Week number one of the high school football season kicked off last Thursday night with some exciting games and that excitement certainly continued with the 55 games played on Friday night around the state.
We always expect a few surprises in week number one of the season, but this past week found very few. A lot of folks will say the Morgantown win over Parkersburg was a surprise, however the Mohigans were playing at home in front of a very vocal crowd and Parkersburg was without one of their very best players as Brenton Strange had to miss the game because of an injury sustained in a pre-season game. In Class AA, the Big Blacks of Point Pleasant traveled to “Miner Mountain” to battle Mingo Central and in a reverse of what happened last season, it was Point Pleasant getting the hard fought victory on the road by a final of 42-35. In Class A, I don’t think it was a surprise Wheeling Central Catholic defeated Williamstown because Mike Young’s ball club returned a lot of players from last year’s State Title team, however to go on the road and shutout the Yellow Jackets did indeed raise a few eyebrows. It would appear the Maroon Knights are on a fast start to a December trip at home! And, before we take a look ahead at the game schedule for week #2, a big shout out to a couple of Class AAA teams that grabbed big wins on the road this past Friday night. Ranked #2 in the MetroNews Power Poll for week one, the Capital Cougars proved worthy of that high ranking as they traveled to Paintsville, Ky. and knocked off the talented Golden Eagles of Johnson Central 28-21. In another big win for WV football teams, the 4th ranked Huntington Highlanders traveled to Belfry, Ky. and knocked off the powerful Pirates of Belfry High by a final of 17-9!
Coming up this week, we have a total of 62 games scheduled with 17 games in Class AAA, 23 games in Class AA and 22 games in Class A. All but one of the 62 games are scheduled right now for Friday night, with Ritchie County at Parkersburg Catholic scheduled for Saturday evening.
Some of the featured games this weekend include in Class AAA, the (1-0) Patriots of George Washington going on the road to Ashland, Ky. to meet up with the Tomcats of Paul Blazer. The Tomcats enter the game this Friday night with a record of (2-0). Also in Class AAA, the (1-0) Hurricane Redskins will travel to (1-0) Spring Valley, Capital (1-0) will visit (0-1) South Charleston in what is always a heated rivalry, Martinsburg (1-0) looks to be tested at home when H.D. Woodson from the nation’s capital comes calling, Parkersburg will try and rebound from last week’s loss to Morgantown as the Big Reds host the undefeated Knights of Cabell Midland, and speaking of Morgantown, the Mohigans have a very tough road game as they travel to Steubenville, Oh. to battle the Big Reds.
In Class AA, the Miners of Mingo Central will look for their first win of the season as they travel to Wayne County to take on the (0-1) Wayne Pioneers. Both teams are expected to have good seasons in 2018 and neither wants to start (0-2). The undefeated Shady Spring Tigers will travel to Summersville to battle the (1-0) Grizzlies of Nicholas County and in the “Battle for the Coal Shovel” in Wyoming County, the (0-1) Renegades of Westside will host rival Wyoming East (0-1) at Clear Fork.
In Class A this week, look for the Williamstown Yellow Jackets (0-1) to be ready for play as they travel to New Martinsville to take on the undefeated Blue Eagles of Magnolia. The Yellow Jackets will also be looking for their first score of the 2018 season as they were shutout last Friday night by Wheeling Central. Magnolia in the meantime, shutout a very good Sherman team 24-0. This week Sherman will host a talented (1-0) ball club from Tug Valley. In a battle of two undefeated teams, the Greenbrier West Cavaliers will make the trip to Hico to take on the Patriots of Midland Trail.
Please be sure and join the GAMENIGHT crew this Friday night when your high school game is completed! We will all the scores, plus interviews with coaches and fans as the show airs on several great radio stations around the state and at wvmetronews.com.
Talk to you Friday night!!