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

 

 

AAA’s Stay Hot

The #1 Bulldogs stretched their winstreak to 38 with a dominating win over Musselman.  This Saturday game was never even a contested.  The undefeated Applemen were quickly scored on by Naieem Kearney and then intercepted by Grant Harman.  Elijah Banks then quickly found Jarod Bowie in the endzone to jump out fast.  After several fumbles by both, Banks ran a score in for Harman to find Teddy Marshall for another long pass to have them up 28-0.  Banks and Harman would throw several more scores while the defense held strong as they won impressively 70-0.  Also up north, Morgantown absolutely answered the call with their second red hot game after a rough stretch.  Their defense was ready for the Hawks high powered O and allowed Cam Rice to be steady on offense.  Up 21-0 at the half, they really began to pour it on.  Ty Konchesky and Tanner Davis scored three long runs in the third to really break University’s back.  They rolled to a 55-10 win and look very good going into the playoffs.  Another team gathering a full head of a steam is Parkersburg South.    The game started hot with Nick Yoho slashing Park’s defense for big gains.  With some solid special teams play and a fake punt, Yoho scored once again before the half to be up 17-0.  Brayden Mooney would push in a score in the third as the defense held steady- they would go onto wind impressively over Wheeling Park 30-0.

 

 

Looking to Host

The winless Brooke Bruins showed up for their rivalry game with Weir and gave them as much as they could handle.  The Red Riders could not find a rhythm in the first half and only went up 7-0 into the third.  A Gage Yost TD had the game closed to 7-6.  However, as protocol, they began leaning on Donovan Kirby, who had 211 yards.  Weir would score two times in the third (one by Kirby and one pass from Sebastian Spencer).  Their defense would hold up and they would walk out with the 20-7 win.  A similar RB star was seen as Robert C. Byrd took on North Marion. They started early with a lot of carries to Ghovan Davidson to get them out to a 7-0 lead.   The Huskies bounced back with a field goal then Desmond Fluarty touchdown which gave them a 9-7 lead at the half.  However, Davidson, who had 264 yards and four scores, would score three of those in the second half on the muddy surface.  Their defense stepped up and the Eagles would sail to victory 28-9.  Also in AA, Keyser used their ground game to take out their out-of-state rival Allegany (MD).  They leaned on Brady Clay and Sam Perry who combined for nearly 300 yards rushing on the night.  However, it was a second quarter Ryan Shoemaker pass to Reggie Redman which gave them a 21-13 lead at the half.  The score remained the same into the fourth until Clay ran for another and then capped off with another Shoemaker to Redman score.  Keyser would win 33-20.

 

 

Single A’s Tested

Wheeling Central had their closest game of the year against Ohio-based Shadyside.  The first quarter began with traded blows from Shadyside and a big TD run by backup QB Jacob Rine.  They went for two to be up 8-7.  The weather got worse and a late Shadyside score then turnover on downs for the Maroon Knights seemed to mark their fate.  However, a goal line stand topped up with an 88-yard Anthony Robbins pick six is what regained their lead and ultimately won them the game 14-13.  In our main event of the week, Doddridge County showed they were legitimate.  In a mud bowl, it was a bend don’t break mentality that kept the score low.  It began quick with a Hunter America score and a Carter Haynes TD pass minutes later.  However, the mud quickly became a factor.  Both teams leaned on their star backs to crank out yard after yard.  America, who finished with 42 carries and 310 yards, was the difference to Donathan Taylor, who had 29 for 122.  The game changer was an early third quarter long TD run by America which was the final score of the entire game.  Both teams overcame missed field goals and goal line stands.  However, it was the Bulldogs who came away with the 14-7 win.

 

 

Notables

John Marshall used their consistent ground game to win 39-0 over Warren Local (OH).  They now sit at 6-3.  Liberty (Harrison) had a slightly surprising win over a hot Lewis County team.  Behind Seth Davis, they won 35-14 to position themselves for a potential playoff spot.  In Petersburg, Jacob Hartman lit up Tucker County with over 300 yards passing and five scores in an impressive 52-20 victory.  They move to 6-2.  Parkersburg Catholic went back to Ty Sturm and Jeb Boice to blowout Hannan 43-0 and still with only one loss on the season.  Cameron finished the regular season undefeated with another Andrew Ritchea performance over Bridgeport (OH).  Finally, Pendleton County moved to 7-2 with a 30-7 win over nearby Moorefield.

 

 

AAA Player of the Week: Grant Harman (QB/DB) Martinsburg

AA Player of the Week: Jacob Hartman (QB) Petersburg

A Player of the Week: Hunter America (RB) Doddridge County