By: Eric Little – Seven Ranges Radio
While waiting for my weekly appearance on MetroNews High School Gamenight, I sit and listen to the other callers talk about their games while gathering my own thoughts for my segment. Last week was a little different though. You see, I’d been too busy caught up in my own opening week preparations that I hadn’t taken the time to think of what the night meant to so many in our state.
In flood-affected areas, Friday was a respite for those that haven’t had a lot to get excited about in the last two months. We’ve heard the stories of devastation. We’ve also heard stories of inspiration. Stories of people lining up to help. Stories of relief drives and donations flowing from all over the state, nation and world.
And on the football side, stories of West Virginia high schools lining up to help and donate supplies and equipment. Some even sent their teams into the disaster areas to help clean up. We’ve also heard about how our native sons in college football didn’t forget where they were from and helped the effort, and encouraged high school coaches in their respective states to do the same.
Friday, as I waited my turn on the phone, I was listening to the report of the Webster County-Richwood game. That’s a game with a ton of meaning already attached in that part of the state, but when you add the flood as background context, the event transcended football.
As my ears were filled with descriptions of both teams breaking bread together before the game, and fans wearing numerous T-shirts in school colors that made reference to flood relief efforts, the true meaning of the event hit home. Honestly, it was hard to go back to talking football right after that when there was so much else of greater importance to discuss.
Friday was the perfect marriage of what West Virginians do best – high school football and helping our neighbors, and not at all in that order. When we gather each Friday, it’s about more than football. It’s about coming together in communities across the state to rally around young people (football players, cheerleaders, dance team members, band/ROTC members, etc.) while enjoying fellowship with our neighbors.
The true importance and impact of getting back to football was felt statewide, but perhaps nowhere more than where floods devastated communities and closed down some of the very schools represented by these young men Friday night. It’s also why we must keep these flood-affected schools and communities at the forefront of our thoughts over the next few years, as they search for the unity they need to stay together and rebuild.
I tip my cap to all of you in those areas trying to make it work – for yourselves and for the student-athletes. I’m also in awe of the sportsmanship opponents show these schools and student-athletes before, during and after the football game. Hang tough, and remember, the rest of West Virginia is with you.
All games Friday, kickoff times listed:
Class A No. 5 Williamstown (1-0) at No. 8 Magnolia (0-1) (7:30)
This game is a rematch of a state quarterfinal from last year, won 14-13 in New Martinsville by a Magnolia team on the way to a state championship.
The Yellowjackets started 2016 with a hard-fought 25-14 win over Tyler Consolidated. After allowing the Silver Knights to return the game’s opening kickoff for a touchdown, Williamstown clamped down on defense and only allowed six points the rest of the way. Trenton Tallman ran for 134 yards and two touchdowns, while throwing for another.
The Blue Eagles opened their year with a 41-14 loss on the road against the perennially-tough Shadyside, Ohio Tigers. These teams are led by veteran coaches (Terry Smith at Williamstown and Dave Chapman at Magnolia) who are too smart to let revenge entirely enter into the discussion, though memories of last November will surely be a motivating factor for the Yellowjackets.
This game carries plenty of weight on its own in the context of this season, especially for a team like Magnolia with a really difficult schedule ahead. Unlike last time around, Magnolia will need to rely on a little more than the weather to force Yellowjacket turnovers. But if the Blue Eagles can force a few mistakes, it’ll certainly help turn the tide in their favor.
Parkersburg (1-0) at Hurricane (1-0) (7:00)
Parkersburg earned the attention of more than a few pollsters before and after week one, and with good reason. The return of Ethan Airhart under center was felt in full force for the Big Reds in a 57-14 win over St. Albans. Airhart threw for 156 yards and three scores for Parkersburg while Brenton Strange and Karson Snyder added a pair of touchdowns each.
But what Parkersburg is probably just as happy to see is a defense that extinguished the Dragons’ fire all night long, holding St. Albans to just 97 yards and 14 points. They’ll face a Hurricane team in Week 2 that claimed a 28-15 win over Winfield. If the defense can put up a similar effort this week – and for the rest of the season – for Parkersburg, the sky’s the limit for a team that returns a wealth of options offensively.
Class AA No. 2 Point Pleasant (1-0) at Ripley (1-0) (7:00)
Perhaps the least-expected result from the opening weekend of the season came from the Erickson All-Sports Facility, where the Ripley Vikings came away with a 14-7 win over Parkersburg South. After a late turnover appeared to hand the game to the Patriots, Ripley forced a fumble of their own with minutes remaining and got a second chance.
A 47-yard reception by Ty Eshenaur put the Vikings in the red zone and set up the second of Chance Morgan’s two rushing touchdowns. When a fourth-down Patriot pass fell short, the Ripley sidelines erupted as Eddie Smolder’s ballclub was over .500 for the first time ever in Smolder’s two seasons. The good feelings have likely already worn off in Death Valley though, because this week the Vikings face Point Pleasant in their home opener.
