Welp, it's been 8 long months, but its finally football time again in the high country. The 2019 season should see the conference still top-heavy, but also stronger top to bottom. So without further ado, let's dive in.
Ashe @ Avery
The Vikings enter the 2019 season with nothing to lose. Coming off a 2-9 season under first year coach Mac Bryant, the Vikes look to improve. Returning 10 starters, with decent skill, Bryant should have his system moving in the right direction. Look for Avery to be a pass first team, and if the smallish line can give Hoilman enough time to pass, he can do such with great accuracy. They open up against Ashe, who is coming off a 10-3 season, an MVC title, and a 2nd round appearance. Ashe returns alot of skill, but the line is on the small side, and fairly green. Nonetheless, look for Ashe to take control by halftime.
Ashe-35
Avery-14
East Henderson @ Owen
Owen won more games last season than the previous 3 combined. The Warhorses are hungry, and after a taste of the playoffs, they want some more. With a fair amount returning, a good sized, and experienced line, and decent skill, anything less than >.500 will be a disappointment. Owen opens up against East Henderson, who are coming off a good rebuilding year themselves. This should be a good matchup, and test for both teams, but home field should be the deciding factor.
Owen-27
East-21
Madison @ Carver
Madison is, is, *sigh*, Madison. They have no depth, no size, and no skill. I hate to be so demoralizing, but there's no motivation in Marshall, and the whole stadium issue seems to have defeated them already. On the plus side, the once proud and dominant Carver is coming off their worst season in recent memory, and things don't look any better for 2019. Expect a pretty even matchup, with a nod to the home team. Madison will be defending their basement fort again this year.
Carver-14
Madison-12
Mitchell @ Erwin
Mitchell went home a little too early last year, and those 16 returning starters still have a bad taste in their mouths. The Mountaineers bring tons of skill, a fast and large line, the best special teams in conference, and the 2018 WHC athlete of the year. Look out everyone. Erwin, meanwhile, is coming off a dandy season of their own, but graduation and transfers have not been kind to the Warriors. Still, this is a small 1a team playing at a 3aa team. Expect a fairly close game, with the Mountaineers pulling away late.
Mitchell-35
Erwin-20
Brevard @ Mountain Heritage
Heritage is still engineering the WHC train, winning their 4th straight conference title last year. With good team speed, a strong run game, and the returning lineman of the year, the Coogs are poised to have another dandy season. They open up with Brevard, who last year, lost to heritage on opening night, but went one round deeper, going toe to toe with Reidsville before falling just short. Heritage returns more than Brevard, but both should be strong again this year. Heritage's returning talent should out muscle Brevards up and comers.
Mountain Heritage-30
Brevard-21
Cherokee @ Polk
Bruce Ollis and Co. made a surprise run to the 3rd round of the playoffs last year, and the players want to go back. Polk returns more than anyone else in the conference, 17, and have picked up some key transfers in the off season. With a 200 win coach, and some pretty good skill, Polk could be a dark horse to sneak into second place or even force a tie on top. Line size is a little small, so that could be a factor late in a close game down the line. Opening up with Cherokee, the Braves have a new coach, and honestly, not much else to mention. Look for Polk to strike early and often, giving the 2nd string some valuable playing time in the 4th quarter.
Polk-42
Cherokee-7
Ashe @ Avery
The Vikings enter the 2019 season with nothing to lose. Coming off a 2-9 season under first year coach Mac Bryant, the Vikes look to improve. Returning 10 starters, with decent skill, Bryant should have his system moving in the right direction. Look for Avery to be a pass first team, and if the smallish line can give Hoilman enough time to pass, he can do such with great accuracy. They open up against Ashe, who is coming off a 10-3 season, an MVC title, and a 2nd round appearance. Ashe returns alot of skill, but the line is on the small side, and fairly green. Nonetheless, look for Ashe to take control by halftime.
Ashe-35
Avery-14
East Henderson @ Owen
Owen won more games last season than the previous 3 combined. The Warhorses are hungry, and after a taste of the playoffs, they want some more. With a fair amount returning, a good sized, and experienced line, and decent skill, anything less than >.500 will be a disappointment. Owen opens up against East Henderson, who are coming off a good rebuilding year themselves. This should be a good matchup, and test for both teams, but home field should be the deciding factor.
Owen-27
East-21
Madison @ Carver
Madison is, is, *sigh*, Madison. They have no depth, no size, and no skill. I hate to be so demoralizing, but there's no motivation in Marshall, and the whole stadium issue seems to have defeated them already. On the plus side, the once proud and dominant Carver is coming off their worst season in recent memory, and things don't look any better for 2019. Expect a pretty even matchup, with a nod to the home team. Madison will be defending their basement fort again this year.
Carver-14
Madison-12
Mitchell @ Erwin
Mitchell went home a little too early last year, and those 16 returning starters still have a bad taste in their mouths. The Mountaineers bring tons of skill, a fast and large line, the best special teams in conference, and the 2018 WHC athlete of the year. Look out everyone. Erwin, meanwhile, is coming off a dandy season of their own, but graduation and transfers have not been kind to the Warriors. Still, this is a small 1a team playing at a 3aa team. Expect a fairly close game, with the Mountaineers pulling away late.
Mitchell-35
Erwin-20
Brevard @ Mountain Heritage
Heritage is still engineering the WHC train, winning their 4th straight conference title last year. With good team speed, a strong run game, and the returning lineman of the year, the Coogs are poised to have another dandy season. They open up with Brevard, who last year, lost to heritage on opening night, but went one round deeper, going toe to toe with Reidsville before falling just short. Heritage returns more than Brevard, but both should be strong again this year. Heritage's returning talent should out muscle Brevards up and comers.
Mountain Heritage-30
Brevard-21
Cherokee @ Polk
Bruce Ollis and Co. made a surprise run to the 3rd round of the playoffs last year, and the players want to go back. Polk returns more than anyone else in the conference, 17, and have picked up some key transfers in the off season. With a 200 win coach, and some pretty good skill, Polk could be a dark horse to sneak into second place or even force a tie on top. Line size is a little small, so that could be a factor late in a close game down the line. Opening up with Cherokee, the Braves have a new coach, and honestly, not much else to mention. Look for Polk to strike early and often, giving the 2nd string some valuable playing time in the 4th quarter.
Polk-42
Cherokee-7
