East Hardy hoping to build off of Central drubbing

BAKER, W.Va. — 60-34.

That was the score that took many by surprise in the opening round of last year’s Class A playoffs, as East Hardy dominated perennial title favorite Wheeling Central.

Since 2004, Wheeling Central has won six state football titles – but only two of those have come within the last five years as Wahama became the latest team to breakthrough in Class A last season.

East Hardy head coach Chad Williams hopes the Cougars are the next team to get that break in the seemingly somewhat more-balanced small schools division.

“Class A is becoming more of a wide open race,” Williams said. “It’s not just the Wheeling Central Invitational anymore.”

When Williams took over at East Hardy, making the playoffs was a significant achievement. Now, it has become a year-in, year-out mentality for the Cougars.

“When I started here five years ago, that’s what we strived for — to make the playoffs every year,” Williams said. “It really wasn’t the culture at the time. I think they had been in the playoffs once in the last 10 years until we went on this little run the last three years. I think they had three playoff wins in the school’s history.”

In each of the last three seasons, East Hardy has not only made the postseason, but also won a playoff game each year.

Williams viewed last season as the pinnacle year for the Cougars.

“Last year, at the start of the year, the expectation was we were going to play for a state championship,” he said.

East Hardy, though, was eventually knocked out by Magnolia in the quarterfinal round of the playoffs, 19-14.

“If we would have beaten Magnolia, then who knows what happens the next week at Wahama,” Williams said. “I thought the top seven in Class A had a legitimate shot to win it. It was about whomever played the great game at the right time.”

But Williams isn’t going to dwell on last season as the Cougars head into 2013.

“We are going to be a lot younger this year,” he said. “Whether this is the year we are in contention, I don’t know. We have surprised people in the past years. People didn’t think we would be as good as we ended being.

“The expectations in the community are lower than they have been the last few years,” Williams said. “But our expectation is to go out and win football games. The biggest thing we have to do is go out and take care of business in the regular season to get home field advantage in the playoffs.”

“Class A is becoming more of a wide open race. It’s not just the Wheeling Central Invitational anymore.” – Chad Williams

East Hardy will carry an 18 game home game winning streak into the start of this season.

And Williams is excited about the return of Cole Collier, who will be a four-year starter for the Cougars this year. However, Collier will begin his first season under center for East Hardy after playing receiver over the course of his high school career.

“I’m excited to see what he can do at the quarterback position,” Williams said. “He was an unbelievable playmaker and wide receiver and linebacker the last three years. Cole is probably as good as a defensive player as there is in West Virginia.”

A big home game on the slate this season will have East Hardy taking on Tucker County — the lone regular season loss for the Cougars a season ago.

“Tucker County has turned into a huge rivalry for us,” Williams said.

In what will surely be a pivotal two games for the Cougars, they will host cross-county rival Moorefield the following week.

“I know everyone around here is excited for those two games in week six and seven,” Williams said.

– Wes McKinney