— By Greg Carey and Joe Brocato
Huntington slips past Parkersburg in OT
Tajhan Blackwell’s 8-yard touchdown run in overtime allowed Class AAA No. 6 Huntington to end a two-game skid with a 27-21 win against No. 9 Parkersburg.
An interception by Johronimo Mitchell on a fourth down play prevented the Big Reds from scoring on the opening sequence of overtime.
Parkersburg (5-4) took an early 7-0 lead on Tyler Moler’s 4-yard touchdown run, but the Highlanders (7-2) got even in the second quarter on Blackwell’s 6-yard TD run.
Jake Johnson threw a 41-yard touchdown pass to Kionte Peacock to put Parkersburg back on top, but the point-after try was blocked which left the Big Reds with a 13-7 lead.
Diallo Mitchell’s 3-yard touchdown run with 24 seconds left in the first half gave Huntington its first lead at 14-13.
Following a scoreless third quarter, the Big Reds regained the lead when Johnson threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to Dylan Shaver. A successful two-point conversion gave PHS a 21-14 lead with 9:13 to play.
Blackwell again pulled the Highlanders even with an 8-yard TD run at the 4:41 mark and Huntington prevailed in the extra session.
Spring Valley finishes strong to beat Point Pleasant
The Class AA No. 6 Big Blacks got the better of the Class AAA No. 1 Timberwolves in the first half, but Spring Valley responded over the final two quarters for a 58-34 win.
Point Pleasant (7-1) led 27-14 at halftime, but Nate Ellis’ 33-yard touchdown run 57 seconds into the second half helped set the tone for the remainder of the game.
After the Timberwolves (9-0) recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff, Owen Chafin gave them the lead for good with an 11-yard TD run at the 8:03 mark of the third quarter.
Cody Sharp scored on a 1-yard run that allowed Spring Valley to take a 34-27 lead into the fourth quarter, and the Timberwolves extended their advantage just 19 seconds into the final frame on Ellis’ 47-yard TD run.
David Livingston intercepted a pass and returned it 60 yards for a score with 11:09 remaining, upping the Spring Valley lead to 50-27.
Parkersburg South blanks Wheeling Park
Class AAA No. 6 Parkersburg South (7-2) recorded its third shutout of the season and notched its sixth straight win, 30-0, against No. 8 Wheeling Park.
Brett Hearn returned an interception for a touchdown, marking Parkersburg South’s fourth pick-six of the season.
Nick Yoho rushed for 122 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the convincing win.
Wheeling Park fell to 6-3 and lost for the third time in five games.
Keyser earns key win over Frankfort
The Class AA No. 8 Golden Tornado locked up a playoff bid with a 27-13 win against a nearby rival in the No. 12 Falcons.
Nick Marley’s 18-yard touchdown run gave Frankfort (7-2) an early 7-0 lead, but Aaron Lyons answered with a 5-yard run for a touchdown to pull Keyser (7-2) even.
Caden Biser’s 28-yard TD run 2:21 before halftime gave the Golden Tornado their first lead of the game.
Keyser doubled its advantage early in the fourth quarter. Following Ryan Shoemaker’s interception, Drae Allen scored on a 32-yard run with 11:43 remaining that made it 21-7.
Frankfort lost a fumble on the ensuing kickoff and Brady Clay scored on a 40-yard run with 11:29 left to seal the verdict.
Midland Trail tops Oak Hill
Cordell Lesher scored on a 9-yard run with 2:18 to play, allowing Class A No. 3 Midland Trail to remain unbeaten with a 26-20 victory against Class AA No. 14 Oak Hill.
The game ended with the Red Devils (6-3) throwing an incomplete pass from the Midland Trail 10-yard line.
Austin Isaacs’ 14-yard touchdown run gave Midland Trail (9-0) an early 6-0 lead, but the Red Devils took a 7-6 advantage just past the midway point of the second quarter on Khori Bass’ 3-yard touchdown run.
Nathan Hanshew put the Patriots back on top with a 14-yard TD run late in the second quarter and a successful two-point conversion sent Midland Trail into halftime with a 14-7 lead.
Bass threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Abraham Farrow early in the third quarter to pull Oak Hill to within a point, but Isaacs had an immediate answer in the form of a 54-yard TD run.
Bass’ 5-yard TD run allowed Oak Hill to get even at 20-20 just before the fourth quarter began.
Liberty deals Lewis County a damaging loss
Liberty scored 21 unanswered points to hand Lewis County a critical loss to its postseason hopes. The Mountaineers defeated the Minutemen 35-14 on senior night in Clarksburg.
Seth Davis and Sayveon Before each scored a pair of touchdowns for Liberty (5-4). Davis’ second-half touchdown runs covered 88 and 42 yards. Seth McKinney also had a one-yard touchdown run for the Mountaineers. Liberty can clinch their fourth consecutive winning season with a victory at South Harrison next Friday.
Lewis County (6-4) entered the week ranked 14th in the WVSSAC ratings. Marshall Hobbs had both touchdowns for the Minutemen. Their regular season ends at 6-4.
Mingo Central collects seventh win
Mingo Central took an important step towards securing a postseason berth with a 44-7 win over Chapmanville. Daylin Goad tossed five touchdown passes and threw for 147 yards as the Miners improved to 7-2.
Mingo entered the week No. 10 in the WVSSAC ratings. Drew Hatfield, Billy Mitchem, Dougie Dillon and Isa Scales caught touchdown passes for the Miners. Dillon also ran for 133 yards. The Miners will close the regular season next Friday vs. Winfield.
Chapmanville (5-4) got its lone score on a Chase Berry to Dillon Renninger touchdown connection.
(Photo by Wes Wilson)
Petersburg closes in on playoff spot
Petersburg senior quarterback Jacob Hartman passed for 324 yards and four touchdowns in the first half as the Vikings rolled over Tucker County 52-20. Hartman completed 9-of-11 passes in the opening half.
Petersburg (6-2) can secure a postseason berth with a win next Friday at East Hardy. Tucker County (6-3) is still in position for their first playoff spot in five years. They close the regular season at Notre Dame.
Wheeling Central passes another test, Cameron posts perfect regular season
For the second week in a row, Wheeling Central Catholic was challenged but the Maroon Knights survived with a 14-13 win at Shadyside, Ohio.
WCCHS (9-0) took an 8-7 lead with a Jarod Rine 38-yard touchdown run. Vinny Mangino added the two-point conversion.
After falling behind 13-7 at halftime, Central took the lead for good with an Anthony Robbins 88-yard interception return for touchdown in the third quarter.
With the win, Wheeling Central claimed their 14th OVAC championship.
The Maroon Knights look to complete a perfect regular season and collect their 17th consecutive win next Friday at Magnolia.
Elsewhere in Class A, Cameron completed a 10-0 regular season campaign with a 52-0 win over Bridgeport, Ohio. The Dragons have now won 29 of their last 30 regular season games.
Musselman-Martinsburg postponed to Saturday
The anticipated showdown between Class AAA No. 3 Musselman and No. 2 Martinsburg has been pushed back a day. Anticipated poor weather in Berkeley County caused the postponement of the matchup of unbeaten teams. The game will be played Saturday at 7 p.m.
Musselman (8-0) looks to become the first team in nearly three years to defeat Martinsburg (9-0). The Bulldogs set a state record with their 37th consecutive victory last week.
Still perfect
Unbeaten teams remaining (by class):
AAA: Martinsburg, Musselman, Spring Valley.
AA: Fairmont Senior, Nicholas County, Poca.
A: Cameron, Doddridge County, Midland Trail, Wheeling Central Catholic
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