I know that someone posted a little while ago a thread that attempted to get the ball rolling on what everyone thinks will happen in the 2015 season. I did see a little bit of replies back and fourth but nothing like what we are all used to reading on here. I didn't see much record predicting. I saw no pre-season Area Top 5's. What does everyone think?
I personally think that until Fort Hill is defeated by someone they are the area favorite. This could be the year that they are dethroned however, they lost a ton to graduation, and some other area teams have lots of returning players from decent to pretty good teams a year ago. The good thing about the Sentinels is they will have plenty of tests early in the season to see where they stand. Pretty tough open to the 2015 campaign for Big Red.
Allegany has a couple of interesting games in the first half of the season. Their schedule could get a little tougher depending on how good Mountain Ridge ends up being. I look for the Campers to be the most improved team of 2015. Record wise you may see only a slight improvement based upon the fact the didn't have that bad of a year in 2014. But in overall play, what you actually get to watch when you attend the game, I believe they will be the most improved. In the end it might be the Campers year in 2015.
Mountain Ridge is a complete mystery to me and yes I do a website for the team so take that for what it is worth. They lost a lot of starters to graduation. They haven't been anything to write home about for several years. And to be honest with you... it is a little rough to see coming from this Miner fan. I don't think that many Mountain Ridge fans would of anticipated this 3 to 4 year stretch after seeing the first 5 years in Miner history. All in all we are talking about high school teenage athletes and it isn't the end all be all. But it would surely look nice to put a winning season on the books. They do have a bit of a rough schedule. Gone are Jefferson and Juniata from this year's schedule. The Southern Rams are now also off of the Miner schedule. A big step for them would be a .500 or better season and to see some improvement in play from a season ago.
Northern had a pretty decent year last season. Just missing out on the playoffs to the two Carroll County teams. With them now gone it is going to be pretty hard for the Huskies to miss out on the playoffs in 2015. A season similar to what they had a year ago would almost assuredly put them in the post season mix. I will be honest however and say I don't know what they lost from last year at all so I am pretty much saying this based upon what they did last year and their track record over the past couple years. They also have a pretty decent schedule to deal with.
Frankfort is coming off of one of if not their best seasons in school history. I don't know what they lose from that team. But as with Northern, Frankfort too has been good for several years now. As a matter of fact you could argue they have been the third best team in the Area over the past 3 to 4 years behind only Fort Hill and Keyser. It is ridiculous how easy their schedule is in 2015 though.
I don't really see any other area team surprising us with anything spectacular. As I look at the teams constructed today I would say preseason Top 5 would have to be... 1.) Fort Hill 2.) Allegany 3.)Keyser 4.) Northern 5.) Frankfort. But if I am being completely honest with myself. I don't believe that any of those five teams will be in the position I just put them in at the end of the season. I believe the Campers are the team to beat but Fort Hill has earned the #1 spot and they will have it for me until they lose. I think that Northern could be a surprise team come October and I honestly am not sure about Keyser or Frankfort.
Alright guys... there it is... go ahead and rip me apart!!!
I personally think that until Fort Hill is defeated by someone they are the area favorite. This could be the year that they are dethroned however, they lost a ton to graduation, and some other area teams have lots of returning players from decent to pretty good teams a year ago. The good thing about the Sentinels is they will have plenty of tests early in the season to see where they stand. Pretty tough open to the 2015 campaign for Big Red.
Allegany has a couple of interesting games in the first half of the season. Their schedule could get a little tougher depending on how good Mountain Ridge ends up being. I look for the Campers to be the most improved team of 2015. Record wise you may see only a slight improvement based upon the fact the didn't have that bad of a year in 2014. But in overall play, what you actually get to watch when you attend the game, I believe they will be the most improved. In the end it might be the Campers year in 2015.
Mountain Ridge is a complete mystery to me and yes I do a website for the team so take that for what it is worth. They lost a lot of starters to graduation. They haven't been anything to write home about for several years. And to be honest with you... it is a little rough to see coming from this Miner fan. I don't think that many Mountain Ridge fans would of anticipated this 3 to 4 year stretch after seeing the first 5 years in Miner history. All in all we are talking about high school teenage athletes and it isn't the end all be all. But it would surely look nice to put a winning season on the books. They do have a bit of a rough schedule. Gone are Jefferson and Juniata from this year's schedule. The Southern Rams are now also off of the Miner schedule. A big step for them would be a .500 or better season and to see some improvement in play from a season ago.
Northern had a pretty decent year last season. Just missing out on the playoffs to the two Carroll County teams. With them now gone it is going to be pretty hard for the Huskies to miss out on the playoffs in 2015. A season similar to what they had a year ago would almost assuredly put them in the post season mix. I will be honest however and say I don't know what they lost from last year at all so I am pretty much saying this based upon what they did last year and their track record over the past couple years. They also have a pretty decent schedule to deal with.
Frankfort is coming off of one of if not their best seasons in school history. I don't know what they lose from that team. But as with Northern, Frankfort too has been good for several years now. As a matter of fact you could argue they have been the third best team in the Area over the past 3 to 4 years behind only Fort Hill and Keyser. It is ridiculous how easy their schedule is in 2015 though.
I don't really see any other area team surprising us with anything spectacular. As I look at the teams constructed today I would say preseason Top 5 would have to be... 1.) Fort Hill 2.) Allegany 3.)Keyser 4.) Northern 5.) Frankfort. But if I am being completely honest with myself. I don't believe that any of those five teams will be in the position I just put them in at the end of the season. I believe the Campers are the team to beat but Fort Hill has earned the #1 spot and they will have it for me until they lose. I think that Northern could be a surprise team come October and I honestly am not sure about Keyser or Frankfort.
Alright guys... there it is... go ahead and rip me apart!!!