game. He comes everyday ready to play and practices really hard.
Jacob Whitt played nose guard last year and will join Daron Vaughn in the move to the offensive line.
“We are looking for a center. Chase Franklin played center for us for four years. We have his younger brother (Trey Franklin) that is a freshman that we are looking at along with Ethan Hamons,” Harris said. “We are looking at about four kids and it could very well be a freshman. It is going to be a young kid that has never played in there before.”
Even though they lack experience, Harris is confident the line can get the job done for his explosive backfield this year.
“We feel like even though they are small, they are quick and tough where they played defense last year,” Harris said. “What we are trying to find now is some other kids that can play and give them a rest so they don’t have to play both ways.”
Junior Cole Vandall returns at quarterback after throwing for 782 yards and rushing for 403 during the regular season. Tucker Lilly started at flanker last year, but also saw some time under center for West.
Coming off a stellar track season, sophomore Isaac Agee has excellent speed and gives West another offensive weapon.
The defensive charge will be led by Nickell and Cordial along with junior Jacob Nutter. Nutter had 48 total tackles and four tackles for loss at his linebacker position as a sophomore. He will also see time on the offensive line.
Nickell led the team with 64 solo tackles, 51 assists, three sacks and eight tackles for loss. Cordial had 50 total tackles, four sacks and six tackles for loss.
“We have kids with experience on the defensive line. They are still juniors and not very big, but the interior people are back,” Harris said.
Greenbrier West opens the season hosting Buffalo on Aug. 26.
“They come in looking forward to making the playoffs and we hope we play ourselves into a decent draw. If we can win our first ball game I think we can have a good year,” Harris said. “There are some tough teams down there on the bottom of the schedule. We picked up Shady Spring and Moorefield. James Monroe and Midland Trail are down there too. The bottom half is tough.”
2022 Schedule
08/26/22 7:30PM H – BUFFALO HIGH SCHOOL
09/02/22 7:30PM H – SUMMERS COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL
09/09/22 7:00PM A – POCAHONTAS COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL
09/16/22 7:00PM A – WEBSTER COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL
09/23/22 7:30PM H – MEADOW BRIDGE HIGH SCHOOL
09/30/22 7:30PM A – SHADY SPRING HIGH SCHOOL
10/07/22 7:00PM A – JAMES MONROE HIGH SCHOOL
10/14/22 OPEN
10/21/22 7:30PM H – SHERMAN HIGH SCHOOL
10/28/22 7:30PM A – MIDLAND TRAIL HIGH SCHOOL
11/04/22 7:30PM H – MOOREFIELD HIGH SCHOOL
