North Marion under the 16-year leadership of Head Coach Daran Hays, has firmly established itself as one of West Virginia's most consistent programs, boasting five consecutive state quarterfinal appearances and a state runner-up finish in 2023. Coming off an 8-win season last year with a notably young squad, Hays is particularly optimistic about the upcoming season, attributing his confidence to the returning players' increased experience. A major strength for the Huskies is their offensive line, which features impressive depth, experience, and size, with multiple players around 300 pounds. At quarterback, Toby Michael and Cole Morris are expected to share reps again, a strategy Hays prefers for its reliability. In the backfield, Brian Poindexter, who gained valuable experience as a freshman, is anticipated to have a breakout season, with Blake Edgell also expected to contribute significantly. While the defensive backfield lost some players to graduation, Hays sees opportunities for wide receivers like Cyrus Collins (a versatile playmaker) and Ryder Bland (praised for his exceptional hands) to step up and contribute on both sides of the ball, alongside Blake Johnson, noted for his skilled route running. With an impressive record of 46 wins over the past five years, expectations are high for North Marion as they prepare to compete in the highly competitive Class AAA, and Hays embraces the challenge, pleased with the program's progress while remaining driven for continued success.