This year’s Tucker County Football team is young and inexperienced at the skill level. Gone are 11 seniors from last year’s team and that will leave some big shoes to fill. Last year the Mt. Lions finished the regular season with a 6-4 record as they made the playoffs as a #16 seed. #1 Werton-Maddona ended the Mt. Lions last year in the first round of the playoffs.
Head Coach AJ Rapp has 45 kids out this year for football, but unfortunately there are only 5 seniors and 7 juniors on his squad. Rapp said, “We are green and not ready to compete yet, but every day in practice we are getting better and the kids are competing every day in practice and that’s all we can ask.” One of the concerns for Coach Rapp is the lack of depth at the skilled position, “We have some athletes, but we don’t have the depth we have had in the past at those positions.” The defense will also have some holes to fill, but Coach Rapp in confident, “Defensively we are young, but we still have the muscle which will help us on defense.”
Last year the Quarterback position was shared by 3 players at times, but this year the quarterback position will be played by Junior Daniel Kisamore. There are a few key players returning from last year’s team such as Marshall Whisner(OL/DE), Michael Callaway(WR/S/K), Isaac Cole(WR), Zac Haddox(RB/LB), Logan Fridley(TE/LB). Other players that plan to contribute will be Kellen Dunn, Eddie Kachmarek, Logan Pitzer and Brody Strawderman to name a few.
The Mt. Lions open the season at home on August 29th against Pocahontas County. The schedule is tough this year for Tucker County as they will face Moorefield and Philip-Barbour in back to back weeks and then they will also host East Hardy and Southern, MD in back to back weeks. The last three games of the season will be on the road as they will travel to Pendleton County, Petersburg and Notre Dame to finish out the rest of the schedule. After hosting Pocahontas County in the opener the Mt. Lions will travel to Tygarts Valley on Sept 5th and follow that game with another away game against Northern, MD. Tucker County will then host 4 home games against Moorefield, Philip-Barbour and then host East Hardy and Southern, MD after the bye week on Oct 3rd.
Friday’s game at Pocahontas County will be broadcast live on 94.7FM WELK pregame will start around 7pm. For more pictures, audio interviews and printable schedules go to TuckerCountySports.Com.
