Northern Panhandle Report: Week 5

Wheeling Central’s Vinny Mangino is a big factor on both sides of the ball.

 

— By Shawn Rine

GAMES TO WATCH

Class A

No. 3 Fayetteville (4-0) at No. 2 Wheeling Central (3-0)

When: Friday at 7 p.m.

Last week: The Pirates rallied from an early two-score hole to take down Meadow Bridge, 38-16. Coach Mike Young and the Maroon Knights enjoyed their bye week. 

Why it’s important: Though Young refuses to use the word revenge, the last time these teams played, Fayetteville, playing at home, knocked the Maroon Knights out of the playoffs on a snowy Saturday two seasons ago. This will be a points bonanza for the winner.

Who to watch for Fayetteville: Running back Jordan Dempsey seems as though he has been a Pirate forever. He’s coming off a 13-carry, 180-yard, four-touchdown performance and has run for more than 3,000 yards in his career.

Who to watch for Wheeling Central: At 6-foot-2, 240 pounds, it’s hard to imagine a defensive lineman like Vinny Mangino getting overlooked. But on a team full of stars, Mangino’s impact on both sides of the ball is large.

No. 11 Madonna (3-1) at No. 6 Cameron (4-0)

When: Friday at 7 p.m.

Last week: Madonna took out Beallsville, Ohio, by a 40-20 score. Cameron easily dispatched Frontier, Ohio, on the road, 40-14. 

Why it’s important: Points. The Dragons are looking to run the table for the second time in three seasons. They’ve lost once in the regular season during that span. 

Who to watch for Madonna: Sophomore running back Thomas Sessi had a career day last week, amassing 449 total yards. He ran for 234 yards, caught eight passes for another 140, and returned a kickoff 75 yards en route to scoring four of the Blue Dons’ six TDs.

Who to watch for Cameron: Running back Andrew Ritchea leads all Upper Ohio Valley small-school rushers. Quarterback Aidan Lucey has made a seamless transition from center and has the Dragons offense rolling.

Class AAA

Linsly (4-0) at No. 13 Morgantown (2-2)

When: Friday at 7 p.m.

Last week: Linsly went to Pittsburgh and did whatever it wanted, rolling past Carrick, 48-7. Morgantown made a trip to Brooke and came away with a 63-6 victory.

Why it’s important: The Cadets are stepping up a class with one of their best teams in recent years. The Mohigans can ill afford another loss with several tough matchups on the horizon.

Who to watch for Linsly: Quarterback Wyatt Hirt has completed 39-of-52 passes for 728 yards and 11 touchdowns, without throwing an INT. Receiver/DB Jules Giovengo has 13 receptions for 378 yards and six scores. Total, the senior has eight TDs.

Who to watch for Morgantown: Quarterback Cameron Rice was good on 8-of-12 passes for 137 yards and a pair of touchdowns last week. Running back Ty Konchesky has piled up 378 yards and five touchdowns. He also caught a pass for a score last week.

Other games: Brooke (0-3) at Class AAA No. 8 Ripley (3-1); Tygarts Valley (1-2) at Class A No. 16 Clay-Battelle (2-1); Class AAA No. 11 Parkersburg South (2-2) at No. 7 John Marshall (3-1); Hundred (1-3) at Paden City (0-4); Wirt County (1-3) at Tyler Consolidated (1-2); Beallsville, Ohio (1-3) at Valley Wetzel (0-3); Frontier, Ohio (1-3) at Magnolia (2-2); East Liverpool, Ohio (2-2) at Oak Glen (2-2); Class AAA No. 2 Wheeling Park (3-0) at Cambridge, Ohio (1-3); Class AAA No. 11 University (2-2) at Class AA No. 2 Fairmont Senior (4-0); Class AA No. 11 Weir (3-1) at No. 4 Petersburg (3-0). 





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