PARKERSBURG, W.Va. — From 2015 to 2017, Parkersburg Catholic won just four games and they struggled with very low numbers to field a team.
Fast forward to 2018 — the Crusaders won their first nine games and qualified for the Class A playoffs for the first time since 2011.
“I knew we were pretty decent last year but going 9-2 after going 0-8, it was exciting,” said Parkersburg Catholic head coach Lance Binegar.
“Just to start winning games, everyone was excited,” said Parkersburg Catholic senior running back/linebacker Jeb Boice. “Our all-around culture at the school, even around the area, people just coming to watch us made a big difference.”
“Last year was a pretty big surprise for me with the turnaround we had,” said Parkersburg Catholic senior running back/lineman Jalen Brunny. “This year we are going to try to do a lot better than we did last year and move on in the playoffs.”
The Crusaders expect to compete for and advance in the playoffs this fall thanks in large part to their senior class of twelve players. They lost only two seniors from last year’s team. But they must replace second team all-state captain and running back Ty Sturm.
“Replacing him will be very difficult,” Benigar said. “What we’re going to try to do is move Jalen Brunny back from the offensive line because he is a big, physical kid. We’ll just try to see if we can maintain what we had last year.”
Catholic does welcome back senior Jeb Boice, a versatile offensive threat who could line up all over the field.
“I like throwing the ball, I like catching the ball, I like running it, I like doing everything,” Boice said.
“He is very versatile,” Binegar said. “We have him at quarterback some, we have him at running back and we have him at wideout. We have him just about everywhere on the field. Everyone is going to have to make sure they know where he is at all times.”
With elevated expectations around the program following a nine-win season, Binegar has noticed a major culture shift around the Crusaders.
“Going 0-8 and then coming back last year and starting out, kids were dragging a little,” Binegar said. “This year, I look for things to yell at them for and I haven’t got the chance to do that yet just for the fact that they know what I expect now and they know what they can accomplish.”