LINDSIDE, W.Va. — John Mustain has led James Monroe High School to eight consecutive playoff appearances stretching across two stints as the leader of the Mavericks. They have qualified for the postseason in each year since 2021, winning six playoff games in that span. Last year, James Monroe went 7-4, their fifth consecutive year with at least seven victories.
“I always like to give almost all of the credit to the kids,” Mustain said. “We have good kids here in the county. We are not a place that people are going to transfer to and things like that. But I like to give credit to the kids. They are hard workers and they are determined.”
Although the Mavericks lost a relatively small senior class in the offseason, many of those players were top contributors. The Mavericks will work in a new starting quarterback in senior Jayden Miller. He could be part of a rotation at the QB spot.
“Jayden is one of those kids, our backup is Bentley McCroskey and I could see us doing things with Jayden a little bit like we back in 2016 with Evan Beasley and moving him around some,” Mustain said. “Putting Bentley at quarterback and maybe putting Jayden at slot and stuff like that. He is a very versatile player.”
“It is a big responsibility,” Miller said. “But I think I can do it. I’ve got a lot of guys behind me that will fill in the spots.”
“We’re putting in a lot of new plays, just getting to where we understand it fully. Jayden is filling that spot very well. He is leading the team. very well. New plays is our biggest thing,” said James Monroe senior offensive lineman Tyson Meadows.
Mustain is looking for players that can line up at multiple positions on offense. Senior Bryce Gardiner could do just that, splitting time at receiver and possibly at running back as well.
“He’s got some height and he’s got some deceptive speed,” Mustain said. “But he has good hands too. We’re kind of looking at the possibility of putting him back there. Kolton Dowdy is definitely going to see some time back there. And there’s some others that we are looking at. A lot of interchangeable parts, as far as I’m concerned, when it comes to our three backs.”
Senior Tyson Meadows is set to anchor the offensive line from the center spot. Junior Gus Cole will return to the line after missing nearly all of last season due to injury.
“It is going to be different only having one senior on the team with that experience,” Mustain said. “Tyson has played center all his life. His brother was a center when he was here with us. It is kind of going to be a little bit different. There’s going to be a lot of growing pains with it. But I think we’re got the people that can do it.”
“Definitely some younger guys stepped up,” Gardiner said. “Tyson is doing a great job leading them at center. We’ve got Gus back, who was injured all of last year. He’s doing great. A lot of younger guys are stepping up and we’re looking good there.”
The Mavericks will again be tested early and often by a schedule that features eight teams that qualified for postseason play a year ago.
“We’re definitely got the guys to do it this year,” Gardiner said. “I think if we really stay locked in, we are going to be right there with the best teams in the state.”
“We always have that team that is just right there,” Meadows said. “I believe that if we can make these improvements and get to the best that all of us can be, we can make a deep run in the playoffs, for sure.”