OAK HILL
OAK HILL
Red Devils want to keep climbing
By Steve Keenan the fayette tribune
F. Brian Ferguson / For The Register-Herald
Oak Hill’ s Carson Treadway picks up some yards after the catch in a game against Princeton.
As the football program aims to continue its upward trajectory, Oak Hill will have to make some big adjustments.
Gone from last year’ s 10-2 team which advanced to the second round of the Class AAA playoffs are a bevy of talented, experienced seniors. So, third-year head coach Davon Marion and his staff will have to fill some significant holes as the Red Devils move up to the Class AAAA ranks.
“ We lost the bulk of our production from last year,” said Marion. Among the departures were quarterback Devin Richardson, running backs J. D. Mauritz, James Green and Tyler Ashmore, lineman Brandon Champion and receivers Mikey Spack and Armonyi Hicks.“ And all those guys played both ways, so we lost a lot.”
The offseason work has involved some experimenting, he noted.“ We were just really trying to see what all the guys can do. We lost a really good senior class that played a lot of snaps for us both ways last year. We’ re trying to feel kids out and see what their strong points are and who can help us where.”
Experienced returners in the trenches will be a plus.“ We’ re bringing back five senior offensive linemen and a couple of senior receivers, so we still have some guys that have played for us before,” Marion said.
James Ludwig will be among the line leaders.“ He’ s put in work since he’ s been here. He started as a sophomore, which was my first season here. He put the work in this offseason to have a great senior year.” Senior Tyler Kincaid, a starter last year, has been consistent in the weightroom and the offseason program, he added.“ Those are two guys that we’ ll lean on.”
Of lineman Derrick Sullivan, the coach said,“ I can’ t talk enough about him. He’ s another kid that started as a sophomore when I first got here, and he’ s going to anchor the offensive and defensive lines for us.” Part-time starter Jasper Newman and Brayden Knight— the latter back after a year’ s absence— will also be cogs on the line, and senior Tyler Garrett has“ stepped up tremendously and will get the first start at right guard.”
Zychaeus Lewis, who started games as a sophomore, and Owen Grose, a regular in the last half of 2024, will anchor the receiving corps. They will be joined by Carson Treadway, who“ has had a great summer and offseason, great days at West Virginia and Marshall for us during 7-on-7s,” Marion said. Antoine Hicks, the jayvee quarterback the past two seasons as well as a starting slot receiver, returns.
“ We’ ll lean on Cade Compton and Solomon Truman for most of our between-the-tackle runs,” Marion added.
Luke Endicott is expected to get many of the snaps under center.“ He came in January and asked me if he could get a shot. He didn’ t play his sophomore year but played last year. He’ s stayed every day from February to June, every day after weightlifting, to work on being a quarterback. Stuff like that goes a long way with me, and he’ s earned the right to get the first nod at it.”
Oak Hill’ s 2025 slate faced a major shakeup, as five of the 10 regular season foes are new. Departed from the schedule are Independence, University, Buckhannon-Upshur, Lincoln County and Bluefield. In their place are Capital, North Marion, Shady Spring, South Charleston and Hurricane.
2025 SCHEDULE
Aug. 29 Sept. 5 Sept. 12 Sept. 19 Sept. 26 Oct. 3 Oct. 10 Oct. 17 Oct. 24 Oct. 31 Nov. 7
Nicholas County Riverside at Princeton at Shady Spring at Greenbrier East Open Capital
Hurricane at South Charleston at Woodrow Wilson
North Marion
SOUTHERN W. VA. GAME NIGHT- AUGUST 2025 • 21