West Ridge looking for consistency, return trip to playoffs

It's been a while, but coach Justin Hilton might be relying on a two-quarterback system this fall.Of course, the last time his team took that approach, West Ridge went 9-3 and advanced to the second round of the 6A playoffs.But after three years of directing the West Ridge offense, Trey Frazier has graduated and taken his talents to Tusculum's football program.Isaac McGee backed up Frazier a year ago, attempting just five passes but rushing for two touchdowns. Now a junior, McGee and sophomore Justice Hilton take center stage in Blountville — Hilton having one rushing touchdown to his name last year. It's far from the first time they've been in competition with each other, even dating back to middle school and junior varsity, but there's no tension between the two."Both of them know they're going to play somewhere whether they're at quarterback or not, so we'll have to get them on the field," Justin Hilton said. "But they've approached it as trying to help each other push each other. When the decision is made, I know they'll support each other."RELIABLE OPTIONSWhoever is at quarterback, West Ridge returns its top receiver and second-leading rusher behind Frazier for the 2025 season — seniors Kaleb Mabb and Ethan Amyx.Mabb tallied seven touchdowns and 497 yards on 25 catches last fall, Amyx rushing for 581 yards and seven touchdowns on 103 attempts while never fumbling."Feels like (Amyx) has been here forever, doesn't it," Coach Hilton said. "Ethan benches 340, squats a ton, you look at him and he fits the bill."He needs to be the first once off the bus. He's been carrying since was a sophomore."Junior running back Brody Fields averaged 4.2 yards per carry in 2024 while rushing for two scores of his own.Aside from Mabb, juniors Jackson Price and Braelyn Vance return to the Wolves' receiving corps alongside sophomore Braiden Lawson. Price caught nine passes for 138 yards and two TDs last year.TWO-WAY CONTRIBUTORSMabb contributed in every phase of the game as a junior, intercepting two passes and recovering a fumble while making 22 tackles from his safety position, not to mention the two kickoffs he returned for touchdowns. Orlando Mack, a 6-3, 185-pound sophomore is projected to man West Ridge's other safety slot."Kaleb's not a heavy set kid but he can run a little bit," Hilton said. "He's got the skill set you need to get the ball in space."On the contrary, it'll be cornerback by committee for the wolves. Jackson Walsh and Fields are currently the frontrunners with Dayton Brown, Price and Lawson also in the mix.All-Conference linebacker Sam Perry, who recorded a team-high 88 tackles with eight for loss and a sack, is back for his senior year. Hayden Musick and Nathan Arnold will line up at outside linebacker, Musick having led West Ridge with his 15 TFL and three sacks while totaling 69 stops. Arnold made seven stops behind the line himself. Ronnie Smith and Cal Tatum are also expected to contribute, as is sophomore and former long snapper Jace Arwood.LINE GROWING UP FASTWhile the Wolves did graduate former All-State lineman Trent Tatum, three of the starters around him last fall were underclassmen. Seniors Ethan Iacino, Morgan Thornton and Tanner Mims will help anchor West Ridge's front this year, aided by juniors Cal Tatum and Kingston McConnell. Thornton and Iacino are expected to line up at tackle, with Tatum and Mims at guard next to McConnell at center.Mims is the most likely to contribute on the defensive line as well, with Cayden Duke and Leron Smith also in the mix.On special teams, Hilton has never encountered his current situation — a different player to punt, kick off and kick field goals. Vance is expected to punt, with Evan Maness handling kickoff duties. Samuel Burress, a senior with previous soccer experience in Barcelona, will serve as the Wolves' field goal kicker for 2025.No. Name Pos. Class0 Orlando Mack RB/DB So.1 Ethan Amyx RB/LB Sr.2 Justice Hilton QB/DB So.3 Jackson Walsh WR/DB Jr.4 Brody Fields RB/LB Jr.5 Jackson Price WR/DB Jr.6 Isaac McGee QB/DB Jr.7 Zach Morelock QB/DB Fr.8 Braiden Lawson WR/DB So.9 Braelyn Vance QB/DB Jr.10 Kaleb Mabb QB/DB Sr.11 Jace Arwood WR/LB So.12 Goliath Arp WR/DB Sr.13 Dayton Brown WR/DB Jr.14 Connor Jones WR/DB Jr.15 Jacob Bledsoe RB/LB Sr.16 Braylen Funderburg WR/DB Sr.17 Jax Brown RB/LB Jr.18 Logan Thompson RB/LB Jr.20 Grayson Ferguson RB/LB Jr.21 Malik Mack WR/DB So.22 Landon Parker RB/LB Fr.23 Riner Hayes RB/LB Fr.24 Cayden Hensley WR/DB So.25 Carter Hobbs K Sr.26 Maddox Harris WR/DB Fr.27 Jackson Kelley WR/DB Fr.28 Jolan Harvey QB/DB Fr.29 Samuel Burress K Sr.30 Logan Grimm WR/DB Fr.31 Sam Bittinger WR/LB Jr.32 Geminiah Algarin RB/DB Fr.33 Nash Dishner RB/LB Fr.34 Maddox Johnson RB/LB Fr.35 Luke Moody RB/LB So.36 Riley Quiggle WR/DE Fr.37 Nate Rhoton WR/LB So.38 Chris Baldwin RB/LB Fr.40 Cameron Owens RB/LB Fr.41 Jackson Saults WR/LB Fr.42 Evan Maness WR/DB Sr.43 Hayden Musick TE/DE Jr.44 John Doc Thornton RB/DE Fr.45 Sam Perry RB/LB Sr.48 Ethan Page OL/DL Fr.50 Cal Tatum OL/DL Jr.51 Peyton Martinez OL/DL Jr.52 Tanner Mims OL/DL Sr.53 Tyson Jones OL/DL So.54 Cole Denton OL/DL So.55 Nathan Arnold TE/DE Sr.56 Keithen Ashworth OL/DL Jr.57 Steve Winegar OL/DL So.59 Aaron Stanley OL/DL So.60 Ethan Iacino OL/DL Sr.61 Alex VanSant OL/DL Fr.62 Ethan Hicks OL/DL So.63 Kingston McConnell OL/DL Jr.64 Kallon McConnell OL/DL So.65 Bo Painter OL/DL Fr.66 Bentley Wells OL/DL Fr.67 Tanner Hobbs OL/DL Fr.68 Dalton Clark OL/DL So.69 Jeremiah King OL/DL Fr.70 Rylen Williams OL/DL So.71 Morgan Thornton OL/DL Sr.72 Victor Hite OL/DL Fr.73 Charlie Barger OL/DL Sr.74 Austin Fritz OL/DL Fr.75 Cooper Nelson OL/DE Fr.76 Trevor Frost OL/LB Fr.77 Cayden Duke OL/DL Sr.78 Hayden Cox OL/DE So.80 Brennen Egan WR/DB Jr.81 Wyatt Lawson WR/DB Fr.82 Josiah Johnson WR/DB Sr.84 Nathan Nelms RB/DB Fr.85 Caiden Brickey RB/DB Fr.86 Laron Smith OL/DL Sr.87 Tyler Shaffer RB/DB Fr.88 Braxton Hutchins WR/DB So.90 Matthew Hurd DL Fr.Head Coach: Justin HiltonAssistant Coaches: Nick Copas, Andrew Murray, Chase Arnold, Brian Barbour, Ryan Collier, Connor Copas, Mike Copas, Grant Cornett, Steve Dixon, Bryant Hill, Preston Partick, Mike Wampler, Greg Williams.