Joey Fields
By KYLE LOVERN
Sports Editor
The roster for the West Virginia squad has been released by head coach Joey Fields for the upcoming Cliffs Natural Resources Hatfield and McCoy Senior Bowl game that will be played at Buck Harless Stadium on the campus of Mingo Central High School. The game marks the opening of football season in the region and is scheduled for Saturday, July 28 at 7:30 p.m.
Several top-notch players will be competing in the game for the Mountain State squad.
Fields and his staff have put together a roster of several outstanding players from Mingo, Logan, Wayne, McDowell and Wyoming Counties. Some of those players also participated in the recent North-South All-Star game in Charleston.
“Both Thomas Belcher and John Toler from Chapmanville played in the North-South Game and I was very impressed by their performance,” Fields said. “They are two hard-nosed kids that can play for anyone. Caleb Belcher, Tyler Killen and Michael Watts are all good players who helped the Tigers’ to a very successful season.”
“Logan had the most talent they’ve had in years. Joe Street also played in the North-South game and after watching his performance, I am excited to see what he will do in the Senior Bowl,” Fields added. “The Wildcats also had some tough offensive linemen - Matt Southers, Tyler Nelson and Marc Morris, that all contributed to Logan’s play-off appearance.”
“Westside’s Thomas Forren, and twin brothers Dustin and Justin Tilley were solid players for the Renegades throughout their careers. All three of these guys can play any position on the field,” said Fields.
“I was able to watch Wayne’s Clay Haddix, Paden Thompson and Allen Bryant in this year’s Class AA State Championship game and was impressed with how hard Coach Harmon’s players compete for all four quarters. You couldn’t ask for three better players in a game like this,” Fields added.
“Shane Browning and Jimmy Duba of Man are two tough kids that I’ve enjoyed watching over the years. John Bailey and Leshon Benton of Riverview will be huge factors for us on both sides of the ball,” Fields said. “Brad Hardy, Cane McReynolds and Cody Stevens are three tough offensive linemen that will help us throughout the game.”
Fields was an assistant for Mingo Central Coach Yogi Kinder last season. Several players from the Miner’s first season will also wear the West Virginia jersey. They include Austin Reed, Jacob Staton, Corey Daniels, Alex Daniels, R.J. Collins, Austin Compton, Matt Wellman, Ashton Cline and Nick Lee. “These are players that I expect to contribute to our West Virginia team in all aspects. All have been fantastic players from their freshman to senior season. Staton, Reed, Daniels, and Collins are all very versatile on the field.”
“When Coach Kinder asked me to coach this year’s Senior Bowl, I was eager to be out on the field with my former Mingo Central players one last time. Ashton Cline, another player who participated in the North-South Game, is not only a great football player, but a great person,” he added.
“I am very excited to have the opportunity to coach the 2012 Hatfield & McCoy Senior Bowl. I have grown up around the Senior Bowl and it is an awesome feeling to have the chance to not only play in the game- but to be a coach as well,” Fields concluded. “I coach this game with a heavy heart, not only did I play in the Senior Bowl for Coach John Fry – but he was going to assist me in this year’s game. I plan on coaching this game with the same enthusiasm and passion that Coach Fry did. I am really looking forward to coaching these talented players from our area. I have coached against some of these players, and it feels good to have them on my team instead of having to prepare for them.”
Fields will be assisted by Hady Ford, Chase Moore, Josh Sammons, David Ledger, and Bryan Allen. His support staff will be Bob Hammond, Lyle Marcum and Rick Jackson.
“July 28th can’t come soon enough. With the roster I have at hand, along with our opponents from Kentucky, I am sure this will be a very entertaining game for the players and fans,” Fields added.
W.Va. Roster
Players School
Caleb Belcher Chapmanville
Thomas Belcher Chapmanville
Tyler Killen Chapmanville
John Toler Chapmanville
Michael Watts Chapmanville
Zach Ellis Logan
Marc Morris Logan
Tyler Nelson Logan
Matt Southers Logan
Joe Street II Logan
Shane Browning Man
Jimmy Duba Man
Ashton Cline Mingo Central
RJ Collins Mingo Central
Austin Compton Mingo Central
Alex Daniels Mingo Central
Corey Daniels Mingo Central
Nick Lee Mingo Central
Austin Reed Mingo Central
Jacob Staton Mingo Central
Matt Wellman Mingo Central
John Bailey Riverview
Leshon Benton Riverview
Brad Hardy Riverview
Kane McReynolds Riverview
Cody Stevens Riverview
Allen Bryant Wayne
Clay Haddix Wayne
Paden Thompson Wayne
Thomas Forren Westside
Dustin Tilley Westside
Justin Tilley Westside
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