Week 8 recap: Midland holds off GW

STATEWIDE – What looked like a blowout, turned into a shootout as Class AAA No. 10 Cabell Midland (6-2) held off No. 2 George Washington (6-1), 49-40 (game photos here). The Knights were comfortably ahead, 42-14, in the second half before the Patriots made a furious late-game push.

“I don’t know if they adjusted, but that’s just how it went,” said Cabell Midland head coach Luke Salmons. “We came out strong and then they came back. That’s just how it went, it was a good high school football game.”

In fact, George Washington had a chance to tie the game at 42 apiece, late, with a two-point conversion attempt, but it was Cabell Midland’s Tre Martin who came up with the interception that ultimately preserved the win for the Knights.

“I didn’t even watch,” Salmons said of the conversion try. “I was just praying at that point.”

Cabell Midland held off a huge George Washington come back attempt in week eight.

For Cabell Midland, Dontae Hendricks finished the game with 127 yards and three touchdowns on 16 carries. Kasey Thomas, who moved to quarterback, had 103 yards on eight carries for the Knights. Also, Teran Barnitz finished with 109 yards and a touchdown in the win.

The win put Cabell Midland in better position for a home playoff game in November.

“We have a good team – we’re six or eight plays from being undefeated,” Salmons said. “We play a tough schedule, but we left it all out on the field tonight.”

George Washington played without standout running back Draven Riffe, who is battling an ankle injury.

No. 1 Huntington had no problems with Parkersburg, beating the Big Reds, 55-14. For the Highlanders, senior Nick Tubbs had 166 yards on five carries, Paden Christian totaled 118 yards on nine carries and Charles Crawford put up 105 yards on seven carries.

“It was a good win on the road coming off of the bye week,” said Huntington head coach Billy Seals. “We looked lethargic there a little bit early, but we got it fixed.”

No. 3 Pt. Pleasant improved to 7-0, beating Class AA No. 10 Ravenswood, 31-21. No. 4 Martinsburg, meanwhile, pounded No. 16 Hedgesville, 76-0.

No. 6 University handled John Marshall, 38-9 – the Hawks came into the contest without three starters along the offensive line. University senior Jack Armstrong finished with an excellent night on special teams – he took one punt return for 50 yards that setup a score. He later added a 92 punt return for a touchdown.

“Thank God for our outstanding special teams,” said University head coach John Kelley. “Jack was a highlight film tonight – our special teams all night was magnificent.”

No. 7 Wheeling Park and No. 8 Oak Hill both bounced back from losses last week. The Patriots took down Elkins, 41-13, while Oak Hill beat Lewis County 27-17.

No. 9 Morgantown saw its star running back Chazzy Thomas leave the game against Musselman on just the third play of the game after taking an awkward hit. The Mohigans still rolled, 44-20 – there was nothing official after the game on the severity of Thomas’ injury, although it’s hopeful the injury won’t be too serious.

“Chazzy, unfortunately, gets hurt every year,” said Morgantown head coach John Bowers. “He’s always got something. So, for the whole year, we’ve been trying to groom a backup because he does carry the ball a whole lot and he takes a pounding.”

Out of Class AA, No. 1 Wayne rolled again, beating Herbert Hoover, 53-20. No. 2 Frankfort suffered its fist loss of the year, falling to Class AAA Washington, 26-6. No. 6 Summers County won a back-and-forth battle with Class A Meadow Bridge, prevailing 39-32.

The best game of the night, perhaps, came out of Class A where No. 1 St. Marys (7-0) needed a 27 yard field goal with 25 seconds left to beat Magnolia (4-4), 11-9. The game-winning drive for the Blue Devils came after Magnolia’s Drew Keller gave his team the lead with an 18 yard touchdown run with just 1:10 to go.

The loss is another dagger to Magnolia’s playoff hopes, as the Blue Eagles have faced a brutal schedule, with losses to St. Marys, Wheeling Central, Williamstown and Linsly. Those four losses have come by a combined 17 points.

No. 3 Valley Fayette stayed undefeated, beating No. 15 Parkersburg Catholic, 38-15. No. 6 Moorefield handed No. 7 East Hardy its first loss, 16-6. It was East Hardy’s first home loss in 22 games.

Elsewhere, Kane Roush became Wahama’s all-time leading rusher as the White Falcons beat South Gallia Oh. 46-28. Roush finished the night with over 250 yards on the ground – he needed 197 to take the record. The defending state champion White Falcons have now won six straight and stand at 7-1 overall.

For a look at all the scores, click here.





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