Wheeling Park (5-0) at Morgantown (5-1)
Chazzy Thomas continues to run wild as he had 386 yards on the ground last week vs. DuBois, PA. Thomas has rolled up 1,593 yards (an average of 15.5 yards per carry) and 25 touchdowns.
“Most of the time I see wide open running room when I get the ball,” Thomas said. “I have to credit the offensive line for opening huge holes.”
Thomas came back from a serious ankle injury he suffered in the final regular season game last season.
“I’ve had no problems with the ankle or leg at all this year,” Thomas said. “It’s taken a lot of rehab – all offseason and even some at the beginning of this season. My ankle feels great.”
Wheeling Park comes in with a very balanced attack. Quarterback Zach Phillips has thrown for 593 yards on the season with seven touchdowns and just one interception. Sophomore Savion Johnson leads the team with 452 rushing yards. Senior Bryce Ingram has returned to the lineup in recent weeks to produce 361 yards and six touchdowns in just three games on the ground.
Morgantown, whose schedule is dotted with out-of-state competition, needs the playoff points available in this game as the Mohigans started the week ranked 12th in AAA by the SSAC. Morgantown’s only loss came at the hands of three-time defending state champion Martinsburg.
Wheeling Park’s 5-0 start is its best in over 10 years.
Last year, Morgantown won a shootout at Wheeling Park 42-39. Morgantown has won the last three in the series. Wheeling Park last won 14-3 back in 2009.
Keyser (4-2) at Bridgeport (5-1)
Bridgeport senior Anthony Bonamico broke out last week against top ranked Fairmont Senior. Bonamico had career highs with 278 yards and three touchdowns in the Indians’ 37-14 victory. Bonamico carried the ball 25 times in the game. He had a total of 23 carries in the previous three games. Bridgeport won the game without completing a pass.
Now, the Indians will deal with their nemesis from last year. Keyser beat Bridgeport twice in 2012 — 25-0 in the regular season and 42-14 in the playoffs.
“We lost to Keyser twice last year and I don’t want to come out and lose to them on the home field,” senior center Hunter Renquest said during the preseason.
Bonamico was injured during the regular season match-up with Keyser, but the memory of the playoff defeat still lingers.
“I don’t think anybody returning hasn’t thought about the (Keyser) game almost every single day,” he said back in August. “That’s the only thing we’ve been thinking about — beating Keyser.”
The Indians will get their chance this week.
Both teams have lost to AAA No. 3 Wheeling Park this year. Keyser also has a loss to rival Fort Hill, Maryland. Keyser has won three straight since that last loss.
Logan (4-1) at University (5-1)
The Hawks have played four of their first six games on the road this season. Now UHS has three of its last four at home with the only trip remaining to nearby Preston County.
“We knew the schedule stacked up like that,” UHS coach John Kelley said. “We are excited for the stretch run now.”
Senior Tony Richardson had his first two sacks of the season, plus a 48-yard touchdown reception last week during University’s 56-24 win at Greenbrier East.
“We are right where we want to be right now,” Richardson said. “We had a tough loss at Wheeling Park but we have bounced back with a couple of big wins (against Parkersburg South and Greenbrier East). We can roll now if we just keep our heads on straight and keep doing what we’re doing.”
Logan provides another unknown for UHS. It will be the first match up ever between these two schools. University played Greenbrier East for the first time last week. Logan’s only loss came at the hands of unbeaten Point Pleasant.
Fairmont Senior (4-1) at Frankfort (5-0)
The Polar Bears face a playoff team for the second consecutive week. Fairmont Senior lost for the first time this season last week as it turned the ball over three times in a 37-14 loss to Bridgeport.
Frankfort has rolled since a close win over rival Moorefield during week two. The Falcons have won their last three games by a combined score of 144-35.
Robert C. Byrd (3-3) at East Fairmont (1-4)
RBC couldn’t get anything going last week as it rushed for 20 yards in a shutout loss at the hands of Nicholas County. The biggest bright spot to emerge from the game for the Eagles was sophomore defensive lineman Juwan Jones-Wright.
The 240-pound Wright racked up 14 tackles including a sack and four additional tackles for loss. Jones-Wright also forced two fumbles and recovered two.
East Fairmont has lost four consecutive games.
Elkins (0-5) at Philip Barbour (4-2)
Colts’ coach Curtis Bodkins credited the offensive line coming out of a win over Petersburg last week. The coach said the line was the difference in the second half allowing his team to run the ball effectively in a game the Colts won 28-21. The Philip Barbour defense also forced nine turnovers.
Philip Barbour will try and win back to back games over AAA opponents now in order to get into playoff position. The Colts host Elkins this week and then Buckhannon-Upshur next week.
Elkins had a week off last week. The Tigers will play their final five games of the season on the road after playing four of the first five at home.
Lewis County (4-1) at North Marion (1-5)
Lewis County dominated up front while getting past rival Buckhannon-Upshur last week 31-20. Lewis County out rushed BU 302-152 in the game. The Minutemen also got some key special teams plays as well. Isaac Kemper returned the opening kickoff 90 yards. Riley Gunter had a 27-yard field goal in the second half.
Gunter forced a fumble on a kickoff that Keenan Conrad recovered. Ross Harvey blocked a field goal and an extra point attempt. Matt Norman also blocked a PAT. The Huskies are coming off their first win over season as they pulled out a 25-22 win over county rival East Fairmont last week. The Huskies rushed for 344 yards in that game. Drew Harker preserved the game with a late interception.
Lincoln (5-1) at Ritchie County 4-2)
Lincoln carries a three game winning streak into this one. The Cougars Jarrod Kellar threw for 282 yards and three touchdowns last week in a win over Grafton. Ty Seibel ran for 143 yards and two touchdowns. Kicker Emily Knight went 6-6 on extra point attempts and also hit a 24-yard field goal. At halftime of the game, Knight was named Lincoln’s homecoming queen.
Ritchie County had a four game winning streak snapped last week with 43-21 loss to Ravenswood.
Notre Dame (4-1) at Liberty (0-5)
The Irish suffered their first loss of the season last week at the hands of Danville, Ohio.
Spencer Harlow and freshman Jarrod West have emerged as weapons for Notre Dame of late. Harlow had touchdowns on offense, defense and special teams in recent games. West had a three game touchdown reception streak. He is averaging over 20 yards per reception.
Liberty is coming off a shut out loss at the hands of Braxton County.
Hampshire (3-2) at Buckhannon-Upshur (2-4)
Buckhannon goes for its first home win of the season following back to back losses to Oak Hill and Lewis County
The Bucs got a stellar performance from senior Seth Cutright in last week’s loss to the Minutemen. Cutright rushed for 67 yards and a touchdown. He threw a touchdown pass and he had touchdown on a 77-yard kickoff return. Cutright, in fact, had 144 yards on two kick returns.
Hampshire has a pair of early season wins over regional teams. Hampshire beat Preston and Elkins during the first two weeks of the season.