{
  "id": 5429425,
  "title": "Football Preview 2026 | Mountain Ridge looking to get back on track",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/03/football-preview-2026-mountain-ridge-looking-to-get-back-on-track",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-03T22:17:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/football-preview-2026-mountain-ridge-221700574.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Frostburg — After a series of challenging seasons following their last state title game appearance, Mountain Ridge aims to rebound in 2026 with a strong roster of returning starters. The Miners have made it to the Class 1A championship game three times in a row since COVID-19, losing each time to Fort Hill. After Nathan Shipe was appointed head coach following Ryan Patterson's resignation at the end of the 2023 season, the Miners had their first losing season since 2019, concluding with a 5-6 record.\n\nThe Miners boast a stable roster, bringing back nine starters on offense and seven on defense. Shipe notes that the Miners have versatile skill position players who can play multiple roles. He stresses the importance of running the football, as the team spent time over the offseason refining their approach. However, they will still maintain a spread offense approach with a heavier reliance on run sets compared to the past.\n\nDefensively, the Miners will stick to their usual 4-2-5 formation, occasionally shifting to a 4-4 against teams that rely heavily on running the ball. Shipe's primary focus is on speed and getting 11 players to the football quickly. The coaching staff aims to secure the best and fastest 11 players to achieve this goal.\n\nQuarterback stability is a crucial aspect of the Miners' offense. In 2025, three players — Brayden Glass, Carter Clites, and Levi Clise — saw playing time at the quarterback position. Glass, who completed 25 of 36 passes for 237 yards and three touchdowns last year, is expected to be the starter for the upcoming season. Sam Patterson, the son of defensive coordinator Adam Patterson, will serve as the backup quarterback but will likely see most of his offensive snaps as a wide receiver. Shipe highlights Glass' accuracy, strong arm, and ability to be coachable. Patterson, on the other hand, brings dynamic skills to the team, such as speed and route-running, and is expected to contribute as a wide receiver and defensive back.",
  "summary": "FROSTBURG — After a rocky two seasons since its last state title game appearance, Mountain Ridge is aiming to get back on track in 2026 with a plethora of returning starters. The Miners appeared in three consecutive Class 1A championship games coming out of COVID-19, falling to Fort Hill in all three games. Following former head coach Ryan Patterson’s resignation after the 2023 season, Nathan ...",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Yahoo Sports",
        "title": "See Brevard County's high school football live scoreboard, Week 3",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/03/see-brevard-countys-high-school-football-live-scoreboard-week-3",
        "published": "2026-09-03T20:30:28.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Calgary Herald",
        "title": "Campus Preview: Calgary Dinos football team hosts UBC at KICKOFF XIX; rugby, soccer clubs also starting seasons",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/03/campus-preview-calgary-dinos-football-team-hosts-ubc-at-kickoff-xix",
        "published": "2026-09-03T22:49:44.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}