COAL CITY, W.Va. — From 2021-2024, Independence played into or past Thanksgiving weekend each year, winning eleven playoff games and the 2022 Class AA Championship. Last fall, the Patriots won ten games, including victories over Herbert Hoover and Bluefield. However, their playoff run was halted by Doddridge County in the quarterfinal round.
“No disrespect to Doddridge County. They are a great football team. They beat us. But it left a little sour taste in our mouth that we had five guys injured,” said Independence head coach John Lilly. “I don’t know if it changes the game or not. But when you’ve got five guys out and you don’t play up to your capability, it kind of leaves a sour taste in your mouth.”
“It put a little chip on our shoulder, coming in and only losing one game but going 1-1 in the playoffs,” said Independence senior linebacker/kicker Micah Cuthbert. “It is disappointing. But that gives us a chip on our shoulder for this year.”
Despite losing three Class AA first or second team All-State picks to graduation, the Patriots bring back a wealth of experience, perhaps most notably on the offensive and defensive lines. First team All-State selections Isaiah Conley and Jaidyn Shuck return.
“I am not saying this to be braggadocios, but I do feel like we’ve got ten offensive linemen that can play for about any Class AA team,” Lilly said. “We had eight coming back and we picked up two. That gives us a little advantage with two platoons.”
“We lost one person, Alex Blankenship, and he was a dog,” said Independence senior lineman Levi Phalen. “We got Peyton Wade from Shady [Spring]. And we’ve had a couple people step up. Kayden Cyrus stepped up. And we had four of our returning [offensive] linemen back. So we’ll be fine.”
“They are looking very good. They’re strong. We have a lot of people to back up each other. If somebody goes down, you’ve got somebody right there to back them up,” said Independence senior linebacker Talen Adkins.
Junior quarterback Brock Green is back to engineer the Independence offense for the third consecutive season. He tossed 25 touchdown passes against just five interceptions during the regular season in 2025 and his leadership abilities have come to the surface.
“That’s where I am looking for him to grow, to be more of a leader,” Lilly said. “When you start as a freshman, that’s not your role. Now it is his role. I want him to get better at that. And he has. He has responded.”
Green’s top target on the outside is sophomore KJ Viars. He was the only freshman to earn first or second team Class AA All-State distinction last fall. Viars reeled in 41 passes and seven touchdowns during the regular season.
“In the summer, he went from 5-11 to 6-3,” Lilly said. “He had such a jump, so it kind of surprised us all. His athletic ability is kind of freakish.”
The Patriots will be tested by a nine-game schedule that contains just two home games in Coal City. It includes the two teams to play in last year’s Class AA final, Frankfort and Bluefield.
“We’re just going to play who we play and who we can play. The kids will just do as good as they possibly can,” Lilly said. “We’ll coach them up the best we can. We’ve just elected that once the season starts, just to focus in on the first game and play the next game and control the controllable.”