By: Eric Little – Seven Ranges Radio
Where has the time gone…Week 8?!? Hardly seems likely, but, here we are. And with some teams taking their bye week in Week 11, some teams have just three games remaining. It always seems like no matter how long we wait for high school football, it comes and goes like a lightning bolt. It’s certainly been an interesting year though. Here are this week’s games. Dates/times listed:
St. Marys (6-0) at Magnolia (1-6) – Friday 7:30
As far as the St. Marys Blue Devils are concerned, regardless of what the dictionary says, “trap” is spelled “M-A-G-N-O-L-I-A.” Dave Chapman’s Blue Eagles haven’t had the season a lot of people thought the defending state champions would have, but that doesn’t mean this bunch isn’t hungry and ready to pick off a prize target.
By all accounts, the effort has been strong for Magnolia despite the lack of results. The Blue Eagles struggled through some early season growing pains, but picture Magnolia like a trophy buck hunter. With St. Marys, Tyler Consolidated and Moorefield left on the schedule, there certainly are some nice targets left on the Blue Eagles’ schedule.
Last week, Magnolia fell 49-27 to the high-powered offensive attack of Marietta, Ohio. There were still offensive highlights in the losing cause, including 17 first downs and 377 total offensive yards.
St. Marys took care of business last week on homecoming, rolling to a 57-0 win over Calhoun County. Not that St. Marys is likely to look ahead, but you might wonder if that’s a possibility with contests remaining against South Harrison and Tyler Consolidated.
One thing that will keep the Blue Devils focused on the task at hand: the name on the front of their opponent’s jersey. Magnolia has been one of those measuring stick schools in this area for decades, and regardless of record, no one sleeps on the Blue Eagles. Another thing that’ll keep St. Marys focused: Remember that thing I said about the Blue Eagles playing hard each week in the last paragraph? The Blue Devils are well aware of that.
The past stops in Chapman’s coaching career include Williamstown…and St. Marys, where only a few years separate Chapman’s stint with the Blue Devils with current head coach Jodi Mote’s time at the helm. People in St. Marys are still well aware of how a Dave Chapman team prepares and is motivated each week.
So a game that might otherwise be a trap game for the Blue Devils is likely one that’ll draw a focused and measured effort. Still, the Blue Devils will need to get an early lead and avoid mistakes that would open the door for Magnolia.
This game can be heard locally on Lite Rock 93R (93.9 FM) and online at www.literock93r.com.
Tyler Consolidated (4-2) at South Harrison (6-0) – Friday 7:30
If you don’t think a lot of calendars in the Lost Creek, West Virginia area have had this date circled in red, think again. South Harrison lost in last year’s quarterfinal round of the playoffs, but the Tyler Consolidated Silver Knights were the one thing keeping the Hawks from a perfect regular season.
Last week, Tyler Consolidated emerged from a bye week with a businesslike 49-6 win over winless Ritchie County. The Silver Knights scored on both offense and defense, with an offense that both ran and threw the ball well on the way to 323 total yards of offense.
Tyler Consolidated also got defensive scores on Hunter Forrester’s 35-yard pick six and a scoop-and-score from Nathan Lancaster. South Harrison has pillaged their way through the 2016 season, with only one opponent coming within 20 points of the Hawks.
They come off a 71-6 win over Tygarts Valley and have outscored opponents by a startling 257-31 margin, with a defense that’s shut out two opponents. Tyler Consolidated will need to get out in front of this one early, or else it could get out of control. The Silver Knights would be best advised to try and dictate the pace in the first quarter. If one team or the other falls behind by two scores or more, the avalanche may not be far behind.
This game will air locally on 92.3 FM and online at www.wxcr.com.
Wirt County (1-6) at Williamstown (5-2) – Friday 7:00
Williamstown Yellowjackets’ fans had the scare of their season last week when quarterback Trenton Tallman left with an injury last week against Buffalo. Enter Carter Haynes, who was 6 of 8 through the air and led the Yellowjackets to the final 12 points in a 39-34 win over Buffalo.
Haynes connected with Darren Hastings on one scoring drive, and then led another that culminated in the go-ahead score – a nine-yard Donathan Taylor touchdown tote. The Yellowjackets also scored in all three phases, getting an 85-yard interception return touchdown from Hastings and a kickoff return TD from Tallman.
The Yellowjackets also survived three touchdowns and 238 yards from Buffalo standout Dylan Lucas. You’ll be hard pressed to convince many people that Williamstown had to work harder to get a win this year. Either way you cut it, this isn’t the worst time for the one-win Wirt Tigers to come up on the schedule.
