Tucker County football looks to make an even deeper playoff run in 2024

HAMBLETON, W.Va. (WBOY) — The Tucker County Mountain Lions are headed into the 2024 season after a successful campaign in 2022 and an even more successful one in 2023 where they went undefeated in the regular season and lost in the semifinals to Williamstown in the playoffs.

Following the loss, Tucker County’s coaches and players believe that the playoff experience that many athletes on the roster have will help them succeed this year.

“The past two years we’ve made good playoff runs and we’ve had good teams. Experience is really what we’ve been lacking but we’ve been there, we’ve done it and we’ve seen it. We know what to expect it’s our turn to go get it now,” senior left guard Marky Phillips said.

“It’s a good thing for the guys to have the experience so that if we are fortunate enough to get back there this year, we like to think the last two years when we’ve played four playoff games helps,” Head Coach AJ Rapp said. “They know the playoffs is where our goal is every year and that’s the one game you’ve got to win. You win that and you move on. You don’t, and you go home.”

The team has plenty of post-season experience, but they also lost many important senior pieces from last year’s team including all-state quarterback and four-year starter Ethan Rosenau as well as all-state senior receiver Maddox Anderson. The team thinks the offense is in good shape though, bringing back an experienced line and having two talented young quarterbacks compete for the starting spot.

“It’s going to be fun. Any time you can create that competition between guys, it’s a good thing when you do that,” said Rapp.

The older players are impressed by both of the guys behind center.

“They’re great. Their playmaking and their ability to read the field, it just everything. They’re just very good, both of them. I love both of them,” said senior center Gavin Nestor.

These younger players will be getting their first taste of Friday Night Lights this fall but the seniors who have had that Friday night experience are excited to get back on the field in front of their community for one final season.

“Man I love it. I love seeing the town out there. I love seeing the family, and the friends, and people you don’t even know. You go to the gas station and people say ‘hey good game Friday night.’ That’s awesome! It’s people I don’t even know. That’s just the best feeling ever in a small town,” said Phillips.

Tucker County’s season begins on Aug. 30 at home against Pocahontas County.

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