By Eric Little of WRRR/WXCR radio

It’s the weekend of the state semifinals, and as 12 teams vie for the spots in next weekend’s Super Six, one thing remains missing – Mid-Ohio Valley participants. As the season winds down, it’s time to look at what 2009 held for the area’s teams and what may be in store for them by the time the calendar rolls around to August of next year. Of the 16 teams profiled below, 10 were postseason participants in their respective classes. One other finished with a winning season while another finished at .500. This, if nothing else, is a sign of the high quality of football seen in this region on a year-in, year-out basis. Each team will appear alphabetically in order of class (AAA first, then AA and A):

Parkersburg (Final Record: 6-5) – In college football, a 6-5 record makes a team bowl eligible for a third-tier bowl. However, this is high school football we’re speaking of, and for Bernie Buttrey’s Big Reds, 6-5 means a first round playoff loss like Parkersburg suffered recently to the Bridgeport Indians. While the Big Reds were glad to be back in the postseason after a one-year absence, their “one-and-done” appearance is surely heartbreaking for fans that were excited to see such a talented team coming together like this year’s ballclub. Quarterback Derek Wenzel and wide receiver Stephen Roush were both seniors, and Allan Wasonga – an all-state running back at Point Pleasant as a sophomore – had transferred to PHS for his junior year. Buttrey will first need to replace both his quarterback and top receiver. Then he’ll need to make sure he keeps Wasonga in the fold for 2010, because there have been whispers that the junior tailback is looking toward a prep school for his senior year to help increase his burgeoning status as a top Division 1 recruit. Already pursued by high-profile programs, Wasonga could be the key to a successful 2010 if Buttrey keeps him around and integrates him even more into his offense. Much remains to be seen about what will happen for the Big Reds and this offseason should be an interesting one, at the very least.

Parkersburg South (Final Record: 7-4) – After dropping three straight games to open the season – all contests in which the Patriots held fourth quarter leads – Parkersburg South reeled off seven straight wins until a first round playoff loss to Fairmont Senior ended its campaign. Jon Bolen’s toughest task will be replacing senior quarterback Cody Swearingen, top running back Hunter Ferguson and top receiver Michael Molinari. Jeff Kidder will return for Bolen’s Southsiders and look for the senior-to-be to see his role increase in South’s offense next year. Although numbers were down for Parkersburg South this year – its roster boasted a very non-AAA like 36 players – look for year four of the Bolen era to be a continuation of Parkersburg South’s current rise. After a winless season in Bolen’s first year, two straight playoff appearances have restored the winning swagger to Parkersburg’s Southside.

Ripley (Final Record: 9-3) – For head coach Jimmy Frashier, the seventh year of his tenure at Ripley High School brought a long-anticipated breakthrough for the Vikings mentor. An 8-2 regular season brought Frashier’s first-ever playoff appearance as Ripley’s head coach. With 23 seniors, including quarterback Scotty Ullom and running backs Ronnie Mullins, Seth Hamrick, Zach Milhoan and Adam Rutter, the 2009 Vikings were a run-first, pass-second team. The lone remaining member of the backfield returning next year will be running back David Hicks, who will be a junior for the 2010 season. Frashier will have to fill the requisite holes for a coach losing 23 players but a two-week playoff run gave him something else of value aside from two weeks of good memories – two extra weeks of practice for his underclassmen. These are valuable reps that will come in handy if Frashier is to duplicate his playoff feat from this season.

Point Pleasant (Final Record: 7-4) – Despite the loss of Allan Wasonga via transfer to Parkersburg High School, Point Pleasant went 7-3 in a regular season that saw big wins over playoff-bound teams like Williamstown and Ravenswood. A five-game winning streak propelled a Point Pleasant team that was led in the backfield by Wasonga’s replacement – Nathan Roberts, a speedy back that proved his worth as the heir apparent in the running game with his 354-yard effort against Poca in the middle of the season. Roberts, however, is a senior and will need to be replaced next year if another trip to the playoffs is in order. The upside is that Roberts was just one of 13 seniors that will depart from a roster laden with freshmen and sophomores.

Ravenswood (Final Record 9-3) – Perhaps no team is the area is as poised to have a big 2010 as Dick Sturm’s Ravenswood Red Devils. A team that won six straight to begin this season will return starting quarterback Cole Starcher, top receiver Bobby Rymer and lead running back Luke Corley – and all will be seniors next year. Known for a finesse attack, Ravenswood showed with its win in the opening round of the postseason against James Madison that it can compete with teams that may be a little more physical than the Red Devils. With two regular season losses by a combined deficit of 15 points, Ravenswood nearly came as close as possible to a perfect season in 2009 … and they just may have what it takes to finish that task next season so long as their skill players – particularly Starcher – can stay healthy. Starcher did not play in the Point Pleasant game and was injured during the Ripley contest, both losses for the Red Devils. Though the team is not built around one person, it’s certainly Starcher that makes Ravenswood’s offense go.

