Clay Feazell is a Moneta guy through and through. He was born and raised there, and graduated from Staunton River High School in 2015 where he played defensive back and wingback on the football team, as well as basketball and outdoor track.
His coaching experience has been entirely with the Golden Eagles as well, as he was an assistant coach for seven years before serving as defensive coordinator. He knows the program well, and after Shaun Leonard resigned as head coach in December, Feazell was tabbed to lead the next era of Staunton River football.
On Friday night he made his head-coaching debut, taking on Hidden Valley at Bogle Stadium and fellow first-year coach Bud Tolliver. He watched from the sideline as the Golden Eagles raced past the Titans 37-7 to give him his inaugural victory at the helm.
Staunton River coach Clay Feazell talks to his team during the game against Hidden Valley at Bogle Stadium on Friday night.
“It feels great to give this community something they can be proud of this weekend,†Feazell told The Â鶹´«Ã½¹ÙÍø. “We had a lot of fans show up to Bogle Stadium tonight to support us, so to be able to give them a winning product feels great.â€
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Under Feazell’s multiple-I offense, Staunton River mixed run and pass to get points. Quarterback Patrick Chewning twice connected with Joshua Jackson on touchdown throws, results of plays of 92 and 57 yards. Christopher Lockliear, Zachariah Craghead and Samuel Ayers each scored on the ground.
It’s the first time the Golden Eagles have scored 30 or more points in their season opener since 2022.
“It feels great. The kids came out, executed the game plan and played really hard until the final whistle,†Feazell said. “We were proud of how our efforts were tonight and we’re happy with the win.â€
Staunton River coach Clay Feazell looks on during the game against Hidden Valley at Bogle Stadium on Friday night.
Their defensive performance was even more remarkable. To find the last time Staunton River gave up seven or fewer points in its opener, you’d have to go back to the previous century, 1999, when it beat Altavista 54-7 under the direction of Bob Gray.
Oliver Lichtenstein threw a 74-yard touchdown strike to Lucas Emory to get Hidden Valley on the board. He finished 10 of 13 for 130 yards, and Emory tallied two receptions for 84 yards.
Chewning finished 4-of-9 passing for 171 yards. Craghead ran for 112 yards on 13 carries, while Lockliear added 68 yards on four carries.
The Golden Eagles now turn their attention to a much tougher opponent in Bedford County rival Jefferson Forest and their home opener in Moneta. Staunton River is 9-41 all-time against JF and has lost five straight dating back to 2018. But last year’s bout was a low-scoring, defensive slugfest. A 15-9 final.
“There’s no pressure,†Feazell said on being head coach. “I have such a great group of coaches around me that support me, and the fans that support me through and through. Our goal is to go week by week and just give our community and fans something to be proud of.â€
