MORGANTOWN – Rex Henderson was never really a one-man show, even if it seemed that way at times over the past couple seasons at Butler County.

The Bears’ sensational quarterback has moved on to Western Kentucky as a walk-on for the Hilltoppers, leaving Bears coach Ryan Emmick with a net loss of 3,816 yards and 57 touchdowns of total offense. Most of the line that protected Henderson is gone to graduation too, not to mention last year’s defensive line.

In other words, Emmick had a few holes to fill on the roster this year coming off an 8-4 season that ended in the second round of the Class 2A state playoffs.

Emmick will be counting on a few new faces this year, but the same old attitude remains at Butler County.

“These kids expect to win,” Emmick said. “It’s the double-edged sword – should we not win, there’s going to be a ton of disappointment and we’re going to have to work to deal with that. But the expectation is there. They know how to win, they expect to win. That’s a hurdle we don’t have to overcome. These kids believe in themselves. Now it’s a matter of getting some of the little things taken care of.”

First off was finding a replacement at quarterback, where Henderson passed for 2,472 yards and 29 TDs and ran for another 1,344 yards and 28 scores last season.

Emmick checked off that box in no time, as senior Brendan Shanklin gets his first shot at the starting assignment. Among the Bears’ leading receivers last season, Shanklin completed just 2-of-3 pass attempts for 43 yards in limited duty.

Shanklin, whose older brother Bryce once started at QB for the Bears, said he’s getting more comfortable in his new role in Butler County’s RPO (run-pass option) spread offense.

“Definitely reading coverages, that’s my biggest thing,” Shanklin said. “Just finding the holes, finding the windows.”

Emmick thinks Shanklin has plenty of ability to run the Bears’ attack this season.

“It’s not an unknown situation for him,” Emmick said. “There’s a big learning curve. He’s got to learn coverages and learn to read coverages, and just (be) comfortable in the pocket. He’s a tremendous athlete. He gets out and runs well and he can do some things with his feet that are very similar to what Rex could do. He’s just got to get the passing side of it down.”

Operating behind a completely rebuilt offensive line, Shanklin should have his pick of potential targets. Top receiver Gage Ward (38 catches, 693 yards, 10 TDs) has been limited after having knee surgery a few weeks ago but should be ready by the Bears’ season opener Aug. 18 against visiting Logan County.

Fellow senior Daltyn Havens (37-604-5 TDs) offers another reliable target for Shanklin.

“We’ve changed it up a little bit, put in some different formations than we’re used to in previous years,” Havens said. “We’re still throwing the ball a lot.”

Emmick said he expects a big season from senior running back Houston Hampton (100 rushes, 738 yards, 4 TDs last year), who has “tremendous speed.” Sophomore Warren Cameron, slated to be the backup quarterback, should see plenty of time in the backfield as well as a running back.

The offensive and defensive lines have been a focus for Emmick and his staff.

“We don’t have any returning linemen on either side of the football that were starters, other than Logan Binion – he came in and started a couple games last year for us at offensive tackle,” Emmick said. “That’s the biggest area that we’re going to have to progress in – and we’re going to have to progress very quickly – is to get our linemen up to speed on both sides of the football and get them to where they’re physical.”

The Bears are in much better shape in the secondary, where Shanklin (six interceptions last season) returns at strong safety along with fellow starters Cameron (three interceptions last year) and Ward.

Senior Ty Smith (105 tackles in 2016) leads the linebacker corps, where Hampton and junior Duane Daniel are also expected to have an impact.

Emmick thinks his defensive group is capable of causing major disruptions with their ability to force turnovers out of a multiple odd-front alignment.

“We’re going to play a lot of speed on the defensive side of the football,” Emmick said. “We’re not a very big football team.

“I’ve told them they’ve got to have the mentality of a pack of coyotes. Coyote gets one guy down, and everybody else is running to it. You’ve got to have almost that blood thirst for the football. Whenever you’re on defense, you’ve got to get after it.”

Butler County schedule

8/18 – Logan County

8/25 – at Edmonson County

9/1 – Russellville

9/8 – at Apollo

9/15 – at Muhlenberg County

9/22 – at Owensboro Catholic

9/29 – Hancock County

10/13 – at McLean County

10/20 – Todd County Central

10/27 – Ohio County{&end}