CONTINUED IMPROVEMENT SEEN FOR
KANAWHA FOOTBALL
Publication:
Published: 08/28/1986
Page: P4B
Headline: CONTINUED IMPROVEMENT SEEN FOR KANAWHA FOOTBALL
Byline: TOM ALUISE
After an abysmal 1984 season,
football improved substantially last year.
Jackson and George Washington were three of the best Class AAA teams
in
The chatter between coaches this season indicates that the
county, from top to bottom, should be even better in 1986. In other
words, three teams probably won't dominate the
teams to advance into the playoffs again either.
With that in mind, here's a rundown of the county teams and a
terribly unscientific shot at predicting their records:
- Y ST. ALBANS _ Head coach Stan Smith is licking his chops and
he's not thinking about the Red Dragons' upcoming pre-game meals.
Smith has oodles of players and talent to work with this season
including Matt Downey and John Eastone, who form one
of the county's
best backfields. Smith also has depth and a schedule which provides
breathing room when the Red Dragons need it most.
be better than 1985's 6-4 team. Let's say 8-2. The pressure's on,
Stan.
- Y STONEWALL JACKSON _ OK, so the Generals lost a bunch of
players off last year's 9-2 playoff team but there are still plenty
of athletes on the West Side. And don't forget, Stonewall isn't
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really losing quarterback Stewart Mitchell. He was injured early
last season and never played after that. J.R. Kinney, Mitchell's
replacement, is back and the Generals' offense has been altered to
accommodate Kinney's abilities. Stonewall coach Moe Townson.
steadfastly claims that the Generals aren't
rebuilding. Fine with me
.The pick is 7-3.
- Y GEORGE WASHINGTON _ Coach Jay Folden says Jason
Moore, the
guy who's replacing all-state quarterback Jimmy Evans, is rapidly
improving and could be one of the best in the state next year as.
a senior.
the general vicinity of tight end Keith Graley. Graley will take
care of it from there. There's also John Ray. You know about him.
Matt Williamson is a good lineman and Bill Knox a threat in the
backfield. We'll see how good GW is Friday when
town. The pick is 7-3.
- Y CHARLESTON _ Like Stonewall,
by graduation. Roger Jefferson is still
and he'll salvage something from the Mountain Lions' successful 1985
season. If Walter Bradley, who showed flashes of brilliance last
year as
productive, the Mountain Lions should be decent. The Mountain Lions
could also benefit from a schedule which pits them as favorites in
their first four games. The pick is 6-4.
- Y DuPONT _ Coach Dick Whitman lost one of the
area's better
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running backs in Scott Jones, but Jones' brother, Donnie, is back
this year. He'll be teamed with speedy Tom Canterbury in the.
Panthers' backfield to form an elusive duo. One
problem Whitman faces
is getting his team ready for three consecutive road dates to begin
the season. It doesn't get much better when DuPont returns home.
going 6-4 in 1986.
- Y EAST BANK _ The Pioneers haven't had a winning season in four
years. This year things could change for coach Ralph
Hensley if: 1
.quarterback Brian Higginbotham can maintain confidence in himself
and his receivers and acquire leadership qualities and 2. if
Higginbotham's receivers catch his passes. East Bank had trouble
catching the football in 1985 which contributed to several losses.
The Pioneers, who face DuPont, GW, Stonewall and
first four games, also have to get off to a better start than last
season's 0-4 showing. At least their first three games are at home
. The pick is 6-4.
- Y NITRO _ Coach Pat Vance is concerned about his team's lack of
experience and depth. What coach isn't? Nitro could have a
successful season if quarterback Jimbo Jordan shows
the passing
ability which everyone has been talking about for the past two
seasons. Scott Dixon could share playing time with
Estep is a good athlete and makes Nitro's offensive backfield
respectable. The Wildcats don't have an extremely tough opening
:
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schedule. They play Hurricane,
Charleston
- Y SISSONVILLE _ Last year the Indians put together their first
non-losing season since 1975. Coach Greg Cyrus is looking to take
that one step further this year and bring Sissonville a winning
season. It won't be easy. The Indians are young and play a rugged
schedule. Cyrus is starting several sophomores including one at
quarterback. It appears Sissonville's winning season is a year or
two away. The pick is 4-6.
- Y DUNBAR _ Coach Alden Sheets is beginning his second season as
the Bulldogs' head coach.
about the same this year. All-state lineman Britt Howard and
fullback Jim Shook graduated but several experienced players return,
including starting quarterback John Starcher. Jeff Willis,
an.
outstanding player at Dunbar Junior High last year, should help. The
pick is 4-6.
- Y SOUTH CHARLESTON _ The Black Eagles should improve on last
season's 1-9 mark but probably not by much. Coach Tom McIntyre said
he'll stick with the wishbone offense he implemented last year. If.
quarterback Chris Underwood can handle the football
the way he blasts.
baseballs for
.
next few years. The pick is 2-8.
- Y HERBERT HOOVER _ The Huskies' main strength this season is an
experienced offensive backfield. Quarterback Jay Martin and running
#
backs Mike Foster and John Blankenship,
year, return. Blankenship, however, injured an ankle and will miss
the Huskies first two games. With Blankenship in the lineup and
solid line play,
. Let's not go overboard, though. The pick is 2-8.
In the first Daily Mail Top 20 Poll,
AAA, Chapmanville Class AA and Sistersville Class A.