Charmco –
Team: Greenbrier West
2024 Recap
A year after finishing as the Class A state runner-up, Greenbrier West failed to make the postseason, stumbling to a 4-6 record. That may have been for the best as the Cavaliers were hammered by injuries at key spots, losing their starting running back and linebackers early and often.
As a result the Cavaliers resembled a MASH unit more than a football team but coming into this year they’ll need to replace quarterback and leading rusher Evan Vandall as well as Brandon Poticher and Isaac Agee who was lost in Week 3. In total that’s over 1,600 yards of total offense.
“It’s hard to replace those kids,” head coach Kelly Vaughan said. “They’re state champions in track and field and did a wonderful job on the football field, played for a state championship. As far as replacing, it’s tough. Agee could run, Poticher could get after it at the linebacker position and I gotta give a little love to Vandall who stepped up and did a wonderful job.
2025 Outlook
The Cavaliers are already battling injuries before the season kicks off. Kamden Sams, who led the team with six interceptions, broke his collarbone and expects to miss a couple weeks to start the season while head coach Kelly Vaughan will also take a brief medical leave of absence.
Despite their losses to graduation, the Cavaliers do have some returning talent. Colton Dunbar and Sams led them in receiving yards with over 200 each so provided they can sort the quarterback situation out there are experienced targets to ease the burden of the job.
“We’ve got a couple kids right now we’re looking at QB,” Vaughan said. “It’s open like it was last year, the only difference is the kids we have vying for it are a sophomore and a junior. That makes you feel better as a coach being a youngster. Right now we have Mason Ward and Scott McClung. Mason’s the sophomore and Scott’s the junior. Scott’s bigger and Mason is very athletic. It’s going to be a competition which I hope they understand that competition makes them better.”
Traditionally a run-heavy team, the Cavaliers are also looking to replace their production on the ground with three running backs in the mix, all likely to get snaps at the position.
“We feel positive about the three or four kids we’re rotating in there right now,” Vaughan said. “Again it goes back to the competition. It’s Vincent Vaughan, Ben Butler and Shane Plogger. They run hard and do what they’re asked. Right now we’re a the point as a coaching staff where we’re not for sure where every one is going to play. We’ll do our evaluations and speak amongst the staff to put our kids in the right position.”
West’s schedule, while still difficult, lightens up on the travel. Gone are Pendleton County and Petersburg, replaced by Class AA state runner-up Roane County and Gilmer County.
“We play a quality schedule and if our kids do what they’re supposed to do we’d be disappointed if we didn’t get in the playoffs,” Vaughan said. “It is kind of shoot yourself in the foot mentality because we’ve got to travel to Fort Frye, Roane County and Man.”
The Cavaliers will spend their season on Saturday, Aug. 30 at Roane County.
| 1 | 08/30/25 | 7:30PM | A – | ROANE COUNTY | – | |||
| 2 | 09/05/25 | 7:30PM | A – | SUMMERS COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL | – | |||
| 3 | 09/12/25 | 7:00PM | A – | LIBERTY (RALEIGH) | – | |||
| 4 | 09/19/25 | 7:00PM | H – | POCAHONTAS COUNTY | – | |||
| 5 | 09/26/25 | 7:30PM | A – | MAN HIGH SCHOOL | – | |||
| 6 | 10/03/25 | 6:30PM | A – | FORT FRYE,OH H.S. | – | |||
| 7 | 10/10/25 | 7:00PM | H – | JAMES MONROE | – | |||
| 8 | 10/17/25 | 7:00PM | H – | MONTCALM | – | |||
| 9 | 10/31/25 | 7:00PM | H – | MIDLAND TRAIL HIGH SCHOOL | – | |||
| 10 | 11/07/25 | 7:00PM | H – | GILMER COUNTY | – |
About the Author
