BLACKSVILLE, W.Va. — The group of Cee-Bees that will take the field in 2026 will be tasked with following a team that won a program-record 12 games and competed in the Class A final for the first time. After dropping their season opener, Clay-Battelle won 12 in a row without allowing more than 20 points to any opponent in that streak.
“It means absolutely everything. I played with the upperclassmen since I was a freshman and we talked about it. We dreamed about it. When we did it, it was just unbelievable,” said Clay-Battelle senior RB/LB Caleb Snodgrass.
“There’s more of a challenge maintaining a level of success as opposed to trying to go and getting that success a first time around,” said Clay-Battelle head coach Aaron LaPoe. “We know there’s a challenge ahead of us. But we also know that’s an opportunity to show what we are made of. We are up for the challenge.”
“Last year was pretty fun,” said Clay-Battelle senior WR/DB Cody Clovis. “It was a one-of-a-kind thing. It is definitely a big spot in my heart and in my brain. I will never forget that feeling. We just have to strive for that again.”
Many of the top skill players from last year’s team that averaged 37 points per game return, including the engineer of the offense in quarterback Corey Coen.
“We’re going to let him make a few more decisions,” LaPoe said. “He has really grown as a player. Last year, he really embodied our community as far as how tough we are. I look to see him develop more as a leader. There were a lot of seniors last year and those guys were great leaders. Now, that leadership is going to fall to guys like Cody and [Snodgrass].
A pair of Calebs will join Coen in the backfield. Senior Caleb Snodgrass and junior Caleb Hall bring different skill sets to the running back position.
“Snods is more of a power runner, breaking tackles inside the tackles. Hall is a little more elusive and he can make people miss without touching him,” LaPoe said. “It is just nice to not have to give one kid 40-something carries when you like to run the ball so much. We can spread the carries around.”
Senior Cody Clovis will take on added responsibilities at receiver following the graduation of all-state selection Braden Ponceroff. Clovis is also one of the Cee-Bee’s top performers on defense as a shutdown cornerback.
“His athletic ability is through the roof,” LaPoe said. “I would say he is equally good on defense and offense. Last year, he shut down a whole half of the field. He was a great corner and had a lot of interceptions. He has exceptional speed, especially at the single-A level for us. He caught a lot of beautiful passes too.”
Graduations hit the Cee-Bees hardest on the offensive and defensive lines, where young players are competing for spots on new-look units.
“I think it will be nice getting them experience. Since they are younger, we don’t have any older guys,” Coen said. “In the future, it will help a lot. We’ve just got to work on getting them ready for the season.”
“The position group with the most question marks is the offensive line,” LaPoe said. “We’re essentially going to be replacing all five of those. I haven’t had the chance to see anybody block yet. Right now, they are just competing with each other in the weight room and competing with each other in field work down here.”
Clay-Battelle will open the season by hosting Cameron in the WVSSAC Kickoff Classic, broadcast by MetroNews. The teams split two meetings a year ago, with the Cee-Bees defending their home field in a Class A semifinal contest.