MORGANTOWN — Head coach Chris Simpson and the Trinity Christian are revving up their three-weeks football session this week.
“We’re very optimistic this year. Our schedule looks strong. We’ve got a lot of players back so I’ve had a lot of these guys now for two years, some three years, so we finally feel like, system wise, we are where we want to be and we’re ready to start pushing forward with the program,” he said.
Of the team’s 21-man roster, 14 are returning members, and Simpson is pleased and excited about his upcoming freshman class. Considering Trinity’s low student population, having such a high percentage of the school buy into the football program, now in its third year, is something Simpson believes will strengthen the team.
Entering his second year full-time with the program, Simpson has some games that stand out to him on the schedule this season, including a home and away series with Cameron and a game against Madonna, which the Warriors opened last season against.
“We want a little revenge back. We’re looking forward to matching up with [Madonna], they are a good team, well coached and we look to give them a better game this year,” Simpson said.
Simpson is not the only one who feels highly about his roster as some team members have received some preseason accolades, including upcoming juniors Levi Teets, who was awarded first team preseason Class A all-state safety by Coalfields, and preseason Class A all-state kicker Kyle Knight.
Teets also plays wide receiver on offense but has no preference on which side of the ball he stands on. The new members of the team excite him as much as the group returning from last season, but Teets and the receiving core has some work to do with new quarterback Jaylen Hill.
“I’m just trying to get a timing down with our new quarterback Jaylen Hill. All of our receivers have been trying to make it right so by the time we get into the season everything will be smooth and we’ll have no complications with having a new quarterback,” Teets said.
After the shortened season last year, Teets main excitement stems from the idea of certainty as the season’s schedule is set for a full 10-game slate.
“Last year we missed three games because of COVID. We would never know if next week would have a game or not because of the color code map. It’s a lot less stressful this year,” he said.
Simpson also mentioned the impact new transfer Jaiden Dobbs will have on the team this season from the backfield.
“I look for a stand out year from No. 42. Transfer issues last year messed him up from being able to play with us, but he’s coming in as a junior and should be a big difference maker for us at tailback this year,” Simpson said.
The Warriors will begin their season at home Aug. 27 against Hannah.
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