HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — The numbers are up at Huntington High for football coach Billy Seals, who enters his his fifth season at the helm. After rebuilding the program and leading the Highlanders to a No. 4 seed in last year’s state playoffs, the goal this year is to climb even higher.
“I think our kids expect to be in the playoffs now,” Seals said. “When I first arrived, we were just hoping to be in the playoffs every year. So, we’re to that point where we expect to be in the playoffs — we just have to get past the second round now. In the history of our football program, Huntington High has never made it to the semifinals. We definitely want to be the first team to do that.”
Huntington didn’t win a game during Seals’ first season in 2009. Then came four wins in 2010 before things really came together over the last couple of seasons, going a combined 17-7 with back-to-back trips to the quarterfinals.
“We went into last year offensively expecting to be really good,” Seals said. “Defensively, it wasn’t the most skilled defense that I’ve ever had, but they did everything that they were coached to do the entire year. Overall it was just a great team season for us and we’re excited to get back at it and improve on 9-3.”
And those wins overall have turned out even more players during the current summer practice session for Seals, as around 70 players from grades nine through 12 have been going through drills.
“Those numbers are a little higher than what we’ve had the last couple of years,” Seals said. “I would think that being successful the last couple of years has added to those numbers. Hopefully when August comes around, I would love to have 80 to 85 kids in the program.”
“We’re to that point where we expect to be in the playoffs — we just have to get past the second round now. In the history of our football program, Huntington High has never made it to the semifinals. We definitely want to be the first team to do that.” — Huntington head football coach Billy Seals
The Highlanders return all three running backs in their flexbone offensive scheme, led by fullback Paden Christian who put up 728 yards last year in the regular season. As of now, it would be Clark Wilson taking over at quarterback who was the backup a season ago to Mark Shaver, now a walk-on at Marshall.
Defensively, the Highlanders return more experience overall, including all three players in the secondary.
“This year is kind of a flip from last year,” Seals said. “We feel like we’re pretty veteran on defense and have to make up for some holes along the offensive line.”
As for the overall Class AAA field heading into 2013? No doubt all eyes will once again be targeted on three-time defending state champion Martinsburg.
“Martinsburg is the team to beat until somebody beats them,” Seals said. “Coach Dave Walker does a great job with their program and when you watch those guys, they look like a Division II football team when they come out.
“I think Martinsburg is the team to beat, but I think Morgantown is right there with them,” he continued. “Morgantown was very impressive up front last year and they have a lot of those guys coming back. After that, really it’s a crapshoot. I think there are three good teams down here in the tri-state area with us, Cabell Midland and Spring Valley. Capital will be really good. There are a lot of teams that could play into it.”
Among the potential recruiting prospects coming from Seals’ team, running back Nick Tubbs has drawn interest from Coastal Carolina, Liberty and VMI.
“He’s a kid that, in my opinion, could play in the MAC,” Seals said. “We have some other kids that will get an opportunity at the Division II level I think as well. That’s what it’s all about — once they leave us, we want to help them pursue the collegiate level and get a great education.”
Huntington opens up the 2013 season on Aug. 30 at Hurricane.