MORGANTOWN — For the previous 4 years, a particular group of gamers at Morgantown Excessive College have displayed unparalleled resiliency.
The group entered highschool with the hiring of a brand new soccer coach, but additionally a worldwide pandemic that altered every part.
Now, the 25-member senior class prepares for its Senior Night time this week on Pony Lewis Area at J.W. Ruby Stadium.
“They’re an incredible group,” stated MHS head coach Sean Biser, in his fourth 12 months on the helm. “I’m blessed to have these guys as our senior class. They’re the primary class that has been with us all 4 years. They’ve completed every part that was requested of them. From Day 1, they purchased into what we had been constructing and helped change the tradition. We’re undoubtedly going to overlook them once they graduate. I don’t assume you may substitute these youngsters. We’ll get a brand new group in and we’ll attempt to get them to match the trouble of those guys. It’s a tall activity as a result of that is such a particular group.”
Whereas commencement isn’t till Might 2024, the hope is that this soccer season continues to roll on for the subsequent a number of weeks. The Mohigans can solidify their spot within the WVSSAC Class AAA playoffs, and certain safe a first-round dwelling sport, with a win tonight in opposition to Linsly.
The Cadets are 4-5, coming in off a 28-21 loss to Bridgeport.
Morgantown is at the moment No. 10 within the playoff standings with a 12.69 score. Solely two different groups, No. 5 Jefferson and No. 7 Spring Mills, have a 7-2 report, like Morgantown.
“We will’t fear concerning the playoffs,” Biser stated. “The playoffs will maintain themselves. We have now a high quality staff coming in right here. Watching them on movie, they’re actually good. We have now a giant problem developing this week earlier than we are able to fear about anything past that.”
Within the latest loss to Bridgeport, Linsly was led by quarterback Braden Wade, who was 21 for 33 passing for 245 yards. His prime targets are Melte Feil and Luca Trollous. The Cadets are definitely a pass-first staff. In opposition to Bridgeport, they had been restricted to only six yards dashing.
“Their report doesn’t present how good they are, however you see what they will do and also you come away fairly impressed,” Biser stated.
Linsly isn’t sanctioned by the WVSSAC, so it isn’t eligible for postseason play. This 12 months, the Cadets have confronted a troublesome common season schedule which has included powerhouse groups from all through the tri-state space like Dover (Oh.), Steubenville (Oh.), Trinity (Pa.) and now Bridgeport and Morgantown to shut out the season.
“They don’t have a playoff or something like that, so that is it for them,” Biser stated. “They’re going to offer us every part they obtained. They’re going to be able to play and we’ve to be prepared ourselves.”
Final 12 months, the Cadets went 10-1 and claimed the OVAC 3A title with a season-ending 31-20 win in opposition to Morgantown.
“Final 12 months is final 12 months,” Biser stated. “We simply concentrate on being the very best we may be proper now. That’s what we do.”
The Mohigans are using a two-game profitable streak getting into the common season finale. Two weeks in the past, they blanked John Marshall 48-0 and they’re coming off an emotional MoHawk Bowl victory, 26-18, in opposition to College final week.
Morgantown has certified for the playoffs in every of the final two seasons.
The group of seniors has been constructing for this second to get again for a 3rd.
“They had been a really aggressive group as freshmen and you can see the expertise there,” Biser stated of the senior class, again in 2020. “They needed to get larger, stronger and extra mature. They actually developed. That claims lots concerning the youngsters who’ve caught it out by so many modifications. None of that was straightforward, however they caught with it, purchased in and continued to develop.”
BY MATTHEW PEASLEE
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