Countdown to Kickoff (Edition 50): Highlanders hunting for state title in 2025
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WCHS) — Huntington High School’s football program was knocking on the door of a state championship last year. In 2025, the Highlanders’ mission is to compete for a title.
After losing to Martinsburg by a big margin during the regular season, Huntington fell by just one to the Bulldogs in that Final Four matchup.
"That one last year, No. 1, I was proud of our kids," head coach Billy Seals said. "I thought we played really well in the semifinals at Martinsburg. Coach Dave Walker told me after the game that it was the best game that had been played there in 20 years. It was a heavyweight fight.”
Seals wants to see his squad carry that momentum into 2025.
"It was a tremendous game with two great programs,” he said. “That's what semifinal games are supposed to look like. Unfortunately, we came up a point short there but I was proud of our effort and the continued progress we made throughout the year”
Martinsburg went on to win the state title in the first year for the Quad-A class.
Billy Seals' latest team features Clemson commit Taevyon Wilson at quarterback.
“He’s one of the best kids I've ever coached as far as a human being,” Seals said. “He’s very intelligent, 4.56 student in school who could be All-State in whatever sport he played. He’s probably the best all-around athlete I've ever coached and has continued to get better in football and understanding the game. Obviously, a little bit of a position change for him early in the year here with him going to play some quarterback but he's taken it in stride and just continued to get better every day."
The Highlanders are rock-solid up front.
"I think we may be as good as we've ever been up front,” Seals said. “Mason Ramsey, a Marshall commit, is back at left tackle. Aaron McPherson is a three-year starter at right guard for us. Caleb Parleer, a kid that came to us last year will be our starting right tackle. He's as good as anybody out on the field. Center is up for grabs."
Being so close last year for this annual contender has everyone hungry to not only play for it all, but win it all.
"It's a credit to our kids to still be really hungry and really involved in November,” Seals added. “Our expectations are to play for state championships here."
Huntington opens the season in Winchester, Kentucky Friday against Oakland, Tennessee.
