By Shawn Rine – The Wheeling Intelligencer and News-Register for WVMetroNews.com
Class A No. 8 Magnolia (1-0) at No. 3 Williamstown (1-0)
Arguably one of the best rivalries in West Virginia is set to be renewed once again. Two small-school heavyweights will take center stage when Magnolia makes the short trip to Williamstown.
“I expect a playoff atmosphere,” Magnolia coach Dave Chapman said. “They have a great football community at Williamstown and it is fun to be a part of it as an opponent, a player and a coach.
“Williamstown is a quality opponent and we have developed a rivalry over the last couple of years. It is a big game for both teams and a chance to get some momentum going early in the year.”
It might sound crazy, but already in Week 2, this one could have some serious playoff implications.
The Blue Eagles, who took home the Class A crown in 2015, are coming off a 2-8 season that transpired in large part due to heavy graduation losses. Magnolia opened this season with a 48-0 drubbing of Parkersburg Catholic last Saturday night, in a game in which it led 33-0 after one quarter. The Yellowjackets upended Tyler Consolidated in a 54-32 shootout.
The Blue Eagles rushed for 218 yards and four touchdowns, secured a pick-six and returned the opening kickoff for a score in their Week-1 victory.
“A lot of different people contributed,” Chapman said. “We did what we wanted to get done and it was a total team win. We had great play from our special teams, offense and defense. You can’t ask for a better start to the season.”
The Blue Eagles’ speed was a problem for the Crusaders, just as it figures to be for most everyone else. Brooks Parsons, who can run it, catch it, return it and even kick it, was a man amongst boys last week. He and first-year starting tailback Hunter Partridge combined for three scores in the opener.
“They are senior guys who are key components to our offense,” Chapman said. “We also have Leo Herrick at split end and a pair of special tight ends, too.”
New QB Pat Mirandy threw one pass, but it went for 21 yards and a score to Parsons.
The Yellowjackets offense was also clicking on all cylinders as it ran for 304 yards, sparked by Donathan Taylor who picked up 156 yards. Quarterback Carter Haynes also turned in 144 yards and three touchdown passes while recovering a fumble that he returned it for a touchdown..
“Haynes had a good game but our offensive line did a good job,” Williamstown coach Terry Smith said. “They put the holes there for Taylor, too, so you have to give the line credit.”
Both coaches are concerned about the turnover battle in a series that has seen the schools evenly split their last eight meetings.
Class AAA No. Wheeling Park (1-0) at Class AA No. 3 Bridgeport (1-0)
Did someone mention the best rivalries in the state? Well, this one has to be right up there.
Bridgeport may have had a three-year state championship run stopped last season, but they broke another by defeating Wheeling Park. During their title run, the Indians lost two games in three years – both to the Patriots.
“This long-distance rivalry started out with both of us looking for games to fill our schedule, and it seemed like our games are always close, so we continued to play,” Wheeling Park coach Chris Daugherty said. “It’s a healthy rivalry because our kids all treat each other with respect.
“That’s the kind of thing you look for when you are playing a team from a distance. And it always seems like both teams leave this game and move on through the season playing well.”
Both Wheeling Park and Bridgeport are coming off season-opening victories. The Patriots dispatched rival Brooke, 24-6, at West Liberty University. The Indians had little trouble with Lewis County, winning 33-6.
“Our defense was definitely a little bit of a question mark going into last week, so it was nice seeing us get five turnovers against Brooke,” Daugherty said. “We have a lot of names and faces returning on offense, and I thought we were OK there, but we still have to play four quarters.
“The defense rose to the occasion and bent, but did not break. We did shoot ourselves in the foot a few times on both sides of the football, which is something we have to eliminate this week.”
First-year Bridgeport coach John Cole said it was business as usual as the school won its 14th straight opener.
“Year-in and year-out, Wheeling Park is one of the toughest teams on our schedule,” Cole said. “But it’s why we play them. And it looks like they are a playoff-caliber team once again.
“Not much has changed for us. All I know how to do is run the football … I have been a line coach all my life. I think that we were a little stronger and more talented than our opponent last week, but that doesn’t mean that we didn’t make mistakes.
