CHARMCO- The Greenbrier West Cavaliers hosted their first scrimmage of the season on Saturday, Aug. 17 when they battled Westside on a perfect day for a football game.
After graduating record setting quarterback Cole Vandall from last year’s team, his first cousin Evan Vandall will be taking over the reins from the signal caller spot this season. Some are referring to him as the “other Vandall.”
“I got stuff to prove,” Ev. Vandall said.
“Just another quarterback,” he added.
Vandall then talked about the scrimmage itself and what his team needs to do to get back to the point where they were last year when they advanced all the way to the state championship game in Wheeling.
“We’ve all talked about it. We know what we need to do, what we got to work on. We made some mistakes, but we’ll be fine,” Ev. Vandall said.
“We just got to finish all of our plays, finish going to the ball. We got a lot to work on, but we just have to do the little things right,” he finished.
Coach Kelly Vaughan is not ready to book his bus ride to Charleston–this year’s super six destination– just yet, but he did notice some things that his squad can build on.
“We have a long way to go. We did some good things; we did some poor things, but you know we’re still looking for some kids to step up. If we’re as good as we’re going to be now, we’re in for a long year, but the attitudes were good, and I was proud of them,” Vaughan stated.
Vaughan also has confidence in Ev. Vandall to lead his team once the real lights come on.
I thought he played well today,” Vaughan said.
“He did throw an interception where he underthrew the guy, but you know, that happens, but first time, first go around, we are pleased. I go back to effort and his effort was good. He will get better,” he said.
The coach thought nerves were definitely in the air from his team, but again, that is what scrimmages eventually iron out.
“We got six or seven kids that did play last year, and we also have some that didn’t play at all and today was a big day for them. And I was nervous. I tell them all the time if I don’t get a little bit nervous or anxious before a game then I’m going to stay home,” Vaughn said jokingly.
Greenbrier West will scrimmage Nitro this coming Friday at 7:00 PM in Charmco and then the regular season kicks off on August 30 at Pendelton County. Scheduled for just nine games currently, the schedule looks to be getting that tenth game after St. Joes folded their football program and left the Cavaliers with just nine.
“Right now, if everything goes as planned, which it’s an away game so we’re not happy about that, but right now we’re in the works with Paden City for week three so keep your fingers crossed. We’re excited to get a 10th game and I can’t tell you how excited I am to ride a bus for three-and-a-half hours,” Vaughan concluded with a laugh.
