By: Jack Withrow, WVMetroNews.com
AAA No. 15 Cabell Midland (1-2) at AAA No. 6 Capital (2-1) – Friday, 7:00
This is a game that usually draws attention not only from fans around the Mountain State Athletic Conference, but also from all around the state of West Virginia. Last year’s regular season meeting saw Midland defeat then-No. 1 Capital 21-14 on a late touchdown run by Devin Stapleton. However, Capital would have the last laugh as the Cougars edged out the Knights in the AAA semifinals to earn a trip back to Wheeling Island Stadium and the state championship game.
Capital (2-1) is coming off a 41-19 road victory over Parkersburg and ranked No. 6 in this week’s WVSSAC playoff ratings. The Cougars rolled up over 500 total yards on the Big Reds as quarterback Kerry Martin was effective both on the ground and through the air. Martin rushed for 71 yards and two touchdowns as well as completed 16-of-25 passes for 228 yards and a score. Anthony Pittman hauled in a 21-yard TD pass from Martin in the first quarter.
Cabell Midland comes in to Friday night’s game at Laidley Field with a 1-2 record and a 34-31 setback at Hurricane. The Knights rushed for 485 yards but turnovers and big plays from Hurricane allowed the Redskins to secure a come-from-behind victory. Midland’s Ivan Vaughn rushed for 163 yards on 24 carries and three touchdowns.
This will be the 25th meeting between to two schools as Capital holds a 15-9 record over Cabell Midland.
A No. 5 Buffalo (3-0) at Greenbrier West (0-2) – Friday, 7:30
Buffalo is off to another hot start at 3-0 following a 54-7 victory over Poca last Friday night. The Bison are averaging just over 51 points a game, while senior running back Dylan Lucas has been more than impressive to begin the season.
Lucas has amassed 992 all-purpose yards and 17 touchdowns, most of that coming out of the backfield as he’s rushed for 671 yards on just 36 carries for an insane average of 18.7 yards per carry.
Defensively, the Bison have held their opponents to just over 10 points per game while junior linebacker Jacob Hanshaw leads all tacklers with a total of 37. Owen Tillis has contributed 25 tackles including a team-high five sacks.
Buffalo travels to Charmco this week to take on winless Greenbrier West on Friday night. The Cavaliers were off last week but opened the season up with losses to Nicholas County and Midland Trail.
Buffalo defeated Greenbrier West 56-20 in last year’s meeting.
AAA No. 7 Spring Valley (2-1) at George Washington (1-2) – Friday, 7:00
George Washington will face another tough test this Friday night as the Patriots play host to No. 7 ranked Spring Valley. Patriots quarterback Grant Wells has continued to impress as the sophomore threw for 310 yards and two touchdowns while adding 34 yards and another score on the ground in a 24-18 loss at Huntington. Wells hooked up with receiver Darnell Brooks six times for 188 yards and two scores on Friday night.
Last week, Spring Valley used a balanced attack to dismantle St. Albans 70-14. The Timberwolves are averaging 46 points per game as quarterback Derek Johnson has thrown for 339 yards on 26 completions and six touchdowns. Johnson is also the team’s leading rusher with 279 yards on 35 carries as running back Mason Brubeck has carried the ball 30 times for 231 yards.
Last year, George Washington defeated Spring Valley in overtime, 35-28.
Winfield (1-1) at AA No. 6 Herbert Hoover (3-0) – Friday, 7:30
Winfield picked up its first Cardinal Conference win two weeks ago with a 34-20 victory over visiting Scott. After an off week, the Generals travel to Falling Rock to face No. 6 ranked and undefeated Herbert Hoover.
Down 20-0 at halftime, Winfield coach Craig Snyder went to a ram set offense as junior quarterback Andrew Huff scored five rushing touchdowns in the third quarter for the come-from-behind victory over visiting Scott. Huff finished with 192 yards on 40 carries.
Herbert Hoover enters Friday’s contest coming off a 43-8 win over visiting Nitro. The Huskies have overcome a ton of adversity this year including a game delay during the first half of Friday night’s game. With the game tied at 8-8, several lights went out at Joe Eddie Cowley Field. Once the lights came back on, the Huskies offense came alive as they scored 35 unanswered points to easily put away the Wildcats.
Herbert Hoover’s Colten Rollyson scored four times on Friday night including an 89-yard kickoff return. Rollyson, one of the leading rushers in the Cardinal Conference with 321 yards on the season, finished the night with a game high 112 yards rushing. Teammate Brody Thomas has added 214 yards on 38 carries for a Huskies team that averages 23.3 points per game.
Other Week 4 matchups:
Brooke (0-3) at AAA No. 3 Hurricane (3-0) – Friday, 7:00
AAA No. 7 Riverside (2-1) at AAA No. 16 South Charleston (1-2) – Friday, 7:00
St. Albans (1-2) at AAA No. 16 Ripley (1-2) – Friday, 7:00
Scott (0-3) at AA No. 15 Sissonville (2-1) – Friday, 7:30
Poca (0-3) at Chapmanville (1-2) – Friday, 7:30
Nitro OPEN