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Schoonover leads core of returnees for Moorefield in 2014

By: Wes McKinney

MOOREFIELD, W.Va. — Despite returning just five starters on defense and four on offense from a team that went to the quarterfinals of the playoffs in Class A last season, Moorefield head coach Josh See is upbeat about his team’s potential in 2014.

“I’m probably more excited for this year than any,” See said.

A big reason for that is the return of junior running back/linebacker Wil Schoonover who was a first team all-state selection at the linebacker spot a season ago. Additionally, he was Moorefield’s leading rusher last year as well.

Moorefield junior Wil Schoonover led the Yellowjackets in rushing last year and was named first team all-state at linebacker.

“Wil stepped up and led up to the quarterfinals,” See said. “When you’re putting that much pressure on a sophomore, you know that’s only going to make him that much better in the future.”

Schoonover has received some attention from colleges and spent the summer working out with former Moorefield great and ex-WVU player Reed Williams.

While See’s coaching philosophy takes a run-first type of approach, the Yellowjackets may be even more versatile this season.

“I have several basketball players that have been committed to playing football,” he said.

The addition of the Dylan George, Caleb Kite and Aaron Cole bring athleticism to receiving corps for Moorefield.

“Dylan is best friends with our quarterback Dakota Vetter,” See said. “(Dylan) has never played at the high school level, but the kid shocked me during the 7-on-7 drills. He found the openings. They allowed us to pick teams apart everywhere we went.

“We are going to force people to cover those guys and we will have Schoonover coming out of the backfield,” See continued. “I’m a run first guy, but this year we’re going to chuck it out there until you cover them, then we will hand it to Schoonover.”

While Moorefield won six championships in eight years between 1996-2003, the Yellowjackets are looking to get back to that level again now. As for See’s take on the rest of the Class A field this year?

“The Williamstowns, the St. Marys, the Wheeling Centrals and the Madonnas — those are going to be the teams that get there,” See said. “They have been there and know how to get there. I don’t think there’s one team that jumps out. You don’t have the Wheeling Centrals and Moorefields of old.

“I used to look at a team like Clay-Battelle and think yeah they will get there, be one and done,” he continued. “But, this year they have a chance to win one or two playoff games. I think it’s wide open once again. It might be a good year for us to young and inexperienced.”

Of course, Moorefield will have to navigate a tough schedule that includes local Class AA rival Frankfort and Class A playoff contenders East Hardy and Tucker County.

The week one matchup with Frankfort features Maryland quarterback commitment Gage Shaffer.

“Schoonover is pretty anxious to get the opportunity to face Gage Shaffer,” See said “When you have an entire month to talk up a Division I quarterback and a school that thinks they are inferior, but we have had some pretty good battles with Frankfort.”

MOOREFIELD
2014 Football Schedule

08/29/14 07:00PM  A  FRANKFORT   
09/05/14 07:30PM  H  POCAHONTAS COUNTY   
09/12/14 07:30PM  H  SOUTHERN GARRETT, MD H.S.   
09/19/14 07:30PM  A  TUCKER COUNTY   
09/26/14 07:30PM  H  OPEN   
10/03/14 07:30PM  H  BERKELEY SPRINGS   
10/10/14 07:30PM  H  FAYETTEVILLE   
10/17/14 07:30PM  H  EAST HARDY   
10/24/14 07:30PM  H  PETERSBURG   
10  10/31/14 07:30PM  A  PENDLETON COUNTY   
11  11/07/14 07:30PM  A  TYGARTS VALLEY   
 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

Point Pleasant

Princeton

Ravenswood

Robert C. Byrd

Sissonville

South Charleston

Spring Valley

University

Wahama

Wayne

Wheeling Central

Wheeling Park

Williamstown

Woodrow Wilson

 





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