By Steve Keenan the fayette tribune

Nicholas County will enter 2025 with a new head coach and the prospect of playing at a different classification level.

But, don’ t expect many wholesale changes.

Matt Morriston was hired in the offseason as the school’ s head coach to replace veteran Gene Morris, who retired after a productive career which featured numerous playoff appearances under his guidance.

Morriston was an assistant to Morris from 2003 to 2012, before taking over the Summersville Middle School program.

“ I’ m excited,” he said.“ I’ ve worked with these kids

from Little Bears to middle school, now as seniors in their last year with them.”

In 2024, the Grizzlies posted a 6-4 regular season record before dropping a 41- 20 verdict to Wheeling Central Catholic in the opening round of Class AA postseason play.

“ We graduated just a handful of kids, so we’ ve got a lot of returning multiple-year starters,” Morriston said.

Productive senior quarterback Coleton Hellems, a three-year starter, returns to spearhead the offense. Hellems enjoyed an outstanding sophomore campaign but saw his junior season cut short with an injury during the Ripley game.“ He’ s ready,” Morriston

said of Hellems.

Another key component in any success the Grizzlies achieve will be running back / middle linebacker Devin Nash, who was a second-team all-state running back choice in 2024.“ He’ s a good player,” said Morriston.

A capable line will also help spearhead the Grizzlies’ efforts.

“ Our line is solid, a bunch of those guys are back,” Morriston said.“ They’ ve made the playoffs every year except one.”

The playoff expectation remains, the new coach said.

“ We’ ll see how good we are on Aug. 29 when we go against Oak Hill( in the season opener),” he said.“ We just hope to build off the

success they’ ve had in the past, not looking to change a whole lot.”

The players’ offseason work habits have been positive, he noted.“ The summer went well. In the offseason, they’ ve been working hard in the weight room.

“ They’ ve been doing things to get better.”

2025 SCHEDULE

Aug. 29 Sept. 5 Sept. 12 Sept. 18 Sept. 26 Oct. 3 Oct. 10 Oct. 17 Oct. 24 Oct. 31 Nov. 7

at Oak Hill Chapmanville at Shady Spring

Lincoln Open at Midland Trail

Bluefield Greenbrier East at Roane County at Independence

Ripley