In our 160-page 2019 WV Prep Football Insider we preview all 115 teams with full page predictions (records/strength of schedule), Top 100 Players of 2019, tons of featured articles, full writer predictions (top 10’s/state awards), comprehensive state records/titles, and so much more! IT IS AVAILABLE NOW FOR PHYSICAL AND DIGITAL DOWNLOAD! Click here to learn more
We are looking forward to football season regardless of who plays who. However, we wanted to put together a list of 12 games that are incredibly interesting. NOTE: this is not a list about the best rivalries but that definitely can make things more enticing. This is strictly about fresh matchups, powerhouse opponents, passing of torches, and programs proving they are still here or teams proving they have arrived. Also, we are keeping it ONE GAME PER TEAM.
Notables
Musselman at Spring Mills (Week One)
Parkersburg at Parkersburg South (Week Eleven)
Weir at Frankfort (Week Three)
Point Pleasant at Linsly (WV) (Week Seven)
Cameron at Madonna (Week Five)
Sherman at East Hard (Week Six)
#12 Williamstown at Parkersburg Catholic
Last result: Williamstown 48 Parkersburg Catholic 6 (2018)
Date: October 25th (Week Nine)
Both teams had very successful 2018 seasons. Parkersburg Catholic enacted a huge turnaround from 2017 and made the playoffs- finishing the year with only two losses. One of those came in a big loss to Williamstown as the Yellowjackets made it all the way to the Class A title game. In 2018 Williamstown destroyed the Crusaders’ undefeated run. Coming into 2019, Parkersburg Catholic hasn’t won the nearby matchup since 1999 but are returning the bulk of their playoff team. Williamstown is very much loaded but must replace big-time players. This should be a very telling game and be important for playoff seeding.
#11 Spring Valley at Hurricane
Last result: Spring Valley 27 Hurricane 3 (2018)
Date: September 6th (Week Two)
Spring Valley has reloaded to give it a fourth shot at winning the state championship. Hurricane also has one of their most promising rosters in several seasons. The Redskins have always played well against Spring Valley. They are actually 6-3 since 2010 including the memorable 41-21 win over the Timberwolves in 2017. The Timberwolves are still king of the valley and it might take a wildcard to give them an MSAC loss outside of Huntington, Capital, and/or Cabell Midland. The Redskins could make it interesting.
#10 Wheeling Park at Morgantown
Last result: Wheeling Park 31 Morgantown 0 (2018)
Date: October 11th (Week Seven)
Wheeling Park and Morgantown had similar seasons in 2018. A tough schedule and a hard first round playoff draw. They feature similar lineups with veteran skill pieces but younger lines. Last year the Patriots broke a two-year losing streak to the Mohigans by giving them a big shutout loss. High hopes are there for their teams so this matchup should be highly anticipated and will have big effects in a potential homefield in the playoffs.
#9 Graham (VA) at Bluefield
Last Result: Bluefield 38 Graham (VA) 14 (2018)
Date: August 30th (Week One)
The Greatest Rivalry in America. This opening week spectacle has been all-time great the last two seasons. Despite Bluefield getting the better of the G-Men, it was the Beavers who lost in the title game while Graham (VA) won their respective championship. The field will be spoiled with Division One talent and also newly rising stars. Bluefield has dominated the rivalry this decade so it is guaranteed the G-Men are hungry for the biggest game of the year.
#8 Ritchie County at Doddridge County
Last Result: Doddridge County 41 Ritchie County 12 (2018)
Date: September 21st (Week Four)
In 2018 Doddridge County delivered on the hype and Ritchie County came out of nowhere. With a new head coach, the Rebels pulled out seven wins and was a late blown lead from making the quarterfinals. Each team returns multiple starters and all-staters. The Bulldogs have won the last five prior to losing four straight losses from 2010-2013. The Rebels haven’t played within two scores since 2015. It will let the state know just how good Doddridge County is and if Ritchie County is near title contention standards.
