By Luke Wiggs, Panhandle News Network Sports
Martinsburg, W.Va- Playoff appearances in 7 of the last 8 seasons have made the FLEAT Applemen of Musselman one of the most respected high school football programs in the state.
That respect was earned and then some with an 8-4 2022 campaign highlighted by wins over Morgantown, Jefferson, and a rematch round 1 playoff victory over Wheeling Park.
Insanity in Inwood!! Hear all the key plays from @MuHSApplemen 36-33 win over #2 Morgantown.@CoachBThomas @MetroNewsPrep @BaydenHartman @Sheltonlogan9 @caleb_nutter @MallettKeonn @brayden_miller3 @FredPersinger #wvprepfb pic.twitter.com/3MgQv1y4t7
— Panhandle Sports Live! – Panhandle News Network (@EPSportsNetwork) September 24, 2022
The sequel is so much sweeter!! @MuHSApplemen gets the win in round 1 28-23 over WP! Listen to the highlights below!#wvprepfb @MetroNewsPrep @CoachBThomas @FredPersinger @BaydenHartman @Sheltonlogan9 @brayden_miller3 @Ray_Adames1 @McWiley21 @brettphillips_3 pic.twitter.com/v5ZTVMCDwP
— Panhandle Sports Live! – Panhandle News Network (@EPSportsNetwork) November 11, 2022
Turning the calendar to this upcoming season, the Applemen will test the theory that great teams don’t rebuild, they reload.
Musselman graduates several key contributors highlighted by 2,000 passing, 1,000 rushing yard quarterback Bayden Hartman, 1,000-yard receiver Ray Adames, and starting defensive tackles James Carmichael and Caleb Conley.
What the Applemen return in droves is quality depth at nearly every position both from returners and JV and freshman programs.
“Probably the best offensive line I’ve had since the covid year.” 11th-year head coach Brian Thomas said about returners Dennis Pike, Henry Settle, Trent Shade, Zavier Pollard, and Draven McKee. “And this group has the potential to be just as good.”
Replacing Bayden Hartman was always going to be a challenge, but transfer quarterback Eli Flemming has emerged as potentially the state’s most underrated signal caller.
Fleming comes from nearby Williamsport, Maryland where he helped lead a Bobcat football team to an 8-4 record last year.
“As a senior transfer he’s very mature.” Thomas said. “What’s good is he came in January not in June and had time to learn the playbook and learn about his teammates. I’ve had some people say he’s a true pocket passer, but he can pull it. He’s a big kid. I think he’ll have some big runs for us. He’s not the loudest guy in the world but he commands respect with his work ethic.”
Coach Thomas and Musselman may have to dust off an old playbook to best fit their new game manager.
“Probably not since Musselman legend Caleb Dembeck (senior 2013).” Thomas said about using a scheme to fit Flemming’s style of thrower. “In the high school level you get what you’ve had and over the years here at Musselman we’ve had different quarterbacks like Womack who got us to the state semifinals as an option guy, Blake (Hartman) who was a ground and pound guy, well now we have a quarterback who can sling it and depth at receiver.”
Fleming won’t be the only star power in south Berkeley this season, returning tight end and edge rusher Troy Woolaston is keen on having a dominant senior year and adding to his list of interested D1 schools.
“I think he can do a little bit of everything.” Thomas said. “In one of our scrimmages he had a slip screen and broke some tackles, then in another package he played tight end and slipped out well to the flat. He’s really aggressive, physical, and flexible.”
As previously mentioned, the loss of Adames to VMI will certainly affect the Appleman receiving room, but left behind is a mixture of new faces and veterans who each have a unique skill set.
“Logan (Shelton) is really sneaky, he really sees the open field, last year he had some big kick off returns for us.” Thomas said. “Isaiah Beard may be the fastest kid on our team, he was on our 4×100 state qualifying team, he has a quick first step. (Brayden) Miller is really savvy and sure handed, that’s kind of the baseball player in him.”
“Dalton Hanes is our #1 right now as a senior. We’re deep at running back.” Thomas said. “Blake Sanders was a really good player on our freshman team and scored a lot of touchdowns. Colton Shelton is another back that looked really good in our scrimmages. All three if they weren’t playing running back could also play receiver.”
The defensive line will feature Woolaston, Pike, Mckee, and Pollard playing both ways along with a pair of Appleman catchers from the baseball team: Trevor Dearstine and Taryn Boyles who stepped up in a major way late last season.
“When Troy got hurt last year he filled in for him.” Thomas said about Boyles. “He’s a high motor kid. Frankie Urias also looked really good on our JV team.”
“Braden Henderson has moved inside from defensive end for us, he’s started for us for multiple years.” Thomas said about his linebackers. “Colton Shelton plays really well around the ball and is tough to block. Anthony Cornell is moving great coming off of an injury, those 3 will all cycle in for us at linebacker.”
Musselman’s biggest loss on defense was in its secondary (losing 4 of 5 starters) but the Kelly green club believe their rising depth can plug those gaps as well.
“At safety we’re really deep. Miller and Shelton are both very trustworthy.” Thomas said. “We also have Zach Miller who will play both ways for us who’s really shifty.”
“Beard and Peyton Golladay will start at that position.” Thomas said about cornerback. “Peyton is really mature and has been with us for a while. While we lost a lot, depth wise, we are still solid in the secondary.”
Along with playing in the brutally tough EPAC conference, Musselman have an equally challenging non-conference slate of Handley (VA), Loudoun Valley (VA), Morgantown, Cabell Midland and Parkersburg. Their week 3 matchup on the road at Morgantown can be heard on the Panhandle News Network.