Like most schools in Kentucky, Webster County High School has been gearing-up for a brand new football season. But the WCHS coaching staff is faced with a problem not experienced in quite some time. The 2008 squad is razor-thin when it comes to numbers and even more shy considering experience and playing time at the varsity level.

Webster graduated 13 seniors last season during it’s injury-plagued campaign. Plus the loss of starting offensive lineman, senior Patrick Barron who was injured in a car accident in July and will probably miss the entire season. The Trojan roster is down to 28 players with 13 of those being underclassmen.

“Considering the low numbers and the loss of Patrick, it’s been a very good pre-season,” fifth-year head coach Andy Corbin stated. “It took a while to get over the loss of Patrick, he was such an important part of this team and the kids really respected his work ethic and leadership. But thank goodness he’s going to make a full recovery and with no major surgeries.”

Webster was bitten by the injury bug last season including the loss, for the majority of the season, of all-state candidate DeAdrian Rollins. But Corbin said there was a silver lining with all the injuries.

“We had a couple of weeks where seven or eight starters were out with injuries. That just meant some of the younger kids got plenty of playing time and that will really help us this year,” he said. “Those only positive thing that can come out of DeAdrian being hurt last year was that Adam McClure got all the carries at tailback.”

And McClure, a hard-nosed, 6-2, 195 junior, will be the ‘headliner’ on both sides of the ball for this year’s Trojan squad.

“He’ll come in as a seasoned-veteran with several games under his belt as a starter,” he said of McClure. “Physically, he’s really matured this year and he’ll be a force out there on Friday night. He’s worked very hard in the off season and I truly think he’ll be a load to bring down for opposing defenses. We want Adam to get the ball 20-25 times a game because he’s that type of runner. He doesn’t have break-away speed but he has good speed and a very powerful running back.”

McClure’s success last year has carried over into this year and Corbin noted he gets better each week.

“You can just see the confidence and his presence as a running back. He’s very comfortable running the ball this year,” he added.

But the Trojans are extremely young and inexperienced with only two starters returning on offense and four on defense. So the Webster coaching staff simply implemented a new slogan to fit the makeup of the team ... “Thin To Win” ... and they continue to teach a positive attitude and a environment for success.

“From a numbers standpoint, it’s been a challenge coaching wise. But honestly, the work ethic of the kids and the things we’ve been able to accomplish pre-season have gone very well and we’re quite excited about this group,” he continued. “We knew we were going to be thin in numbers and we knew we needed to be tough mentally and physically and basically just count on each other. With Patrick getting injured, that’s really brought the team together because they really want to do well for him.”

The first item of business for the WCHS coaching staff was to find a new quarterback to lead the young Trojans. Steven Turner, a four-year starter for Corbin, is no longer calling the signals but will be on the sidelines as an assistant coach.

“That’s a big void to fill with the graduation of Steven. And that’s was our first consideration when we looked at the offensive unit ... who’s going to be our quarterback,” Corbin emphasized.

The choice comes down to a pair of talented seniors Trevor Warren and Jared Collins. They are vastly different in styles but Corbin feels both could be successful in the WC offensive makeup.

“We have some young kids who are going to be good football players but its hard to run a varsity football program with a freshman quarterback unless you have a very experienced group of seniors around them. We don’t have that luxury this year so we’ll turn to our two seniors to lead the way,” Corbin explained. “Both are good athletes with Jared more of a pocket passer with a strong arm. Trever is a very mobile, running QB with a strong arm but just doesn’t have the size to be a pocket passer. The offense we run will be dependent upon which quarterback steps to the front in pre-season scrimmages and leads this team. We probably won’t make a final decision on a starting quarterback until Tuesday of our opening week.

“With Trever at the helm, you’ll see more of a running attack. Much more options plays and ‘shotgun’ setups so he can go one-on-one with the pass-run option. Our game plan with Jared is more drop-back passing, getting the ball to our receivers and running backs,” Corbin stated. “Whichever one is not quarterback, the other will certainly be a starter somewhere, more than likely at receiver. We have to have our best athletes on the field at all times.”

