PETERSBURG, W.Va. — Shane Shockey is 2-for-2 in leading Petersburg to postseason berths. After a 6-6, state quarterfinal season in 2024, the Vikings returned to the playoffs by going 7-3 in the regular season last fall. All three of their losses came against teams that played on Thanksgiving weekend. Entering his third season leading the Vikings, Shockey is confident that the program can continue to ascend.
“I think this is going to be our best year of the three that I have been here,” Shockey said. “We’ve got some kids that have a lot of talent. We’ve got a lot of speed. They work hard and they put the work in. I think we are going to be very competitive this year.”
Payton Metheny enters his third year at the controls of the Petersburg offense. As a sophomore, Metheny tossed 16 touchdown passes and he ran for six more scores.
“His leadership, when he was a freshman starting, he was still kind of wide-eyed. Last year, he took some steps forward. So far this year, he has really stepped forward and been one of our better leaders.”
The Vikings must find replacements for their leading rusher and receiver from last fall. Lukas Wolford and Kaleb Kuhn were lost to graduation. Junior Evan Tawney will take on a greater role after scoring eight touchdowns in 2025.
“He is going to have multiple roles. He is going to be our primary running back. But we are going to get him involved a lot in the passing game as well.”
Several returning starters can be found on the Petersburg offensive line, a group that is led in part by junior Garrett Dolly.
“He is very important. We’ve got four starters back on the offensive line. That was probably one of our weak spots last year. But all of those guys lifted really hard. They have put on weight. They have gotten a lot stronger. I think our offensive line is going to be a strength for us this year.”
In an increasingly competitive Class AA playoff picture, Shockey believes his group will once again be in the mix after making consecutive playoff appearances for the first time in school history.
“I said it last year — our goal is always to win a state championship. I know Class AA is really loaded with some very talented teams this year. But we are going to go out and we are going to work hard every day. We’ll respect everybody, but we are not going to fear anybody. We’re going to go at it.”