Martinsburg High School Head Football Coach David Walker talks to his team during a time out at a game against Sherando High School on Oct. 5, 2018. Walker will be returning to Martinsburg High from Concord University this coming school year. File photo

SHENANDOAH JUNCTION — Keyshawn Robinson, Dylan Harich and company will be aiming their 2023 season at another playoff berth, when the season opens on Aug. 25 against Spring Mills High School.

The West Virginia big-school playoffs won’t be anything new to the Cougars, because they ventured there in both 2022 and 2021.

The 2023 schedule is much the same as a year ago, but another playoff regular — Spring Valley High School — had been a valued addition to this year’s 10-game slate of games.

Robinson will be a marked man, what with his sprinter’s speed, pass-catching ability and knack for turning short catches into all-the-way plays.

Harich will be in his second season as Jefferson’s starting quarterback and could be as dangerous when making ad-lib plays as when connecting with a receiver with one of his throws.

One of those trusted receivers is Tay’Shaun Roper, a junior who also can turn a drive-maintaining pass into a long gainer or touchdown.

The Cougars could discover their real worthiness very early in the season when they will be tested by heavyweights Sherando, Spring Valley and Martinsburg in the season’s second, third and fourth games.

When any game’s outcome is still to be determined, the Cougars will need to find an able replacement for graduated placekicking specialist Oren Humphreys.

Returning starters who will be counted on for their experience and playmaking abilities are Nolan Meehleib, Nycere Jacobs and Jared Wilberger.

The Cougars graduated a telling number of quick and effective offensive players in Spencer Powell, Evan Tewell and Johvan Gidney as well as defensive starter Alejandro Martinez.

Huntington’s Highlanders are the defending state champions, and perennial contender Martinsburg gets one-time head coach David Walker back from his stint as head coach at Concord University of the college-level Mountain East Conference.

Spring Valley graduated a lengthy list of contributors and must fill a significant number of openings.

When the second week of November arrives on the football calendar, what will the Cougars have accomplished in 2023? If they are a playoff-caliber team, where will they have finished among the 16 teams that qualify for the post-season?

The Cougars were beaten in the same quarterfinal round in both 2021 and 2022, losing to the Highlanders, 51-7, last season and 74-49 to Bridgeport in 2021.

Will they find the ways to win more than one playoff game this season?