Jamie Kenneda, just a sophomore, will get a starting nod at fullback and will share time with Steven Hargrove, a junior.

“Jamie is another kid that had a great off season and he’s also matured physically and mentally that he can compete at the varsity level as just a sophomore,” he added. “Steven has had some injuries early, but we’ve been very pleased with what we’ve seen of him. He’s not a power runner but has very good speed, can start and stop on a dime and get to full speed very quickly. When’s he healthy, he be a really good combination with McClure.”

Sharing duty with Warren and Collins as receivers will be James Nance, just a sophomore, and senior Clayton Jordan.

“Both of these kids have good hands and should be good possession receivers for us. James has good speed and is an excellent athlete while Clayton is the more physical of the two,” Corbin continued.

A major concern will be the WCHS offensive line, especially with the loss of two-year starter Barron. An experienced quarterback along with new running backs will need protection up front and Corbin is hoping to find the personnel to provide that surge.

Topping the list are returning starters Adam Kennada and Dustin Watkins. Kennada, a junior, has been pulling double duty as a tackle and tight end while Watkins will anchor the line as a guard.

“Much of what we do offensively will be based on these two kids. Dustin is the strongest and most physical kid we have on the team while Adam is also very strong and very versatile,” added Corbin.

Trevor Shoulders, a newcomer to the program as a junior, could also earn valuable minutes as a tight end.

Corbin dealt out high praise to a pair of sophomores, calling them ‘stars of the future.’ Jacob Clinard and Jeremy Kelsey have brighten the hopes of the WC coaching staff with their pre-season efforts. Clinard tops the list for center and was very impressive in pre-season scrimmages.

“They’re just sophomores and they’re inexperienced but they have a great work ethic have a bright future on the offensive line,” he smiled.

The WCHS roster did receive a shot-in-the-arm this summer with the return of David Gill. He was very impressive two years ago as a gritty, hard-running fullback but did not come out for the team last year. But Gill returns as a senior, much to the delight of Corbin, and he will more than likely fill a void on the offensive line.

Corbin emphasized that he will keep his best athletes on the field so the majority of offensive starters will also anchor the defensive side of the scrimmage line as well. A strong suit of the defense will be the linebacker corps of Adam Kennada and David Gill on the inside along with Steven Hargrove and Adam McClure on the outside.

“Our defensive coordinator and a Trojan legend is Brock Shoulders. He was a linebacker and he’ll make sure that bunch of kids gets the job done. And this year, he’s got a really good bunch of kids to work with. They’re hard-nosed and hard-hitting football players. I don’t think you’ll find a better group of linebackers in this end of the state,” he boasted. “They have decent speed and they’ve learned to hit and play very physical. I’m sure this corps will be our leading tacklers.”

Watkins, Clinard, Kelsey along with newcomer Ray Ausbrooks will rotate on the offensive line.

Jamie Kennada and Trever Warren will get the starting nod as safeties while cornerbacks will be James Nance, Jared Collins will relief coming from Josh Murdock, just a freshman.

“Jamie and Trever should be the most physical safeties we’ve had in a while,” he added.

So an untested group of young Trojans take to the field Friday night with high hopes of a solid season and a shot at playoff action in their second season in Region 1, Class 3-A. But despite the slim number of Trojans and lack of game experience, Corbin and his staff are expecting big things baring any more major injuries.

“It’s been a challenge so far to say the least. But it’s also very exciting to see these young kids grow and mature into varsity football players. I’m sure there will be times when some of these kids look like freshmen and sophomores out there on the field, especially against the likes of Paducah Tilghman and Caldwell County. But I think we’ll surprise some people because I think we can be very competitive and slip up on some people if they don’t take us seriously,” Corbin added.

Webster will again battle for a playoff spot against Paducah, McLean County, Muhlenberg South and arch-rival Union County. All four schools will be much more experienced than the Trojans with Tilghman again being the odd-on favorite for another title.

“No doubt, the district title road goes through Paducah. They only lost four players last year so they’ve be very tough. All the other schools will have veteran teams so this district will definitely be a challenge for us,” he said. “But our kids have worked hard and I think they’re up to the challenge.”