By Philip See for WVMetroNews.com
The slate of games in the Kanawha Valley in week 3 features an important, early AA Cardinal Conference contest and a pair of top-10 AAA matchups in the MSAC. Also, South Charleston welcomes in a familiar Kentucky powerhouse.
Scott (2-0) at Class AA No. 9 Sissonville (2-0)
Last season, Sissonville and Scott were on opposite ends of the Cardinal Conference spectrum. Sissonville finished the regular season 9-1 and hosted a first round playoff game while the Skyhawks were 3-7.
Despite losing several important pieces from last year’s team, the Indians are off to a solid 2-0 start. They have knocked off a pair of conference foes from Logan County, beating Chapmanville 25-16 in week 1 and followed that up with a 28-12 win at Logan. Sissonville’s passing game has been strong thus far, led by quarterback Will Hackney and receivers Michael Pinkerton and Mayson Miller.
Last year’s Scott squad was young, and the Skyhawks are starting to see results from the young players that gained experience last season. Chief among those is sophomore running back Carson McComas, who surpassed the 200-yard mark rushing in each of the Skyhawks’ wins over Herbert Hoover and Van.
Both teams still have the toughest parts of their conference schedules ahead of them, including defending state champion Mingo Central and Winfield, which was expected to be one of the top Cardinal teams in the preseason.
Though the season is still in its infancy, this is the type of game that could set one team on the path to the playoffs with the other eventually left outside or lead one team to hosting a playoff game with the other forced to go on the road.
Class AAA No. 7 Hurricane (2-0) at No. 6 Cabell Midland (1-1)
Hurricane’s 34-31 win over Cabell Midland in Week 3 last year provided a big lift for the program. It marked the first time Hurricane had beaten the Knights since 2010, and the victory helped spark the team to a strong regular season and an upset win over University in the first round of the playoffs.
With the defense leading the way to another 2-0 start to the season, Hurricane looks to make it two straight wins over Midland.
“Defense is carrying us a little bit early,” coach Jeremy Taylor said. “They definitely carried us down at Paintsville…. At the end of the game, the offense finally came around and we were able to pound the ball a little bit and run the clock out”
For Hurricane to win, it will likely need a big game out of receiver Curon Cordon, the team’s biggest offensive weapon.
“He’s a heck of a player,” Taylor said of Cordon. “A lot of teams double him…That has opened up our running game. Curon just being there has taken a lot of pressure off our fifth straight first-year starting quarterback and our sophomores on the line.”
After an opening loss to Cincinnati Anderson, Ohio, Midland bounced back with a strong 49-17 victory over South Charleston last week. The Knights have shown that they will be a major factor in the MSAC again this season. If Hurricane can come up with another victory, it may be one as well.
No. 2 Huntington (2-0) at No. 9 George Washington (1-1)
After a disappointing 13-12 loss to South Charleston in the season opener, George Washington rebounded with a 14-7 victory over Ashland Blazer, Ky. The Patriot defense was huge in the win, holding Ashland scoreless in the game’s final three quarters and coming up with a late goal line stand.
The Patriots will get a huge test on both sides of the ball this week against Huntington. Quarterback Grant Wells and the GW offense, which has scored just 26 points on the season, will take on a Highlander defense that is fresh off a shutout victory over Spring Valley. Huntington’s offense has shown potency as well, racking up 45 points in an opening victory over a good Belfry, Ky. team.
“They’re big. They’re fast. They’re well-coached,” GW coach Steve Edwards Jr. said of the Highlanders. “A lot of those kids have been in big ballgames. They know how to play.”
Johnson Central, Ky. (2-0) at South Charleston (1-1)
South Charleston’s difficult stretch to begin the season continues in Week 3. After squeaking out the opening win against rival George Washington, the Black Eagles had a rough time against Cabell Midland last week.
This week, the Black Eagles welcome in Johnson Central, a Kentucky powerhouse that keeps popping up against Kanawha Valley teams. The Golden Eagles, which are the defending 4A state champions, knocked off Capital 31-20 in the season opener. Johnson Central beat South Charleston 30-6 when the two teams met last year.
With a tough remaining schedule that continues with test at Riverside next week followed by a trip to Spring Valley, South Charleston could really use a strong performance this week against Johnson Central.
Other Games
Parkersburg (1-0) at Capital (1-1)
Spring Valley (0-1) at St. Albans (1-1)
Riverside (1-1) at Ripley (2-0)
Winfield (1-1) at Chapmanville (1-1)
Nitro (1-1) at Herbert Hoover (0-2)
Poca (0-2) at Buffalo (0-2)