Countdown to Kickoff (Edition 53): Tolsia relying on versatility for playoff run in 2025
FORT GAY, W.Va. (WCHS) — Wayne County-based Tolsia was a playoff team a year ago. At one point, the Rebels were at 6-2 before losing the final three games of the year, including a first-round Class A playoff game against Tug Valley.
Tolsia's 2024 had so much promise before pain stood in the way.
"We started last year with 40-some kids and ended up the season with about 16 with all the injuries and stuff and still made the playoffs," Tolsia head coach David Thompson said. "Our key this year is to stay healthy. I thought if we stayed healthy last year we would have made a deep run into the playoffs."
There are lofty expectations from those suiting up this season.
"We put in a lot of work in the offseason. The whole team did," said junior running back/safety Robert Evans. "I think we can go deep in the playoffs and possibly win a state championship."
Senior quarterback Dakota Blackburn said, "I think we've got a chip on our shoulder and look a lot better than we did last year. We're ready for whoever is on the other side of the line."
With low numbers, Thompson feels a key to success in 2025 will be versatility.
"We don't have a lot of kids out but we've got several kids that can play different places," he said. "We're pretty deep as far as that goes but we can't have too many injuries. Our kids play hard."
Tolsia fell in its season opener to Wayne last Friday. The Rebels will gun for that first win of the season this week at Sissonville.
