Wirt County football coach Jason Hickman enters his 17th season leading the Tigers following an 8-4 campaign and the program’s first playoff victory since 2010. The team returns key playmakers while navigating a roster transition under sophomore quarterback Luke Hickman as expectations rise in Elizabeth, West Virginia.
At Wirt County, momentum hit a milestone last November when the Tigers broke a long postseason drought. Wirt County collected their first playoff victory since 2010 by completely overturning the script against a division rival in the span of just seven days.
The turnaround followed a demoralizing 33-point loss to St. Marys in the regular season finale. Wirt County head coach Jason Hickman noted that their children felt they could do it and that their attitude was great. He added that they took that mindset and changed their uniform, altered the game time, and modified everything they possibly could to create a different feel compared to the previous week, noting that the kids simply bought in and executed really well.
That psychological shift translated directly to the field when the two teams met again just a week later in the postseason opener. The Tigers defeated the Blue Devils in their playoff opener, 27-14, securing a vital building block for a program hunting for sustained success.
Roster Turnover and the Sophomore Quarterback Taking Over
As the Tigers go in search of their fourth consecutive playoff appearance, head coach Jason Hickman faces the task of blending new starters with established veterans in the lineup. The most significant transition comes under center, where multi-year starter Tyler Smith is being replaced by sophomore Luke Hickman at quarterback.
Wirt County senior RB/LB Peyton Dye noted that Hickman was doing really well, explaining that he had a lot of major responsibilities on his plate as a young quarterback having to run the offense, yet he was performing a really good job.
The young signal-caller brings a deep familiarity with the playbook, having grown up around the program. Jason Hickman stated that he was his son, that he understood the program, that he understood the offense, and that he had known it since he was just a little guy. He added that the player knew where the ball needed to go, and although he was a sophomore who would make mistakes and experience growing pains, overall he was making the right decisions with the football.
Established Playmakers Returning on Offense
Fortunately for the young quarterback, the offense features proven weapons. Hickman’s top target on the outside looks to be sophomore Andrew Lemley. As a freshman last year, Lemley led the Tigers with 49 receptions for 739 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Hickman stated that he turned out to be one of their most dependable receivers as a freshman and had exceeded expectations. However, he added that the player now needed to handle that success the right way, continue to work, keep grinding, and continue to improve.
In the backfield, the Tigers also welcome back their leading rusher from last season. Adryon Hartford rushed for 891 yards and eight touchdowns as a sophomore. Coach Hickman emphasized a philosophy built around offensive balance, aiming to utilize both the pass and the run, noting that they wanted to continue trying to be a balanced football team by spreading people out, throwing the ball, and running the ball.
Hickman stated that when they managed to spread a defense out so that opponents had to cover the pass while also dealing with that 185 to 190 pound running back up the middle, that was essentially the style of play they wanted to maintain.
Defensive Leadership and Community Expectations
On the defensive side of the ball, senior Peyton Dye is one of the top veterans for the Tigers. He made 76 stops a year ago while leading the team with 13 tackles for loss.
Hickman stated that he was doing a great job on both sides of the ball, but emphasized that on the defensive side he was definitely one of their leaders, noting that if they had the technology and communication systems available, he would be wearing the green dot.