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ELKINS, W.Va. — In the 2020 season, Elkins secured the first playoff win in program history. As a No. 16 seed, the Tigers knocked off top-seeded Sissonville, advancing to the Class AA quarterfinals under head coach Evan Hott. Hott stepped down after that season and over the following three years, Elkins won just two games. In 2024, longtime staff member Chad Ware was named head coach of the Tigers and Hott returned to the staff. A five-game winning streak allowed the Tigers to secure a playoff spot in Ware’s first season, ending the regular season at 5-5.
“One of the biggest things we wanted to do was create a belief. And we were able to do that,” Ware said. “Obviously going into the season, the culture had changed. The community buy-in was great. So there was a lot of excitement. I think in year one we did what we had to do. We were able to get into the playoffs. We were four points away from an eight-win season.”
First team All-State running back Nick Bowers has graduated but the Elkins backfield is deep and talented with returning players and notable running backs joining the program. South Harrison transfer Jaden Hatfield, Philip Barbour transfer Logan Beam and Clay County transfer Seth Robinson are new additions to the Tiger roster.
“With Nick Bowers, we were certainly run-heavy. He’s not only our school’s all-time leading rusher but the county’s all-time leading rusher.
“It is a three-headed monster in the jet series Wing-T. We’ve got three guys that we feel that can interchange out anywhere. Obviously with the guys we have returning and the transfers coming in, there’s some talented guys there. What I see right now is the position battles have raised everybody’s level. The competition level is raised up. It is not something we get a lot of in Elkins. Obviously, usually your best kid is your best kid all the way through. But now we have a lot of great kids battling for those three starting spots.”
An offensive line that returns mostly intact from a season ago will lead the way for the Tigers’ run-heavy offense.
“On the offensive line, we lost one starter. Aiden Lambert is a great kid, he was a four-year kid here and he went to Fairmont State. So we’ve got to fill in one position there but the rest of the starters return.”
Junior Nate Sauerwein returns to lead the Elkins offense at quarterback.
“He is one of our strongest kids in the weight room, pound-for-pound. He knows what everybody is doing on the offensive side of the football. The expectation for him is to manage the football game, get guys in the right position, make sure we are set, not make mistakes and just be steady in what he has got to do. Then when we call his number, go out and make a play.”
As Ware enters his second season leading his alma mater, he welcomes the increased attention around Tiger football.
“It is a program that is near and dear to my heart, obviously. It is my eighteenth year in coaching here at Elkins High School and second year as a head coach. Certainly there’s a lot of expectations I put on myself and my coaching staff. But I am surrounded by some great people. Obviously, we’ve got some great kids and quality kids from quality families. That makes it a lot easier.”