Fresh off a reclassification to Class AA, the Big Blacks opened with a 44-6 thrashing of Lincoln County. Ripley found some consistency running the football in the second half, with 93 yards coming on the 15 carries of Robert Evans. If Ripley can use their bigger backs early to open space for Evans in the second half, they’ll have some opportunity to score points. Their defense though will have their hands full with Point Pleasant.
Wirt County (1-0) at Class A No. 2 St. Marys (1-0) (7:30)
St. Marys defeated Ritchie County so early, so thoroughly and so decisively Friday night that the only thing missing was WWE announcer (and Oklahoma Sooner superfan) Jim Ross running onto the field demanding that the game be stopped because “Ritchie County has families.” St. Marys returned the opening kickoff for a score, got a pick-six from Will Billeter and a touchdown run from Jaden Smith (one of three from Smith) on the first offensive play for St. Marys.
The Blue Devils led 35-0 at the end of one quarter and never looked back. They’ll face Wirt County this week, fresh off a 33-6 win over Calhoun County in the head coaching debut of Isaac Osborn. The Tigers got three touchdown runs from Josh Ellison and scored the final 33 points of Friday’s game, after trailing 6-0 at the end of the first quarter.
They’ll provide a stiffer challenge for St. Marys, but what’s scariest for Wirt County? The early Blue Devil lead allowed St. Marys head coach Jodi Mote to freely substitute in the final three quarters, meaning we were all denied the chance to see St. Marys fully flex its muscles. We’ll have a better idea of the Blue Devils’ full capabilities this week.
This game can be heard locally on Lite Rock 93R (93.9 FM) and online at www.literock93r.com.
Class AAA No. 9 University (1-0) at Parkersburg South (0-1) (7:00)
In what was certainly a tough loss for the Patriots to swallow, Parkersburg South is 0-1 after being stunned late at home against Ripley. With the football at midfield and needing just a couple first downs to pick up what would’ve been a 7-6 win, South fumbled the ball back to Ripley in the game’s final minutes. The Vikings scored to take the lead and when Parkersburg South’s final effort fell short, the Patriots were a disappointing 0-1.
There were bright spots for Parkersburg South. The punting game flipped the field effectively all night long. South’s defense created four takeaways and stopped Ripley twice on downs when the Vikings drove deep into Patriot territory. But it’s a defense that spent WAY too much time on the field as Ripley ran nearly twice as many plays on offense as Parkersburg South. And the Patriot offense gave the ball right back to Ripley twice on the very next play after creating the takeaway.
These are things that must be fixed – and fast – for a South team that’ll welcome the upstart University Hawks to town, fresh off a 41-14 win over John Marshall. With power in the middle and speed threats on the edge, the Hawks will test a Parkersburg South defense that proved its mettle before faltering late.
This game can be heard locally on V96.9 FM and online at www.v969radio.net.
Tyler Consolidated (0-1) at Doddridge County (0-1) (7:30)
When Tyler Anderson returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown last Friday against Williamstown, the hopes of Silver Knights fans had to be pretty high. However, no one in the Mid-Ohio Valley makes adjustments on the fly like the Williamstown Yellowjackets.
Jace Reed’s two-yard touchdown run in the second quarter gave the Silver Knights a short-lived lead, but it was their only offensive score of the night in a 25-14 loss to Williamstown. The Yellowjackets outgained the Silver Knights 329-214 and were dominant in the second half.
The Silver Knights will regroup and visit a Doddridge County team that took their lumps in a 41-0 season opening loss to South Harrison. Expect Tyler Consolidated to find the right stuff.
This game can be heard locally on 92.3 FM and online at www.wxcr.com.
Roane County (1-0) at Lincoln County (0-1) (7:30)
Roane County rolled up 448 total yards of offense in a 42-22 win over South Point, Ohio. The Raiders were led by 272 yards and three touchdown runs from Tyler May. May also connected with Drew Kinder for a pair of touchdown strikes. This week, Roane hits the road to face a Lincoln County team that was at the losing end of a 44-6 decision to Point Pleasant.
Wahama (1-0) at Waterford, Ohio (1-0) (7:30)
In a tight contest throughout, Wahama edged Ravenswood 26-14. The White Falcons put the game on ice late in the fourth quarter with a 97-yard interception return for touchdown from Colton Arrington. Meanwhile, Waterford rolled to a 37-6 win over Miller, Ohio. The Wildcats racked up 323 yards of total offense and two rushing scores from Braden Belville. Waterford also scored on defense, getting a first-quarter pick-six from Ty McGraw from 91 yards out. This is the first of eight straight games against Ohio teams for Wahama. The White Falcons won’t see a Mountain State foe again until Buffalo on November 4th.
Other Games:
Sherman (1-0) at Calhoun County (0-1) (7:00)
Ritchie County (0-1) at Parkersburg Catholic (0-1) (7:00)
Ravenswood (0-1) at Webster County (1-0) (7:30)