FEATURED PHOTO CREDITS: NEAL SMITH (PARKERSBURG NEWS AND SENTINEL)

 

 

Panhandling

#1 Martinsburg broke the all-time consecutive win record in the state of West Virginia at 37.  Jefferson never stood much of a chance thanks to the early heroics of Trey Sine who forced scores from a interception, sack fumble, and blocked field goal.  This allowed the Bulldog offense to be at ease and do their thing- meaning Grant Harman tossing multiple scores while Naieem Kearney ran all over the field.  They were up 49-0 at the half and didn’t ease up as they finished 70-0 and stay untested by in-state teams.  #4 Musselman took advantage of a Washington team without their best player and under 25 players.  It got ugly in a hurry as Tre Beard III tossed five first half touchdowns while Washington managed -39 yards of offense.  The Applemen marched to a 70-6 and stays unbeaten going into their matchup with Martinsburg.  Hedgesville found themselves with a hangover after two losses and actually went down to Hampshire in the first quarter.  However, two Malakai Brown scores and interception touchdown quickly had the game in the Eagles’ favor.  Just like that, Hedgesville was up 35-6 at the half.  The weather disallowed either team to make much ground in the second as the Eagles finished with 42-13 win.

 

 

Getting Hot

#7 Parkersburg South won their fifth straight game against Greenbrier East.  The Patriots had a balanced offensive attack while shutting down the Spartans early and often.  Despite Greenbrier East trying to milk the clock, Brayden Mooney scored on the ground or through the air almost instantly to put them up 20-0 early.  Despite two Colby Piner TD’s, Nick Yoho kept the Patriots ahead and easily took out Greenbrier East in Fairlea 48-14.  After back-to-back ugly performances, Morgantown bounced back with a convincing win over two-loss John Marshall.  The star in this game was Preston Fox who returned after missing several games with a broken collarbone.  The Mohigans jumped out early on John Marshall behind big plays by Fox.  Ty Konchesky and Tanner Davis started with rushing scores and two late TD catches by Fox kept John Marshall behind the entire game as they won 49-13.  #8 Wheeling Park found itself in a dogfight with a winless Princeton.  The first half was a story of Alex Dunlevy versus Ranson Graham who answered each others touchdown passes several times.  Being 14-14 through the second quarter, the Patriots pulled away with a late Dunlevy pass and back-to-back TD runs by Stevie Mitchell and Kenya Robinson.  Despite the Tigers effort, Wheeling Park went onto win 52-20.

 

 

Bigs in Big Ten Take Care of Business

#1 Fairmont Senior gave the business to a formerly one-loss Grafton team.  Kennedy favorite Connor Neal threw two incompletions and had 232 yards with four touchdowns before getting called out.   Grafton’s only score on the first team was a long field goal set up by Caleb Bish.   The Polar Bear defense came up big with takeaways.  They were easily outmatched in their 48-10 defeat.  #4 Bridgeport relied on Jake Bowen on both sides of the ball once again as they took on #9 Keyser.  The Indians took a 7-0 lead early and played by that margin most of the game despite Keyser’s well balanced rushing attack.  Up 14-7, Jake Bowen caught a touchdown pass to put them up two scores.   A third quarter run by Bowen stretched their lead to 21.  Keyser then turned the ball over on the third and goal.  A late fourth quarter rally by Ryan Shoemaker (their specialty) brought them within 9 but a big plays by Bowen on defense ultimately won the game for Bridgeport 28-19.

 

 

AA Showouts

Robert C. Byrd has battled its way back into the top ten with a victory over Liberty (Harrison).  Jeremiah King has risen to be the perfect tag-team partner to all-stater Ghovan Davidson.  The Mountaineers stood close with the Eagles all game long.  King got the scoring started only for Liberty to return the kick for a score.  King struck again, this time from a pass by Xavier Lopez to stretch the lead- once again, tied after a long drive by Seth McKinney.  Davidson led the next drive down the field before King capped it off for his third first half score.  Liberty stayed within eight until the end of the third quarter until it was time for Robert C. Byrd to run away with it in the fourth.  The Eagles would win 49-20 after 21 unmatched points to end it.  #9 Weir found itself in trouble against East Liverpool (OH).  Down 21 at one point, the Red Riders leaned on Sebastian Spencer who scored multiple ways including a punt return touchdown.  He also took the lead back finally with five minutes to go with an 82-yard touchdown run.  Weir moved to 7-2 with the close 29-28 victory.

 

 

 

Top A’s Tested

#1 Wheeling Central faced its biggest test against Portsmouth West.  Despite an early 26-0 lead, Curtis McGhee III left with a shoulder injury.  The Senators rallied in the second half and scored 23 straight points.  The Maroon Knights scored late with a Payton Marlinton catch only for Portsmouth West to respond.  A late Maroon Knight pick set them up to be upset but the Senators ran out of time and lost 32-30.  #3 Williamstown took on undefeated and nearby Parkersburg Catholic.  The Yellowjackets sent the state a message that they run the north west for now.  Carter Haynes and Donathan Taylor combined for six touchdowns while shutting down the Crusaders’ rushing attack.  Forced to pass, they were picked off four times.  Williamstown dominated through and through- up 28-0 at the half and going on to win 41-0.  #2 Doddridge cruised to another victory to stay undefeated.  State leading rusher Hunter America tallied 184 while Tanner Lett nearly equaled that passing and with two touchdowns of his own.  The Bulldogs ran through Valley (Wetzel) 42-0 and will go undefeated into their matchup with Williamstown.  #10 Magnolia has finally gotten into a rhythm and moved one step closer to securing a playoff position.  Against Tyler Consolidated, the game started off with back and forth touchdowns from Patrick Mirandy and  Mark Rucker.  From then on, the Blue Eagles leaned on Gage Adams- who had more than 200 yards rushing.  Thanks to some key turnovers, Magnolia scored 30 straight points from then on out in a 37-13 victory over the Silver Knights.

 

 

Notables

Lewis County escaped from Philip Barbour to move to 6-3 and stay in the playoff race.  Ritchie County moved to 5-3 with a 36-12 win over Wirt County and also stays in the playoff race.  Petersburg took care of business with a 40-13 win against Moorefield.  The Dragons of Cameron continue their undefeated dominance with a 62-6 win over Bealsville (OH).  Finally, University took care of business against Preston by Logan Holgorsen, Evan Parow, and Amir Richardson in a big 50-0 dub.

 

 

AAA Player of the Week: Tre Beard III (QB) Musselman

AA Player of the Week: Jeremiah King (RB) Robert C. Byrd

A Player of the Week: Patrick Mirandy (QB) Magnolia