By Gary Fauber the register-herald

Getting off to an 0-2 start, James Monroe was playing catchup right off the bat.

“ I say this all the time, and it’ s an exaggeration, but you pretty much have to win every game( to make the playoffs),” Mavericks head coach John Mustain said.“ And that is an exaggeration, obviously. But with all the other sports, and I’ ve pretty much coached every one, you know you’ re going to be in the postseason. So it’ s a big deal to get into postseason in football.”

Which is the annual expectation in Lindside, but the Mavericks were already against the wall.

As they usually do, they rebounded and got themselves into the postseason. A win over longtime nemesis Bluefield solidified that, although James Monroe had to wait and see as did everyone else because of series of litigation that delayed the start of the playoffs by two weeks.

The Mavericks were in, but their stay was shortlived, ending with a 41-23 first-round loss to Independence.

“ I was pretty happy with the way the boys played that night, despite the fact we ended up losing,” Mustain said.“ But I think, all in all, we had a pretty good season. We lost a lot of key people from the previous season, so for them to do what they did, make it back to the playoffs, it was pretty gratifying.”

The Mavericks didn’ t have many seniors last year, but the ones they had were significant players. Among them were four-year starting quarterback Layton Dowdy and offensive lineman Brady Baker, who went on to sign with Morehead State.

Mustain had his concerns

Brianna Reed / For The Register-Herald

James Monroe running back Brock Parker looks to get around Independence’ s Landon Phalin and Myles Greenway during a Class AA first-round playoff game in Coal City.

about numbers going into the preseason.

“ It wasn’ t a big senior class, but all of those kids made major contributions,” he said.“ We are probably even going to have a smaller senior class this year. I don’ t know how many kids we are going to end up having. I think in terms of numbers it’ s definitely going to be a down year for us. I’ m worried about even if we’ re going to be able to field a JV team. But you know, it is what it is, and everybody goes through it.”

Inexperience won’ t be a problem.

Senior Ryan Mann got some playing time at quarterback last season when Dowdy was playing elsewhere and is the top candidate to take that starting role. However, he could also be interchangeable with junior Jaden Miller.

Brock Parker was the primary backup to starting running back Cooper Ridgeway. Parker finished with 548 yards and 12 touchdowns.

The loss of Baker up front is significant, along with Kole Ballengee. But Mustain is confident in returning linemen such as Tyson Meadows, Kolton Dowdy, Christian Ogle and Cade Dillon.

Dowdy and Dillon could end up playing multiple positions.

“ I can see both of them seeing some time on the line and also maybe in the backfield or in a receiver spot,” Mustain said.“ I told both of them, when it comes time to pick your jersey number, pick two. You never know.”

Also back is junior Kadyn Hines, who recently committed to play baseball at West Virginia University. Hines was a wideout and free safety last season. Bryce Gardinier was a receiver and defensive back, as well.

Carter Miller will return on the line and as a linebacker. Andrew Wykle is a returning contributor, and sophomores Gus Cole, Sawyer Salmons and Ayden Blankenship are expected to help on the line.

Ben Comer and Jayden Hubbard are players expected to contribute at both receiver and running back.

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