“We had a lot of execution problems in that game.”
With Bridgeport’s punt return teams excelling all night, its longest scoring drive was seven plays, that coming the first time it touched the football. Lewis County ran 60 plays for 184 total yards while Bridgeport was credited with 32 plays, but piled up 229 yards.
Cole’s bunch scored all five of its touchdowns on the ground, with all but one starting in Lewis County territory. Quarterback John Merica scored two of those touchdowns and finished with five carries for 54 yards, including scoring runs of 5 and 42 yards. Running backs Jake Bowen (9-60), Brice Haines (4-98) and Chapin Murphy were each charted with scoring runs.
“It’s a classic Bridgeport team,” Daugherty said. “Even with the coaching change not much has changed in the way they do things. They like to run the football and run their quarterback, and they don’t throw the ball much, which can lead to limited touches for the other team.”
Wheeling Park’s offense got started, more often than not, with its defense. The Patriots recorded five turnovers, two of those coming on interceptions by Nate Phillips.
Phillips also caught nine passes for 136 yards and a pair of scores. Senior quarterback Cross Wilkinson was 15 of 21 for 176 yards and the two scoring tosses to Phillips, while running back Rennie Clark ran for 145 yards and a touchdown.
“Wheeling Park has size up front on offense and two running backs that can really hurt you,” Cole said. “It all comes down to how they scheme things and their zone blocking, which allows them to find holes and run through them.
“And let’s not forget they have a Division-I quarterback who throws the ball very well off of play-action and gets the ball where it needs to be. And when he does throw it, the Phillips kid is a handful and a chore to stop.
“On defense they are quick and strong up front, do a great job penetrating and filling gaps.”
Hundred (0-1) at Class A No. 7 Cameron (0-0)
Where do you go from perfect? That’s been the question on everyone’s mind in Cameron all summer.
Coming off an undefeated 2016 regular season that ended with a first-round playoff defeat, the Dragons are again ready to breathe fire after sitting out the first week of the campaign.
“With the bye week coming right off the bat, it feels like we are late to the party,” Cameron coach Scott Holt joked. “Everybody else has had their first taste already. Now we get to finally get into a routine.
“It has been a long five weeks, especially with the season we are coming off of, and the expectations that we have heading into this year. These kids are tired of hitting each other and ready to go out and play. That is a challenge to us as coaches, but I think we have done a pretty good job of keeping things fresh.”
While the Dragons were sitting at home a week ago, Hundred was being beaten 48-8 at Clay-Battelle. That was a ‘home’ game for the Hornets, who are still reeling from a massive spring flood that threatened their entire season.
The Hornets fell behind early, giving up a pair of touchdowns before the Cee-Bees had even touched the ball on offense. The lone bright spot of the game came on quarterback Logan Norris’ touchdown run that helped the Wetzel County squad avoid a shutout.
“I am happy for them that they are even playing with all they have been through,” Holt said. “I really feel for them. We have been there.
“It seems like they have a lot of players back and they were satisfied with their line play up front last week, which is a spot we need to mature at quickly.”
Cameron will again be led by all-state senior quarterback Colby Brown. Last season he threw for 1,737 yards and 24 touchdowns while rushing for 446 yards and 15 more scores.
Having to replace another all-stater, running back Michael Starcher, has been a top priority. Wyatt Wingrove and twins Andrew and Matthew Ritchea will share the load.
The two teams have played three times since 2012 with Cameron winning each. The Dragons put up more than 50 points in all of those contests, outscoring Hundred by a 163-30 margin.
Other Games:
Friday
South Harrison (1-0) at Valley-Wetzel (1-0)
Clay-Battelle (1-0) at Beallsville, Ohio (0-1)
Linsly (0-1) at Martins Ferry, Ohio (1-0)
Anacostia, D.C. (0-0) at Weir (1-0)
Steubenville, Ohio (1-0) at Morgantown (0-1)
John Marshall (0-1) at Mountain Ridge, Md. (0-0)
Doddridge County (0-1) at Tyler Consolidated (0-1)
Saturday
Oak Glen (0-1) at Steubenville Central, Ohio (1-0)
Madonna (0-0) at Tusky Central, Ohio (1-0)