Photo courtesy of Calhoun High School
Seated L-R: Jason Cunningham, Michael Sullivan, Steven Cunningham, Justin Whipkey, Paul Goodrich, Justin Ramsey, Tyler Schartiger, Chad Conley; Kneeling: Charles Hinzman, Harold McCumbers, Josh Parsons, Coach Bryan Sterns, Jeremy Conley, Nicholas Stevens, Cory Spencer; Row 3: Coach Mike Stump, Paul Goodrich, Roman Rader, Eddie Burrows, Matt Houchin, Chris Mace, Randy Proctor, Mathew Whipkey, Caleb Ball, Coach Doyle Hupp, Coach Jeff Houchin; Row 4: Caleb Hart, Jacob Wagoner, Cody Cunningham, Allen Carpenter, Joshua Deweese, Cody Cottrell, Steven Wagoner, Chance Hardway, Zach Yeager, Jeff Goodrich
To the 2005 Calhoun football team: "I enjoyed watching you play"
By Gaylen Duskey
realfang@citlink.net
The toughest column of all to write is the end of the season column.
It is where they put all the equipment away and hand out the awards.
That is
the column where you wish to wax poetic and write sage words of wisdom.
But there really are no sage words of wisdom ... no waxing poetic.
 After the Calhoun football team held its season-ending awards ceremony (including a desert dinner, pictured left)
Sunday night I was walking by Paul Goodrich as we headed out into the cold
night air.
"Paul," I said, "I enjoyed watching you play."
It was an honest sentiment. I did enjoy watching him play. I also enjoyed
watching all his teammates play in what was nearly a magic season.
Injuries
stole the magic away at the end even though an 8-3 record and a trip to the
playoffs is nothing to sneeze at.
Had it not been for the injuries ... there could have been a trip to
Wheeling.
When healthy this team was good enough to play for the Class A championship,
which is held at Wheeling Island Stadium.
But the injuries happened. Unfortunately they all seemed to happen at once
as the Red Devils had four All-LKC players injured at the same time. All
were seniors.
But it was John Greenlief Whittier, I think, who wrote: "Of all sad words of
tongue or pen the saddest are these: 'It might have been'."
What might have been were it not for the injuries? We'll never know.
But it was a wonderful ride even for those like me who were merely
spectators.
Steven Cunningham took the opening kickoff of the season back for a
touchdown. It was the start of a slaughter of Gilmer County. It was also the
first sign of what kind of season he was to have ... a season that saw him
named to the All-LKC First Team. I enjoyed watching his versatility and
watching him grow as a football player. I enjoyed watching him play.
That was also the game when Paul Goodrich ran wild.
Would anyone be able to replace Dustin Price? After all Price, who is now a
redshirt freshman at Fairmont State, had rushed for more than 1,800 yards
and scored 28 touchdowns ... could he be replaced?
Before the end of the first half, the answer was "yes." But the answer was
by Paul Goodrich and Chad Conley were both spectacular.
As the season unfolded it was apparent Paul Goodrich was the Red Devils'
stud running back. He was on his game every game and ended up rushing for
2,050 yards and 26 touchdowns and scoring 166 points.
I predict he will be an all-state running back this year. Not bad for a guy
who was an all-state linebacker last year.
Conley found his niche too. He became the blocking back in front of Paul
Goodrich (and rushed for more than 500 yards) along with being the anchor of
the defense. I enjoyed watching him play ... tough kid, very tough kid.
Also on that "tough kid" list is Justin Ramsey. To me he is "little" Justin
Ramsey because he wrestled at lower weights for the last three years.
But to
Calhoun coach Bryan Sterns he must not have been so little because Sterns
put him at defensive end.
And Ramsey responded so very well. He was a terror and frankly he spent the
season surprising me by manhandling guys a lot bigger. I enjoyed watching
him play.
On the other end of the scale was big Justin Whipkey (6-4, 255). He is
something of a teddy bear of a guy. Very easy going. Too easy going
sometimes. He could be a monster on the wrestling mat but his nice guy
persona keeps him from having a killer instinct.
On the football field, however, it is a different story. He crushed opposing
lineman and mauled opposing runners on defense and on offense he had more
than a couple of "pancakes" during the season. He was first team All-LKC. He
should be first team all-state too but it is tough for a guy from an
out-of-the-way place like Calhoun County to get noticed by bid city sports
writers unless he has a stack of statistics and offensive linemen to not
garner statistics. But I enjoyed watching him play.
I enjoyed watching Jason Cunningham play too. For years he has been Evan
Cunningham's little brother. Evan was an ace defender for the Red Devils a
few years back and he was bigger than Jason, who for a while had the moniker
"Weiner."
But hours in the Red Devils' weight room helped Jason grow up. He now has
huge shoulders and a barrel chest. He's fast and strong and it would not be
a surprise to see him play college football just like his brother. I enjoyed
watching him play.
Last year Tyler Shartiger was going to be the speedy receiver the Red Devils
have sought. He caught one pass last year and fractured a foot (or was it an
ankle?) and we never got to see what he could do.
This year the ankle (or foot) was healed and we saw what he could do.
He
normally had glue fingers and burning speed. And, for a guy with a reed thin
body, he was pretty physical in the defensive backfield. I enjoyed watching
him pull away from defenders once he was in the open field.
And then there is Michael.
Michael Sullivan. He's got shaggy red hair, which
he keeps fashionably long ... fashionably shaggy too. He seems to enjoy life
in a big way and always has a smile on his face. Maybe that's because he's a
kicker and kickers often march to the beat of a different drummer.
This year he played a little offense and a little defense to go along with
his kicking chores. But it was his toe, which brought him fame and the
eternal gratitude of the Calhoun faithful. That's because his field goal in
overtime beat the hated Spencer, er, I mean Roane County, team.
In his life
he will really have to do amazing things for anything to be greater than
beating Roane.
I enjoyed watching him ... he was a treat.
I enjoyed watching the underclassmen too. But they have next year. For the
seniors their high school career is now history.
Guys, thanks for the memories. And I enjoyed watching you play ... each and
every one of you.
 Coach Bryan Sterns (pictured left) said "It was a great bunch of young men who have some really outstanding qualities. These guys have what it takes, not only to be good football players but to be good leaders and members of communities."
"It has been my privilege to be part of this great year, a real effort with great support from the community. What a moment to look across the field at Elkins and see all those fans, and all the efforts by so many people throughout the year," said Sterns.
The night of recognition was compete with the showing on an action-packed video of the seasons highlights, produced by Jim Sullivan, available to video tape or DVD.
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