Prep Football Preview: Beckley looks to keep building on back-to-back playoff appearances

The foundation for success has been laid brick by brick for the Beckley football program.

After back-to-back playoff appearances the last two seasons, the next group of Flying Eagles are looking to add some postseason wins to the resume’.

“We graduated 16 seniors that was a good class and a successful class. They are all either in the military, going to college or working a full-time jobs,” head coach Street Sarrett. “That group really bought into our weight room, our offseason workouts and doing what was needed to get better. Attendance was outstanding with them and that is what you need to be successful.”

Now that senior class that helped turn the program back in the right direction will hand the ball to a band of youngsters that are ready to establish their own legacy.

“We will be young. There are only eight seniors on the roster and we don’t have an 18-year old. I think Elijah Waller turns 18 in September,” Sarrett said. “We return one guy from our offensive line and there will be a whole new backfield, along with a new quarterback. Defensively we return four that have played.”

Naturally with so much youth stepping into varsity action, the question becomes can they handle the pressure of the Friday night light?

Sarrett is convinced they will do just fine.

“Young is just a word. These kids are tough and they will show up on Friday nights. I am not concerned a bit,” Sarrett said. “My young kids played 10 JV games last year. They practiced every Saturday and we are going to keep doing that and developing our young kids in the youth leagues as they come up. These are Beckley kids”

Junior Drake Bowling returns at right tackle from last year and he will be joined by the combination of seniors Ryan Suggs and Tyler Hunt, juniors Keandre Goode and Isaac Lambert or sophomores Ja’Marques Manns and Tyrez Jones.

“Then we have senior Phillip Law at tight end who came back out this year and J.T. Bragg at tight end who works his tail off every day,” Sarrett said. “I think Keandre Goode and Drake Bowling are going to have break-out years. They have been working hard all summer and they understand the roles they have on the team. They will be tough.”

Beckley will have several options at quarterback and all three are extremely athletic.

“Offensively right now, Devin Richardson is playing quarterback, but we have two other guys that are right behind him in seniors Elijah Redfern and Elijah Waller,” Sarrett said. “You may see those three guys play quarterback, running back and wide receiver for us in a game.”

As it has been in years past, the Flying Eagles will have a stable full of running backs to move in and out. Major contributors are expected to be juniors Landon Jones, Bryce Ford, Christian Stewart, M.J. Staples, Noah Burrell and Jazias Hinton.

“I could just go on down the list with those guys. We have two young freshman, J.W. Wynes and Alizah Pittman that are going to be pretty special when they get up and going,” Sarrett said. “The way we do things, running backs will be wide receivers and wide receivers will be running back. Tight ends can also be fullbacks. We have some lineman that might line up at fullback.”

The versatility has Sarrett excited and he sees that as a good sign for his team chemistry.

“It goes to show that these kids really care about football. We have guys that are willing to learn three or four positions in order to play. Usually a player will concentrate on only one position,” Sarrett said. “Another big thing I have really liked about these kids over the last few years is nobody is worried about stats. They just like being around each other, winning and being a family.”

Defensively the veteran coach believes his team might surprise a few people.

“We are going to be fast. I know that for a fact. From what I have seen so far in practice, we are going to be physical,” Sarrett said. “We will be in the 4-3 this year, so will have some hiccups with that, but we are going to keep going. I think we will have some guys that want to hit and we will have a little better defense than we have had in years past.”

Landon Jones will follow in the footsteps of older brother Jay Jones who led the team in tackles last year to lead the linebacking core. Waller, who had three interceptions last year will lead the defensive backs.

“The thinking here is to make the playoffs and win playoff games. That is all they talk about and that is the expectations that we have,” Sarrett said. “With our schedule and who we play, we will hit bumps in the road, but when you hit the playoffs, everybody is 0-0.”

The other good news for Beckley fans is after a year of disruption due to an issue with the home bleachers, all will be back to normal this year.

“Pat on the back to our board of education. When the bleachers arrived, they did not drag their feet,” Sarrett said. “I believe the visitors side is in the works for later in the spring. We have this great turf field that is beautiful and we have great facilities over here.”