INDEPENDENCE
INDEPENDENCE
Patriots gearing up for another postseason run
By Dave Morrison for the register-herald
Over the past four seasons Independence has been one of the state’ s winningest Class AA football programs, going 40-9 with four state semifinal appearances, two state championship appearances and one state title.
It’ s the last one that coach John H. Lilly says keeps him from putting his team in the elite status of a Bluefield and Fairmont.
“ You mentioned those two teams and they’ ve won four or five state championships,” Lilly said.“ So, you’ ve got to win more than one. We’ re still chasing it. But I think we’ ve got some kids who are trying to do it.”
The Patriots do have something none of those previous semifinalist teams had. A returning all-state feature back.
Atticus Goodson did return for his senior( and Kennedy Award-winning) season( the 2020 squad was 5-3 during the Covid year) in 2021. Goodson led Indy to its first semifinal and state championship and Judah Price took over full-time in 2022. He won the Kennedy and set all the Patriots season rushing marks and the 100-year state record for points in a season. Tyler Linksweiler was next, and he was fa irst-team allstater.
Up next was Sylas Nelson and he continued the trend, earning first-team status after rushing for 1,778 yards on 288 carries with 28 touchdowns and 13 receptions for 259 yards and two TDs.
He was a receiver before moving to QB halfway through his sophomore season.
Last year as a running back he flourished.
Not bad for the guy who quarterbacked the team to the semifinals as a sophomore.
Cole Laxton is the slotback and will back up Nelson at
Rick Barbero / The Register-Herald
Independence running back Sylas Nelson( 12) breaks loose for a touchdown against Mingo Central.
tailback and Lilly is high on three young speedsters in Tristan Lykens, Jacob Grimmett and David Steele. He said Steele is probably the fastest player on the team.
Quarterback Brock Green broke the Independence passing record with 1,980 yards( 108-of-203) with 15 touchdowns. He also rushed for seven TDs.
Nelson could serve as the backup although Lilly said heading into fall camp the staff is high on heralded middle school QB Paxton Myers. Lilly noted the incoming freshman broke Green’ s middle school passing records at Indy Middle. He can also play at receiver. The Pats have a pair of outstanding receivers in Christian Linksweiler and Kaden Bradbury.
Last year Linksweiler had 33 receptions for 776 yards and seven touchdowns.
The line, healthy, has a chance to be the best since 2022, when Indy and Price raced into the state and Super Six record book averaging 480.9 yards per game and 52.5 points per game.
Back in the fold is former all-stater and potentially future Navy Seal Alex Blankenship. He was an all-stater as a sophomore.
Tackle to tackle, Independence goes Blankenship at left tackle, Anthony Bell at left guard, Levi Phalin at center, Alden Fitzpatrick at right guard and Jaidyn Shuck at right tackle.
Charles Acord and Carson Jones will offer depth.
Lilly hopes to play players one way as much as possible, especially along the lines and it looks like the Patriots are close. Only Blankenship is listed by Lilly as a two-way lineman.
He will be joined on the defensive line by nose guard Izaac Redden( 6-2, 315) and fellow tackle Carson Jones( 320).
Linebackers are all-staters Isaac Conley and Landon Riddle outside and defensive leader Landon Phalin and Talen Adkins.
Corners are Bradbury and Linksweiler and safeties are Nelson and Laxton.
Micah Cuthbert is closing in on Atticus Goodson’ s PAT record and Lilly said the junior is reliable from 40 yards and improving. He also handles the punting chores.
2025 SCHEDULE
Aug. 28 Sept. 5 Sept. 12 Sept. 19 Sept. 26 Oct. 3 Oct. 10 Oct. 17 Oct. 24 Oct. 31 Nov. 7
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SOUTHERN W. VA. GAME NIGHT- AUGUST 2025 • 9