Blues Look Strong On Both Sides Of The Ball
When the 2025 high school football season is in the books, the folks at Parry Mc-Cluer are hoping one adjective is used to describe this year’s team: explosive.
With returning starters at the key skill positions and a plethora of athletes, the PM coaching staff, led by head coach Jeremiah Brockenbrough, expect to improve on back-to-back 6-4 finishes in the regular season and be a contender for the Pioneer District title, and perhaps beyond.
“We have some athletes,” said Brockenbrough. “I think we have a chance to be pretty successful this season.”
Success, of course, is often measured in wins and losses, but Brockenbrough, who wants to win as badly as the next coach, says that winning isn’t the only measure for his Blues this year.
“A successful season is kids giving me everything they’ve got,” said the PM coach. “A successful season is putting a competitive product on the football field.” If the offensive side of the football is any indication, the Blues should do just that. PM returns its leading passer, its leading rusher and its leading receivers. The Blues will run most of their place out of the familiar T-formation, but opponents will see a variety of formations out of the PM offense.
“We’ll still run some spread, but our goal is to run the football,” Brockenbrough said. “I want to be more explosive than we have been offensively.”
That should be possible with senior Nathan Glass, who is returning for his third year under center and fully recovered from a knee injury that kept him out of the last three games in 2024, at quarterback. At 6-foot-3-inches tall and 160 pounds, Glass completed 45.9 percent of his passes for 621 yards and nine touchdowns last season while also rushing for 290 yards and six TDs, providing the Blues a true dual-threat at quarterback.
“I think the chances of us winning football games is pretty high when Nathan Glass is under center,” praised Brockenbrough. “He has great senior leadership. I’ve only had one other player that I’ve coached who, when we call a play, knows exactly what every person on the field is doing. It’s good to have somebody like that.”
The Blues have 30 players out, with six seniors, eight juniors, eight sophomores and eight freshmen.
Backing up Glass will be junior Kyle Smals (6-1, 190), who bulked up during the offseason and will see most of his time at tight end. After taking over signal-calling duties when Glass was hurt, Smals completed 11of-21 passes for 111 yards and a TD.
In the backfield, the Blues return senior Jacob Shafer (5-9, 145), who finished 2024 as the leading rusher with 743 yards and five touchdowns, averaging 6.6 yards per carry. His effort last season included a 210-yard rushing performance against Craig County.
“He has great explosive speed and good vision downfield,” Brockenbrough said. “He pounds on people until they get tired of hitting him.”
Joining Shafer at the other halfback position will be junior Parker Snider (5-10, 150). Snider saw time at fullback last season and could play a number of positions for the Blues this year.
“He’s probably the most versatile utility player on the football team,” said the PM coach. “He gets you what you need to get and never says no.”
Junior Jordan Brockenbrough (5-10, 145), who the head coach called “a tough-nosed kid” will also work his way into the backfield mix and will see a significant number of carries. Sophomore Brody Coleman (510, 210) will hold down the fullback spot, toting the ball every so often and providing pivotal lead blocking out of the T.
Also providing depth in the backfield will be sophomores Michael Fleming (5-10, 160), Tyler Shafer (5-10, 145), Peyton Coffey (5-7, 115) and Andy Johnson (6-1, 145); along with freshmen Lucas Ramsey (5-10, 140), Isaiah Gilbert (5-6, 150) and Liam Long (5-6, 160).
When the Blues go to the spread formation, the speedy receivers will take the field. Shafer and Snider led PM with 16 receptions each a year ago, but senior Jonovan Dunn (5-8, 120), senior Zavion Dunn (5-6, 125) and sophomore Quentin Rosser (5-8, 135) will pressure defenses downfield and are expected to haul in their fair share of passes this season.
“That’s a pretty good core group of kids,” said Brockenbrough. “It’s going to look like we have five running backs on the football field.”
