WHO: Greenbrier East (0-0) at Point Pleasant (0-0)
WHERE: Point Pleasant High School
WHEN: Friday, Aug. 25 at 7:30 PM
LAST SEASON: Point Pleasant (5-5) Greenbrier East (4-6)
ABOUT THE OPPONENT:
Point Pleasant is a member of the newly formed Twin State League and is coached by David Darst who is entering his 17th season leading the Big Blacks. After narrowly missing the playoffs last season, Darst is ready to get back there this year.
Well, it is finally that time.
Tomorrow, Friday, Aug. 25, the Greenbrier East Spartans will get on the bus and hit the road for Mason County at the confluence of the Ohio and Kanawha Rivers and exit the bus at Point Pleasant High School where East will open their 2023 football campaign against the Big Blacks.
Being the first game of the new season for both teams, it is extremely difficult to gauge how this one will go. The Spartans lost some key players from last year’s team such as Monquelle Davis, Lucas McCallister, Ian Cline, Luke Carola, Jake Pate, CW Sturgell, Gavin Bennett, Noah Dotson, and Donavin Penn, among others, so replacing that production is key for East.
Last season, the Spartans lost to Point Pleasant 30-7 and struggled offensively all game. They gained 212 total yards on the night, but 56 of those came on one play in the fourth quarter. Cline was held to -2 yards on 10 carries and the Big Blacks racked up 412 yards on the ground.
However, that was all last season. Point Pleasant’s main production from that night also graduated in Gavin Jeffers and Evan Roach, who combined to run for 328 of those yards, so the Big Blacks are looking for replacements just as the Spartans are.
PLAYERS TO WATCH FOR POINT PLEASANT:
Caden Hill
Andrew Schoon
Point Pleasant is a member of the newly formed Twin State League and is coached by David Darst who is entering his 17th season leading the Big Blacks. After narrowly missing the playoffs last season, Darst is ready to get back there this season.
Hill is a dynamic player that can get the ball and go with it. He lost a fumble in last year’s contest against the Spartans, but with another year of experience, he will be counted on to be one of the top offensive threats the Big Blacks put on the field.
Schoon was an honorable mention all-state pick last season for his work on the defensive side of the ball. He is a big, strong player with a wrestling background and can wreak havoc on the Spartans backfield if he is not blocked correctly. Sending some double teams to block Schoon may be in the Spartans’ plans.
PLAYERS TO WATCH FOR GREENBRIER EAST:
Brody Hamric
Kaden Stone
Grant Burdette
Weston Pence
Carter Hamilton
I must stress again that without an actual game to provide evidence, and with so many new faces on the roster for the Spartans, it is nearly impossible to know who will step up and thrive when the lights come on.
What I do know is Hamric played well in the 39-0 season finale victory last season over Lincoln County. He played the entire second half at quarterback and went 5-of-9 for 55 yards and a rushing TD. He was named player-of-the-game and the sophomore is taking over the reins this year as the signal caller.
Stone and Burdette will have every chance to shine. Burdette is the leading returning receiver at four catches for 36 yards, but his production will jump considerably.
Hamilton led the defense last year with 88 tackles and brings experience and production, and he will play both ways. Pence had 69 tackles last year and was always around the ball.
We will all know more about East next week. There may be a player that has yet to be mentioned that will show up, be productive and never look back.
KEYS TO THE GAME FOR THE SPARTANS:
1. Coach Darst has probably watched the film from last season’s game with the Spartans. If he has, he saw that his team ran for 412 yards and held the Spartans to 56 yards on the ground. Point Pleasant will try to duplicate both of those numbers Friday.
2. East is young and full of inexperience on offense, apart from the offensive line, the most important position on a football team. Getting the running game going and moving on from the Ian Cline era is a must for East to help their young QB, Hamric. That will allow Hamric the opportunity for some plays down the field as well.
3. The Spartans kicking game could play a factor. Losing Dotson, who is now kicking at Fairmont State, was a big loss, but sophomore Owen Romero’s time starts now as he takes over the specialist duties in Fairlea.
Check back after Friday for a full recap of the game and we will deep dive into the details of it as well.
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