Ritchie County (Final Record 2-8) – Greg Holden’s Ritchie County Rebels were in trouble from the start, as an injury to quarterback Andy Lipscomb limited Holden’s plan to throw the ball more this season than in 2009. Lipscomb, however, has played his last game as a Rebel, and the cannon-armed signal-caller will provide some pretty big shoes for Holden and his staff to fill for next year. The Rebels will also lose tailback Chris Echard, a key playmaker out of the backfield, and fullback Brian Tingler, a sizeable bruiser with unassuming speed. Between these two backs, Ritchie County will look to replace the source of much of their rushing attack from this season. A lot of the bulk will be picked up by Reno Jackson, a scatback that returns next year for his junior season. In addition to inheriting the title of “Area’s Coolest Name” from Magnolia’s Stingray Bates, Jackson will see his workload increase as the Rebels look to break in a new quarterback in 2010.

Roane County (Final Record: 6-5) – Three games into this season, 2009 had to be looking a lot like 2008 for Tom Hardman and his Roane County Raiders. 2008 started with four straight losses for a team that eventually finished with a 4-6 record, but with hard work and determination, the Raiders buckled down despite a rough start and the adversity caused by the suicide of the team’s popular trainer to win six of seven games and earn a berth in the postseason. Hardman will be looking for a replacement under center for quarterback Rhett Atkinson, who guided this year’s team with a steady hand. Running back Nathan Reynolds, a bright spot this year with over 800 yards, returns next year as a junior and will see his role increase for the Raiders – likely candidates to duplicate this year’s playoff appearance so long as the quarterback situation falls into place. The latter is easier said than done, but if the Raiders proved one thing in 2009 it’s that they aren’t afraid to stand tall in the face of any challenge that comes their way – on or off the field.

Tyler Consolidated (Final Record: 5-5) – After missing the playoffs for the second straight season, Rob Caldwell’s club will have the difficult task of replacing top playmaker Nate Taylor. With 27 touchdowns and over 1,700 rushing yards, Tyler Consolidated will need someone (or a couple someones) to step up and fill the void created by Taylor’s graduation on offense. Perhaps the best candidate is Isaac Graham, who saw most of his time as the fullback for the Silver Knights this year. A slightly bigger back than the smaller, shiftier Taylor, Graham possesses speed that is almost on par with the lightning-fast Taylor and should be more than capable to dot the “I” for the Silver Knights on offense in 2010. Tyler Consolidated also returns quarterback Jordan Smith for his senior year and third year as the starter at his position. With top receiver Brody Northcraft graduating this year, look for Smith to find Corey Lowe early and often next season. Like this year, the Silver Knights should once again face a tough schedule in 2010. However, if Tyler Consolidated’s defense jells early and they can pull an upset against a team they aren’t supposed to beat (on paper), then the playoffs could easily be in the cards for Caldwell’s team in 2010.

Calhoun County (Final Record: 6-4) – A last-second touchdown in a 14-12 Week 11 win over St. Marys wasn’t enough to boost Doyle Hupp’s Red Devils into the playoffs, leaving Calhoun County as the area’s sole 6-4 team to be left on the outside looking into the playoffs. The biggest adversity in the 2009 Red Devils campaign was the injury issues suffered by Randy Fluharty, the senior tailback who was limited ability-wise for much of the middle of the season. Senior quarterback Zach Moore tried mightily to overcome and lift his ballclub to the postseason to no avail. Now Hupp and his staff are pressed to find replacements for both. Fluharty’s brother Darrenger spent time this season as Calhoun’s fullback and look for him to step in for big brother next year as a junior. As is the custom, Calhoun will likely contend once again in Class A so long as it can stay healthy.

Doddridge County (Final Record: 3-7) – Things haven’t been so rosy for Doddridge County head coach Dan McConnell in the past few years. With just four wins in the last two seasons and a playoff drought that dates back to 2003, the Bulldogs continued their recent struggles this season. This year, they’ll graduate all-Little Kanawha Conference defensive back Zach Holden and quarterback Curtis Anderson. While it’s never easy to replace a quarterback, the Bulldogs have a solid foundation up front. They’ll lose just one senior on their offensive line as this year’s unit saw a pair of juniors and a pair of sophomores earn starting nods. That should serve as a solid foundation for a running game that features Justin Heflin returning for another season to lead the ground game. If McConnell can find a suitable quarterback, and if the secondary can weather the loss of Holden, then Doddridge County stands a solid chance of duplicating this year’s three-win campaign, at the very least.

Paden City (Final Record: 4-6) – For Brent Croasmun’s Wildcats, the loss of five seniors from this year’s team is a huge deal, considering that his roster in 2009 numbered just 18 players. Most importantly though, it’s who he’ll be replacing that’s the big deal for Croasmun. Quarterback Malakai Anderson, linemen Michael Greathouse and Silas Davis, running back/wide receiver Josh Bennett and wide receiver Mitchell Stewart all provided huge contributions to the Wildcats and all will be gone in 2010. Paden City’s best returning athlete is running back Taylor Still, who missed three games this season with an injury. No matter who fills the quarterback position – and finding a quarterback is priority number one for Croasmun – Still will be the playmaker in the Wildcats offense. Tough times persist for the Wildcats on and off the field though, as Wetzel County’s school board has recommended the closure of Paden City High School by 2012 as a cost-cutting measure – a move that the residents of Paden City are fighting with every fiber of its being. Much remains to be seen in the upcoming offseason about how long there will continue to be a Wildcats team and a Paden City High School, on top of who’ll wear the Green and White into battle next year.

