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Mid-Ohio Valley Report: Week 1

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By: Eric Little – Seven Ranges Radio

There’s no denying the health and vitality of high school football in the Mid-Ohio Valley as we prepare for the dawn of another season. Just look at the teams discussed below…a number of playoff teams from a year ago (including both participants of the Class A title game) and a steady mix of perennial favorites.

Some of those teams are poised to once again make the playoffs, others will battle issues with depth in an effort to do so, while others are set to take the next step toward deeper postseason runs. But this year is also a story of new beginnings with new coaches at some noteworthy spots and programs that will shift directions, either for better or worse. When you consider all sides, it should be one of the more interesting seasons in recent memory. All games set for 7:30 p.m. Friday, unless otherwise noted:

 

Tyler Consolidated at Williamstown (7:00 Friday)

The defending Class A state champion Yellowjackets will open at home in what will likely be a festive atmosphere in the stands, well, until 7 p.m. Sure, there will be plenty of reminders of that championship team – a group seemingly willed to win by quarterback Dakota Watson – but once the game begins, fans will quickly notice that Watson and the rest of a talented group of seniors moved on after Williamstown’s triple-overtime win over St. Marys.

Filling Watson’s spot on the depth chart? That task falls to Trenton Tallman, an athletic junior who played quarterback last year during the handful of plays when Watson was injured. In the past, conventional wisdom said Williamstown head coach Terry Smith would be likely to stay conservative on offense with a new quarterback.

But since Jake Tracewell’s time under center a few seasons ago, Smith has evolved to where he now runs his offense based on what his quarterback is comfortable doing. This means as a new quarterback has shown his capability at running an offense, Smith has largely given that player the freedom to do so.

Williamstown won an all-time classic Class A championship in 2014, beating rival St. Marys in triple-overtime.
Williamstown won an all-time classic Class A championship in 2014, beating rival St. Marys in triple-overtime.

With Tallman, this means you can’t necessarily rely on old thinking that says the Yellowjackets will be a one-dimensional running team. They’ll likely rely on the running game, especially early on, but don’t be surprised to see Tallman throw it a time or two. His classmate, Trevor Hoosier, has been groomed for a larger role on both sides of the ball and will likely make an early impact.

Tyler Consolidated has to be ready to get a bitter taste out of its mouth, left there by a disappointing end to their 2014. Playing at home in the opening round of the playoffs, the Silver Knights let a double-digit second half lead slip away in a loss to Moorefield.

Head coach Ryan Walton has surely been reminding players of that November afternoon throughout preseason conditioning and August two-a-days. Expect the Silver Knights to come out hungry and determined in this tough opener, especially given the fact that as far as returning experience goes, that edge goes to the Silver Knights.

But if you’ve got no vested interest in a week one matchup, you’d be well served to attend this one…because these programs are both ready for huge things in 2015, provided they emerge unscathed from a tough opener. This game will air locally on 92.3 FM (WXCR-FM) and online at www.wxcr.com.

 

St. Marys at Ritchie County

You’d think it would be easy to reflect warmly on the accomplishments of the best football season in the history of the only high school in a football-crazed town. But that largely hasn’t been the case in St. Marys since last December’s one-point loss to Williamstown in the Super Six. One point. That’s all that separated the Blue Devils from an unbeaten season and their first state championship in school history, not to mention the storybook ending to a season with plenty of ups and downs.

St. Mary's Dylan Wolfe was part of the Blue Devils' state runner-up finish from last year.
St. Mary’s Dylan Wolfe was part of the Blue Devils’ state runner-up finish from last year.

But the loss left a definite malaise in St. Marys and, in some ways, a loss of identity. After the mid-season stroke suffered by head coach Jodi Mote, the town rallied behind the beloved Mote and his team with inspiring “We Believe” signs that slowly faded into memory the moment winter unleashed its grip on the Ohio River town.

A lot has changed since then for St. Marys. For starters, Mote has resumed full duties as a teacher, head coach and athletic director. But there’s now a new St. Marys High School, and in the third week of the season, a new athletic complex that will open as part of that new facility.

Gone are a slew of seniors that made up the core of last year’s Blue Devils team, but St. Marys returns several key players. Bret Fetty had a monster game for St. Marys in last year’s title game and Mote will need to be creative in finding ways to get the ball into his hands. Wesley Parsons spent much of the season sharing time at quarterback last year and will bring experience to the position this season.

For Ritchie County, newness is the name of the game as Kaleb Lawrence prepares to lead the Rebels into the 2015 season. Lawrence was hired mid-summer to replace Mike Dawson after Dawson’s resignation at the end of the season. Despite the fact that Lawrence was hired late in the process – missing valuable teambuilding and weightlifting time – he still has a lot of things going for him in this new position.

