MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — The 2025 season revealed some very close margins at the top of Class AAAA. Spring Mills brought a 6-4 record into the playoffs following a state runner-up season in 2024. The Cardinals were eliminated in the quarterfinal round at Morgantown, the team that went on to win the title, 34-33 in double overtime. Head coach Marcus Law says his club fought through a lot to eventually push the champs to the limit.

“The biggest thing that stood out was adversity,” Law said. “We started the season off and we lost two linemen to ACL injuries. We always lived with the mentality that it was going to be the next man up. Last year was truly that. The first half of the season, we had some guys that were probably going to get more JV time that had to grow up very, very quickly. By the time it got to the last game of the season, it was probably the most polished thing that we had.”

There will be several new faces stepping into significant roles with the Cardinals this year. Spring Mills lost their leader passer, their leading rusher and their leading receiver, WVU tight end Xavier Anderson, to graduation. Law will be mixing less experienced returners and newcomers into the depth chart.

“We have done things a little bit different this year, some accountability groups, to really try to integrate our young guys coming into the program and guys that have just come into the program that might be a little bit older. Again, we’re just finding unique ways to get them to bond as quick as we possibly can before the season gets upon us.”

Former Hedgesville signal caller Chaz Milburn will be at the controls of the Cardinal offense for the first time. Several new running backs and receivers will surround him.

“Chaz is one of those guys where you look at him on film and you probably say he is a pocket guy. But he moves well in that pocket. I would say out of all the guys there, he knows the offense inside and out. You look at him and he is a three-year starter. He has come in and he and I are finding that balance of what he is used to and how we can mirror what we are doing now to make him the most comfortable guy on that field.

“Obviously you look at Nolan Forrest. He has been a specialist on defense for us and he will be in the backfield. Noah Reed is a young guy that runs hard. And we’re excited for Chris Williams. He’s another guy that makes the trek over to us. Some of the conditioning we have done, he is pushing. He has really pushed himself to the front. Receiver-wise, DJ, Douglas Mayer, he is a guy with potential. We really like him. On the flip side, you have Kheelan [Curry] at receiver and cornerback. He is a utility guy that we’ll put somewhere.”

Law says that many of the players at the top of the depth chart on the offensive and defensive lines, have been served well by work in the weight room throughout the offseason.

“Johnny Droneburg is a guy that does everything for us at center and guard. Mateo [Swayne] was a young kid last year and due to injuries he had to move up. He is only a sophomore but had to play true games as a freshman. Matthew Nair is one guy that went down with an ACL injury, he is back and fully ready to go. And then we’ve got some other guys that, I will tell you, in the weight room they have done everything we’ve asked them to do.”

In three seasons under Law, the former Mountaineer defensive back has guided Spring Mills to a 28-10 record with five postseason victories.

“I am having fun. This is an absolute blast. I know my goal is to ultimately get through to when my little man gets through here. But like I tell the kids, the moment you stop having fun with this stuff is when you’ve got to start thinking. But every day is like Christmas coming here.”