FEATURED PHOTO CREDITS: RYAN FISCHER (THE HERALD-DISPATCH)

 

 

Big Dogs Ready

The Timberwolves finally put the cap on their perfect season last week as they out-muscled the Huntington Highlanders. Another big game from Kennedy Award candidate Graeson Malashevich helped propel Spring Valley to a 28-16 win and a 10-0 regular season record. Malashevich caught six passes for 105 yards and a touchdown, while grabbing a pick six and returning a fumble for a touchdown on the defensive side of the ball. Looking at first-round action, we will be seeing the Timberwolves host Spring Mills, while the Highlanders will host a Cabell Midland team who has already defeated them once this season. Speaking of Cabell Midland, the Knights routed South Charleston on Friday to secure a 6-4 record and a #10 seed in the “AAA” playoffs. Ivan Vaughn helped lead Cabell Midland to their 41-7 domination of South Charleston with only 10 carries for 164 yards and three touchdowns. The Capital Cougars out on a scoring exhibition in their final regular season game by putting up a whopping 62 points, crushing the Patriots’ playoff hopes. These 62 points didn’t come easily though, because now that we begin to enter the first week of the post-season, it seems that the Cougars still can’t figure out how to hold on to the football. Capital suffered seven fumbles in the contest along with 19 penalties. Grant Wells threw for 316 yard and racked up four touchdowns in his final game as a George Washington Patriot. His football career is far from over though, Wells has committed to Marshall, and we can certainly expect to see him on the field for the Thundering Herd in the coming years. Capital finished the season 9-1 and will play host to the Morgantown Mohicans for their 1st round playoff game.

 

 

AA Hotstreaks
Bluefield is on track for another repeat this year, and it looks like they’re not letting anyone stand in their way. The Beavers defeated “AAA” Woodrow Wilson in their final regular season game and finish their year undefeated by any team in West Virginia. Arnold Martin racked up 118 yards and two touchdowns while Juice Edwards accounted for just over 100 yards on 10 carries. The Beavers enter the “AA” playoffs as the #2 seed and will host the Oak Hill Red Devils in the first round. The Pioneers of Wayne may have started slow, but its been all uphill for them the back end of the season. They upset previously undefeated Poca last week, shutting them out 23-0. Mike Bartram was the main weapon for the Pioneers as he scored three touchdowns while racking up 102 yards on 17 carries for his first 100-yard game of the year. Wayne finishes the season 8-2 with their only losses coming against #9 seed Point Pleasant and undefeated “AAA” Spring Valley. Wayne secured the #10 seed with the win and will travel to Keyser to do battle with the Golden Tornadoes in the first round.

 

 

Big Numbers
Mingo Central also finished their season at 8-2 after a week 11 win over the Winfield Generals. Mingo QB Daylin Goad has been phenomenal all season long, putting up absurd numbers and leading his team to an 8-win season. Goad threw for five touchdowns against the Generals, three of which fell into the hands of Drew Hatfield.  Winfield’s Nick Vance finished with the highest yardage of passing in a game seen in West Virginia with an absurd 525 yards.  Hatfield finished the game with 5 catches for 212 yards to help the Miners secure a #9 playoff seed. The Miners will face off with #8 seed Point Pleasant in what will be a rematch of these teams’ season openers. Point Pleasant improved to 8-1 after a decimation of James Monroe for their final regular season game. Cason Payne had another terrific performance for the Big Blacks as he went 14 of 17 throwing for 262 yards and three touchdowns while adding two more on the ground. Point Pleasant’s Josh Wamsley caught 7 of these passes for 143 yards and a score. Point won the game 47-6 and the Big Blacks are currently preparing for their blockbuster rematch with Mingo Central.

 

 

Southern A’s Get Tuned Up

Midland Trail High School achieved what many only dream of… a perfect season. The Patriots completed their quest last week with a 25-0 thumping of Roane County. Midland Trail only had one game this season where the opposing team finished within one score and that was against “AA” Oak Hill. The Patriots dominated their schedule, mostly filled with “AA’s” in pursuit of their #2 seed in the “A” playoffs. Midland Trail will play host to #15 Tucker County in their first round matchup. Another “A” frontrunner emerging from the south is Mount View. The Golden Knights, led by coach Larry Thompson, have flipped the script in 2018 and amassed a 9-1 regular season record. Mount View sole loss came in Week #9 against AA PikeView, a game that was decided by a mere two points. Mount View has secured a #3 seed in the “A” playoffs and will host #14 Ritchie County in the first game on their path to Wheeling.

 

 

Ground Games

The Sherman Tide close out their season with a blowout of their Boone County rival Van. Another big game from J.T. Hensley helped Sherman secure the 30-0 victory and a 9-1 record. Hensley finished the game with 130 yards and three touchdowns. The Sherman offensive line is continuing to prove their worth week by week by opening holes and helping solidify a strong running game. Sherman has earned a #7 seed and will host Parkersburg Catholic for the first round of the “A” playoffs. The Summers County Bobcats finalized their record at 7-3 after a shutout of Fayetteville. The Pirates were still holding on to playoff hopes going into the contest, but Summers County quickly put an end to those chances. The Bobcats suffered losses to #3 Mount View, “AA” playoff contenders Shady Spring, and PikeView. Summers County has been seeded at #11 and will be travelling to Williamstown in the first round to battle with the #6 seeded Yellowjackets.

 
Notables
Greenbrier East defeated Riverside by 20 last week and will face 9-1 Ripley in the first round of the “AAA” playoffs. Ripley defeated the Spartans by two points in the regular season. Hurricane whooped St. Albans 63-0 to sneak into the playoffs at #16 and will travel to Martinsburg to try to take down the #1 Bulldogs in the first round. The Oak Hill Red Devils defeated Westside by 34 last week and are seeded 15th; meaning they will travel to Bluefield for a first round date with the Beavers. Shady Spring shutout Pocahontas County in their final regular season game, reaching 8-2 and earning them a #11 seed. They will travel to Clarksburg to battle Robert C. Byrd in the first round. Lincoln County finished their season with a stellar 8-2 record. However, they are ineligible to compete in the WVSSAC post season because they did not schedule enough “AA” opponents. Lincoln County played only four “AA” opponents in 2018, the rest were “A”.

 

 

AAA Player of the Week: Graeson Malashevich (WR/DB) Spring Valley

AA Player of the Week: Drew Hatfield (WR) Mingo Central

A Player of the Week: JT Hensley (QB) Sherman