Glenville State voted 9th in MEC Coaches Poll

BRIDGEPORT -- Notre Dame College and Frostburg State, which shared top honors in the Mountain East Conference following the 2021 campaign, were selected by league coaches as the top two programs to beat in the annual preseason poll.

NDC first-year head coach Garrett Mack's program received 10 first-place votes and finished with 119 points. New head man Eric Wagoner at Frostburg State was given the other two nods as the top team and amassed 108 points.

"We didn't achieve everything we wanted to achieve last year," admitted Mack, who will try and lead NDC to a fifth straight MEC title. "We have a lot of returners back and it's nice to have senior leadership and upperclassmen leading the way.

"What's done in the past is the past. At the end of the day history is cool, but we are focusing on the now. We're going to play fast and physical."

Wagoner admitted everything is going well and that "we are trying to get ourselves better as camp is going on. Some new schematics are going in.

"Guys are upbeat and excited to be back at football. Just working to get ourselves ready for that first game and the gauntlet of games that follow."

Charleston, which is now led by former assistant and 2011 UC grad Quinn Sanders, has its fourth head coach in school history.

"We have really special goals in mind for the season," admitted Sanders, whose team was picked third and had 99 points to finish just ahead of UNC Pembroke's 93.

"I've got kids who are hungry and humble. I think we are in line to do something special this year. The big thing with me I'm a real high energy guy. This place is a very special place in my heart."

The Golden Eagles are set to break in a new signal-caller who will have the luxury of an experienced offensive line.

"I just got Andrew Luck out of retirement," quipped Sanders. "He'll be here. I've kind of been in the business of one-and-done quarterbacks. I don't want it to be the norm, but I think I got a great group of quarterbacks."

The Braves of ninth-year head man Shane Richardson return veteran signal-caller Josh Jones.

"Guys are really excited and we return some really good players," Richardson said. "I think our team chemistry is something I'm really excited about as well. If you have a quarterback you feel good about you give yourself a chance to win and I think that's where we are at.

"Josh is a fifth-year starter coming up. It's kind of odd to say that, but he was afforded that opportunity. I think we have a team that's very hungry to bounce back from last year. We had some close ones where we felt we had a chance to win. We're looking forward to getting over the hump."

The battle for the fifth and sixth spots had W.Va. State (74) edging out Fairmont State (73).

Sixth-year Yellow Jacket boss John Pennington expressed "every year we get these polls out and they don't really do a whole lot for us as coaches.

"I think our outlook is that we are going to be competitive. We compete every day in practice."

As for the Fighting Falcons of 10th-year head coach Jason Woodman, Fairmont State returns a baker's dozen starters including seven on defense.

"Our outlook and attitude has been really positive," said the coach, who had the MEC Freshman of the Year on both offense (Mike Floria) and defense (Brocton Blair).

"We have a lot of unanswered questions right now. We're just waiting to see what happens when we get them under the lights."

The seven through nine positions for the MEC preseason poll went to Concord (54), Wheeling (52) and Glenville State (49).

Despite being in his third year at the helm of the Mountain Lions, head coach Dave Walker admitted "it feels like I'm still in my rookie campaign with all the stuff we've had to deal with.

"Last year I felt we were competitive and ended the season on a high note with something to build on. There's a lot of positive optimism and a lot of guys who have worked hard."

Zac Bruney, the head man at Wheeling, is hoping to take a few strides as the program is now in its fifth year.

"We are in that phase where it's time to take the next step," Bruney said. "We have some veteran guys now.

"We're in a typical camp grind right now. The conference from top to bottom is very strong."

Fourth-year Pioneer head coach Mike Kellar expressed "I really like this team. Now, I feel like I got a young veteran team."

The G-men return three first team all-MEC players in defensive back Brandon Penn, linebacker Seth Arnold and punter Avery Book. Running back Alfred Menjor was a second team pick while kicker Josh Jones and DB Shaun Sterling Jr. were all-MEC honorable mention selections.

"For the first time since I've been here we look like a college football team," Kellar added.

Rounding out the MEC preseason poll was West Liberty in 10th with 39 points followed by Alderson Broaddus (21) and W.Va. Wesleyan (11).

"Most important thing on the offensive side we got (running back) Quincy Wimbush back who tore his Achilles last year," said coach Waialae, who is entering his 18th season. "Tyler Moler had a great season for us."

Waialae said Moler left spring camp as the No. 3/4 tailback and due to injuries "we had a running back by committee. He still played extremely well and he's gotten better. We got great quality depth at running back."

The Hilltoppers also have to replace six starters on defense.

"We're hoping to get him back," Waialae said of Trevor Hoosier, who was injured about halfway through last year. "He probably won't be cleared until the middle of September."

Travis Everhart, now in year three with the Battlers, said they had 85 incoming freshmen.

"We do have some experience for once since I've been here," said the coach, who has six returning starters. "I'm glad they picked us 11th.

"We're not an 11th place ball club. We got a lot to prove this year. It's going to serve as motivation for our kids."

Bobcat head man Dwayne Martin also is looking for better things this fall in his second year leading Wesleyan.

"Our O-line comes back pretty strong. We are going to lean on the O-line and (tailback) Javian Tomlinson is a guy we think can carry the load for us," Martin said.

"Defensively, we feel like our linebacking corps coming back will be our strongest area. We have to stay healthy on the D-line."

Contact Jay Bennett at jbennett@newsandsentinel.com