River View (4-0) at Liberty (3-1)
Liberty coach Robert Shields says he had a hole to fill on the Mountaineers schedule after a one game deal to play Bridgeport last year.
"We were scrambling to find a replacement and we wanted to play a AA school," Shields said. "This opportunity came up but River View doesn’t have a home field. We were going to play at Concord University but it is homecoming weekend there so instead we’ll play at Princeton High School. It’s another one year deal so we’ll have to find another game next year."
Liberty will make the three hour trip south in hopes of keeping its winning streak and its playoff hopes alive. The Mountaineers used a five game winning streak to jump into the 2010 playoffs.
"River View made the playoffs in their first year of of a consolidated school (in 2010) so the excitement is really high down there," Shields said.
Liberty has won three in a row going into Friday night’s game.
"I’m still trying to get a feel for this bunch," Shields said. It’s a lot better the fact that we are winning these games while we grow as a team. It gives our guys confidence."
Junior Ty Noss has taken the reigns at quarterback as he follows his brother, Shay, who graduated after last season.
"Ty has developed nicely over the first few games of the season," Shields said. "He learned some things playing behind his brother for two years but there is no replacement for getting out there and getting those reps.
"That is true about our entire team," Shields said. "We are getting better with every game each and every week."
Robert C. Byrd (3-1) at Elkins (3-1)
Robert C. Byrd needs to bounce back from the first loss of the season suffered at the hands of rival Bridgeport next week. Friday’s game begins a stretch of three in a row on the road for the Eagles as they will play at Nicholas County and at East Fairmont over the next few weeks.
Elkins has won three in a row and the Tigers have scored 202 points over the last two weeks with wins over Preston and Buckhannon-Upshure. Last week, Clayton Collett rushed for 151 yards and two touchdowns. He scored a third touchdown on long pass from Elkins quarterback Nicholas Martin.
Parkersburg South (1-2) at University (2-2)
University coach John Kelley isn’t willing to dwell on the last two weeks as he his team has lost back to back road games at Brooke and Wheeling Park by a combined score of 69-26.
"I’ve told the team that you can’t let those bad feelings linger," Kelley said. "Tear off the rear view mirror and don’t look back.
"My theory is that the only way to get better is to go back to the basics. Fundamentals and hard work. Life kicks you in the teeth more often than it gives you a rainbow.
"You have to stay with it," Kelley said. "It’s part of the process of growing up."
Parkersburg South will come to town with a record of 1-2 with back to back losses to Morgantown and Musselman. Last week, South lost 21-20 at home to the Applemen. The Patriots had two fourth quarter opportunities to take the lead moving the ball inside the Applemen 30 yard line. There was a missed field goal attempt and a turnover at the Musselman 15 yard line.
Musselman will be without leading rusher Jordan Quiocho for the UHS game. Quiocho was ejected from last week’s game when an official ruled the player kicked an opponent after being tackled. Quiocho had rushed for a game high 131 yards and two touchdowns prior to that controversial call.
Both teams are desperate for a win. Neither team has won a game yet in the newly formed Two Rivers Athletic Conference. Parkersburg South is 0-1 in the league with UHS at 0-2.
"This is it," Kelley emphasized. "This is their season and I’ve challenged them with that. We’ve got to win now if this is going to be a playoff team."
Bridgeport (4-0) at East Fairmont (1-3)
Bridgeport continues to win with that familiar formula. The Indians handled rival RCB last week by rushing for 364 yards and by holding the high powered Eagles to just 49 offensive yards in the second half.
East Fairmont had as many turnovers (four) as first downs in the second half as they lost to Lewis County last week. A close game at half time (10-7) got away from the Bees in the second half in a 37-7 loss.
Buckhannon-Upshur (0-4) at Grafton (4-0)
Grafton got the offense rolling last week. After winning the first three games of the year by a combined 14 points, the Bearcats rolled up 44 against Weir. Grafton quarterback Ivy Bartlett produced four touchdowns. The Grafton defense carried a shutout into the fourth quarter.
Nicholas County (2-1) at Lewis County (2-2)
Nicholas County is off to a strong start in its bid to reach the playoffs for a fifth consecutive season. The next three weeks may decide the Grizzlies 2011 post season fate as they face playoff contenders Lewis County, Robert C. Byrd and James Monroe in consecutive weeks. Two of those three games are on the road.
Lewis County had ten running plays of ten yards or more including four runs of 20+ yards last week against East Fairmont in a 37-7 win. The Minutemen snapped a two game losing streak. Caleb Butcher led Lewis County with 123 rushing yards and two scores.
Webster County (1-3) at Lincoln (3-0)
Lincoln scored a season high 34 points in a win over Petersburg last week as quarterback Colton Burr threw for 206 yards and five touchdowns. Lincoln has surpassed its entire win total for the 2010 season with win No. 4 a week ago.
North Marion (1-3) at Preston (1-2)
Huskies senior quarterback Corbin Sypult had an efficient game as North earned its first victory of the season. Sypult was 5-5 for 128 yards passing. He also rushed for 135 yards as North Marion turned back Buckhannon-Upshure 49-21 a week ago.
Preston has lost two in a row since a season opening win over Hampshire.
Bishop Donahue (3-1) at Notre Dame (2-2)
Veteran Nick Alvaro continues to lead the Notre Dame offense. Alvaro had a career game last week with 12 catches 233 yards and four total touchdowns as the Irish beat Valley 49-32 last week.
Bishop Donahue is scoring a lot of points as well. In three wins, the Bishops have averaged 46 points per game.
Clay-Battelle (2-1) at St. John’s, Ohio (Saturday)
The Cee-Bees have scored 119 points over the past two weeks following a season opening loss to Bishop Donahue. Seven different Cee-Bees scored touchdowns in last week’s win over Hundred.