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Park Continued from Page 103 just put big out there ... we want to be athletic.’’ To that end, you have to like what the Patriots have at tight end. Junior Chalmer Moffett burst onto the scene last season and ended up as a terror from his defensive end spot. But he’s forced Daugherty and company to use the tight end, something they haven’t done in a while. “We haven’t for three years because I think tight end is the toughest thing to find,’’ Daugherty said. “I think we have a true tight end in Chalmer Moffett that is going to play Saturday football. We’ve got to find a second tight end to go with him.’’ Sophomore Davion Cooper and seniors Jordan McCormick and Dustin McAdams were vying for that opportunity in preseason. They’re hoping to
pave the way for an explosive set of skill players that were a bit banged up in the preseason. Bryce Ingram, a second team all-state utility selection who ran for more than 1,200 yards a season ago is back for his senior season, but was nursing a nagging injury. Joining him on the sideline early on was first-team linebacker Geremy Paige, who is another senior that will double as one of the team’s fullback options. He’ll share blocking duties with junior Theo Blackston to give the Patriots a dominating tandem. “Geremy’s something special. He’s strong and explosive and finished the season out at 196 (pounds), but he weighs 218,” Daugherty said. “He squatted 560 in the summer, so
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he’s a different animal than he was last year. Shepherd’s already offered him a full ride. ‘‘I’m hoping that someone in the MAC comes along and says they don’t care that he’s 5-11, 6-foot.’’ Blackston really came on as a sophomore and has the look of an all-state player. The 1991 connections continue in the form of sophomore running back Savion Johnson. He’s the son of former Patriots standout back Daryl ‘Boogie’ Johnson, now a coach with the team. Savion Johnson can play either tailback or fullback. The returner at quarterback is a good one in senior Zach Phillips. A first-time starter a season ago, Phillips completed 59 percent of his passes for more than 1,200 yards, and even
bigger things are expected this time around. “He’s been able to do some things that we really have never asked our quarterbacks here to do,’’ Daugherty said. “If we were going to throw a 15-yard out we were going to move our quarterback. I can leave him in the pocket and he can get that ball out there and it makes it nice calling plays. “He’s the one kid that if we have an injury, and not to say Killian Coyne couldn’t do it, but he’s the one kid we can’t afford to lose.’’ One surprise could be the running ability Phillips possesses. Even though he wasn’t asked to do it much a season ago, that won’t be the case this season. “A lot of colleges are looking at him because he can run and move in
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the pocket,’’ Daugherty said. At receiver, the focal point will again be diminutive second team All-West Virginia standout Eric Banks, a senior coming off a season in which he hauled in better than 30 passes for more than 500 yards, despite not having a great grasp on the position. The rest of the receiving chores will be left up to a committee that includes Josh Angalich, Michael Grove, Nick Vargo and Elijah Bell, the younger brother of former Park multi-sport stars Richard Hall and Vondel Bell. Wheeling Park will change to a 50 defense this season in an attempt to make teams throw the football. The size up front, though Daugherty said he isn’t sure exactly who will patrol the area, will aid this task tremendously. Big Gary Hagan, at 340 pounds, will platoon at nose tackle with McCave. Hackathorn will see some time at end, as will Moffett. Other than those four, positions were up for grabs late into the preseason. The availability of sophomore Isaiah Myers was also still in question following a lawnmower accident. Paige and Blackston will be the inside linebackers, with Savion Johnson and Max Steinman capable of providing a rare breather now and then. CJ Pelky has a chance to play what the Patriots call their ‘Badger,’ which is a safe-
ty/linebacker hybrid position. He could see time there, as could Savion Johnson and Niko Kefauver. Plenty of people could see time in the secondary, all dependent on the situation. Those probably seeing playing time are Ingram, Banks, Grove, Bell and junior Nick Vargo. The kicking game is in the capable hands (foot) of senior Liam Casey, who came on strong as last season progressed. Chase Adams was challenging for the punting duties. It’s no surprise that Banks will handle the majority of the return chores. But Grove will be used in certain instances. Coming off two straight postseason appearances, the goals have changed at Park. “Making the playoffs is now not that special,’’ Daugherty said. “We want to host a game and it’s one of the things we have talked about. I think these kids know that and our coaching staff knows that.’’ Assisting Daugherty are Drew Beihl, Chris Dunaway, Shane Glass, Tim Ickes, Johnson, Rick Marsh, Keith Phillips, Bob Pyle, Andy Seals, Joey Subasic, Jack Doyle and Doug Boyd.
(Games at 7 p.m. unless noted) Aug. 30: Keyser Sept. 6: at Bridgeport, 7:30 p.m. Sept. 20: University Sept. 27: Brooke Oct. 4: East Liverpool Oct. 11: at Morgantown, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 18: Elkins Oct. 25: Steubenville Nov. 1: Parkersburg South Nov. 8: at John Marshall, 7:30 p.m.