For starters, Lawrence’s numbers aren’t as bad as they could’ve been. Nearly half of last year’s Rebels graduated, but Ritchie County will still field a team with well over 30 players. Also, the memory of the winning culture Dawson brought to Ellenboro is still around, and despite a losing season last year, this year’s seniors know what it’s like to play playoff football and have that goal to work toward.

The Rebels were drubbed by St. Marys last year in a game that wasn’t close by the time darkness fell. Whether or not that is a motivating factor remains to be seen, but Lawrence’s Rebels will use Friday as the first step on what should be a season of growth. St. Marys will use Friday as the first step toward a return to Wheeling Island. This game will air locally on Lite Rock 93R (93.9 FM) and online at www.literock93r.com.

 

Parkersburg South at Ripley

11 points. That’s the rallying cry for Mike Eddy’s Parkersburg South Patriots this season. Their fortunes changed dramatically in the final eight days of the 2014 season. At 6-2, the Patriots had a shot – with wins in games against Wheeling Park and Parkersburg – to finish in the top-eight and host a playoff game. Instead, Wheeling Park overcame a double-digit Parkersburg South lead in the second half to stun the Southsiders.

Parkersburg South quarterback Garrett Gilkeson enters his senior season with the Patriots.
Parkersburg South quarterback Garrett Gilkeson enters his senior season with the Patriots.

A week later, the crosstown Big Reds controlled the ball and took advantage of Patriot mistakes to win on a last-second field goal. The difference in the two games? You guessed it…11 points. Instead of hosting a playoff game as a top-eight team the Patriots made the trip to Laidley Field to get their lunch handed to them 70-0 to eventual state champion Capital.

So, yes…a dramatic turn of events indeed. The Patriots lost key members of their offensive line, but will build around senior center Luke Williams. Quarterback Garrett Gilkeson returns, as do top receiving targets Cody Boggs and Cole Day. But the backfield situation will be, as Eddy describes it, “by committee”…with a few players vying for carries early in the season. Depth will be an issue for Parkersburg South as a lower-than-desired turnout on the first day of practice and early camp injuries will force a number of players to play on both sides of the ball.

Ripley will be looking to build around first-year head coach Eddie Smolder, fresh off a run at building Sissonville’s program. Smolder will run a ball control offense this season, exactly the kind of attack that gave the Patriots fits in their regular season finale against PHS. The Patriots will need to maximize opportunities and minimize mistakes if they want to take care of business this weekend. This game will air locally on V96.9 (96.9 FM) and online at www.v969radio.net.

 

George Washington at Parkersburg

Parkersburg had one of the stronger finishes in the state last year for any team, much less one that lost in the first round of the playoffs. The Big Reds won three straight to make the playoff field and nearly pulled a first-round upset. Parkersburg head coach Don Reeves will look to build off that momentum for this season, but his opener won’t be easy.

Standing in the way is a George Washington team that finished last year with a disappointing 5-5 record after starting the season 4-1. One of those losses was a triple-overtime loss to the Big Reds, a fact that surely isn’t lost on both head coaches. Aside from restoring lost pride, the Patriots also return several key pieces on the offensive side of the ball.

Last year, GW was blown out in their opener 56-14 by eventual state runner-up South Charleston. This year’s opener should be a lot more competitive for both sides. There’s a lot on the line for both teams, but with a win, the Big Reds should set the course for what could be a solid season.

 

Ravenswood at Wahama

For years, one of the biggest knocks on Wahama was that their schedule wasn’t as competitive as that of their in-state rivals. The White Falcons play in the Ohio-centric Tri-Valley Conference, with only a couple games against conference foes with a program of a similar caliber to Wahama’s. That also means the White Falcons don’t get to play many games against West Virginia teams.

So, Wahama will likely be more than ready to step up in class and try to silence their critics in this opener against Class AA Ravenswood. The Red Devils lost several key members from a playoff team that upset No. 3 Bluefield in last year’s opening round. A rebuilding Red Devils team will have their hands full in this road opener.

 

Buffalo at Parkersburg Catholic (7:30 Saturday)

Change is in the air at Parkersburg Catholic as changing duties with Jeff Campbell’s day job forced him to step down as Crusaders head coach after last season. Curt Shriver steps in to pilot the Crusaders this year as they prepare to open against a Buffalo team that improved last year over their injury-riddled 2013. Depth will be an issue for Catholic this season after losing a slew of talent from last year’s squad.

 

Other Games:

Wirt County at Roane County

Gilmer County at Calhoun County (7:00 Friday)

Paden City at Southern, Ohio (7:00 Friday)

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