By Carl Holcomb
Moorefield Examiner
Moorefield High School Football is under new management as head coach Eric Linville traded in a 17-year middle school campaign with seven Potomac Valley League titles to rejoin his charges at the next level with a focus on tradition, family and being tough.
Coach Linville laid the foundation for the Yellow Jackets’ six state championships having graduated in 1995 under legendary coach Alan Fiddler, just before the Yellow Jackets buzzed to Class A state glory and has his sights on the hardware.
Moorefield is going to play TOUGH this season as the players focus on being: Tight knit, Optimistic, Unselfish, Gritty and Humble.
The Yellow Jackets look to build on tradition with a tough attitude buzzing into the second year in the Class AA Football realm under first-year head coach Eric Linville.
“[History] It means everything to me. I think that’s something we’ve lost over the years. Personally, I wasn’t part of a state championship team, but I know that a couple of us guys on the coaching staff laid the foundation for those teams. I think history is very important for the morale, the players, coaches and town. That’s where we are at right now, trying to get the community excited again for Moorefield Football,” Moorefield Football coach Eric Linville stated.
Coach Linville knows a thing or two about a winning tradition having won seven PVL championships in 13 title appearances over 17 years at the helm of Moorefield Middle School.
“Tradition is very important, even down to Meet the Team night. It kind of went away. We are starting new traditions with things like the first day of hitting at 9:00. Trying to do things to keep things fresh for the guys. The biggest tradition for Moorefield Football is winning. That is our push right now. We have to start winning ball games,” Coach Linville remarked.
Having the familiarity coaching these players at the middle school level helps in the transition and keeping the focus of being a family.
“Family is everything. Every time we break practice and several times during practice, it is ‘1-2-3 family on me’. We are a family. We are a family of coaches and players. We treat the players just like they are our own. We all come from different backgrounds and situations. And at the end of the day, this is just a sport and we all try to be good human beings. As with Atikilt [Tamiru] and Vincent [Cyrus] coming into our home, if the same situation arises again we would do the same thing treating them as our own. It is a different world today with broken homes and a lot of technology. A lot of people bad mouth this society, but I think we can fix it,” Coach Linville noted.
“It is awesome. That is one thing with middle school, you only get them or two years. Technically, three years, but as sixth graders they don’t produce as much as you would like, You have them for two years and now for four years. Even the seniors we had four years ago, they won a championship and know what it is like to win a championship. So it is kind of like a second chance. With everybody here, everybody has a chip on their shoulder, me included. There are guys who didn’t get to finish the season last year and maybe guys that didn’t get to play and they have a lot to prove. All of the coaching staff has something to prove. There is nothing more intimidating than a player who has a chip on his shoulder.”
There is one word to describe the Yellow Jackets this season: TOUGH.
“That’s easy, it is ‘Tough’ – What we try to instill in these guys is that we are going to be TOUGH: Tight knit, Optimistic, Unselfish, Gritty and Humble. That is the word TOUGH. It is posted in our weight room, so the team looks at the word everyday. I think. All of those things make a goo, winning culture. We are going to be a lot tough,” Coach Linville exclaimed.
Moorefield is quite determined to renew its path to glory.
“All of us is very determined. We know it is kind of like zero hour, crunch time. We know there are changes to be made. We have managed and coached 90 percent of these guys before, so they know what to what to expect from us, so that relationship is already established. It is just a minder of fixing bad habits or reminding them what we can be and were. Our determination is strong all the way around,” Coach Linville said.
“I know there are receipts that will be paid to me, but I can accept that. I have seen some things in coaching 18 years in football, good and bad and I don’t forget anything. I am sure there are other teams that don’t forget me, We just want to get back tow here we were. I have a folder full of receipts somewhere.
13 championships, won seven of them. These boys know how to win and just forgot. We are going to get that back. If we get one good quality win, then the state better look out. We have some quality young players coming in who will contribute early coming off the season they had. All four of these groups made it to the championship and two of them won it. They know how to win we just have to remind them.”
The Yellow Jackets buzz back to the Hive with 10 seniors guiding the swarm to success and seeking a return to the playoffs this year.
