Southern Report: Week Eight

At one point the 5-foot-7, 170-pound back made what is becoming a patented spin move and this time, he added flavor by leaping a pair of Point Pleasant defenders.

It is becoming commonplace for the mighty-mite back, who has rushed for 1,366 yards and 17 touchdowns for the No. 8 Red Devils. Including the kicking chores he handles, Jones has scored 128 points in six games.

Oak Hill (5-1) continues to climb up the Class AAA ratings and this week faces what is the first of four season-ending road trips when it travels to No. 17 Lewis County (5-2).

Lewis County has been on a roll since dropping a 14-13 decision to Point Pleasant, winning four straight and outscoring the opposition 46.3-6.5 over that span.

Oak Hill has been just about as effective. After opening the season with a 43-36 loss to No. 7 Elkins, the Red Devils have won five straight and have given up just 9.4 points in those wins, including a pair of shutouts.

Parkersburg at No. 14 Woodrow Wilson (4-3)

After starting the season 3-0 and approaching the top of the Class AAA rating, Woodrow has fallen off, dropping three of four contests to fall to 4-3. Woodrow has dropped back-to-back contests, but the schedule has been lethal.

Class AAA No. 1 Cabell Midland beat the Flying Eagles 70-34 and the Eagles fell to No. 3 Huntington 30-22 last week.

The Eagles will need a better performance from its defense against a 4-3 Parkersburg squad that is coming off a 38-18 loss to crosstown rival Parkersburg South.

No. 5 Bluefield (6-1) at No. 15 Westside (4-3)

The Renegades will get a chance to see how they stack up against the one of the Class AA heavyweights.

Bluefield has been on a roll after a season-opening loss to Graham, Va., while Westside responded with a much-needed 34-30 win over Tug Valley. In that game Mike Mullins had 246 yards and four touchdowns.

He will add a big element to the Renegades. Westside has received a big sophomore season from quarterback Justin Cougar.

Shady Spring (3-3) at Class AA No. 9 Wyoming East (5-2)

The Warriors have steadily climbed back into the playoff picture after a few years away, quietly riding the effective running of Jacob Summe, who went over the 1,000-yard rushing mark last week with a 168-yard, two-touchdown performance in a 28-6 win over winless PikeView.

Shady Spring is coming off a win over James Monroe, and got a good rushing night out of backs Jordan Palchesko and Houstin Syvertson, to compliment the passing of all-state quarterback Adam Weeks.

Shady does have one thing on its side.

A Class AA semifinalist last year, the Tigers, who moved up to AAA this season, are 3-0 against Class AA teams, but 0-3 against Class AAA squads.

Class A No. 4 Valley (6-0) at Parkersburg Catholic (3-4), Saturday

The Greyhounds look to continue their outstanding 2012 run with a Saturday road trip to Parkersburg.
To do the trick, the Hounds will have to do it without one of its two quarterbacks. Raeshawn Breckenridge suffered a shoulder injury in Friday night’s 34-14 win over Pendleton County and may be lost for the season.

That means senior Matt Whiteside will take over the roll full-time.

Cody Winter had a big night for the Hounds in the 30-12 win over Pendleton with 182 yards rushing and a pair of touchdowns and a 46-yard reception for another.

Valley, one of four undefeated teams in Class A and one of the seven statewide, is looking for its first undefeated season since 1969, when the school was Montgomery High School.

Class AA No. 18 Summers (4-3) at Class A No. 10 Meadow Bridge (6-1)

These are two teams that go about different ways of getting the same result.
Summers County had three players rush for over 100 yards in a 48-20 win over Independence last week. Quarterback T.J. Smith led the way with 171 yards while Isaiah Brown added 113 and fullback D.J. Smith had 109.

Meanwhile, No. 10 Meadow Bridge’s Jake Parker was up to his old tricks, with 314 yards and four touchdowns. It was his 300-yard performance this season.

Other games