Parkersburg Catholic (Final Record: 7-4) – Danny Tennant’s Crusaders reached the playoffs for the second straight year following a one year absence, giving second-seeded Man a tough fight before dropping a five-point contest to the Hillbillies in the opening round of the postseason. Parkersburg Catholic started the campaign as hot as a white dwarf, winning their first five games, before dropping three of their last five in a supernova-like finish to the season. That can be attributed in large part to injuries on the offensive line and key mistakes late in close games in the second half of the season. The bad news in the offseason is that Tennant will be replacing quarterback Jason Williams, a four-year starter at the position, and leading receiver Cole Cwynar. The good news is that powerful running back Jake Brunoni returns next year for his senior season. Brunoni has proven to be the type of workhorse back that should dominate the area in his final year next season. Tennant may be looking for a “game manager” type of quarterback to replace Williams, which could set Brunoni up for a monster campaign next year.

St. Marys (Final Record: 2-8) – 2009 represented a step backward for the Blue Devils on the field, as injuries riddled Jodi Mote’s squad early and often. After winning their first two games, the Blue Devils – a semifinal round participant a year ago – stumbled to lose their last eight contests to finish the season. The turning point came in the second game of the year – a 33-27 victory against Wirt County. The Devils won the battle, but lost the war that night as two starters were hurt, beginning a long string of season-ending injuries. One of those week two injuries was a broken collarbone suffered by quarterback K.D. Arnett. If he can stay healthy, Arnett should be available for the 2010 campaign – his junior year. By all accounts, he can be the difference maker if the Blue Devils can protect him in the pocket and keep him disciplined enough to know how much he needs to take care of himself. Running backs C.D. Cox and Logan Bowie also missed time with injuries this year – both of whom will be seniors in 2010. The good news as St. Marys looks ahead to next year? The Blue Devils lose just six seniors from this year’s team. Also, St. Marys will return top receiver Dylan Brizendine next year and with a steady, reliable quarterback in place, Brizendine should have no trouble regaining previous form after seeing time himself under center for much of the season. And the only good thing to come out of a rash of injuries like the Devils suffered? They allowed several underclassmen to get valuable playing time at skill positions, such as running back Derek Renner and quarterback Andrew Cosper.

Wahama (Final Record: 8-3) – It seems as though year-in and year-out, Ed Cromley’s Wahama White Falcons get it done on the ground with one of the area’s fiercest ground attacks. This year was no different, as the running game propelled an offense that topped 30 points six times before a somewhat surprising loss to Fayetteville in the first round of the playoffs. The White Falcons will lose starting quarterback William Zuspan and wingback Micaiah Branch to graduation, among others, but the good news for Wahama fans is that the graduations losses are at a minimum this season. Just seven seniors leave a program heavily dotted with sophomores. The White Falcons never seem to have trouble finding athletes who are able to run the football successfully, and if Cromley and staff can find the right pilot for the offense, 2010 could be a fun year to watch Wahama football. And with all those sophomores in the fold, you might add 2011 to that list as well, so long as the depth proves to be quality depth.

Williamstown (Final Record: 9-3) – After a tough 28-14 loss in the state quarterfinals to Wheeling Central, the Williamstown Yellowjackets and head coach Terry Smith already have their eyes on improvement in 2010. For Smith, it’s never a matter of rebuilding at Williamstown as much as it is a case of reloading. Unfortunately for him, the veteran Yellowjackets mentor will have quite a bit of that to do next year after losing quarterback Adam Kerns and top running backs Joe Palm and Matt Hendrickson to graduation. Although these are just three of the 15 seniors Smith will have to replace, they – along with the senior-laden offensive line – will be among the toughest holes to fill. One returnee is Lane Knost, who was Kerns’ top receiving target this year. Knost was both a receiver and the backup quarterback for Kerns, so it remains to be seen where he’ll spend his 2010. If there’s one thing the 2008 state champions do well, it’s find a way to reload with what’s in the cupboard and Yellowjacket fans can rest assured that the cupboard is far from bare in Williamstown.

Wirt County (Final Record: 9-3) – For the first time in 15 years, the Wirt County Tigers qualified for a spot in the Class A playoffs. With strong-armed quarterback Jake Hutchinson finding favorite target Zach Cheuvront (a hard-hitter on defense, as well), the Tigers had a passing attack better than most seen at the small-school level. A strong running attack gave Wirt County its most balanced offense in years. Trouble is that all of the aforementioned Tigers will graduate this year, leaving some holes for head coach Jason Hickman to fill in his fourth season next year. Hickman will benefit from the return of Dalton Brindo, a top receiver that will be a junior in 2010. Although Hickman’s 15 seniors were a huge part in his team’s run to the second round of the playoffs this year, they’ll be tough to replace if Wirt’s grid boss wishes to duplicate his success next season.