The Moorefield seniors are: Brock Linville (QB/DB), Shawn Reed (RB/DB), Brady Vetter (TE/LB), Oliver Crites (RB/LB), Jeb Wagner (TE’DE), Gage Wolfe (OL/DL), Daltan Ault (OL/DL), Kevin Aleman (OL/DL), Luke Combs (OL/DL) and Lawrence Sherman (TE/DL).
Brock Linville returns to action after a determined recovery from a season ending injury last year to captain the offense behind the center as the starting quarterback.
Linville will have assistance in the quarterback spot from junior Colt Sherman and freshmen Mathew Iman and Luke Stutler, but don’t discount junior Cyrus Kump getting back there again, if needed.
Moorefield showed tenacity in the Boonsboro scrimmage as Shawn Reed and Oliver Crites made some monstrous hits.
Crites returns to punish defenders pounding out yardage from the backfield along with quick senior Shawn Reed and junior 1,000 yard rusher Caleb Flinn dashing to extend plays when Linville doesn’t keep the ball.
Yellow Jackets freshman Bill Lewis was never tackled in middle school and will provide support at running back for Crites, Flinn and Reed as this position runs deep along with junior Alex Rodriguez, sophomores Levi Foo and Blake Snyder and freshmen Edison Metheny, Thomas Simmons and Hector Luna-Davy.
The key to those running plays in the Wing-T system is a strong group of linemen led by seniors Gage Wolfe, Daltan Ault, Kevin Aleman and Luke Combs along with tight ends Brady Vetter, Jeb Wagner and Lawrence Sherman.
Moorefield’s linemen depth chart continues with juniors Benjamin Thompson, Blake Robinette and Adison Wolfe, sophomores Davin Abreu, Zeke Eye, Mason Dillow, William Titus, Cameron Doman, Mason Liggett and freshmen Gage Baker, Gracin Jenkins, Jacob Vazquez, Braedyn Toney Joel Cisneros, David Stonestreet and Nathan Crites.
Crites joins sophomore Blake Snyder and freshman Mathew Iman dominating the linebacker spots.
Linebacker support includes senior Brady Vetter, juniors Alex Rodriguez and Colt Sherman, sophomores Zeke Eye and Keaton East,
The Yellow Jackets turn up the heat flying through the secondary with seniors Reed and Linville, juniors Cyrus Kump, Caleb Flinn, Jordan Fields and Jackson Helmick, sophomore Levi Foo and freshmen Bill Lewis, Zakk Keplinger, Hector Luna-Davy, Vance Simmons, Thomas Simmons, Edison Metheny, Luke Stutler, Reid Kump and Jackson Kerns.
Ault traded in his linebacker spot to help solidify the line with fellow seniors Wolfe, Aleman and Combs, in addition to tight end play from Wagner, Vetter and Sherman.
Another big change is junior Cyrus Kump moving from quarterback to wide receiver, so he is familiar with the plays and has a height advantage which also helps as a defensive back.
Moorefield Football has a reliable kicker in junior Levi Davis, who had kickoffs bounce inside the five yard line during the scrimmage at the Hive and provided deep punts, while fellow junior Javier Acosta will contribute in the kicking game.
There is hunger for the playoffs, but Coach Linville expects a winning record for that advancement and knows the Potomac Valley Conference map has changed with the classifications.
“Nothing against Moorefield. But statewide with the reclassifications went last year I think there were a lot of teams that were in the playoffs that shouldn’t have been in the playoffs. I don’t understand making the playoffs with a losing record. That happened through all classifications with a minimum of 4-6. Does it help with momentum, sure. Playoffs are great, but I still kind of see it as an asterick year. The new classifications really changed the map for us in the Potomac Valley Conference. The days of Moorefield, East Hardy, Petersburg, Pendleton County and Tucker County all being close. It is something we are looking at in the future and how many single A teams we should keep on the schedule. What games are going to benefit us the most to keep. You look at basketball and we are traveling halfway across the state for our region. These teams need to be on our football schedule. It is a learning experience and our focus in on the boys. The rest of this stuff will work itself out. The school has been real supportive and the community has been real supportive. For me, it is just another year on the job,” Linville commented.
