MASON, W.Va. — With an offense that averaged a shade under 55 points per game, Wahama posted their second consecutive perfect regular season last fall. The White Falcons were knocked off in a thrilling quarterfinal game at Greenbrier West, 22-20. The Cavaliers went on to play in the state championship game. The core of the Wahama roster returns and the Falcons are early favorites in the reconfigured Class A.
“This group was a special group in junior high. We knew we had some playmakers coming up through the junior high,” said Wahama offensive coordinator Scott Johnson. “They have done a really good job these last few years in getting us back to the playoffs. That’s where we wanted to be. We think we can play with some of the best teams in the state.”
“You just see in their eyes they really want to work,” said Wahama senior lineman Kendall Mills. “Especially in our freshman season, having a 5-5 season, we just wanted to work and get another 10-0 season.”
A small but significant senior class has moved on, leaving the White Falcons in search of a new starting quarterback. Sawyer VanMatre was the team’s leading passer and rusher and he accounted for 43 touchdowns.
“Wyatt Harris and Trace Simpkins have been working really hard to fill that quarterback position,” Johnson said. “Both guys are going to factor in pretty heavily to our offense this year. Both will be ready to go when we make that decision of who it is going to be.”
Wahama’s second and third leading rushers are back. Senior Dillian Fields rushed for 836 yards and 8 touchdowns. Fellow senior Connor Lambert scored 22 rushing touchdowns and he averaged 13.4 yards per carry in a season that saw him rush for 1,327 yards.
“He is a natural runner,” Johnson said. “He has very, very good football sense. He knows when to make a cut and he can turn on the jets when it is necessary.”
“His elusiveness, and he is not afraid to actually run through people. He is pretty physical. Trust me. I know that,” Mills said.
The line in front of Lambert returns largely intact and it is a group led in part by Mills.
“We pretty much have everybody back on the offensive line plus our tight end,” Johnson said. “We were pretty young last year there. We have I think three seniors and about three juniors coming back to fill those six spots.”
With a 22-2 record over the last two seasons, expectations continue to rise in the hopes of reaching the state championship game for the first time since 2012.
“It really sets up for our senior season and our last year to finish it off after going 10-0 and losing in the quarterfinals,” Lambert said. “This year, we are definitely going for it all. We’re not going to hold back in our senior year. We’ve got nothing to lose.”