MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — It was a bizarre night of high school football in week two of the season as Mother Nature caused several games to be postponed, one to be cancelled and multiple games finished after midnight.
Lightning forced delays around the state and interrupted a titanic battle between AAA No. 3 Wheeling Park and AA No. 1 Bridgeport just before the end of the first quarter with the score tied at 0-0.
According to WVSSAC rules, when thunder is heard or lightning is seen, play must be suspended for 30 minutes. The clock resets with each additional lightning strike. As lightning continued nearing the 10:00 hour in Bridgeport, the game was officially called off and will not be made up as both Bridgeport and Wheeling Park will have a tie listed on their records and for playoff/WVSSAC ratings.
Elsewhere, Class AAA No. 1 Capital (2-0) edged No. 2 South Charleston (1-1) 26-21 in a rematch of last year’s state championship game. Capital senior quarterback Tyrhee Pratt scored four touchdowns (two passing, two rushing) and combined for over 250 yards of total offense for the Cougars in the win. Capital receiver Miguel Bays added 126 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
Video and radio highlights: Capital 26, South Charleston 21
South Charleston scored a late touchdown and needed an onside kick, but came up short on the recovery as Capital clinched the win.
“It was good for us to have to fight, I think we’re a lot better than we played tonight,” said Capital coach Jon Carpenter. “We have a lot of things we need to fix, but I’m tickled to death we fought like that.”
Out of Class AA, No. 7 Tolsia (2-0) continued to impress, following up it’s week one win over Wayne with a 44-41 victory over No. 3 Mingo Central (1-1). The Rebels’ Luke Presley had another big night in the win.
Out of Class A, No. 2 Magnolia (2-0) edged No. 1 and defending champion Williamstown (1-1) 21-14. Blue Eagles’ quarterback Nick Priem connected with sophomore receiver Brooks Parsons for touchdown passes of 55 yards and 60 yards in the win. Priem finished with 191 yards passing and those two touchdowns in the win. Tyler Anderson added 101 yards on the ground as well for Magnolia, while Williamstown quarterback Trent Tallman finished with over 100 yards rushing and two touchdowns in the loss.
The last game of the night was completed at 1:15 a.m. as Class A No. 7 Clay-Battelle (1-1) fell to Midland Trail (1-1) on the road.
Class AAA No. 6 Martinsburg dropped to 0-2 on the year with a 21-14 loss at Sherando (VA). Bulldogs’ starting quarterback Carter Walburn missed the game as he continues to come back from an injury that has hampered him for the last couple of weeks. Martinsburg drove to the Sherando two yard line in the game’s closing minutes, but turned the ball over on downs.
No. 8 Morgantown (2-0) picked up a nice win over Brooke 27-14, No. 7 Huntington shutout Spring Valley 38-0, No. 4 Cabell Midland rolled Winfield 56-6, No. 5 Point Pleasant dominated Ripley 64-6 and No. 10 Parkersburg South beat University 44-20.
For all of the final scores from Friday night around the state, click here.