Plenty to look forward to from North Central teams on opening week.
GAMES TO WATCH
CLASS AAA
No. 7 Parkersburg (0-0) at Morgantown (0-0)
(Thursday, 7 p.m.)
The annual WVSSAC Kickoff Classic features the first matchup between these two tradition laden programs since the 2006 state semifinals. Parkersburg won that game and then went on to win the state championship. That was a stretch where the two programs combined to win four consecutive championships — MHS in 2004 and 2005 and PHS in 2006 and 2007.
This season, Morgantown is breaking in a pair of new quarterbacks as sophomore Cameron Rice and junior Chris Burke will split time.
“Cam shows a lot of athleticism by keeping plays alive,” Morgantown coach Matt Lacy said. “Chris is more of a true drop back passer who can really do some nice things in the passing game.”
The quarterbacks should be well protected as MHS returns all five starters on the offensive line, including 6-foot-7, 285 pound Pitt recruit Nick Malone.
“That’s where it all starts for us,” Lacy said. “We want to be a run-first football team. So having five guys who have started and played a lot will be a huge factor for our offense. When you look at those guys I think we matchup size wise with any team in the state.”
Lacy is looking for his defense to be faster and more athletic.
“We are transitioning to more of a a four man front this season,” Lacy said. “We need to be more versatile and prepared for a lot early in the season.
“Parkersburg will show anything from four wideouts to a double tight end set. (Week 2 opponent) Stuebenville (Ohio) will give you a lot of Pro-I. Then (week three opponent) Fort Hill runs a straight Wing-T.”
Parkersburg may have to keep its top player on the sideline for the opener. Tight end Brenton Strange suffered a right leg injury during a weekend scrimmage against South Charleston.
“The injury occurred on Saturday (in the scrimmage) and we have to turn around quickly and play on Thursday,” said Parkersburg coach Mike Byus. “I don’t want him out there 60 or 70 percent to get hurt worse.”
Last season as a junior, Strange had 59 catches for 938 yards and 11 touchdowns on offense and 95 tackles, nine tackles for a loss, two sacks and two interceptions on defense.
No. 5 University (0-0) at John Marshall (0-0)
(Friday, 7 p.m.)
The Hawks are coming off a 10-0 regular season and a second round playoff loss to Capital. The 2017 team featured seven senior starters on offense and seven senior starters on defense.
“We’ve had a lot of changes and we have a lot of concerns,” admitted veteran Hawks coach John Kelley. “We’ve got a very young offensive line as we go into the opener with a freshman and two sophomore starters along that line.”
UHS does have two cornerstones on the offense with WVU recruit Amir Richardson at receiver and Bowling Green commit Logan Holgorsen at quarterback.
“We’ll be a quick strike offense,” Kelley said. We’ve got those two weapons plus great depth at receiver. It’s scary the skill position talent we can put out there.”
Defensively, UHS is transitioning to a three man front and Kelley is worried about stopping the run in game one.
“John Marshall got hot in the second half of the season with that ‘ground and pound’ approach,” Kelley said. “They’ve got eight guys back on offense including a big, strong offensive line and two backs.”
University beat John Marshall 34-8 last season as senior quarterback Clay Bailey threw a pair of touchdown passes and senior linebacker Trevor Barnhart scored a defensive touchdown. University has won two in a row and ten of the last 11 in the series against the Monarchs. John Marshall’s only win during that span was a 22-11 victory at UHS in 2015.
CLASS AA
No. 1 Fairmont Senior (0-0) at No. 8 Robert C. Byrd (0-0)
(Friday, 7 p.m.)
Fairmont Senior begins the season as the top-ranked Class AA team in the MetroNews rankings despite the end of the Stills era. Brothers Dante and Darius Stills are both now wearing the Gold and Blue at WVU.
It’s a Fairmont Senior program that has established itself among the best in the state following back to back trips to the Super Six.
“We have that one final step left to take,” Fairmont Senior coach Nick Bartic said. “We were almost there. The game plan this season is to get back and finish the job.”
The 2018 Polar Bears will be built around 6-2, 265 pound junior lineman Zach Frazier who is a force on both sides of the football. He is being recruited by WVU among others.
