​BLOUNTVILLE, Tenn. (WJHL) – After returning to the TSSAA playoffs last season, West Ridge is looking to take another step forward in 2026.The Wolves finished the 2025 regular season 6-5 and enter another season under head coach Justin Hilton with an experienced roster, highlighted by returning junior quarterback Justice Hilton and several key starters in the trenches. With another offseason in the weight room, West Ridge believes its physical identity will once again be its biggest strength.“We’ve got quite a few guys back, starters back,” coach Justin Hilton said. “We’ve got a quarterback back, got some of our linemen back. So we’re excited to see how much stronger we’ve gotten in the weight room and see how much these guys have grown.”Justice Hilton expects the Wolves to lean on a power-running attack behind a veteran offensive line.“Our strength, honestly, is how hard we lift,” Hilton said. “We’re a power running team and I think that’s what we’ll show.”Senior left tackle and defensive end Hayden Musick said the Wolves have continued to build on last season’s success by emphasizing their run game while maintaining a physical defense.“We’ve got a good O-line, solid, strong boys and great running back, great quarterbacks,” Musick said. “We’re just capping off what we did last year with our run game … and our defense is really strong.”West Ridge opens the 2026 season hoping its veteran leadership and physical style of play can help turn last year’s playoff appearance into a deeper postseason run.Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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