ST. MARYS, W.Va. — St. Marys won seven of their first nine games in 2022 to post their fourth consecutive winning season and third trip to the playoffs during that span. The Blue Devils featured a prolific offense that averaged 38 points per game.
As Jodi Mote enters his 22nd season leading St. Marys, replacements must be found for a large senior class of 14 players.
“It is with young men who haven’t played obviously on Friday. They have played, but not on Friday,” said St. Marys head coach Jodi Mote. “The positive is that I do feel like you have some different positions offensively that can put their hands on the football and be productive. We just don’t have that 20-carry guy that we have been fortunate to have for a long time.”
Seniors Ty Watkins and Ben Wagstaff are returning starters on the right side of the offensive line and they will be key veteran leaders on a younger team. Fellow senior Ashton Boron is the team’s leading returning rusher. He found the end zone seven times last season.
“His brother, Brennan Boron, played here in 2020. So he is a good football player.
“He’s just not real big but he does have some shifty feet. If you can get him in space, that will be a positive.”
A pair of returners could share the duties at quarterback. Junior Ryan Kent and senior Josiah DeMoss will take over for the recently graduated Luke Powell.
“We’ve got to put them in a situation to the best of our ability to be successful. With Josiah, he is a little taller. He’s just an athlete. Josiah is a good athlete.”
St. Marys will take the stage in the WVSSAC Kickoff Game at Doddridge County on Wednesday evening. The game will be broadcast live on AT&T Sportsnet Pittsburgh. It is an opportunity Mote and the Blue Devils are embracing.
“It is once-in-a-lifetime. There’s so many schools out there so obviously it won’t happen again. You need to enjoy this and be as productive as possible.”
With two scrimmages complete, Mote says that for now, his defense is ahead of the offense. To a degree, that was expected at this point in the preseason.
“Our coaching staff is doing a great job with these young men. I feel like defensively, we are getting after the football. Those are positives. Obviously at this time of year, your defense should be ahead of your offense.”