KEYSER, W.Va. — Sean Biser is entering his sixteenth season as the leader of the Keyser Golden Tornado. In that span, KHS has missed out on postseason play just twice. With a veteran squad returning, big things are expected in Tornado Alley.
“It builds a lot of confidence in my opinion,” said Keyser senior lineman Don Woodworth. “We for the most part are all seniors. We’re coming back in with the same boys and I feel like it is going to help us a lot.”
Keyser went 9-3 in 2018 and many of their key contributors return. It all starts up front on the line where four-year starter Don Woodworth leads the group.
“We’ve got big Shawn (See), he is 6-foot-10 (325 pounds),” said Keyser senior tight end/linebacker Jackson Biser. “Don, he has been there since he was a freshman so we have some veterans on there.”
Senior Ryan Shoemaker returns under center. He stands just 5-foot-9 and 150 pounds but Biser is impressed with not only his skill set, but his leadership as well.
“He is just tough,” said Keyser head coach Sean Biser. “He doesn’t look like a football player. If you see him on the street you don’t think that kid would play football, but he does. The kid plays everything though and that is what makes him such a good fit in our offense. He is used to having the ball in his hand and making those decisions and playing multiple sports. I love multiple sport kids and he sure is one of the best we have ever had.”
Shoemaker will be joined in the backfield by a host of veterans that make up a strong group of running backs.
“We bring back Caden Biser and Aaron Lyons who played a lot,” Sean Biser said. And then we have Drae Allen and Tristin Fox back and now Zion Powell, who played on JV has picked up some slack and he is in there along with Logan Proud. So we have a good group of backs.”
Both senior Jackson Biser and junior Caden Biser will play key roles while being coached by their father.
“You try to cherish every day, every practice with the kids,” Sean Biser said. “It is hard to separate dad and coach sometimes but when we go home I just tell them I love them and that is the biggest thing.”
With seven trips to the state quarterfinals over the last eleven seasons, expectations are traditionally very high for the Golden Tornado. While the focus is short-term, the long-term goals are lofty.
“Overall, we would like to win a state championship but we are not focused on that right now,” Woodworth said. “We are focused on the game in front of us.”