#7 Cabell Midland at Huntington
Last result: Huntington 14 Cabell Midland 7 (2018 playoffs)
Date: October 25th (Week Nine)
The nearby rivals traded games in 2018 with Huntington notching the first round playoff win. Always similar teams with respected lines, tough runners, and stiff defenses, 2019 should be an expected bloodbath. Strangely enough, both teams are boasting explosive skill groups instead of veteran lines. They are .500 against each other since 2010. With both being top contenders to reclaim the MSAC title from Spring Valley, this one really matters.
#6 Keyser at Nicholas County
Last result: Keyser 50 Nicholas County 12 (2016 playoffs)
Date: September 27th (Week Five)
These two annual AA contenders both lost in the quarterfinals last year. In their entire history, they have only met twice. In the 1962 state championship and in 2016 when Keyser travelled to Summersville in the first round of the postseason to rain on the Grizzlies’ season. Both teams are expected to be 8-win or 9-win teams. Between each team, there are six Big Board ranked linemen and several more skill positions. A lot of talent. A fresh matchup. A revealing game.
#5 Midland Trail at Richwood
Last result: Midland Trail 44 Richwood 8 (2018)
Date: September 12th (Week Three)
From 1993 to 2008, Richwood never lost to Midland Trail. Since 2012, they have only won once (2014). The Lumberjacks had a dramatic and disappointing campaign last year while the Patriots redeemed their early 2017 playoff loss with a run to the state semifinals. Now, Richwood feels they have their feet underneath them, loads of talent, and a very good shot to get their first win in some time against the Patriots. Midland Trail is mysterious in how much they return. A lot to replace but plenty of substance there. Will a new Class A team overtake the Coalfields?
#4 South Charleston at Capital
Last result: Capital 42 South Charleston 13 (2018)
Date: September 6th (Week Two)
South Charleston has only beaten Capital six times ever. The losses have been tough and legendary such as the 2015 state championship. It’s been seven years since the Black Eagles have won at all. Capital, coming off a semifinal run, lost a lot including their best offensive player, defensive player, and lineman. South Charleston appears to be returning one of the brightest bunches in the region with many young players now maturing into upperclassmen. Week two will be a must-see to observe if Capital is actually down and if South Charleston is back up.
#3 Wheeling Central at Fort Frye (OH)
Last result: Wheeling Central 22 Fort Frye (OH) 3 (1980)
Date: October 4th (Week Six)
These cross-state powerhouses will butt heads in 2019 for only the second time ever. Wheeling Central is coming off their second title run while Fort Frye (OH) went 12-0 before losing in the Ohio semifinals. Each returns a ton with legitimate prospects at state titles in their respective state. This will be a great game in itself but also a future arguing point between Ohio football vs West Virginia football.
#2 Poca at Mingo Central
Last result: Poca 45 Mingo Central 27 (2018)
Date: September 27th (Week Five)
Prior to 2018, Poca’s closest game with Mingo Central was a 62-20 loss in 2016. They had never beaten them. With the Miners proving to be a top team again and many speculating that the Dots’ undefeated start was due to an easy schedule, Poca dropped a bomb on AA with a 45-27 defeat over Mingo Central last year. Both finished softly with first round exits but are now considered the top two teams for the conference coming into 2019. Tons of hype carry around both programs so this game should be worth the price of admission.
#1 Martinsburg at Salem (VA)
Last result: Never played
Date: October 18th (Week Eight)
Since 2010, Martinsburg and Salem (VA) combine for 14 state championship appearances and 11 titles. The Bulldogs currently ride a state record winstreak, three titles, and a roster deep enough to keep the train rolling. Salem (VA) lost in the first round in 2018, ending their own three-year title run. Regardless, these are two of the best teams in each state, and they will butt heads in an expected classic as both are branching out more and more to see just how good they are. A big battle of states.