Cpach Linville has the ultimate prize of a state championship for a goal.
“You’d be dumb if you didn’t say the state championship. Realistically, every team should just be looking to go to Charleston. I don’t set any less expectations for this group. Are they realistic, sure. We will know a lot more in the next few weeks. We open up the season against the defending state champion Frankfort and that will be a task and we know that. I think that will be a real measure to how our season will be. It is just another game. If our boys work as hard as they have been, it’s going to be a big one. They are the defending state champions, but we have a new regime here with coaches. The kids are pumped and the community is excited. I look for week one to be a packed house. It should be fun,” Coach Linville noted.
Linville doesn’t have a specific coaching philosophy, but seeks to put the boys first overall.
“I don’t know that I really have one. For us, it is the boys first, regardless. It doesn’t matter how hard things can be for the coaching staff or administration, at the end of the day all the attention has to go to the boys. We do a lot of things to get them out there recruiting wise. Philosophy naturally, you have to win ball games. We can all sit around here and talk about how hard these boys worked and did a great job. Winning is fun. There’s got to be a winner or loser. These guys have a winning attitude. I know one game could change a game. I really don’t give myself a philosophy; just play tough, play hard and give everything you’ve got. We’ll go from there. We are sticking with the motto of TOUGH. For years, we had ‘No Excuses’ up there in the locker room and that is still the first thing you see when you walk in here. We don’t want excuses, We want max effort in everything you do for that short period of time we have. TOUGH will be our slogan for years to come. I am not going to change it,” Coach Linville remarked.
The familiarity of the team helps with continuity of the objective to win as the players push each other to the next echelon.
“The chemistry is unbelievable. We compete against each other in the weight room and in practice against each other. I tell them all the time you can only put the best 11 out on the field at one time, so they are always competing with everybody else and that brings them together. We had a pool night and that brings them together. What matters is they are together, getting pumped up and screaming and hollering. Right now everything is great and they have bought into it,” Coach Linville added.
Moorefield Football has 49 players on the roster.
Offense –
Brock Linville (QB) is back from surgery and will be our quarterback. Having to sit out the season tearing his ACL in week three, he worked very hard to get back here. He has been determined to return and is now bigger, faster and stronger than he ever was.
Oliver Crites (RB) toughed out injuries all last year and gave it his all and in Williamstown his ankles were spent.
Caleb Flinn (RB) coming back nearly a 1,000 yard rusher. Broke his hand part way through the year.
We have some young guys coming in that are going to contribute to the line. We lost our entire line when they graduated. These young guys are putting in the work and they will be ready. Gage Wolfe, a senior, finally gets to start at center. Shawn Reed (wing) is another weapon who hasn’t touch the ball much before, but he will touch the ball more. It will be an offense by committee. We won’t rely on just one person. We are going to spread it out. We have a lot of young guys with skill. We are sticking with the Wing-T with different situations. I will lead with that. One of the biggest changes is Cyrus Kump will be playing receiver. He is our lone receiver and we have some young guys who can catch including Zakk Keplinger and Matthew Iman is a tight end. We aren’t a pass happy team. It will be nice to have a 6’4” frame out there. Those are our main offensive weapons. There are a bunch of young guys such as Bill Lewis and Mathew Iman who can step in there early now and help us.
Defense –
Our defense starts with Ollie Crites. He is our rock, our center. He is our middle linebacker. You are going to hear a lot of repetitive names. You have to look at freshman Gage Baker on the defensive line, he will cause some issues. Our secondary is fast and smart. Zeke Eye is going to get some playing time on defense. Davin Abreu is a big guy rolling in at 280 and will give us some help. A lot of guys are playing both ways. We haves some subs that will help us a good bit. Flinn is another to watch on defense and our transfer Levi Foo. Brock is going to play a little defense. I can’t believe I didn’t talk about our senior Daltan Ault. He is making a complete position change from linebacker and fullback to this year as offensive and defensive line. He accepted the role and is enjoying it. He is hungry and has a chip on his shoulder. Cyrus is a big one chasing from quarterback to receiver and has done well. Linebackers will be Ollie, Iman and Blake Snyder. All guys who have played linebacker all their lives. They will give us speed and strength. Our secondary is as fast as they can be: Shawn Reed, Bill Lewis, Levi Foo and Caleb Flinn, that’s a lot of skill.”
