By: Michael Carvelli
Clarksburg Exponent Telegram
Lewis County at AA No. 1 Bridgeport (Thursday)
A much different looking Bridgeport team will take the field as it begins its quest for a fourth consecutive Class AA title Thursday night at Wayne Jamison Field than the one that celebrated at Wheeling Island Stadium back in December.
Gone is the most successful senior class in school history, full of numerous playmakers on both side of the ball, including the likes of Dylan Tonkery, Dante Bonamico and Elijah Drummond. Now, it’s up to a new group that is ready to reload to make their mark for head coach Josh Nicewarner as the Indians kick off 2016 against Big 10 Conference foe, and Class AA newcomer, Lewis County.
Among the talented roster for the Indians is first team all-state linebacker Mackenzie Holmes. The senior led Bridgeport with 80 tackles a year ago and will be the leader of the unit once again as it looks to continue its stellar play. J.T. Harris, another senior who made a name for himself as a dangerous return man in 2015, will be playing a bigger role in the offense this season as he will get the majority of carries at running back.
Lewis County comes into 2016 optimistic as it moves down to Class AA after the Minutemen won five of their last six games, starting last season 0-4. They will return fullback and linebacker Austin Hughes.
Hughes, a second team Class AAA all-state pick on defense, had 87 tackles a year ago along with 756 yards and 14 touchdowns on offense.
AA No. 3 Fairmont Senior at AA No. 7 Robert C. Byrd
Always one of the state’s most intriguing opening week matchups, expect no different from this week’s battle between these two rivals.
Robert C. Byrd lost all-state running back Juwan Jones-Wright who is now at Shepherd, and the Eagles enter the season with last year’s leading receiver Tre Junkins making the move to quarterback. With Junkins leading the offense and talented senior running back Brandon Cook finally getting a chance to step into the spotlight as the feature back, behind an experienced offensive line, the Eagles have a chance to prove they can once again compete with the best in Class AA.
They’ll have their hands full in this opener against a Polar Bears team that brings plenty of talent all over the field into this season. Back is running back Bryson Gilbert, the electrifying playmaker who finished last year with just under 1,000 rushing yards, and a number of talented defensive players like linebacker Jake Abbott (also moving to quarterback this year) and brothers Dante and Darius Stills who will be a menace for opposing lines all season.
Fairmont Senior won last year’s meeting between the two schools, 24-13, but both teams have won the showdown three of the last six times they’ve squared off.
Anacostia, D.C. at AAA No. 6 Morgantown
It’s a new era for Morgantown football as new head coach Matt Lacy fills the shoes of former coach John Bowers. And in his first season, Lacy has plenty of questions to answer when it comes to how his team will look.
Heading into Friday night’s opener against Anacostia, D.C., the Mohigans will be breaking in a new quarterback — a competition that has been between sophomores Logan Holgorsen and Aaron Alverez — as well as replacing four starting offensive linemen from last year’s team that lost in the first round of the Class AAA playoffs.
Morgantown has plenty of talent returning on offense, including 1,000-yard rusher Jordan Page in the backfield and receivers Ben Waibogha and Camron Henderson, and looks to be a deep defensive unit with talent and experience returning.
The Mohigans have played Anacostia in three of the last four seasons, winning last year’s matchup by a score of 54-30 and outscoring them in those three meetings by an average of 26.6 points per game.
University at John Marshall
After struggling to a 2-8 finish with a young and inexperienced team a year ago, University is hoping to use the lessons it learned in 2015 and use them toward a big bounce-back campaign this season — starting with Friday’s opener against John Marshall.
The Hawks opened last season with a 22-11 loss to the Monarchs, who finished 5-5 a year ago and lost 21 seniors from last that team.
Junior quarterback Clay Bailey returns and looks much improved after a year and an offseason. Alongside Bailey, the Hawks have plenty of other talented players like fullback Isaiah Utt and sophomore receiver Amir Richardson.
Last year, University began the season 0-7 before picking up wins in two of its final three games to end the season.
Doddridge County at A No. 9 South Harrison
After using its defense and hard-nosed ground attack to earn a 10-win season a year ago, South Harrison is looking to return to the playoffs and get deeper into the Class A title hunt this year with a young, but experienced team, led by a strong junior class.
Running backs Cam Barnette and Freddy Canary lead the Hawks with a great mix of power and speed in the backfield. Barnette, who was also a second team Class A all-state linebacker as a sophomore, led South Harrison with 1,026 yards and 13 touchdowns while also finishing with 121 tackles and 12 stops for loss on defense. Canary scored 11 touchdowns — seven rushing, two receiving and two on special teams.
Coach Brad Jett is still looking at his options to replace Ian Riggleman at quarterback. Junior Logan Peck and freshman Nate Wright have been battling it out with Peck, who played well in two games when Riggleman was injured last year, leading the way in that competition.
The South Harrison defense will be led by junior Nick Rush on the defensive line as he looks to anchor that unit toward another successful season. The Hawks allowed just 10.1 points per game in 2015.
Doddridge County is looking to replace its leading rusher and tackler from last year, Clayton Lagasse, and will have leading receiver and all-state defensive back Hunter Riffle moving over to quarterback where he will join Curtis James in the backfield as the Bulldogs look to get back into playoff contention after coming up short last year.
Other Games:
Hampshire at Preston
Liberty (H) at East Fairmont
Elkins at North Marion
Lincoln at Braxton County
Grafton at Philip Barbour
Clay-Battelle at Valley (Fayette)
Notre Dame at Pendleton County