NEW MARKET — What a ride.
It was an experience the Southmont Mounties football team will not soon forget, making a run for the first time to Semi-State in 2023 and led by an experienced group of Mountie seniors, including all-stater Wyatt Woodall.
Fast forward to now. The Mounties will look to fill 17 of the 22 offensive and defensive starting holes left by the 2023 seniors. The coaching staff will be looking to those players who have varsity experience, including seniors Dylan Howell, Aaron McMasters, Tyler Davis, Micah Kiger and Cole Rhoads, as well as juniors Cale Chadd and Avery Stadler.
“We have a lot of new faces this season,” Coach Desson Hannum said. “It is key for us to have our experienced players step up, lead and they will be relied on heavily. I think we have a fun challenge ahead. I look forward to rebuilding our team.”
Howell and McMasters will lead on both sides of the ball, while junior Heath Tolliver will take the reigns as the Mounties’ starting quarterback. Tolliver spent most of the 2023 season at outside linebacker.
Hannum expects the same challenges with this season as in years past.
“In this last year of the Sagamore Conference, we expect it to be interesting and definitely tough,” Hannum said. “The back end of our schedule is a grind, but it will prepare us for the post-season.”
The Mounties host Greencastle for a scrimmage Aug. 16 and will open their regular season Aug. 23 at Fountain Central.
