HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — A talented and sizable offensive line will anchor the Spring Valley football team in 2016 as the Timberwolves, on paper at least, project as contenders for a potential deep playoff run in Class AAA.
“We’ve picked up where we left off from where we were last year,” said Spring Valley coach Brad Dingess. “When you have a veteran team coming back, that makes it a little bit more fun.
“We only lost eight seniors (from last year) – our offensive line is back, our quarterback is back, our tailback is back and all of our receivers are back,” Dingess continued. “We also returned eight starters on defense. That makes things a lot easier.”
That offensive line is led by 6-foot-6, 285 pound senior tackle Riley Locklear who is committed to Tennessee. 6-foot-5, 285 pound sophomore Doug Nester, meanwhile, already has Power Five offers from Tennessee, West Virginia and Virginia Tech.
“We have two big tackles,” Dingess said. “That kind of runs in the water down here right now. I’ve got a really good offensive line coach and one of the best staffs in the state, but it’s easy to teach guys with that kind of talent. We’re just blessed with those guys right now.”
Mason Brubeck returns for his senior season after leading the Timberwolves in touchdowns last year. Kane Morrone and Derek Johnson have both taken snaps at quarterback as both are expected to be contributors offensively.
On defense, 6-foot-3, 230 pound senior Jonah Wellman and 6-foot-3, 220 pound junior Owen Porter lead the way at linebacker.
“We have two great linebackers in those two,” Dingess said. “They’re both big with a lot of size. We have some experience and those kids are all a bunch of leaders and good football players.”
Spring Valley went 6-5 in 2015, ending the year with an opening round playoff loss to eventual champion Wheeling Park. It was a strong finish overall after the Timberwolves dug themselves out of an 0-2 hole following opening season difficult losses to Cabell Midland and Huntington.
A 22-14 win over South Charleston in week three served as a nice momentum boost to get the year back on track.
“We had lost our entire offensive line and were starting five new guys up front,” Dingess said of last year’s start. “We began with Cabell Midland, Huntington and South Charleston – that meant we had to grow up quick. After upsetting South Charleston, we kind of got into a groove.
“We did lose a game we shouldn’t have against GW – we just had to close it out and take a knee, but we fumbled it,” Dingess continued. “We played Wheeling Park tough in the playoffs and I thought we grew up a lot. Hopefully we will build off of that momentum.”
The early season schedule isn’t much different heading into 2016 as the Timberwolves again open up with games against Cabell Midland and Huntington. After a matchup with St. Albans in week three, road trips to South Charleston and George Washington will loom for weeks four and five.
“We’re going to find out how good we are,” Dingess said. “I think we’ll be alright, but we’re just going to have to go out and compete.”