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Northern Panhandle Report: Week 11

By Dave Morrison
Wheeling Newspapers

WHEELING – With the playoff meetings just a few days away, several Northern Panhandle teams are in the midst of a race to finish in the top 16 teams.

Class A top-ranked Madonna and Class AAA Wheeling Park are assured of a playoff berth. Bishop Donahue and Wheeling Park can gain spots by winning their games this weekend.

Magnolia also has a legitimate shot but may ultimately need a little help to assure itself of a postseason invitation.

 

Wheeling Park (8-1) at John Marshall (4-5)

The Patriots, No. 7 this week, will likely bypass University, a team it beat 17-7 earlier in the year with a win over the Monarchs.

RB Savion Johnson, who is on the verge of a 1,000 yard season, and QB Zach Phillips (who has thrown just 11 incompletions in the last three-plus games) are having big years and LB Geremy Paige leads a defense that has given up just 134 points this season, including a 62-0 win over Parkersburg South last week.

The Monarchs are looking for their first .500 season since going 7-3 in 2009.

 

Madonna (9-0) vs. Clay-Battelle (8-0)

The Blue Dons can win playoff homefield advantage throughout with a win over the Cee-Bees.

Quarterback Ross Comis, who has rushed for over 1,000 yards had one of his best passing days of the season with 234 yards in a 41-20 win over Toronto last week.
Elliot Nero leads the team in rushing with more than 1,300 yards.

Clay-Battelle is led by QB Christian Haught, who has thrown touchdowns to six different receivers this season.

Clay-Battelle will also make the postseason regardless of the outcome.

 

Wheeling Central (5-4) at Spring Mills (1-8)

The Maroon Knights are coming off a tough loss to Bishop Donahue, when they missed on a two-point conversion with 1:34 left.

Central, which has eight state titles in the last 13 years, has been hit hard by the injury big, losing starting quarterback Parker Henry to an ACL. Running back C.J. Burch, who had 116 yards rushing a four touchdowns against Bishop Donahue, is playing with a cast on his hand.

Freshman Isaac Rine has filled in admirably at QB, and had 107 yards rushing and 121 passing against Bishop. He connected with fellow freshman John Burkhalter late to bring the Knights within one, but the Maroon Knights came up just short,

Spring Mills, a Class AAA school playing in the football-heavy Eastern Panhandle, has struggled, but does not have a senior class.

 

Oak Glen (0-9) at Magnolia (5-4)

The Blue Eagles will dedicate their field Friday to the late Bill Stewart, the former WVU coach and a proud New Martinsville native and alumni.

They will also try to complete a comeback for the ages, by making the playoffs after a tough-luck season that saw them loss to four quality opponents, including Williamstown, St. Mary’s, Central and Linsly by a total of 17 points, and two of those were closer than the final scores indicate.

Drew Keller had 202 yards rushing a three touchdowns in a 24-0 win over one-loss Steubenville Catholic, which had Madonna on the ropes a week earlier before losing 22-17.

Jabob Brill and Eric Smith form one of the best pitch-and-catch combos in Class A.

 

Tyler Consolidated (5-4) at Bishop Donahue (6-3) tonight. 7:30

Bishop Donahue is healthy and it shows.

The Bishops gained a big win over Wheeling Central last week to grab hold of their own playoff destiny and can cash in with a win over Tyler, which has won five in a row but are not in line for a playoff berth.

Jesse Padlow runs the Bishops with precision from his quarterback spot. He found eight different receivers in a 33-32 win over Central, finishing with 276 yards and two touchdowns.

Chris Vani anchors a tough-nosed defense. He has 14 sacks on the year.

The Silver Knights are led by 1,000-yard rusher Jacob Highley.





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