Northern Panhandle: Wheeling Park and Magnolia both in semifinals

northern_panhandle

By: Shawn Rine

The Wheeling Intelligencer and News-Register

 

Class AAA

No. 3 Wheeling Park (10-1-1) at No. 2 Point Pleasant (12-0)

This is the one pretty much everyone was pointing to when this side of the bracket came out. It was assumed that each would make it to this, the semifinal round.

Perhaps nobody was more dominant in the quarterfinals than these two teams. Wheeling Park routed South Charleston, 41-0, while at the same time Point Pleasant was busy hammering Huntington, 49-0. It’s not likely to be as easy this time in a rematch of a 2013 second-round game won by the Patriots, 28-7.

The Big Blacks offense is prolific, averaging a state-record 61 points per game during the regular season and they’ve hardly slowed down in the playoffs. Led by presumed Kennedy Award frontrunner Cody Mitchell, who by the way is close to an individual state scoring record, and his 50 total touchdowns, Point Pleasant is taking no prisoners.

Mitchell is a running back by trade, but also lines up a lot at quarterback in the wildcat formation. A mammoth offensive line has been creating incredible-sized holes for which to run through. He’s run for 2,207 yards on 159 carries and scored 41 times.

But he’s far from the lone weapon. Grant Safford averages 10.4 yards per carry and has run for 1,551 yards and 21 touchdowns.

On the other side, the Patriots have a couple of Kennedy Award hopefuls as well, in senior running back Savion Johnson and classmate Elijah Bell, a receiver/safety. Johnson has run for 1,586 yards and 26 touchdowns, while Bell has hauled in 42 passes for 1,017 yards (24.2 a catch) and 14 touchdowns.

That’s not even considering quarterback Cross Wilkinson, who is arguably playing the best of anyone in the state at the position. In last week’s victory South Charleston sold out to stop Johnson, and all Wilkinson did was complete 12 of 12 for 235 yards and four touchdowns. For the season the sophomore is 94 of 152 (62 percent) for 1,883 yards, 21 TDs and six interceptions.

Defensively these clubs are no slouches, either. In fact, the Patriots have allowed a Class AAA-low 93 points this season. They are led by hard-hitting linebacker Clay McDonald and his 69 tackles and two sacks. Nick Nardone adds 53 tackles, Jake Pedelose 51 and Bell 50. Defensive lineman Jack Bence paces the team with five sacks while Austin Curnes, Isaiah Myers and Dustin Dominguez — all linemen — have four apiece.

 

Class A

No. 4 Moorefield (11-1) at No. 1 Magnolia (12-0)

Could a matchup possibly include two more tradition-rich programs? Moorefield and Magnolia are what state pundits consider heavyweights, and Saturday’s 1:30 p.m. game promises to be a classic bout.

The top-ranked Blue Eagles received quite the scare last week, edging past rival Williamstown, 14-13, on the heels of a fourth-quarter rally. The Yellow Jackets lowered the boom on Tug Valley, 52-26.

Magnolia has always been know for its defense, and this season has proven no different. Just three times have teams scored more than 13 points — and two of those were the result of the starters being removed.

That unit is paced by the likes of Kyle Ritz, Carter Seckman, Hunter Brill, Zach Haught and Joe Ledergerber, just to name a few.

But Magnolia has shown a balanced offense all season. Junior quarterback Nick Priem is 74 of 130 for 1,287 yards and 15 touchdowns, against four interceptions. Chase Street is the leading rusher after a big quarterfinal performance, as he checks in with 157 carries, 1,461 yards and 15 TDs. Backfield mate Tyler Anderson has 1,442 yards and 19 scores on 209 carries. Ritz (23-317-5td) and Anderson (16-285-2) are the leading receivers, while sophomore Brooks Parsons averages 41.6 yards on his nine catches.

When you talk about Moorefield, the conversation begins and essentially ends with senior Wil Schoonover, who has been a workhorse. Schoonover’s stat line includes 266 carries, 2,376 yards (8.9 a carry) and 38 touchdowns. He’s thrown eight passes and caught eight more. He’s the Yellow Jackets’ punter, returns kicks and punts and is one of the best defensive backs — regardless of class — in the state.

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