By Dave Morrison
Wheeling Intelligencer
University will make its second appearance in the Ohio Valley in as many weeks when it travels to Wheeling for a matchup Friday with Wheeling Park at Wheeling Island Stadium.
Though still early, the game could prove big down the line.
University, fresh off a 44-21 win against Brooke in which the Hawks ran for 337 yards, is 3-0 and currently tied for No. 4 in the first West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission ratings of the season.
Park, 2-0 and No. 12 in the first rating, was idle last week. Park coach Chris Daugherty is looking forward to the showdown.
“The series with University has been a good one for us,” Daugherty said. “They are always a good team and they certainly are this season.”
Daugherty saw as much when he and the Park coaching staff made the short trip to Wellsburg to scout the Hawks.
“Typical University team,” he said. “They have great size up front, and they have four or five playmakers they can get the ball to and be effective.”
Daugherty was especially impressed by quarterback Travis Renner, who ran for 113 yards and a touchdown and also threw a TD pass against the Bruins.
“He is a kid who has been giving teams a headache for the last two years,” Daugherty said. “They have plenty of weapons back there.”
Like Jack Armstrong, who returned the opening kickoff 92 yards for a score and also rushed for a touchdown and Tony Richardson is a returning defensive all-stater from a year ago.
Park isn’t without its own weapons, including sophomore Savion Johnson, who has stepped up in the first two weeks of the season. Quarterback Zach Phillips and receiver Eric Banks have formed a great pitch-and-catch combo.
All-state linebacker Geremy Paige picked up where he left off last year,
“We really do feel we have one of the best teams we’ve had around here in a while, and that isn’t just ability,” Daugherty said. “It’s chemistry. These kids really get along, they like playing together. You can have the best team ever based on ability and if you don;t have chemistry, you don’t have anything.”
The good news for Park is that Bryce Ingram is close to getting back on the field.
“I’m not sure he is going to be ready to play this week, but it looks like he is going to play football this season,” Daugherty said. “There was a time earlier when we were concerned if he would play at all this year.”
Linsly at Central, Saturday, 7 p.m. Wheeling Island Stadium
Linsly coach B.J. Depew likes to bill it the “city championship.”
“There are three schools (in Wheeling) and two play each other,” Depew said. “So I guess it’s the unofficial city championship.”
The two old rivals will be looking to stop a short one-game losing streak. Linsly fell to Martins Ferry 28-21 and Madonna stopped Central 42-7. In Central’s loss, the Maroon Knights had five turnovers, something they must avoid against Linsly.
Central (2-1) is led by quarterback Parker Henry. After coming off a lost season to a knee injury, Henry has rushed for 305 yards and four touchdowns.
Chimechi Oparanozie leads Linsly (2-1) with 358 yards and dour touchdowns while quarterback Jameson Murray has completed 29 of 60 passes for 403 yards and four touchdowns.
“They run the ball well and Murray is a veteran who does an outstanding job running the offense,” Central coach Mike Young said.
Depew sees similarities between the two old foes.
“We both won a tossup game in week one,” he said. “We both beat a team that was coming off a a big win the week before in week two and we are both coming off tough losses in week 3. We are both looking to build some momentum. There is a lot riding on this game.”
John Marshall Oak Glen
Oak Glen (0-3) might boast the youngest team in the state among Class AA teams, starting eight sophomores and two freshmen.
They are coming togehter, however, and coach Ian Whittington is happy with the progress.
“Playing a good game against a very good Indian Creek team was big for us,” Whittington said. “I think the growing pains are starting to leave and the kids are starting to recognize game speed.”
Oak Glen lost that game, 35-14, but in is worth noting the game was tied at 14 entering the fourth quarter.
Hampered week one when returning quarterback Chase Hartley, one of the few weapons Whittington knew he could count on, went down with an injury.
Whittington held an open competition for the job and backup Zach Porter, a sophomore, won the job.
Against Creek, he completed 6 passes for 63 yards and a score and Alec Swiger added 112 yards rushing.
Against Class AAA John Marshall the Golden Bears will focus on stopping Trevor Hardesty.
It’s a tall chore.
Hardesty has rushed for 331 yards and six TDs in the Monarchs (1-1) first two games.
River at Magnolia
Magnolia finally got untracked last week in a big win over Tyler Consolidated after losing its first two games of the season by a combined eight points.
All-staters Kage Rohde (93 yards) and Drew Keller (91 yards) led the way for the Blue Eagles, who face yet another rival in River, which is right across the Ohio River.
Other games:
Bishop Donahue at St. John
Gilmer at Paden City
Valley (W) at Notre Dame
Grafton at Weir
Steubenville at Brooke
Beallsville at Cameron