North Central: University, Morgantown, Fairmont Sr. gain spotlight

Class AA No. 2 Fairmont Senior (4-0) at AAA No. 4 University (4-0)

The Hawks got a huge boost from their special teams units in a37-34 victory at Wheeling Park last week. University preserved a 34-34 tie with a blocked extra point following the last Wheeling Park touchdown.

UHS got an excellent kickoff return— aided by a personal foul penalty — to move down the field quickly. Then, junior kicker Jonah Phares hit a 32-yard field goal in the final seconds for the game winning points. Phares had missed an extra point earlier, but was defended by senior quarterback Clay Bailey, the holder, on kicks.

“It upset me when he missed, but Clay immediately came over and said he didn’t get the ball down right so (the kicker) wasn’t at fault,” UHS coach John Kelley said. “After that, I had no problem sending him back out there. I told him to go out there and do what he does everyday in practice. I was a beautiful site when that kick went through.”

University receiver Amir Richardson has 17 catches for 175 yards and five touchdowns on the year.

The Hawks move on to face a Fairmont Senior team that beat UHS 28-7 last year.

Fairmont Senior is coming off a 14-10 win over rival Bridgeport from last week. The winning score –a 15-yard touchdown pass from Connor Neal to Antonio Parsons with 1:26 remaining — was set up by a 67-yard Bryson Gilbert punt return.

“Fairmont Senior’s quarterback is a lot like our guy,” Kelley said. “(Connor) Neal can keep plays alive like Clay can.  And one of the things they both do well is that they look they are are going to run, then they’ll stop at the line of scrimmage and throw it down the field for a big play.

“And you have to keep tabs constantly on Gilbert,” Kelley added. “He can beat you out of the backfield and then he can line up and beat you as a receiver, not to mention the special teams impact. It’s like trying to tackle lightning.”

 

AAA No. 15 Morgantown (2-2) at No. 4 Martinsburg (4-0) 

Morgantown won its second consecutive game, beating Brooke 35-6 last week in a game the Mohigans did not attempt a single pass.

“We played a very physical football game and we ran the ball with a lot of authority,” said Morgantown coach Matt Lacy. “That makes me really happy moving forward knowing we can do that.”

Morgantown tallied 400 yards on the ground on 50 carries. Ty Konchesky rushed for 130 yards in the Brooke win giving him 377 yards in the last two games. Alajuan Robinson, normally a wide receiver, had 106 and two touchdowns on 16 carries.

The Mohigans now have the potential to bring some balance to the offense now that quarterback Logan Holgorsen has returned to the school. Holgorsen is eligible immediately  after transferring back from St. Frances Academy in Baltimore.

Morgantown quarterback Logan Holgorsen is back with the Mohigans after transferring in the summer.

“We know what kind of skill set Logan has having had him for a full season last year and working with him over the summer,” Lacy said. “Throwing the ball is his forte. He will have to mold into what we are doing, but we do need to look at using his skill set the best we can to help us be successful as a football team.”

Last year, Holgorsen helped lead Morgantown to a 10-3 record and a semifinal appearance, throwing for 1,355 yards with 14 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He holds scholarship offers from Bowling Green and North Texas.

Morgantown and Martinsburg met twice last season.  Martinsburg won both, including a state semi-final round win at home.

 

Class AA No. 4 Liberty (3-0) at Grafton (3-1) 

Liberty has averaged 42 points per game in its first three wins.

“It’s just the old school ‘Stick-I’ offense,” said Liberty coach A.J. Harmon. “We’ve mixed in a little wild cat as well but it’s all about the offensive line. We’ve got some lineman who are really working. These seniors have worked for years in the weight room.

“That’s where we have found our identity,” Harmon continued. “We are going to be a physical football team that can wear people down.”

Liberty beat Grafton 20-13 last year. The Mountaineers, in fact, have a five game unbeaten streak against the Bearcats that includes four wins and a 2013 14-14 tie.

 

Lewis County (0-4) at Preston (1-3) 

Preston’s first win of the season was preserved by a brilliant goal line stand in the final minutes against Robert C. Byrd last week. The Knights defense held RCB out of the end zone following a first and goal at the seven yard line.

Offensively, quarterback Dakota Holt led Preston with 150 yards passing and a touchdown. Colton Rosenberger added a pair of touchdown passes for the Knights who snapped a 12 game losing streak.

Lewis County beat Preston 28-7 last year.  Preston’s last win in the series came back in 2015 as it beat Lewis County 21-17.

 

Moorefield (0-4) at Class A No. 2 South Harrison (3-0) 

South Harrison has allowed just 26 points in three wins so far. The offense is impressive as well, having scored 48 points in a win over Steubenville Catholic, OH last week.

“It goes back to power football,” said South Harrison coach Brad Jett. “We do what we do. The physicality is there and we just try to go after it.”

The finisher is running back Freddy Canary. Canary had 133 yards and three touchdowns in the win last week.

“He keeps telling me he is the fastest guy in West Virginia,” Jett said. “I believe him. He has great vision and he makes good cuts. The he hits another gear once he gets going.”

 

Other games:

Buckhannon-Upshur (1-2) at Greenbrier East (1-3)

Bridgeport (3-1) at Robert C. Byrd (2-2)

East Fairmont (0-3) at Elkins (2-1)

Braxton County (2-1) at Roane County (0-4)

Tucker County (2-2) at Philip Barbour (2-2)

Notre Dame (1-3) at Webster County (3-0)

Clay-Battelle (2-1) at Tygarts Valley (1-3)

Ritchie County (2-2) at Doddridge County (2-2)





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