By: Kristin Kurelic
AAA No 3. Wheeling Park (0-0) at AA No. 1 Bridgeport (1-0)
This unlikely rivalry has become one of the marquee games in the state, often featuring wild endings coming down just to a kick here or a turnover there.
Each team has title aspirations in its respective class, Bridgeport seeking its third in a row. Wheeling Park handed the Indians their only loss in each of their past two seasons.
Bridgeport kicked off its campaign by dominating Buckhannon-Upshur, 50-13, after holding a 20-0 first quarter lead that opened to a 50-0 lead.
Wheeling Park, which began the season with a bye week, will debut sophomore quarterback Cross Wilkinson, while Savion Johnson returns after missing all of this past season with a torn ACL.
Brooke (0-1) at AAA No. 8 Morgantown (1-0)
The Mohigans will get a visit from head coach John Bowers’ alma mater a week after they defeated Anacostia (DC), 54-30.
MHS scored on its first play from scrimmage, scored again on a blocked punt return, yet took a narrow 27-22 lead nine seconds before halftime.
The second half was all Mohigans though, as they earned four straight turnovers and turned them into four straight touchdowns. Jordan Page led the effort with 205 yards rushing and four touchdowns on 16 carries.
Brooke is seeking its first win, after letting a big upset slip away in Week 1. No. 7 Huntington narrowly escaped the Bruins, 17-13, by forcing a turnover and scoring in the final two minutes.
AAA No. 10 Parkersburg South (1-0) at University (0-1)
The Patriots couldn’t have asked for a much better debut, as they shut out Ripley, 28-0. Stingy defense and quarterback Garrett Gilkeson, who threw for a touchdown and passed for another, led the effort.
Meanwhile, UHS lost to John Marshall, 22-11, on its home turf. The Hawks lost the majority of starters on their state quarterfinal team to graduation. Their key returnee, fullback Isaiah Utt, finished with 120 yards rushing, but had to shoulder most of the load.
Still, UHS trailed just 7-3 at halftime, before it was doomed by two big plays in the second half. John Marshall running back Chase Gump broke loose for a 78-yard touchdown and a blocked punt resulted in another Monarchs score.
UHS head coach John Kelley was pleased with the defense, which will need to find a way to corral Gilkeson this week.
A No. 7 Clay-Battelle (1-0) at Midland Trail (0-1)
Questions abounded for the Cee-Bees in the season opener, as they returned from a program-best Class A state semifinal appearance but graduated most of their key starters.
They answered them with a 46-35 rout of Valley Fayette, largely thanks to strong performances from senior quarterback Jarret Hockenberry and junior receiver Tanner Burnette.
Burnette, playing football for the first time in high school, made five catches for 85 yards and two touchdowns, along with a 38-yard punt return. Hockenberry, a returning first-team all-stater, passed for 130 yards and four touchdowns, and rushed for 112 yards and two touchdowns.
This week, the Cee-Bees take on Midland Trail, which dropped its opener to Independence, 28-12.
North Marion (0-1) at AA No. 4 Fairmont Senior (1-0)
The Huskies fell to Elkins, 17-14, in their opener and now must face the Polar Bears, who are coming off a thrilling win against No. 8 Robert C. Byrd.
Fairmont Senior won the Big 10 rivalry with a defensive effort, forcing three turnovers and holding the Flying Eagles to less than 200 yards of offense. Junior quarterback Dominic Smith passed for 155 yards and a touchdown, and rushed for another score. Sophomore running back Bryson Gilbert had a big second half, collecting 113 yards and a touchdown and David Childers kicked a 30-yard field goal.
East Fairmont (1-0) at Grafton (1-0)
John Geary won his first game as East Fairmont’s head coach, defeating Liberty Harrison, 17-0, in the season opener. Dalton Michael and Cam Stewart each rushed for a touchdown, and Colin Harvath finished the scoring with a 32-yard field goal.
Grafton defeated Philip Barbour, 21-14, in a back-and-forth contest. Quarterback Cole Collins sealed the victory with a 5-play, 59-yard drive capped by a 1-yard touchdown run as the clock wound down.
AA No. 8 Robert C. Byrd (0-1) at Liberty Harrison (0-1)
The Flying Eagles suffered a tough loss to Big 10 rival Fairmont Senior in Week 1, but remain a top playoff contender.
Julian Marino threw two touchdowns, one to Juwan Jones-Wright and another to Brandon Cook. RCB scored twice in the second half, but could not mount a comeback against the Polar Bears.
They look to rebound against city rival Liberty, which lost to East Fairmont, 17-0.
Lewis County (0-1) at Preston (1-0)
Preston opened its season with a big first half and a 30-20 win against Hampshire. Dylan Smith helped the Knights to a hot start by returning a punt 66 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter. Then Brady Baker followed it up with a 6-yard touchdown run and Joe Boyles caught a 23-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Scott Stone.
Now, the Knights will open Big 10 play against a young Lewis County squad, guided by new coach Dustin Cogar. The Minutemen struggled to a 31-21 loss against Oak Hill this past week. Lewis County led, 14-0, after a quarter, but was shut out in the second half.
Other games:
Parkersburg Catholic (0-1) at Notre Dame (0-1)
South Harrison (1-0) at Gilmer County (0-1)
Lincoln (1-0) at Philip Barbour (0-1)