East Hardy Football has cultivated the fundamental seeds with careful planning by taking steps forward with self-discipline in mind to champion a playoff picture once more.
The Cougars are guided by head coach Devon Orndorff along with assistant coaches Kevin Price, Steven Miller, Mason Gray, Brett Tharp, Jimmy Vance, Rob Kerr and Gary Hanson.
East Hardy senior quarterback Trevor Roof had a stellar off-season and looks to be a mover and shaker once more for the Cougars this season.
Roof’s footwork will help provide additional time beyond wheat is given by the linemen led by seniors Hayden Baker, Connor Henderson. Tyler Dearstine, Ryan Harman and Jim Workman along with juniors Nick Roomsburg and Owen Whitacre.
The backfield has finesse and power with junior Nehemiah Graham plowing ahead along with fellow juniors Angelo Loulis, Micah Ludwig and Cooper Eckard, while senior Dayton Dove can provide more dynamic support when not big utilized in the receiving department.
Dove, Harman, Eckard and Mason Wilkins will be linebacker hammers for the Cougars.
East Hardy has electric speed on the outside from freshman Luke Holliday, Dalton Nicolson. Sophomore Brinn Childers, junior Krystian Byram and senior Dayton Dove.
Childers will be a backup quarterback for the Cougars.
The scrimmage with Keyser to start the season was rough, but the Cougars took the licking and have been learning and growing from that day for the upcoming year/
East Hardy commences the season against Weirton Madonna at home, the Blue Dons didn’t play last year due to lack of members.
The Cougars have a plethora of challenging games this year from the Potomac Valley Conference and beyond.
East Hardy welcomes PVC rival Pendleton County next week, the Wildcats eliminated the Cougars in the state quarterfinals last year.
The Cougars travel to PVC foe Tucker County on Patriot Day.
East Hardy visits Moorefield for the Hardy Bowl on October 16.
East Hardy finishes the regular season against Petersburg at home..
“Every year we want to establish a culture of self discipline. Success on any given play can be traced back to the first 2 or 3 steps of any given player; athletes that follow their rules on those first few steps are putting the team in a position for a positive play. However, it’s very easy for these young men to become a “spectator” if they don’t possess self discipline. It’s a hard sport and very mentally demanding so this trait is at the forefront of the culture we establish. Every practice rep we take must have a purpose in preparing us for a successful Friday night,” East Hardy coach Devon Orndorff remarked.
“Coach Kevin Price has a very fitting quote he preaches to the boys after every practice; “Plant your potatoes in the spring and work them all summer.Dig them in the fall so we can eat good on Friday Nights. If you don’t work, you don’t eat”
