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By JOE ALBRIGHT
PARKERSBURG -- A battle to be the next Parkersburg South quarterback raged on throughout flex days, the three-week period, 7-on-7s, and into fall practice these past three months.
Junior Brayden Mooney and sophomore Brandon Penn competed neck-and-neck to determine Brandon Hall's successor at signalcaller.
Both brought different skill sets to the table and presented a difficult job to the Patriots' coaching staff and, in the end, experience in the system won out.
"As of right now Mooney's got a foot up," Parkersburg South coach Mike Eddy said. "He is just a little bit further ahead and most of that just comes down to decision making. Penn's got a tremendous set of tools. He is too athletic to not be on the field and that is one of the reasons he is playing at corner for us.
"The beauty of this quarterback competition is it doesn't end because they are both young. This competition is going to continue for the next two years and I told both of those guys that. I want them to constantly be competing against each other because it makes them both better."
Mooney can throw with confidence as his blindside is protected by two experienced returners in Avery Eddy (LT) and Cole Burrows (LT). Jeffry Vucelick takes over at center. Freshman Gabe Hendershot starts at right guard, with the right tackle spot still undecided.
If there is one position Eddy is least sure who the starters are going to be it is at wide receiver.
Parkersburg South has a three-headed beast at running back for the second year in a row. Nick Yoho, Tyee Gibson, and Zane Hinzman all are ready to gallop with the pigskin.
On defense, the linebacker position was gutted from graduation losses with Yoho being the only returning player from last season
"It has been exciting for us," Eddy said on breaking in three new linebackers to a modernized version of a 4-4. "Our defense is one of the areas we are most excited to see how it develops. Offensively, a lot of those pieces are back. We kind of know what we are getting there. The quarterback position you don't know because it is new. You have to see what happens there. We weren't as concerned about the offense.
"The defense was almost a complete overhaul. I think there are only three returning starters on the defense so it is new. That being said, we are really excited about it because I think we've got some guys who are aggressive and they play fast. You have to play fast to be good on defense."
Hunter Shank and Jacob Anthony playing inside linebacker are two of those players Eddy and his staff see those above attributes from on the field. Shank has been a beast to block in practice and seems to always be around the football.
Nate Santiago runs the other outside linebacker position in the 4-4 scheme.
Corey Williams and Tyler Scott played a little bit on the defensive line last season with Williams seeing the most time. Both bring the beef to the defensive line as tackles at 6-foot-2 and weights more than 260 pounds in 2017.
Avery Eddy lines up at one of the end positions, while the other end is a work in progress. Mike Eddy is trying to stay away from playing too many guys both ways as much as possible.
South's secondary is deeper than it has ever been, a plus as the Patriots play several teams who plan on throwing the ball a lot this season. Four or five guys can all play.
Returning safety Gibson led the team in tackles in 2016.
South under Eddy traditionally relies a lot on juniors and sophomores and this year is no different. Starting positions on offense and defense filled by underclassmen total in the majority for 2017.
"It is really all about the maturity of young players in the offseason," Eddy said. "The young guys have always carried the load. We had a really good offseason and are getting where we need to be. We have seen a lot of development out of those young players, because they did play young and that gives them needed experience when they become juniors and seniors."
Aug. 25: at Ripley 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 1: at University 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 8: Morgantown 7 p.m.
Sept. 15: at Princeton 7 p.m.
Sept. 22: John Marshall 7 p.m.
Sept. 29: Point Pleasant 7 p.m.
Oct. 6: at Brooke 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 20: Greenbrier East 7 p.m.
Oct. 27: at Wheeling Park 7 p.m.
Nov. 3: Parkersburg 7 p.m.
PREDICTION
Win 7, Lose 3
Seniors
David Black, Eric Dowler, Drew Dunbar, Cody Durnell, Avery Eddy, Tyee Gibson, Cameron Gill, Max Habeb, Ryan Kirk, Andy Lemon, Trey Randles, Tyler Scott,
Juniors
Cole Burrows, Mason Cheuvront, Zach Doughty, Dalton Fullerton, Gaige Gabbert, Isaac Gribble, Tommy Habeb, Brett Hearn, Zane Hinzman, Rylan Johnson, Wyatt Linder, Tyler Martin, Evan McMillion, Mike McMullen, Colton McLain, Brayden Mooney, Nate Santiago, Hunter Shank, Wesley Starcher,
Sophomores
Jarrett Adams, Jacob Anthony, Nathan Bentz, Corey Beverage, Trey Cox, Dylan Day, Hunter Fleak, Jordan Graham, Bradley Hayton, Dalen King, Jon Kinnaird, Marshall McPherson, Jacob Murphy, Brandon Penn, Kaleb Richards, Trey Robinson, Evan Starcher