These seniors are a special group having been under Coach Linville during middle school and now full circle including his son.
“I look at the eighth grade group who are seniors now and several that aren’t there, but we gained some that weren’t there before. As far as leadership, we are nothing without them. It is kind of funny, Brock is the quarterback, but Ollie is the quarterback on the defensive side. Those two guys when they speak, everybody listens and follows. They will be captains along with Shawn and Flinn. We will have a fifth captain depending on how practice goes. Give everybody an opportunity to work their way,” Linville said.
Promising newcomers:
“There are a lot of them, but the three that stick out for us is Matthew Iman (tight end and linebacker), Bill Lewis (running back and defensive back) and Gage Baker (offensive and defensive line) they will make an immediate impact,”Coach Linville added.
Moorefield opens the season with Military Appreciation Night against Class AA defending state champion Frankfort.
Moorefild travels to Elkins before going back home against Hampshire and Virginia powerhouse Strasburg.
The Yellow Jackets play the Burke and Herbert Bank Clash, formerly the Summit Bowl against the Vikings in Petersburg.
Homecoming will be against Tucker County on October 10.
The annual Hardy Bowl will be in Baker against cross-county rival East Hardy on October 17.
Moorefield visits Keyser, then hosts Pendleton County for senior night and finishes the regular season at Berkeley Springs.
Schedule/Rivalry:
“East Hardy will always be our number one rival. The classification changes the map for us. We have to play some big teams in Frankfort, Keyser and Elkins. Petersburg is in our classification and just up the road and will always be a rivalry and one of our oldest. Everybody hates us. We have our own rivals, but I found out that other schools have us listed as rivals and I don’t know why. Everybody wants to beat Moorefield. We have to be equally as aggressive against everybody else. I know a lot of teams who can go 1-9 and as long as that one win is against Moorefield, they are happy. Try to install that in these guys heads, that we have a target on our backs and 90 percent of that is because we won six state championships sitting on the wall. We are all chasing that and we like it. Our first practice we had 100 people here just to watch practice. Everybody is rejuvenated and excited. There is change in the air. The community and businesses have been real supportive. This campus has been great. If we can deliver and get things back to the way it was, the community will be behind us. Hardy Bowl: Both teams, when we start winning some games on both sides of the mountain. Anytime you play East Hardy, it will always be a packed house. That is a big game, a fun game. If we are both doing well rolling in, it will be fun. We go to Class AAA Elkins this year and will see how that goes. Hampshire will be a game we will keep. Our coaches have a close relationship with the. I played against Donny and coached against him. Donny is a real close friend. Strasburg is going to be a powerhouse and only lost one guy. They will be big and strong. We have to try to keep the ball away from them. Petersburg has a good program and a lot of talented kids, especially Peyron Metheny. Homecoming is Tucker County. Our schedule intensity level is five stars according to Coalfields and Company. If we can get some key wins, that will elevate us. We are playing at Berkeley Springs to try to keep it five home and five away. If you haven’t played on Berkeley Springs field, you don’t know how terrible it is.,” Coach Linville remarked.
Coaching Staff:
“They mean everything. Paul See stayed on, the only remaining one from last year’s staff. We brought in a whole new staff with some coming out of semi-retirement to come back and coach, two guys in particular, Ryan Runions and Josh Eye. Ash Crites came with me from the middle school, Merv Pope is helping us, Jacob Metheny and Blake Funk, a young guy who graduated a few years ago and knows the system and we brought in Ethan Judy from Petersburg who will do a lot of our special teams. Chris Sherman is here. There is college talent on our staff. Like our players, we are tight knit. We don’t have specific assignments. I am blessed to have such a great group to work with here. At any point in time I can walk away for ten minutes and know the players will be coached as if I was still there. There is no right or wrong for us now. We will figure out what we need to do. That is the blessing of starting from ground zero, there is no pressure on us,” Linville concluded.
