Trips to Tucker County this time of year can reveal some unmatched beauty.
Midland Trail is not heading north on a sightseeing trip.
The Patriots are making the journey Friday to shock the state when they battle the Mountain Lions in the opening round of the 2023 Class A West Virginia State High School Football Playoffs.
Last year Midland Trail played basically the same schedule, but with a 6-4 record, narrowly missed the playoffs.
Now under the new playoff format which incorporates strength schedule into the formula, the Patriots are in as the No. 15-seed with a 5-5 record.
“It has been one thing after another and the the kids have just showed up. It has been taxing, but making the playoffs validates playing that schedule,” Midland Trail head coach Jeremy Moore said.
The daunting schedule included three Class AA teams, along with Class A powers, No. 1 James Monroe and No. 4 Greenbrier West. Class A No. 12 Summers County was also on the docket along with a trip north to battle Wheeling Central.
Add in the unfortunate passing of a teammate in a car crash the week of the Wheeling Central matchup and making the playoffs was an incredible feat for the Patriots.
“It is kind of validation for the struggles they went through and didn’t quit. They could have laid down, but they didn’t. That is life. Life throws adversity at you and how you handle it is up to you. I think they handled it well,” Moore said. “It was not an easy road by any means. With the teams we played and the scores they put on us, along with the insinuating circumstances, I couldn’t be more proud of them for being resilient.”
The opening night lineup for Trail and the players that step onto R.H. Armstrong Memorial Field Friday night will be somewhat similar, but there will be some new faces and people in different positions.
Starting quarterback Jayden Gladwell has moved out to wide-out and junior Thad Brown has moved in at quarterback. Kaden Lephew has stepped in at running back for an injured Jayden Roop and the situation in the trenches has been in a constant state of flux.
Still, Midland Trail pressed on with the next man up mentality.
“It has been just one thing after another with injuries and things like that. We have a group of kids that have embodied the attitude of whatever you need me to do or wherever you need me, I will play,” Moore said. “Lanny (Syner) got hurt and we lost our deep threat receiver. Jaden stepped up and basically volunteered to move to receiver.”
While probably no one outside of Hico gives Trail a chance, the battle-tested Patriots are convinced they are ready for the challenge.
“They believe they can win. They really do. Not diminishing Tucker County at all, but we have played really tough, tough teams,” Moore said. “Tucker is up there with those guys, but there is no one that we will meet in these playoffs that we will be intimidated by. We have seen the best of the best, but they know they have to play better than what they have in the past to win.”
Tucker County ran through the regular season unscathed and is coming off a 64-7 thrashing of Class AAA Hampshire Friday night.
The Mountain Lions also have wins over Eastern (Reedsville), OH who is 11-1, along with East Hardy who has also qualified for the postseason.
Quarterback Ethan Rosenau guides the Tucker County attack throwing for over 1,800 yards and 32 touchdowns. The senior signal-caller has three main targets in junior Garrett Wilfong, senior Maddox Anderson and fellow-senior Blaike Adams.
When Rosenau is not riddling defenses through the air, the Mountain Lions rely on running back Jared Reall to carry the load. The junior running back has rushed for just under 1,100 yards.
“He chucks the ball around really well and their offensive line gives him time. He doesn’t have to extend plays. He is on his spot and his receivers get open,” Moore said. “He has a good group of receivers and the running back is shifty. In all honesty, they run our offense, but they run it better.”
Tucker enters the contest averaging roughly 44 points per game, while allowing just under 13 points per game. Still, Moore thinks his team has a solid shot to pull off the stunner.
“We are just going to be us and do what we do. If our kids come to play, I feel like we can compete with them,” Moore said.
The winner of the contest will advance to the quarterfinals where it will meet the winner of No. 7 Tug Valley and No. 10 Tyler Consolidated.