POINT PLEASANT, W.Va. — On the banks of the Ohio River in the Mason County town of Point Pleasant, the Big Blacks own a streak of playoff appearances that dates back to 2008. In that time, Point has posted a record of 105-25. Head coach David Darst credits their success to a string of quality quarterbacks. The latest in that line, Cason Payne accounted for 32 touchdowns in nine regular season games during his senior season.
“Having that kid for four years was like having another coach on the field,” said Point Pleasant head coach David Darst. “I am back coaching a lot more this year than what I have been. Hunter Bush is right now kind of the guy that I am happiest with. He’s got a tremendous arm on him.”
As the Big Blacks break in a new starting quarterback for the first time in three years, their ground game should certainly pick up some of the slack. The team’s second-leading rusher Brady Adkins returns after averaging just over a hundred yards a game in the regular season, while scoring a dozen touchdowns.
“The thing about Brady is that he is probably my best receiver,” Darst said. “He could start anywhere, at any skill position and that includes quarterback. He is that type of kid.”
“We just have to step up and have leadership and work hard and fill their (seniors) shoes and do the same things they did,” Adkins said.
“Brady always has a chance to bust a play and go for a touchdown,” said Point Pleasant senior lineman Jacob Muncy. “It is always exciting to have him running behind us. We make games fun. We’re the ones that give the guys room to run.”
In a pair of unique scheduling quirks, six of Point Pleasant’s nine regular season games will be at home this season. But the Big Blacks will have byes during the first two weeks. So they won’t open up play until September 13th at Gallia Academy.
“We will probably go through at least seven real game situations out here before we play a ball game,” Darst said. Right down to kickoff and playing the music and hearing the national anthem and everything else and getting these guys to where it is not a big deal. We want to make practice harder than games.”
Each opponent on Point Pleasant’s schedule finished .500 or better in 2018. Class AA runner-up Bluefield has been added in week six as the front end of a home-and-home series.