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Senior class raises expectations for Ravenswood

By: Wes McKinney

RAVENSWOOD, W.Va. — After limping to a 2-8 record in Mick Price’s first year at Ravenswood as head coach, the Red Devils returned to the postseason a season ago as they finished 6-4 before losing to Bluefield in the first round of the Class AA playoffs.

In 11 games last season, Ravenswood faced six teams that made the playoffs across the three classifications in West Virginia.

“Last year, we definitely wanted to get in the playoffs, beat our rival Ripley in The Hatchet Game and win our conference,” Price said. “We accomplished all three last season. This year with 16 seniors, these kids are expecting more. They worked hard in the offseason in order to prepare. I think it’s time to stand up and do something special.”

Among the standouts in the 16-player senior class is running back Rhys Jelich who was a second team all-state pick as a utility player.

“He’s outstanding back,” Price said. “He will be playing both ways. He’s one of the best runners in the state. He’s one of the strongest kids at the running back position in the state. He’s has a lot of skills.”

First team all-state selection Kyle Hickman and Rhys’ twin brother, Connor, a special mention all-state selection, will anchor the offensive line for the Red Devils.

Team captains for Ravenswood in 2014: Rhys Jelich (2), Ben Johnson (3), Matt Peery (15), Kyle Hickman (75), Connor Jelich (52), Thomas Sturm (12)

“We are expect a lot of leadership from those kids,” Price said.

With a small senior class of just five last season, several of this year’s seniors played an integral part in Ravenswood’s success last year.

“We are trying to utilize the strengths of these kids that are coming back,” Price said. “These kids coming back have experience offensively, defensively and on special teams, so they should better. They are stronger, a little more mature and they should be better because of that.”

This year’s senior class is especially important to the Price because he has coached the group since the seventh grade.

“We know we have a good group – they very athletic and we’ve excited about the upcoming year,” he said.

Ravenswood’s schedule overall will be loaded again, starting with the season opener against 2012 Class A state champion Wahama.

“We just happened to have that first game open,” Price said. “Wahama is just 20 miles down the road and we used to play a lot. They are a very tradition filled football program and that’s going to be a heck of an opener here.”

RAVENSWOOD
2014 Football Schedule

08/29/14 07:30PM  H  WAHAMA   
09/05/14 07:30PM  A  WEBSTER COUNTY   
09/12/14 07:30PM  A  ROANE COUNTY   
09/19/14 07:30PM  H  OPEN   
09/26/14 07:30PM  H  WILLIAMSTOWN   
10/03/14 07:30PM  A  RITCHIE COUNTY   
10/11/14 07:30PM  H  BRAXTON COUNTY   
10/17/14 07:30PM  H  POINT PLEASANT   
10/24/14 07:30PM  A  CLAY COUNTY   
10  10/31/14 07:30PM  A  ST. MARYS   
11  11/07/14 07:30PM  H  RIPLEY   
 wins: 0   lost: 0   ties: 0

 

Other 2014 HS Football Previews:

Bishop Donahue

Bluefield

Bridgeport

Cabell Midland

Capital

Clay-Battelle

George Washington

Greenbrier West

Hedgesville

Huntington

Hurricane

Keyser

Madonna

Martinsburg

Morgantown

Oak Hill

Parkersburg South

Point Pleasant

Princeton

Robert C. Byrd

Sissonville

South Charleston

Spring Valley

University

Wahama

Wayne

Wheeling Park

Williamstown

 





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