The biggest characteristic for the Woodrow Wilson football team over the past few seasons has perseverance.
Perseverance, hard work and dedication paid off last season when the Flying Eagles played their way back into the playoffs for the first time since 2014.
Now head coach Street Sarrett is hoping success will breed more success.
“It’s contagious for sure,” Sarrett said. “Making the playoffs bled right over into our offseason workouts and lifting weights. We have more numbers out and things like that, so it really helped a lot.”
If Woodrow Wilson does make a return trip to the postseason this year, it will need to fill some key holes left by graduation.
Quarterback Maddex McMillen and wideout Keynan Cook are now playing Division I football, but there are other positions that Sarrett will need to fill.
“We will have to fill a tight end spot left by Mike Miller. He was huge for us. Mike caught almost every ball that was thrown to him,” Sarrett said. “He was a big-time defensive end for us and that will be hard to replace. James Carter at right tackle will be a tough hole to fill as well.”
The good news for Beckley fans is the Flying Eagles will be strong and experienced in the trenches.
“Four of our five lineman are returning from last year on offense and almost all of the defensive line is back. That is always a good thing,” Sarrett said.
Bryant Hill, Christian Burks, Will Elkins and Tyee Fowlkes will be the anchors on the offensive line, while Leon Smith with join Burks and Fowlkes on the defensive side of the ball.
Jay Jones will move a couple of steps up in the backfield going from fullback to quarterback.
“Jay came in two years ago against Bluefield when Maddex had to step out for a few plays due to an injury and looked really good. I expect big things out of Jay this year,” Sarrett said.
Woodrow also has a promising young sophomore who could see some time under center to compliment Jones.
“Jay is doing a really good job and we have Devon Richardson. It will be the first time he has played high school football,” Sarrett said. “It is a good battle and completion brings out the best in everybody.”
There is no secret that the Flying Eagles like to run the football and the stable is bulging with guys that can tote the pigskin.
“We have Matt Moore, Tylai Kimble, Nate Grayton, Darmonte’ Mitchell and Leon Smith at full back. I have some young guys too in Konnor Ray and Jacob Reeves. They are all pulling their weight,” Sarrett said. “It’s a good mix for us. We have some power runners and we have some guys that have some speed.”
While running the ball is what the goal is, Beckley will take to the air if it fits the situation.
“In football you have to establish the run and be able to stop the run to win,” Sarrett said. “We will go with whatever works. There was games last year where Maddex had to throw the ball 40 times and we would win. Then we would have games where we lined up and would see which back wanted to carry the load that night.”
When Beckley does go to the air it has a scary weapon for opposing defenses in Elijah Waller that leads the receivers.
“Christian Stewart got some playing time out there for us as well,” Sarrett said about his receivers. “Bradley Snyder and Taevon Davis have done a really good job and made some big plays for us.”
Although the offense gets plenty of publicity, the Flying Eagles may make some of its biggest noise on defense.
Jones and Moore will control the group up front at their linebacker positions, while Waller and Kimble lead an experienced secondary.
“I think they are hungry and they want to go back to the playoffs. That is what they talked about when they got back in the weight room in December,” Sarrett said. “Like Matt (Moore) said this morning, we are a big family. There are no distractions and they love being around each other. If you have a group that likes being around each other good things can happen.”
Beckley opens the season on road at Riverside before heading down I-64 to battle Greenbrier East. Week three the Flying Eagles host Parkersburg South in the home opener.
2022 Schedule
08/26/22 7:30PM A – RIVERSIDE
09/02/22 7:30PM A – GREENBRIER EAST
09/09/22 7:30PM H – PARKERSBURG SOUTH
09/16/22 7:30PM H – BLUEFIELD
09/23/22 7:30PM A – LINCOLN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL
09/30/22 7:30PM H – PRESTON HIGH SCHOOL
10/07/22 7:30PM H – HUNTINGTON
10/14/22 7:00PM A – PRINCETON SENIOR
10/21/22 OPEN
10/28/22 7:30PM A – OAK HILL
11/04/22 7:30PM H – GEORGE WASHINGTON
