The Midland Trail football team has made postseason play each of the last four year. Head coach Frank Isaacs sees no reason why the Patriots cannot make five in a row.
“I’m really excited about this team. I won’t say anything about records because you never know what can happen, but, if this team doesn’t go really far in the playoffs, it’s on me,” Isaacs said. “This is a very talented football team and they have put in so much work in the weight room. We are super fast and maybe faster than the team last year.”
Isaacs believes his team will be solid in all three phases of the game, but he is particularly excited about his defense.
“Our defensive line is going to be really quick and really strong. We have a lot of depth, a lot of speed and a lot of size on the D-line,” Isaacs said. “I feel like Aden (Isaacs) is one of the best linebackers, if not “the” best linebacker in the state. Robert (Ruffner) is an explosion waiting to happen. He just wants to hit somebody and he can track the ball so well.”
Midland Trail also has two of the better corners in the state according to Isaacs in Ayden Simms and Cody Harrell. Both players are three-year starters.
“We just didn’t lose a lot on that side of the ball and we will be even bigger,” Isaacs explained. “COVID restricted our time last year, but this year we have had more time in the weight room to get much stronger. We couldn’t really stop the power last year because we were light in the behind. We are not that way this year and it is pretty exciting.”
Isaacs says he looks for big seasons out of Peyton Kirk at the nose guard position and Danny Nottingham who will move to linebacker because of his athleticism.
Robbie Knight returns to anchor an experienced defensive front.
“(Robbie) played guard and defensive tackle last year and may be the strongest player on the team. He is quick and he is one of those kids that looks perfect,” Isaacs said. “We have Cade Kincaid, who I wasn’t sure was coming back. Ducatti Hurley is back and has really transformed his body. Kellen Queen will also help us.”
The areas of concern for Trail are the offensive line and who will replace the explosive Chris Vines at quarterback.
“Losing three starters, that would normally make you very concerned,” Isaacs admitted. “However, I do feel like Danny Nottingham and Peyton Kirk could be all-state players. If Cade Kincaid falls in love with the position, he can be an all-state player. Ducatti Hurley has the potential if he ever brings it. He is 6-foot, 270 pounds and he moves as well as most of our running backs.”
“Yes, we are missing some experience and kids that have led us,” Isaacs continued. “But, when you look at the talent, we are even. Peyton Kirk didn’t play offense last year and he will play on both sides. Everyone of those kids are super explosive.”
Isaacs expects his offensive line to carry on the tradition of great lines he has had in the past.
“You don’t get the nickname, Great Wall of Hico, without having some players there,” Isaacs said. “They like that name, but they have to earn it. We have to rush for 300 yards over a couple of games before they can refer to themselves as that.”
The line play will be crucial for a run-heavy Midland Trail team led by the power running of Aden Isaacs and the speed off the edge from Robert Ruffner.
The quarterback position will be an interesting dynamic in the fact that as many as five players could ultimately take snaps this year. Harrell and Simms will be the primary signal callers.
“We are probably going to play them both. They both do something a little better than the other,” Isaacs said. “Aden has taken snaps in the playoffs. Zane Burford is a kid that we want to take the ball in that fashion and Griffin Boggs is a senior that is a smaller version of Aden.”
Boggs will have the distinction of wearing the No. 32 jersey this season in honor of his best friend and fallen teammate, Phillip Dickerson. Dickerson lost his life in a car crash last spring.
“It is no longer 32 on the roster, It will be listed, Dickerson # in honor of Phillip,” Isaacs explained. “Now someone who lives life to the fullest like Phillip will be the only ones that can wear that number.”
Trail will also honor Sammy Burdett who would have been a senior this year by carrying the No. 3 jersey to each game. Burdett was best friends with Aden Isaacs and passed away in fifth grade.
Like all coaches, Isaacs is hoping for an uninterrupted season. If that happens he feels his team will be hard to handle in the postseason.
“We are missing some great kids from last year, but we may be more athletic this year because of the work,” Isaacs said. “You give us 10 full games this year, we will hit full stride and we are going to be really tough to beat. This year we are going to pound it because that is our mentality. We want to see a defense bend in the fourth quarter, not because they are tired, but because we have beat on them.”
Schedule
1 08/27/21 7:30PM A – CLAY COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL –
2 09/03/21 7:30PM H – TOLSIA –
3 09/10/21 7:30PM H – MEADOW BRIDGE HIGH –
4 09/17/21 7:30PM A – RICHWOOD –
5 09/24/21 7:30PM A – SUMMERS COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL –
6 10/01/21 7:30PM H – NICHOLAS COUNTY –
7 10/08/21 7:30PM H – INDEPENDENCE SENIOR –
8 10/15/21 7:30PM A – JAMES MONROE –
9 10/22/21 OPEN –
10 10/29/21 7:30PM A – GREENBRIER WEST –
11 11/05/21 7:30PM H – POCAHONTAS COUNTY –
Roster
Number Name Grade Height Weight Position
3 Sammy Burdett Would have been 12th grade
3 Ayden Simms 12 5’11 150 QB/WR/DB
8 Robert Ruffner 12 5’9 155 RB/DB
10 Josh Dickerson 12 5’11 172 QB/LB
13 Zack Baird 12 6’2 178 WR/DB
27 Aden Isaacs 12 6’0 232 RB/LB
28 Cayson Vines 12 6’0 165 WR/LB
Dickerson # Griffen Boggs 12 5’10 210 RB/LB
54 Robbie Knight 12 5’10 240 OL/DL
55 Cade Kincaid 12 6’4 260 OL/DL
56 Danny Notingham 12 5’10 210 OL/LB
58 Michael Walkup 12 5’11 265 OL/DL
63 Dacota Jenkins 12 5’10 270 OL/DL
64 Jacob Armstrong 12 6’1 270 OL/DL
75 Peyton Kirk 12 5’11 245 OL/DL
87 Mathew Pridemore 12 6’1 180 WR/LB
74/61 Kellen Queen 12 6’1 270 OL/DL
4 River Barnhouse 11 5’9 175 RB/LB
5 Matt Light 11 5’11 128 WR/DB
7 Caden Morgan 11 5’11 125 WR/DB
9 Cody Harrell 11 5’11 155 QB/WR/DB
11 Talon Shockey 11 6’0 145 K/WR/DB
18 Zane Burford 11 6’1 178 RB/LB
50 Cade Ooten 11 5’9 170 OL/RB/LB
62 T.C. Perry 11 6’3 195 OL/DL
65 Dacotti Hurley 11 6’0 270 OL/DL
Daniel Fisher 11 6’2 215
20 David Moore 10 5’11 180 RB/LB
51 Oley Jackson 10 5’10 175 OL/LB
52 Theron Taylor 10 5’9 195 OL/DL
53 John Bowman 10 5’9 185 OL/RB/LB
70 Hunter Bennett 10 5’9 245 OL/DL
1 Aiden Maichle 9 5’6 115 QB/DB
2 Will Mcgraw 9 5’7 145 RB/LB
12 Ashton Bess 9 6’0 140 WR/LB
14 Wyatt Bibb 9 5’9 140 WR/LB
16 Cole Branstetter 9 5’9 140 WR/DB
17 Ian Harper 9 5’11 160 WR/DB
22 Grady Jackson 9 5’7 135 WR/DB
24 Kaden Lephew 9 6′ 178 RB/LB
45 Blake Anderson 9 5’7 135 OL/LB
88 Dakota Nottingham 9 5’8 130 WR/DB
