By: Wes McKinney
KEYSER, W.Va. — After finishing as Class AA state runner-up in 2012, Keyser was poised to make another run in 2013 with many key players returning. However, a string of injuries and a difficult schedule tripped up the Golden Tornado as Keyser finished 7-4, bowing out in the first round of the playoffs to Fairmont Senior, 49-28.
“Just the way the year ended, it was a disappointment and a letdown to our kids,” Keyser head coach Sean Biser said. “I don’t think any of us within the program came away feeling good about the way it ended. I think that speaks volumes when you win seven games and make the playoffs, but you feel disappointed.”
Biser is now tasked with replacing all-state standouts in quarterback Cody Eversole and running back Blake Ravenscroft.
“We had a good group of guys around them that had played a lot of football together,” Biser said. “We had a bunch of three-year and four-year starters. You can’t replace those kids. We just need to evaluate the kids we have coming up and plug those kids in the right spots.”
And one of the key players for the Golden Tornado this season will be senior running back/linebacker Hunter Kasmier.
“Hunter started a lot of games for us as a freshman because of some injuries,” Biser said. “He has started on and off throughout his four years. He added between 15 and 20 pounds in the offseason through our weight program. I’m expecting big things from him this year.”
Replacing Eversole at quarterback will be senior Ryan Streets, while junior Amonte Turner will join Kasmier in the backfield.
Keyser will try to avoid a 1-2 start like last season, but the schedule is daunting for Biser’s team with a opening date against Pennsylvania playoff contender Clearfield and the third game of the season pits Keyser against defending Class 1A Maryland state champion Fort Hill.
Also on the schedule for Keyser is a home matchup against defending Class AA state champion Bridgeport on October 10th. Keyser closes out the year with games against Jefferson, local rival Frankfort and Mountain Ridge (Md.). Last season, Keyser had to win all three games to secure a spot in the playoffs.
“If you look at our schedule from top to bottom, we play as tough as a schedule for any Class AA team in West Virginia,” Biser said. “We play two state championship teams in Bridgeport and Fort Hill (Md.). We just hope we can be in a position at the end where those three games at the end can help propel us into the playoffs.”
| KEYSER 2014 Football Schedule |
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| 1 | 08/29/14 07:00PM | H | CLEARFIELD, PA H.S. | – | ||||
| 2 | 09/05/14 07:00PM | A | BERKELEY SPRINGS | – | ||||
| 3 | 09/12/14 07:00PM | H | FORT HILL, MD H.S. | – | ||||
| 4 | 09/19/14 07:00PM | H | NORTHERN GARRETT, MD H.S. | – | ||||
| 5 | 09/26/14 07:00PM | A | ALLEGANY, MD H.S. | – | ||||
| 6 | 10/03/14 07:00PM | H | HAMPSHIRE | – | ||||
| 7 | 10/10/14 07:00PM | H | BRIDGEPORT | – | ||||
| 8 | 10/17/14 07:00PM | A | JEFFERSON | – | ||||
| 9 | 10/24/14 07:00PM | H | OPEN | – | ||||
| 10 | 10/31/14 07:00PM | A | FRANKFORT | – | ||||
| 11 | 11/07/14 07:00PM | A | MOUNTAIN RIDGE, MD H.S. | – | ||||
| wins: 0 lost: 0 ties: 0 | ||||||||
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