SHORT GAP, W.Va. — After back-to-back Class AA state titles, Frankfort is ready to turn the page and aim for a third.
The first chapter begins tonight as the Falcons host Moorefield. Kickoff at Frankfort Stadium is 7 p.m.
“The kids are all excited,” said Frankfort head coach Kevin Whiteman. “They’ve worked hard all summer. Especially in August, it’s hot and miserable. It’s finally good to get to the first game. I know the players and coaches are excited and ready to start the season.”
The Falcons return do-it-all star Braydn Tyler, who was voted co-Player of the Year in 2025.
Tyler finished second in Area ranks in all-purpose yards (2,039) and touchdowns (32). He ran 102 times for 1,302 yards and 20 touchdowns, hauled in nine passes for 240 yards and six TDs, returned three interceptions for a score and took three kicks to the house.
Perhaps the largest question mark for the Falcons heading into 2026 is replacing Blake Jacobs under center.
A year ago, Jacobs finished 44 of 74 through the air for 819 yards, 10 touchdowns and just one interception to go along with 392 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on 64 attempts.
Frankfort heads into the season with a quarterback battle that hasn’t resolved itself. Whiteman plans to use both Carson McBee and Austin Twigg tonight.
“Both guys have done a great job,” Whiteman said. “It’s been a great competition. We decided we’re going to let them alternate series. We’ll see if one outshines the other.
“Gameplanning for two quarterbacks hasn’t affected our coaching staff much at all. We alternate them at practice anyway and it hasn’t impacted us much.”
The Falcons also lost first-team All-Area running back Carder Shanholtz after he fell just shy of 1,000 yards with 995 on 107 tries and 17 touchdowns.
Frankfort will be aided by the return of his brother, Cole, who became the starting fullback in Week 5 last year and never looked back.
Cole Shanholtz carried the rock 125 times for 620 yards and 10 TDs, including a trio of touchdowns in Frankfort’s 49-42 win over Bluefield in the Class AA title game.
A year removed from replacing their entire offensive line, the Falcons have some stability at the position with the returns of first-team All-Area center Knox Kimble and second-team All-Area tackle Jed Evans.
The Falcons will also see the return of Chase Opel, who got injured in Week 2 last year and missed the entire season.
“Chase is a great young man,” Whiteman said. “He works really hard. It’s going to be awesome to see him back out there and ready to play on both sides of the ball.”
The Frankfort defense will almost surely make it a difficult night for the Moorefield offense. Returning alongside second-team All-Area linebacker is first-team All-Area interior defensive lineman Anthony Smith, who was also a Class AA first-team All-State offensive lineman.
The unit averaged 12.5 points allowed per game. Heading into the state championship, the Falcon defense was yielding just over 10 points per game (10.2).
“As always, we want them to be physical,” Whiteman said of his defense. “We want them to know their assignment, be aggressive, play as a team. We expect them to communicate with one another and, most importantly, play Frankfort football.”
The Falcons have won each of the last eight meetings with the Yellow Jackets by a combined 291-35. Each of their state title campaigns began with 28-7 and 34-10 wins over Moorefield.