By: Eric Little – Seven Ranges Radio
Hard to believe that in two weeks, we’ll know the 16 teams in each class that’ll make up this year’s playoff field. There are a few teams that are pretty secure they will make it, while there are several that are well aware that they won’t. The real intrigue with this point in the season lies with the teams still working to reach that final goal. It’s well within grasp for a number of area teams. Here are this week’s games. Dates/times listed:
Wheeling Park (5-3) at Parkersburg South (4-4) – Friday 7:00
For the first time since before their season kicked off, Parkersburg South has as many wins as losses. Back-to-back wins against Brooke have allowed the South Patriots to pull themselves up by the bootstraps and reach .500 with two games to play. By far, this week’s opponent – Wheeling Park – represents the most valuable opponent South has played in a month, in regards to playoff positioning and the points a win could offer.
Parkersburg South picked up their fourth win of the year last Friday by a 30-16 score over Greenbrier East. Running back JT Kemp ran for three touchdowns and 155 yards and is really heating up down the stretch for the Patriots. Kemp now has seven rushing scores in South’s last two games. The Patriots won the turnover battle three to one against the Spartans and limited the Greenbrier East ground game to just 145 total yards in a pretty suffocating effort.
Wheeling Park bounced back from a loss to Morgantown with a 28-14 win over Princeton last week. After starting the year a modest 2-2, the defending Class AAA state champions have won three of their last four. All three of Park’s losses are to teams we’ll be seeing in the playoffs this season.
The biggest question regarding this matchup is how effective will Parkersburg South’s defense be in stopping Wheeling Park quarterback Cross Wilkinson. South’s defense is likely the most tenacious he’s faced since Bridgeport in Week 2.
And if the Parkersburg South running game can get the same flow they’ve had in the last few weeks – whether or not it’s Kemp or someone else leading the way –South has a chance to get the win they need to significantly boost their chances of making their first playoff appearance since 2014.
Aside from the playoffs, the other motivation for South on Friday? Head coach Mike Eddy’s current seniors haven’t defeated Wheeling Park.
This game can be heard locally on V96.9 FM and online at www.v969radio.net.
Ravenswood (4-4) at St. Marys (8-0) – Friday 7:30
There are statement wins, and then there are wins like what St. Marys had on Friday night against South Harrison. With the attention of the entire state, St. Marys scored the final 47 points in a 47-6 win over the Hawks. Braeden Barnhart topped 100 total yards for St. Marys, catching a touchdown pass and running for a score. The story of last week’s game comes with the success (or lack thereof) with the running game for both teams.
St. Marys ran the ball 42 times for 222 total rushing yards, an average of more than five yards per running play. South Harrison managed -2 ground yards on 28 attempts. The Blue Devils won the game up front with their offensive line, while taking the life out of South Harrison’s attack with the defensive line and linebackers.
Ravenswood has surprised a lot of people after starting 0-3. The Red Devils rallied from a two touchdown deficit to defeat Tyler Consolidated in a win that’s served as a springboard of sorts for Ravenswood. Starting with that game, the Red Devils have won four of their last five and have discovered how best to use the talented and productive Alex Casto. Ravenswood’s defense has also had two of its better efforts in their last three games, limiting Ritchie County to just eight points and shutting out Doddridge County two weeks ago.
The Red Devils come in off a bye week, but it might take a month of preparation to stop St. Marys at this point. Though things have turned around for Ravenswood – they may be the area’s most improved team at this point of the season, based on where they were on Opening Week – St. Marys is clicking on all cylinders.
The Blue Devils are doing their best to put themselves in position for their second trip to Wheeling Island in the last three years.
This game can be heard locally on Lite Rock 93R and online at www.literock93r.com.
Parkersburg (3-5) at Riverside (4-5) – Friday 7:00
Parkersburg got back to their winning ways last week with a 55-26 win over Warren, Ohio. The Big Reds built a 35-0 halftime lead and cruised to a win that snapped a skid where PHS had dropped five of their last six. Now, the Big Reds have won two of their last three and face two straight must-win games to finish the season.
Last week, the Big Reds used a balanced attack offensively to put up the kind of numbers a few people thought this team might put up all year. Quarterback Bradley Craig was 14 of 19 throwing the football for 223 yards and three touchdowns. Easton Martin ran for 221 yards (on just 14 carries!) and three scores for Parkersburg. All told, the mighty Big Reds racked up 564 total yards of offense.
Parkersburg faces a Riverside team that got off to a strong start, but has faded down the stretch. After starting 4-2, the Warriors have dropped three straight. Worse, they’ve only scored 21 points during that stretch – including an October 7th shutout against Spring Valley.
There’s still fight in the Warriors on Senior Night at Riverside High, and a .500 season carries a lot of good feelings for a program that hasn’t had a lot of success in recent years. PHS will need to get out to a quick start and will need another balanced attack on offense to pick up the road win.
If the Big Reds have any hope of making the playoffs, they must win this week against Riverside AND next week against Parkersburg South.
Valley Wetzel (1-7) at Tyler Consolidated (5-3) – Friday 7:00
Even though Magnolia has just one win this season, the Tyler Consolidated Silver Knights exorcised some demons with their 20-7 win last week. More importantly, the Knights picked up a fifth win that will allow them to avoid the sort of late season collapse that led to a losing record for Tyler Consolidated last year.
This week, the Knights play another must-win against the one-win Valley Lumberjacks. With St. Marys looming in Week 11 for Tyler Consolidated, this one is essential if the Silver Knights have any hope at a winning season and/or the playoffs.
This game can be heard locally on 92.3 FM and online at www.wxcr.com.
Parkersburg Catholic (3-5) at Gilmer County (8-0) – Friday 7:30
After an encouraging 3-2 start to the year, Parkersburg Catholic has dropped three straight. Now, the Crusaders hit the road for one of their toughest tests of the year – a matchup with a Gilmer County Titans squad in the midst of a storybook season. Already assured of their first winning season in three decades, now, Gilmer County wants to win the whole flippin’ thing. Or a perfect regular season…that would be nice too.
With home matchups against Parkersburg Catholic and Meadow Bridge remaining, it’s certainly within reach for Gilmer. As impressive as the offense has been for the Titans – they’ve scored 40 or more in half their eight wins and haven’t scored fewer than 20 all year – how about some love for the defense?
They’ve held six of eight opponents to a touchdown or fewer. Parkersburg Catholic has some talent at the offensive skill positions, but it’ll take a lot to get out of the anaconda-like grasp of the Gilmer defense.
Roane County (5-3) at Ripley (2-6) – Friday 7:00
A 2-2 start for Ripley certainly provided a lot of excitement in Jackson County, but the Vikings have fallen back to earth after four straight losses. Though the opposition has been tough, the Vikings haven’t been competitive at the end in each of their last four games, though they did top 20 points in three of their four losses.
This week, they’ll host a Roane County team that’s fallen in two straight weeks against Class AA teams that are jockeying for position in the tight playoff race. Even though Tyler May ran for 226 yards and two scores for the Raiders, Herbert Hoover came away with the two-touchdown win last week.
With Class AAA bonus points on the line for Roane County, and in a fight for their playoff lives, expect the Raiders to hit their mark this week.
Other Games:
South Harrison (7-1) at Paden City (2-6) – Friday 7:00
Calhoun County (1-8) at Clay County (3-5) – Friday 7:30
Grafton (3-5) at Ritchie County (0-9) – Friday 7:30
Wirt County (1-7) at Fort Frye, Ohio (9-0) – Friday 7:30
Bye:
Wahama (2-7)
Williamstown (7-2)