Jul 5, 2025
File photos Chad Ware, center, guided Elkins to the playoffs in his first year as head coach in 2024.
ELKINS — In less than a month, high school football teams will hit the field for the start of preseason practices.
Elkins, Philip Barbour and Tucker County are coming off playoff appearances in 2024 and key players from each squad are back to the fold in this coming season.
The Tigers earned a Class AAA playoff berth under first-year coach Chad Ware last season.
Ware’s squad must replace all-stater first-teamer and the school and county’s all-time leading rusher Nick Bowers.
Along with returning players in the backfield, three talented transfers will join the team in Logan Beam (Philip Barbour), Jaden Hatfield (South Harrison) and Seth Robinson (Clay County).
All-state linebacker Tyler Vance returns for Philip Barbour this season.
Hatfield and Robinson helped their respective former teams make the postseason in 2024, Clay County falling to Philip Barbour in Class AA, first-round action.
The offensive line must replace Fairmont State signee Aiden Lambert but returns nearly intact, while junior Nate Sauerwein is a holdover at quarterback.
Philip Barbour, meanwhile, is out to make the playoffs for the first time in school history in three consecutive years.
Coach Nick Mayle’s squad returns plenty of talent, despite losing key players to graduation and transfers.
Robbie Jones gained plenty of varsity action as a freshman at quarterback last year when starter and graduated senior Braylen Edwards went down with an injury.
Sam Marks is back under center for Tucker County in 2025.
The receiver spots return talented seniors Cam Bennett, Malachi Poling and Patrick Webster.
All-state first-team linebacker and leading tackler Tyler Vance is also back on defense.
Tucker County has came just one win short of advancing to the Class A championship game the past two seasons, losing to the eventual champion Williamstown (2023) and Wahama (2024) in the semifinals.
Coach A.J. Rapp must replace hard-nosed and four-year starter Jared Reall at running back and linebacker and leading receiver Garrett Wilfong.
However, Sam Marks — a returning all-state second-teamer — returns at quarterback, along with talented receiver Reid Kisamore, who found the end zone 10 times as a junior.
PARKERSBURG — The WVSSAC has announced the Class AAAA winners of The Health Plan Champions Cup, recognizing the …
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers signed general manager Omar Khan to a three-year extension after an …
PARKERSBURG — The WVSSAC has announced the Class AAA winners of The Health Plan Champions Cup. The Health Plan …
HUNTINGTON — Elkins and Belington-Barbour County begin play in the 8-10-year-old Little League state tournament …
Copyright © 2025 Elkins Inter-Mountain Company | https://www.theintermountain.com | 520 Railroad Ave., Elkins, WV 26241 | 304-636-2121
