By Sean McNamara – Times West Virginian for WVMetroNews.com
The Eastern Panhandle went 4-4 in last week’s action and enters Week 2 highlighted by out-of-state matchup between No. 1 Martinsburg and Eastern, D.C. as well as Chestnut Ridge, Pa. at Musselman.
Eastern, D.C. at No. 1 Martinsburg (1-0), Friday
The state’s top ranked Bulldogs lived up to the billing last week, dismantling Loudoun Valley, Virginia, 42-14, on the road in Purcellville, Virginia.
The Bulldogs jumped on the Vikings early, racing out to a 42-0 lead by halftime. The second half – which was played with a running clock — saw a few hiccoughs from Martinsburg, which turned the ball over three times in four possessions, but the first-half lead was too much as Loudoun Valley managed just 14 points in the second half.
Mikey Jackson and Dwayne Grantham each ran for two touchdowns in the win while Tyson Bagent , who went 13 of 15 passing, connected on touchdown passes to Chelo Teneval and Shy Crawford.
It’s a Martinsburg team full of juniors and seniors – the same group of athletes pushed into action as freshmen and sophomores two years ago.
“They’ve got a pretty good memory and they’ve paid their dues,” said Martinsburg coach Dave Walker. “In that 2015 season, we started nine sophomores and two freshmen – so it was unbelievable that we were able to make it to the second round of the playoffs that year.
“But they stuck together, played hard and did the things that were asked of them,” he continued. “It’s really just a good group of kids – they’re talented, but they’re even better kids.”
This week, Martinsburg will host its home opener against Eastern, D.C.
The game will be Eastern’s season opener. The Ramblers lost to Martinsburg last season, 56-14, en route to a 4-7 2016 campaign.
Martinsburg picked off sophomore quarterback Jallen Young three times in that game, although he did manage to throw for 254 yards on just 10 completions.
Martinsburg’s secondary will be tested this week against the pass-happy Ramblers.
Chestnut Ridge, Pa. (1-0) at Musselman (1-0), Friday
Led by Jacob Northcraft, who scored two rushing touchdowns and had a fumble recovery and had an interception, the Musselman Applemen cruised to a 39-8 win over Spring Mills in Week 1.
The key to the victory for Musselman was on the defensive side of the football, where coach Brian Thomas’ Applemen forced four turnovers, which proved to be the difference in the game.
This week, Musselman takes on Chestnut Ridge, Pa., a 1-0 team that returns 21 starters from last year’s squad that went 9-4 a year ago.
The two teams met last season at Chestnut Ridge, with the Lions claiming a 38-30 victory.
Chestnut Ridge won its season opener, 49-0, over Everett, Pennsylvania, and will look to hand Musselman its first loss of the season.
The Lions are led by junior quarterback Logan Hauck, who is already the school’s all-time leading passer. Hauck completed 17-of-29 passes for 222 yards and four touchdowns against Musselman a year ago.
No. 2 (Class A) East Hardy (1-0) at Frankfort (1-0), Friday
Class A No. 2 East Hardy rolled to a 48-14 victory over Harrison Central in its season opener.
East Hardy surrendered three touchdowns in the opening quarter, but ended the game with 35 unanswered points in the win.
The Cougars used a balanced offensive attack in the win, with 455 total yards, 244 of which came through the air and 211 of which came on the ground. Clay Skovron completed 13-of-22 passes for 244 yards and three scores while rushing for 53 yards and two touchdowns.
His top target was Brett Tharp, who had 119 yards on five catches with two touchdowns.
“Brett (Tharp) I think is the best receiver in the state, regardless of classification,” Williams said. “He’s a playmaker, both sides of the ball. He’s a four year starter for us and has been over 1,000 yards the last couple of seasons. When the ball’s in his hands, he makes plays.”
Philip Mullin ran the ball 20 times for 140 yards as well in Week 1.
“Philip (Mullin) is better than ever,” said East Hardy coach Chad Williams. “He played through an injury last year and had to have surgery the week after the season ended. But he’s full strength now and is the strongest kid on our team. We’re finding different ways to get him the ball.
After a slow start last week, Frankfort got going in the second quarter, eventually scoring 47 unanswered points in a 47-7 victory over Moorefield.
The win, which saw Jonathan Beachy run 12 times for 123 yards and two scores, was Frankfort coach Kevin Watson’s first with the Falcons.
The Cougars won last year’s contest, 42-6, on the road in Ridgeley a year ago.
Berkeley Springs (0-1) at No. 6 Keyser (0-0), Friday
The No. 6 Keyser Golden Tornado will open the season Friday at home against Berkeley Springs.
Brady Ours , a first-team all-state defensive back last season as a sophomore, will return to lead Keyser, which won last year’s matchup between the two teams, 49-0.
The Berkeley Springs Indians come into the game 0-1 after falling in Week 1 to Petersburg, in a game that they led 15-7 in the third quarter.
Sherando, Va. (1-0) at Jefferson (0-1), Friday
The Jefferson Cougars were defeated 52-13 last week against Millbrook, Virginia, in a game they trailed 44-6 at halftime.
Jefferson’s two scores each came from Corbin Pierson, who punched in touchdowns from 7 and 3 yards out.
Sherando won its opening game last week, 58-8, over the Wood Colonels. The Warriors opened up a 51-8 lead at halftime and rolled to the blowout victory.
Sherando won last season’s matchup in Shenandoah Junction, 41-12, over Jefferson.
Petersburg (1-0) at Pendleton County (0-1), Friday
Petersburg rallied for 15-7 down in the third quarter to defeat Berkeley Springs last Friday, 22-15.
Jacob Hartman ran for 123 yards and all three scores in the win for Petersburg, with the winning play coming with less than a minute to go in the game.
Pendleton County entered its Week 1 matchup with Notre Dame ranked No. 6 in Class A, and was upset, 41-30, by the Fighting Irish in a game in which Notre Dame quarterback Ryan LaAsmar completed 15-of-26 passes for 223 yards and one touchdown while running for 56 yards and two scores.
Hedgesville (1-0) at S. Hagerstown (0-1), Maryland, Friday
The Hedgesville Eagles rode a strong second half to a 43-6 win over Washington in Week 1, and now travel to S. Hagerstown, Maryland, as they look to move to 2-0.
South Hagerstown enters the game 0-1 after falling, 24-7, last week against Middletown.
Other games:
Washington (0-1) at Spring Mills (0-1), Friday
Moorefield (0-1) at Pocahontas County (1-0), Friday