By: Shawn Rine
The Wheeling Intelligencer and News-Register
AAA No. 3 Wheeling Park (0-0) at AA No. 1 Bridgeport (1-0)
This has no business being a rivalry, yet it has turned into one of the best in the state. More often than not games in this series have been decided in the final moments, often by the toe of a kicker.
The Patriots have legitimate Class AAA title aspirations and the Indians are one of the major roadblocks. It’s the debut of Wheeling Park sophomore quarterback Cross Wilkinson, who drew rave reviews around the state in the preseason.
Running back Savion Johnson, a possible Kennedy Award and MetroNews Player of the Year candidate, returns after missing all of last season with a torn ACL. Wheeling Park has handed Bridgeport its only two losses the last two seasons.
A No. 2 Magnolia (1-0) at A No. 1 Williamstown (1-0)
A pair of Class A heavyweights battle it out in what is sure to be an early season slugfest. The Blue Eagles finished 4-6 last season in a rare down year, but they were young and decimated with injuries.
Coach Josh Sims’ club debuted with a 40-0 victory against Ohio power Shadyside in a game that wasn’t as close as the score indicates. It stopped the Tigers’ 32-game, regular-season unbeaten streak.
The Yellow Jackets are the defending state champs and opened with a 38-21 victory against what figures to be a playoff-qualifying Tyler Consolidated squad.
Cameron (1-0) at Valley-Wetzel (1-0)
They’re thinking playoffs again in Pine Grove, and quarterback Trey Streets is one of the major reasons why. A dual-threat at the position, he accumulated more than 300 yards of offense and accounted for three scores as the Lumberjacks downed Bridgeport, Ohio, 24-8, on the road last Saturday.
Coach Scott Holt’s Dragons did things the hard way, falling behind 19-0 at halftime to Buckeye Trail, Ohio, before rallying for a 28-26 victory behind solid play from sophomore QB Colby Brown.
Other games:
John Marshall at Mountain Ridge (MD)
Brooke at Morgantown
Weir vs. Harrison Central (OH)
Oak Glen at Catholic Central (OH)
Tyler Consolidated vs. Doddridge County
Wheeling Central at Bellaire (OH)
Paden City at Bishop Donahue
Madonna at Tusky Catholic (OH)