By KYLE LUTZ

For The Times Leader

NEW MARTINSVILLE — Being a Magnolia alum himself, Coach Dave Chapman knows all about the tradition, which dictates expectations being high. Taking over the reins as head coach a year after the Blue Eagles won the state championship, Chapman has a nice group of guys coming back, mostly at the skill positions. He is going to rely heavy on them to be the leaders of the team.

“In coaching, there are not too many times in your coaching career you get a chance to win that last game,” Chapman said. “That’s an ultimate to your season in winning that last game. Last year was a special year. The core of guys that are coming back, mainly the skill kids, who played well in that game.”

Nick Priem, the guy under center will be back as a three-year starter. The senior accumulated 1,418 yards and 15 touchdowns in Magnolia’s state championship season.

The other returnees that Chapman is going to look at as major leaders of the team are Chase Street, Brooks Parsons and Peau Halahingano.

Street will be seeing more of the football this year, even though he garnered 1,687 yards and 19 touchdowns last year, including four in the final game of the season. He spilt time in the backfield with Tyler Anderson who graduated.

Parsons had two touchdowns last season at running back on 274 yards and saw time at receiver. He had 14 catches for 433 yards and two scores. Halahingano hauled in a half-back pass for a score and also sniffed out a pick six in the state championship game.

The four have really taken their roles to heart as they been working together all off season getting prepared for the season.

“What I like about these guys is that they are great friends, they worked out all summer and got together on the field,” Chapman said. “They did the throwing, the route running, pass catching. It shows out here now. We are a little bit a head in that aspect of the game because of the commitment they made in the offseason. We’re counting heavy on those guys. It’s no secret and we told them that.”

Things are going to be looking different on the line for the Blue Eagles as they will be looking at replacing every single position as the whole line last year were seniors. The Magnolia coaching staff will be looking at three freshmen, Jared and Jakob Barrows along with Mikey Hamrick.

On the defensive side, junior Myles Hostetler is the lone returner on the line. The other linemen will possibly be the Barrows boys and Hamrick along with Klug.

Street will play outside linebacker. Halahingano and Priem will see time at safety and Dylan Conner will play corner.

After taking a season off from football to concentrate on wrestling, senior Caleb Nice will be back in the fold at linebacker. Nice, an-all state wrestler, was a starter as a sophomore and will give the defense a boost. Junior Hunter Partridge will be next to Nice at inside backer.

On special teams, Patrick Mirandy will be the kicker while Parsons will see also be the punter.

Chapman also feels that he is going to be able to play 16-20 guys on Friday nights.