INWOOD, W.Va –The success of Musselman High School football can be traced back to a strong system of development put in place by head coach Brian Thomas.
Entering an uncertain 2024 season with limited returning experience, the Applemen will be leaning on that development system to produce players that are ready to step onto the varsity stage and make an impact right away.
“We’re young across the board but we also have experience. We have some seniors that have given us really good senior leadership,” Thomas said, “When you break that roster down it’s really a mix because you’ve got a handful of seniors that are key contributors. Our main ball carriers are all juniors and then you get into that sophomore class and that’s your biggest class.”
A hard-nosed approach to the game will see a return to the smashmouth style of football that saw Musselman compete with the best in the state just a few years ago. Thomas is counting on a group of running backs that he believes can establish the Appleman offense between the tackles.
“All the years that we’ve really had a lot of success since I’ve been here, we’ve been a run-first team.That’s some of my philosophy. I think you’ve got to be able to run the ball. You’ve got to be able to put the ball between the tackles and smashmouth it every once in a while,” he said.
Junior Zach Miller may be considered the de facto “quarterback” on the field but Thomas has a different name for the position Miller will line up in this fall: playmaker. The versatile Miller is among those the head coach is expecting to carry the ball extensively this season.
“Last year, he played quarterback for us some so we had a couple sets toward the end the of the year where we were putting him in and doing some ‘wildcat’ stuff but he still threw the ball a little bit,” Thomas said.
“He’s got a good arm. He’s got kind of a natural arm movement to him but he’s still a fullback-type of kid,” he added.
Leading the way up front is senior center Trent Shade, the only returning starter in that group this season. With as much varsity experience as nearly anyone on the roster, Shade brings a cerebral approach to the position that has impressed even Thomas.
“He’s making a lot of your calls. He’s making a lot of your changes. He’s the first guy to see the ‘backer coming,” he said, “Having a three-year starter there, he’s not just worried about ‘I’m blocking this guy.’ He’s worried about ‘we’ve got to do this and this and this.’”
On the defensive side of the ball, the Applemen can be expected to play to their strengths whenever possible. The always wily Thomas is already scheming up ways to get as many of his best players on the field at the same time, regardless of position.
“I’m a big believer and there’s a lot of coaches on are staff that are big believers in you’ve got to get your best eleven on the field so if our best eleven is, we’ve got to go to a dime package and if you’ve got to put six DBs on the field and that’s our best eleven then that’s what we’re going to do,” Thomas said.
Another hallmark of Musselman football across Thomas’s tenure is one of the strongest schedules in the state annually. The 2024 season is no different.
“We have one of the toughest schedules in the state again. Our EPAC schedule is as tough as it comes. Our out of conference schedule is Handley and Loudoun Valley, they were both playoff teams last year,” Thomas said.
“You’ve got Parkersburg who was a hair, just a play away from the state semis last year. Wheeling Park is one of the best coached teams every year. They are great. They are so fundamentally sound so they’re good year in and year out. We’ve seen them in the playoffs. We’ve played them before. It’s always a drag-out fight with them and then Cabell Midland. That’s the last one. Let’s not forget the number-one team in the state last year.” he added.
Musselman opens the 2024 campaign on August 30 on the road at John Handley (VA).
