3:06pm: Hotline with Dave Weekley

North Central Report: Week 5

Quarterback Connor Neal leads an explosive Fairmont Senior offense.

 

GAMES TO WATCH

Class AAA vs. Class AA

Class AAA No. 11 University (2-2) at Class AA No. 2 Fairmont Senior (4-0) 

Fairmont Senior is coming off the high of beating Bridgeport for the third consecutive time. University, meanwhile, lost an 11-point fourth quarter lead and and fell at home to Wheeling Park last week.

The Polar Bears scored on their first seven drives last week in the 45-14 victory over Bridgeport.

“Any time you can beat (Bridgeport) three times in a row it’s impressive,” Fairmont Senior coach Nick Bartic said. “It doesn’t happen often (against) them. Our guys are aware of that.”

Fairmont spread the ball around as six different players caught passes in the first two drives alone. Quarterback Connor Neal was 21-for-26 passing for 309 yards and 4 touchdowns. 

With both Breeden Gilbert and Caleb Walker out injured, senior Rhett Heston started at running back and gained 114 total yards with two touchdowns.

“The offense was on point about as good as it could be,” Bartic said. “That is one of the best performances we’ve seen. It starts up front and that allows us to do what we do.

University coach John Kelley is aware of the challenge awaiting his team, which comes in off a tough loss.

“Connor Neal is going to be your Kennedy Award winner,” Kelley proclaimed. “He is in total control. He has a tremendous line with a great group of skill players. They’ve got a great system and he gets the most out of his ability and everyone else around them.”

University and Fairmont Senior have met each of the last three seasons. The Hawks won 29-27 last year as the teams combined for 822 yards of total offense. Fairmont Senior’s final drive stalled inside the UHS 10-yard line following a fumble that was recovered by the Hawks. The teams have split their last four matchups dating back to 2012.

Last week, the Hawks fumbled twice in the final 3 minutes of the game, allowing Wheeling Park to rally for a 45-38 victory.

“We can’t let this one stay with us,” Kelley said. “We can’t let one game cost us two games. We had (Wheeling Park) beaten. All we needed was one more first down and the game was over. We made that one mistake and they capitalized. 

“But I was very proud of our players and our team as hard as we fought in that game. Wheeling Park is a legitimate top five team and we were in a position to win the game.” 

Preston (1-3) at Lewis County (2-2) 

Lewis County has won two in a row since consecutive season losses to Bridgeport and Fairmont Senior to start the season. The two victories have doubled the program’s win total from the entire 2017 season.

The defense provided the game winning score last week against Braxton County. LC defensive lineman Hunter Rexroad recovered a bad snap in the end zone for a touchdown to put the Minutemen up 14-0 in a game they would go on to win, 21-12. 

On offense, Lewis County has managed to run the football well. Isaiah Burciago averaged 7.8 yards per carry and he scored a touchdown against Braxton.

Preston has developed a dangerous special teams weapon in junior Jacob Bradley.  Bradley has  averaged over 30 yards per return as he has a touchdown on each a punt and kickoff return.

Preston is attempting to snap a three game losing streak playing its third consecutive game on the road.

Class AAA

Greenbrier East (2-2) at No. 10 Buckhannon-Upshur (2-1) 

The Buccaneers are coming off a bye week. Last time out, B-U beat Philp Barbour, 40-12, on Sept. 7. The B-U defense forced three turnovers that set up scores, including a Tyler Cutright interception.

Jaryn Moore and Brayden Cutlip each recovered a fumble that led to a touchdown as well.

Buckhannon won on the road at Greenbrier East, 25-23, last season.

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

An unusual early season schedule for Morgantown continues with a home game against LInsly. The Mohigans have played on the road already at Steubenville, Ohio and Fort Hill, Md., with both games accounting for the team’s two losses.

MHS earned its first Two Rivers Athletic Conference victory a week ago, winning at Brooke, 63-6.

The Morgantown defense held Brooke without a first down until late in the third quarter.

“The defense got Brooke three and out so many times,” MHS coach Matt Lacy said. “It was a testament to good, hard physical play on that side of the ball.”

Morgantown will play at home for the first time since the season opener Aug. 23rd against Parkersburg.

“It’s an unknown for us,” Lacy said of facing Linsly for the first time. “They have some size on their offensive line and good speed. It won’t be a walk in the park by any means. That’s something we have to guard against this week.”

Class AA

No. 7 Robert C. Byrd (3-1) at No. 10 Bridgeport (3-1)

It’s back to back rivalry games for Bridgeport as the Indians are coming off the lopsided loss to Fairmont Senior.

RCB has won three in a row since an opening week loss against the Polar Bears.

Bridgeport has won 10 in a row in the series, including three playoff games.

RCB’s last win in the series was 2010. The Eagles won 35-24 that year.

Elkins (2-1) at North Marion (2-2) 

Elkins is coming off a bye week after the Tigers rolled up 72 points during wins over East Fairmont and Philip Barbour the first two weeks of the season, but then lost to Lewis County. 

The Tigers ran the ball quite effectively in the first two games, but hit a snag during a 34-6 loss to Lewis County their last time out.

North Marion showed its big play ability last week in a win over East Fairmont. The Huskies scored five touchdowns on their first nine offensive snaps and 34 points in the first quarter.

Jahkari Mesidor scored on a 76-yard catch and run on the first play from scrimmage.  Mesidor added a second touchdown on a 61-yard punt return.

North Marion averaged a staggering 25.3 yards per snap.

News off the field this week: The Marion County Board of Education voted Monday to rename the football field and football stadium at North Marion High School.

The facilities will now be known as Coach Roy Michael Field at the Woodcutters Stadium. The school and other community members had requested the changes. The official renaming will take place Oct. 26 at the last home game of the season.

Other games: Philip Barbour (1-3) at Class A No. 3 Tucker County (4-0); Grafton (2-1) at Liberty (2-2); South Harrison (1-3) at Moorefield (0-4); Tygarts Valley (1-2) at Class A No. 16 Clay Battelle (2-1)





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