Trending
WEIRTON -- Some 100 years ago, Calvin Coolidge had just taken office as President, the first Hollywood sign was put up in California and the first football team from Weir High School took the field.
A lot certainly has changed since then, but one thing that hasn't is the Red Riders are gearing up for another season -- this time to celebrate the program's century mark.
That fact, and the many great accomplishments between then and now are not lost on fourth-year head coach Frank Sisinni and the current Red Riders.
"We're celebrating 100 years of football at Weir High School this year," Sisinni said. "We talk a lot with our boys about the history and significance of that. A lot of them don't need to be reminded too much because their parents, relatives, brothers and so on have been a part of that history.
"We're excited about the anniversary year."
When the Red Riders host Indian Creek on Sept. 8, a celebration is planned with representatives of several decades of Red Rider history set to be on hand and recognized.
"We're trying to bring back some of the legends, we want these kids to be able to draw from them and what they've learned about the great football history here," Sisinni said. "We want them to make their own stamp on that history and write their own part of that story, to have a good season and make a run towards the playoffs and maybe even farther as we get to work.
"It's a challenging schedule but we're excited for it."
Last year's team added to the playoff history of the school, reaching the Class AA postseason for the first time under Sisinni.
"The playoffs are the standard at Weir High School, we got back to it last year," Sisinni said. "We were very happy and pleased to see that happen last year, to have that goal come to fruition. When you start in mini-camp that's one of the main goals you set and work towards all season."
The way they did it was impressive, too, winning the final three games of the regular season and four of the last five to earn the spot in the field. The Red Riders dropped a 40-20 decision at Roane County in the first round.
"It's a tremendous boost any time you can get your program into the playoffs," Sisinni said. "It gives the kids in the system a taste of what it's like to have a good season and feel the work they've put in pay off.
"Our seniors last year really took the lead and guided us to that. We were junior-heavy, so to see the seniors we had really embraced leading us at the end of the year was great. We were in playoff-mode the last few weeks of the season and you could really see us develop that mentality. We were in a do-or-die situation the last couple of weeks and put some big wins together.
"That whole process at the end of the year, winning our way into the playoffs, really was a big boost. Our kids really understand what that is all about now."
Those seniors were Gage Hawkins, Jamari Bass, Kanye Green, Damarr Turner, Dominic Veltri and Cam Jones.
Jones, a two-way standout and anchor of the line, is now playing collegiately for James Madison.
"Anytime you lose seniors it's tough, it's really tough to lose a player like Cam Jones that is going to be a Division I tackle in Harrisonburg, Virginia (at James Madison University)," Sisinni said. "It was a good group of seniors and we have some voids to fill.
"Our kids have been working hard, though, and they understand there are holes they need to fill, both on the field and in leadership roles."
There is a lot of experience coming back, however, as a large junior class that helped aid the playoff push are now seniors and hungry for more.
"The juniors stepped up for us last year and now they're the senior class," Sisinni said. "We've got as many as eight or nine kids back on both sides of the ball. We're excited to see this much depth coming back."
Starting up front, four of five starters are back on the line as Noah McClain, John Davis, Anthony Zorbini, Alias Pugh and Mason Klink return with experience with Tae Sims and Kevin Freeman also in the mix.
"The majority of what we have up front is coming back, we return four of the five starters on the line so they have a lot of experience up there," Sisinni said. "They went through some growing pains, some of them were part of the group that got thrown out there as freshmen and they've gone through the maturation process and are playing at a higher level.
"It's a group effort up front, and that's what you want -- a unit."
Malachi Stromile returns at QB for his senior season after missing the last few weeks of the season and the playoff game with an injury.
"He got a clean bill of health shortly after the season ended and was a full participant in basketball," Sisinni said. "It's great to have him back. He's performed really well in the summer and he's worked very hard in the weight room. He's back on track and he's one of the many leaders of our team we're going to turn to as we look to make another run at the playoffs here."
Corey Lyons, who moved to quarterback when Stromile went down, leads a group of running backs that also features DaShawd Smith and Mo Prentice, Kamar Bridges will be a fullback/tight end.
Devan Colson, who was a state track champ, Jacob Taylor Damir Mowder, Bobby Shuble and Da Shjuan Smith make up the receiving corps.
"Those are some really athletic kids we think can really help our offense," Sisinni said.
On the defensive side of things, up front will be Pugh, Zorbini, Klink, Mowder, Freeman and Sims.
"We're looking for a couple kids to step up and fill the void left by Jamari Bass, who had double-digit sacks last year," Sisinni said. "Like the offensive line, a lot of those guys are interchangeable and bring a lot of experience, we're looking for them to step up and play some solid football.
"We're really happy with what we're seeing up front, the kids have worked really hard and are ready to roll."
Prentice, Bridges, Shuble and Smith are returners at linebacker.
"The second level is another place where we have a lot of experience, and that's what you want," Sisinni said. "Experience is something we're not lacking. We're excited to see the level of experience we have at linebacker."
There is also a lot of experience in the defensive backfield, also, with Lyons, Colson, Stromile and Smith at DB re-joined by Jacob Taylor, who missed last season with an injury.
"It's another part of the team that is a unit we can count on back there," Sisinni said.
Assisting Sisinni is an experienced staff of Dave Cowden, Gerard Spencer, Tom Taylor, John Leary, Jaylon Bridges, Quinton Smith, Chris Hill and Dan Roveria.
Weir High opens its milestone season with the battle for the Carl Hamill Trophy, hosting Oak Glen in the annual clash of Hancock County foes at Jimmy Carey Stadium on Aug. 25.