PRELIMS

Meadow Bridge at Valley (Fayette)

 

 What to Know: Both have started winless in 2017 and are clawing for their first dub.  These matchups are very interesting to us.  Both have had close games with good teams such as Fayetteville and Oak Hill.

 

Logan at Nitro

 

What to Know: Another rough start for two teams trying to get back on track.  One will prevail and hopefully build some momentum.  Logan has massive QB and D1-bound basketball player David Early.

 

 

Summers County at #7 Webster County

 

What to Know: Summers County struggled early on but has found new strength in step-in QB Tucker Lilly.  Webster County has come on strong with a strong run game and stout defense which has skyrocketed their stock.

 

 

Woodrow Wilson at George Washington

 

What to Know: Woodrow Wilson had two ugly losses and turned around and played top ten Hurricane and Cabell Midland fiercely.  This could make a tough fight since George Washington has struggled early and is trying to have a second half rise as they did in 2016.

 

 

UNDERCARD

Wirt County at Doddridge County

 

What to Know: Wirt County rebounded after a week two thumping to St. Marys.  Also in the boat of battling their rank back is Doddridge County who took a big step week five by destroying Ritchie County.

 

 

Parkersburg at #9 Wheeling Park

 

What to Know: Parkersburg has played some top opponents decently behind strong play from Brenton Strange.  Wheeling Park’s Nate Philips and Donnie Evans have played on an all-state level and are not trying to slip-up anymore after Bridgeport and University.

 

 

Mount View at Notre Dame

 

What to Know: This could be a shootout with Elijah Collier going head on with Ryan LaAsmar.  After a promising opener, Notre Dame struggled against AA opponents.  Mount View has played very well and only lost to top AA’s as well. WR Joel Maurer of Notre Dame makes this interesting as a huge target and a potential game breaker.

 

 

Williamstown at #1 St. Marys

 

What to Know: Williamstown has had an up and down road slipping out of the top ten though only losing to top teams.  Here’s a golden chance to regain their turf against St. Marys and Jaiden Smith… however, the odds are against the Yellowjackets.  St. Marys has smacked every opponent and are looking like repeating champs.

 

 

MAIN CARD

#4 Fayetteville (A) at Pikeview

 

Tale of the Tape: Fayetteville is on pace for another unbeaten regular season.  Jordan Dempsey has dazzled as the best athlete on the field and maybe the best in all of Single A.  Pikeview has a split ground game with both on pace for one thousand yards.  This has been a tide-turning season for Pikeview, and that could bode unwell for a smaller traveling Pirate team.

 

#9 Liberty (Harrison) at Braxton County

 

Tale of the Tape: A clash of ideologies will come forth this Friday in Flatwoods.  Liberty’s run game is coming off an epic team victory in three overtimes against Grafton.  They have themselves perched inside the top ten.  Nearby, Braxton County has rebounded with three straight wins after losing their opener.  QB Heath Cottrill doesn’t have the same dual threat capability as other top QBs, but he has fantastic arm talent.  WR Tayton Stout is one of the most underrated receivers in the state and will play a big factor in this matchup.

 

#5 Spring Valley at #8 Hurricane

 

Tale of the Tape: The MSAC never fails to provide at least one big time matchup.  In Week Six, it will be the towering Timberwolf line versus the Redskins defense.  Spring Valley has trampled most opponents behind the big play of QB Derek Johnson and multi-positioned Graeson Maleshevich.  There lone loss was to Huntington just like 2016.  Hurricane lost some momentum with a harsh loss to Cabell Midland, but this can be a game to gain traction to push back into the top five.

 

#6 James Monroe at Nicholas County

 

Tale of the Tape: This will give a great test to see Nicholas County’s legitimacy.  Their schedule isn’t challenging but has them within the top ten through the WVSSAC ratings.  No one players stands out- the defense is their pride once again.  It will need to show up to handle the Mohler’s and Connor Moore.  James Monroe’s lone loss is to a top ranked Point Pleasant team- which was close.  This will be a contest of plentiful points for whoever is victorious.

 

 

 

MAIN EVENT

Morgantown at #6 Musselman

 

Tale of the Tape: Morgantown has found themselves between a rock and a hard place as we thought they would.  Sitting with a losing record at the midway point, they’re going to need some big time quality points to start inching themselves back into the discussion.  There is no better place to start than with the Applemen of Musselman.  However, their offense hasn’t been slowed up even slightly.  Their ground game behind Jacob Northcraft is very smashmouth and it doesn’t help that QB Chris Fox has shown to be a talented passer.  The Mohigans are closing in on their identity, and this is a pivotal ball game.