“He comes from a hard working and disciplined family,” Bartic said. “He’s a guy I never worry about because he is the hardest working kid I’ve ever seen.”
Among the skill position players, quarterback Connor Neal and running back/receiver Caleb Walker are back as seniors. Neal threw 31 touchdown passes while Walker led the Polar Bears with 783 receiving yards and eight touchdown receptions. Walker also had 10 rushing touchdowns.
Expectations are high at RCB as well as 18 starters return from 2017 playoff team including all five offensive line starters and leading rusher Ghovan Davidson. Davidson finished his junior season with 1,730 yards and 22 touchdowns.
RCB head coach Josh Gorrell believes freshman running back Jeremiah King is prepared to make a major impact as well.
“We think both backs are capable of going over a thousand yards,” said Gorrell. “Especially with what we have out front, we are going to come out and run the football.”
To compete for a state championship in 2018, RCB will have to show drastic improvements on defense. The Eagles allowed an average of 32 points a game last year, including 76 points in a first round playoff loss to Mingo Central.
“We have to be better,” Gorrell said. “We have to tackle better and be tougher. We won’t get very far trying to win shootouts every week.”
Nicholas County (0-0) at North Marion (0-0)
(Friday, 7:30 p.m.)
North Marion just missed the playoffs in 2017 and coach Daran Hays believes that will be a motivating factor for his returning players.
“We’ve got a lot of depth than we’ve had in recent years,” Hays said. “Particularly up front where we can be pretty good. We are bigger up there this year as our guys that used to be 180-185 pounds are now more like 210-220.
Hays is waiting for senior quarterback Dalton Malcomb to get fully healthy. Malcomb underwent knee surgery in March and may split time with junior Gunner Murphy behind center.
Versatile senior Desmond Fluharty is expected to lead the offense as he had 893 yards from scrimmage with eight rushing touchdowns a year ago. He is also a top defensive and special teams performer.
Elkins (0-0) at East Fairmont (0-0)
(Friday, 7 p.m.)
Elkins dropped a four-point game to RCB and a one-point game to Lincoln late in the 2017 regular season. A win in either game would have put the 5-5 Tigers into the playoffs.
“Those five points were the difference in us making the playoffs and having to watch the first round,” said head coach Evan Hott. “Hopefully, with our guys training the way they did in the offseason, those close games will end up in our favor this year.”
Hott is beginning his second season as head coach as he takes over for his father, Greg, who coached at Elkins for 20 years.
Senior Thomas Talkington and Daniel Romans are back to lead the offense after each went over 1,000 yards rushing in 2017. The duo combined for 24 touchdowns. Romans led the defense as well with 17 tackles for loss.
East Fairmont begins year number two under head coach Wes Eddy. Eddy’s goal in 2017 is the school’s first winning season in 11 years.
“We have to build the winning culture and that begins with the stability of our coaching staff,” Eddy said. “The coaches can want it all they want, but it has to come down to our seniors and juniors wanting to be the leaders and establish expectations.”
Lewis County (0-0) at No. 3 Bridgeport (0-0)
(Friday, 7 p.m.)
It was more of the same at Bridgeport in 2017 as the Indians averaged 32.4 points and 296.5 rushing yards per game en route to a season in which they final four in Class AA.
Jake Bowen is back to lead that offense as a senior. Bowen had 1,916 yards and 26 touchdowns in 2017.
Bridgeport will have a new starter at quarterback in junior Devin Vandergrift.
Seniors Isaiah Burciaga and Caden Rohrbough are back to lead the Lewis County offense as seniors. Burciaga will take over for the graduated Jacob White as the primary ball carrier. Rohrbough is a returning starter at quarterback.
Other games: Hampshire (0-0) at Preston (0-0); Buckhannon-Upshur (0-0) at Princeton (0-0); Lincoln (0-0) at Braxton County (0-0); Grafton (0-0) at Philip Barbour (0-0); Liberty Harrison (0-0) at Roane County (0-0); Doddridge County (0-0) at South Harrison (0-0); Notre Dame (0-0) at Pendleton County (0-0); Hundred (0-0) at Clay-Battelle (0-0)