The Blues return their fair share of experience on the offensive line as well, anchored by several returning starters. Junior Tyler Chittum (5-10, 180) returns for his third season as a starting guard, and classmate Kaedin Conner (5-10, 170) will man the other guard position. Sophomore Timber Thomas (6-2, 280) will hold down one tackle spot, while senior Timothy Lesher (6-1, 235) and freshman Bryson Sorrels (510, 195) are in a battle for the other. Senior Landon Orren (6-1, 250) will anchor the line at center. Junior Thomas Conner (511, 180) and the aforementioned Smals hold the early edge for starting tight ends, with freshman Ayden Allen (5-8, 130) could see some time there as he gains experience.
“If [the offensive line] is not weathered, as I would say, then we’re going to struggle,” noted Brockenbrough. “The last two scrimmages we [were able to] establish the line of scrimmage. They are pretty darn tough.”
Other offensive linemen on the PM roster include juniors Duncan Romriell (5-10, 160) and Brad Spinner (5-8, 287), sophomore Adison Haynes (5-10, 245), and freshmen Ethan Armstrong (5-7, 168), Keenan Clark (5-10, 180) and Colton Slagle (6-0, 194).
While the Blues are expecting to be explosive on the offensive side of the football, they are hoping for the same thing on the defensive side. Brockenbrough, who graduated from PM in 1998 and has been involved as a coach in the PM program for 20 years, including this, his third, as head coach, said the plan is to apply as much pressure as possible on opposing offenses.
“We plan on sending a lot of heat,” Brockenbrough said. “We’re a lot quicker up front than we have been, so I think that should help us in what we are trying to do.”
Leading the PM defense will be a trio of hard-hitting linebackers. Snider led the Blues with 112 total tackles last season, while Shafer recorded 84 tackles, including 7.5 tackles for loss to go along with three interceptions. Smals, who had 22 tackles in limited duty as a defensive back, will move up a level this season.
In the defensive backfield, Glass, who finished last season with four interceptions, and Rosser will set up as safeties. Jonovan Dunn, who had two interceptions, and Zavion Dunn, who had a team-high six pass breakups, will man the corners.
Jordan Brockenbrough will be all over the field for the Blues. One of only two returning players who recorded a quarterback sack a year ago, he will play a rover position of sorts, seeing time as a down lineman or a linebacker, depending on the play call.
Up front, Thomas, Kaedin Conner and Thomas Conner will hold down the interior line. Thomas Conner was PM’s most productive defensive lineman last year, finishing the season with 29 total tackles, including seven tackles for loss.
Glass, at punter, and Rosser, at kicker, will hold down special teams duties for the Blues.
On his coaching staff, Brockenbrough has an experienced contingent of assistant coaches. Helping guide the Blues are Elgin Davis, Chad Dorey, David Foshay, Zack Fowler, Aaron Higginbotham, Tommy Johnson Jr., John Snider, Triniti Stores, Jamie Thompson and David Truslow. Eric Wheeler returns as PM’s strength and conditioning coach.
If the Blues are going to improve on last year’s 6-5 record (2-2 in the district), Coach Brockenbrough sees one particular area in which his team needs to get better: performance in the second halves of “big games.” One glaring example of a second-half letdown for the Blues was last year’s regular-season contest against Narrows in October, the team Brockenbrough points to as the one to beat in a quest for the Pioneer District title. The Blues trailed just 14-13 at halftime of that game, only to give up 21 third quarter points and fall, 35-13. The Blues would end their season in November with a 52-14 road loss to Narrows in the Region 1C quarterfinals.
“We’ve got to get past the second half,” said Brockenbrough. “In big ball games, [the second half] is when we have struggled. It’s a mentality. If we can get past the second- half doldrums, we’ll be all right.”
The season kicks off this Friday when the Blues play host to Rockbridge County, hoping to win their third straight game against the Wildcats.
“It’s a big game for the community,” noted the PM coach. “We can’t get caught up [in the emotion]. Play your position and play it right.
“You come out the gate and get a win,” Brockenbrough added. “It sets the tone for the rest of your season.”