If you’re Williamstown, you have the benefit of a week to rest Tallman. If he doesn’t play, it’ll be another chance for the rest of the Yellowjackets’ weapons to show what they can do and shoulder the load. For a group that’s coming together at the right time, this will be good playoff preparation.
Calhoun County (1-6) at Gilmer County (6-0) – Friday 7:30
For the first time since the late 80’s, Gilmer County will have a winning football season. Last week’s 20-7 win over Doddridge County sealed that accomplishment for a Titans team that has to have playoffs on the mind.
For this community that usually gets most of their football enjoyment out of the college team that plays in town each Saturday, this has been a storybook season each Friday night. And expect the Titans to be able to write the latest chapter against a struggling Calhoun County team that owns just one win – a two-point victory earlier this season against the winless Ritchie County Rebels.
Cabell Midland (3-4) at Parkersburg (2-4) – Friday 7:00
Parkersburg snapped its four-game losing streak with a 52-15 win over Woodrow Wilson. Karson Snyder and Ethan Airhart connected for two touchdowns in Parkersburg’s passing game, with Snyder rushing for another touchdown. Defensively, Brenton Strange returned two interceptions for Parkersburg touchdowns.
This week, things get a lot tougher as the state’s best 3-4 team enters Stadium Field. Cabell Midland’s losses come to very good football teams, and with little margin for error left in their season, the Knights won’t be messing around this week.
With this being the first of three very winnable games remaining for Cabell Midland, expect the Big Reds to have to contend with a very crisp effort out of the Knights this weekend, in a game that will be an uphill battle for PHS. You’d think the Big Reds need to either beat Cabell Midland or Riverside in two weeks in order to snag a playoff spot this year, if not both, so they also have little room for error left in their season.
Notre Dame (2-5) at Parkersburg Catholic (3-3) – Saturday 7:00
Perhaps no area team stubbed their toe in a more frustrating and heartbreaking fashion than the Parkersburg Catholic Crusaders. Catholic had a chance to go into mid-October at 4-2, but instead allowed a previously-winless Weirton Madonna team to enter the win column with a 38-25 victory. Madonna rallied from a first quarter deficit to take the lead at halftime.
After the Crusaders grabbed an early second half lead, the Blue Dons scored the game’s final 17 points to take away win No. 1. Undaunted, the Crusaders will try to get back over .500 at home against Notre Dame Saturday night in Catholic’s final home game of the year.
The Crusaders are trying to work Alec Hinton back into the lineup after his injury in Week 1, and have the capability to score some points. Expect a regrouped and a refocused effort this week against Notre Dame.
Ravenswood (3-4) at Doddridge County (4-3) – Friday 7:30
In a game that was beginning to draw some attention around the area, the Doddridge County Bulldogs took unbeaten Gilmer County to the limit before falling by two touchdowns. This week, they’ll have a chance at home against what’s been an inconsistent Ravenswood team.
The Red Devils upset Tyler Consolidated for their first win of the season, but probably wish they could replay their opener against two-win Wahama. The Red Devils have won three of their last four though, so confidence is on the rise in Jackson County. The Bulldogs will need to gain control of this one early in order to successfully defend their home field.
Spring Valley (6-1) at Ripley (2-5) – Friday 7:00
As one team’s fortunes are rising in Jackson County, another’s are falling. The Ripley Vikings started their seasons 2-2, with two narrow losses in weeks two and three. Since then, the Vikes have dropped three straight to tough opposition. Worse? Their opponent has doubled up on them in each of those three games.
This week, Spring Valley enters Death Valley and after five straight wins and two straight shutouts, Ripley is facing Spring Valley at exactly the wrong time this season. It’ll be a pretty tough time for the Vikings to turn their fortunes.
Roane County (5-1) at Lincoln (4-2) – Friday 7:30
On just 19 carries, Tyler May ran for three touchdowns and 145 yards for Roane County on the way to a 45-0 whitewashing of Clay County last week. May also returned a fumble 80 yards for a score and caught a touchdown pass from Drew Kinder.
This week, Roane faces a Lincoln team that bounced back from a shutout loss against Bridgeport with a win over Lewis County. This will be one of the toughest tests remaining on Lincoln’s schedule, so they’ll be motivated with a lot on the line, as far as playoff positioning goes.
But for the Raiders, they seem to have bounced back after two rough offensive outings that followed three straight games with 42 points or more. Clicking on all cylinders, Roane County is a team that few in Class AA or below want to face this season.
Other Games:
Hannan (1-5) at Paden City (1-5) – Friday 7:00
Ritchie County (0-7) at Webster County (3-3) – Friday 7:00
South Gallia, Ohio (2-5) at Wahama (2-5) – Friday 7:30
Bye:
Parkersburg South (3-4)