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Clay-Battelle Eyes Playoffs

By KYLE LUTZ

BLACKSVILLE — Since coming into the OVAC in 2011, Clay-Battelle has put on an impressive showing during the regular season. Last year was no exception as coach Ryan Wilson’s Cee-Bees ended the year with a 7-3 record. The season concluded on a bittersweet note, however.

While Wilson said it was a successful season, Clay-Battelle missed out on the playoffs by one position as it was ranked No. 17. A loss to Madonna in the final game of the regular season ended all hope of a playoff push.

“We had a great year,” Wilson said. “A 7-3 is an awesome year and our ballclub worked hard and in some aspects we overachieved. We’re not the biggest team. We just missed out on the playoffs. We went into the last game of the season against Madonna and we knew if we won, we were in and if we lost we were going to be out.

“That’s what happened. Madonna is big and they overpowered us. Our kids fought hard and we just couldn’t get it done.

“Again it was a great year and we want to take that and build off of that.”

There will be a new player under center this year for the Cee-Bees as Tanner Burnette picked up his diploma in May. Two key receivers from the offense also graduated in Tim Hall and Chris Wolfe.

However, the cupboard is not bare.

Taking the reins under center could be sophomores Seth Casino or Kohlton Yost. Both were the Cee-Bees jayvee quarterback a year ago.

“Right now we can play both of them at quarterback,” Wilson said. “That makes it a little bit of a luxury. You have two kids, so you’re in good shape.”

Senior Travis Dillie, who rushed for more than 1,200 yards in 2016 will be back in the backfield along with classmate Logan Forquer, sophomore Sean Hays and junior Michael Stewart.

“We feel really good at running back,” Wilson said. “We have a lot of depth.”

Even though he lost two top receivers from last year in Hall and Wolfe, Wilson praised his receiving core.

Seniors Gunner Brummage (a key returner), senior Collin Knotts and Cam Varner, junior Nathan Swaniger and sophomores Hunter Brewer and Nick Rose will look to see some playing time.

“We can just keep going down the line putting kids in at the receiver spot and they’re doing fantastic,” Wilson said. “We really like our package with it. We got some speed. A lot of those kids are track kids. A lot of speed out there.”

The offensive has the veteran leadership that it will need in order to power the offense. Three-year starters Benji Steele and Ben Willard are back for their final year along with classmate Kevin Gorbey, and juniors Noah Watson and Dylan Statler.

Senior Jonathon Eddy, sophomore Kasey Latocha and Billy Arnett will serve as three solid backups.

“We’re sitting here with eight kids that can play offensive line,” Wilson said. “That’s a luxury. It really is.”

On the defensive side, Swaniger will be the tackle along Steele and Latochia while Brewer, Willard and Knotts will play at defensive end.

At the linebacker position, will be Gorbey and Hayes in the middle. Hays and Dillie will play on the outside along with Stewart and Rose along with Forquer.

“At linebackers, we really like out depth,” Wilson said. “That’s a big thing we keep looking at. We’re happy with our starters, but we’re always looking that depth and we have it. That’s what I really like.”

In the secondary, Brummage will be one of the corners as well as junior Caleb Simpson. Yost is at the free safety position and Casino. Morris looks to also see time at the free safety spot.

For special teams, Sophomore Levi Carrico will take care of the extra point kicks while Gorbey gets the kickoff duties and Brummage will be the punter.

“I have the same goals as I had many years ago,” Wilson said. “Every year is the same goal. First, you hopefully have a winning season and hopefully that winning season turns into the playoffs. If you’re fortunate enough to make the playoffs, you hope to make some noise in the playoffs.

“The ultimate goal is the state championship game. So as the season goes along, we hope to get along with a winning season and hopefully you can win your conference. That comes into play.

“Those are our goals and we’ve had them every year. And we want to improve every game, every week and every day. That’s what I stress to these guys now coming into practice. I’m real excited with everything these guys are doing.”

Rounding out the Clay-Battelle roster is senior Jessie Jolliff, juniors Austin Ferraro, Nick Palmer, sophomores Cadon Skavinsky, Drew Deletto, Levi Carrico, Jordan Johnson, Morgan Foley and freshmen Cooper Watson, Toby Henderson, Matthew Cottrell and Gavin Moore.

Wilson is assisted by Kent Saul, Chris Huffman, Derrick Cole and Richard Herrington.

More Than A Game

The Cee-Bees will take on the Hornets of Hundred for the first game of the year. However, this year is different. While also preparing for Hornets, Wilson has been helping not only the team, but the entire town of Hundred as well.

Hundred was one of the towns that was seriously damaged by the floods that the Ohio Valley experienced during the summer. And when there’s tragedy in the Ohio Valley, the community comes together and it comes as no surprise that Wilson has been there to support a community in need.

He has also opened Clay-Battelle’s field up to Hundred and has allowed them to practice on it. His parents and the community have also volunteered to feed the Hundred football team after their practices have concluded.

“I had a lot of support there in our community. There’s people volunteering,” Wilson. ” ‘Hey, coach can I come in and feed the team?’ We set that up and there’s people donating money toward the food. We’re feeding them every night.”

Wilson also contacted high schools in the area to help out including to gather up equipment for the Hornets.

“Our administration here, our principal and AD is helping them out,” Wilson said. “We switched their first game. We were supposed to play at their field and it’s going to be at Clay-Battelle now. From what their coaches have told me, they’re not going to be able to use any of their field.

“The administration will work it out where they play their games at Clay-Battelle. But as far as their coaches, I just help their coaching staff any way I can. They’re in a tough spot, but they doing a great job. I told them, ‘You guys are winners already,’ because they have a football team, the kids have an outlet, it gets them away from the flood stuff, they’re coming down here and are playing, and the coaches are doing a great job with them. They’re winners already.”

Clay-Battelle

Seniors

Gunner Brummage, Travis Dillie, Jonathon Eddy, Logan Forquer, Kevin Gorbey, Jessie Jolliff, Collin Knotts, Dylan Morris, Benji Steele, Camden Varner, Ben Willard.

Juniors

Billy Arnett, Hunter Brewer, Austin Ferraro, Nick Palmer, Caleb Simpson, Dylan Statler, Michael Stewart, Nathan Swaniger, Noah Watson, Kohlton Yost.

Sophomores

Levi Carrico, Seth Casino, Drew Deletto, Morgan Foley, Sean Hays, Jordan Johnson, Kasey Latocha, Nick Rose, Cadon Skavinsky.

Freshmen

Matthew Cottrell, Toby Henderson, Gavin Moore, Cooper Watson.

Aug. 25: at Hundred 7 p.m.

Sept. 1: at Beallsville 7 p.m.

Sept. 15: Valley (Wetzel) 7 p.m.

Sept. 22: at Tygarts Valley 7 p.m.

Sept. 29: Calhoun County 7 p.m.

Oct. 6: at Paden City 7 p.m.

Oct. 13: at Cameron 7 p.m.

Oct. 20: at Conotton Valley 7 p.m.

Oct. 27: Notre Dame 7 p.m.

Nov. 3: Madonna 7 p.m.

PREDICTION

Win 7, Lose 3

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