By Sean McNamara – Times West Virginian for WVMetroNews.com
Only two undefeated teams– Martinsburg and East Hardy — remain in the Eastern Panhandle following Musselman’s loss to Morgantown in Week 5.
There are two matchups between teams over .500 records this week as the 4-1 Applemen travel to 5-1 Hedgesville, and the 6-0 Bulldogs travel to Virginia to take on Sherando.
If the playoffs were to start today, Martinsburg, Musselman, Hedgesville, Spring Mills, Keyser and East Hardy would all represent the Eastern Panhandle.
Musselman (4-1) at Hedgesville (5-1), Friday
Despite a three-touchdown, 195-yard rushing performance from Jacob Northcraft, the Musselman Applemen were handed their first loss of the season last week to Morgantown, 39-29.
Musselman came into the game tied for third in the WVSSAC Class AAA playoff rankings and dropped to No. 4 after the loss.
For Morgantown, the Mohigans came into the game – their second in the Eastern Panhandle in as many weeks — outside of the playoff picture and earned a major boost with the win.
“It’s something that we put on the kids’ back that we’ve talked about as a team,” Morgantown coach Matt Lacy said. “We weren’t out of the playoffs yet, and you look what that win did for us, we went from 20th clear up to 12th in the ratings.
“It put us back into the playoff picture, but now that just makes the rest of these games important for us to stay in that playoff picture.”
This week, things do not get any easier for the Applemen, who travel to Hedgesville to take on the 5-1 Eagles, who have drawn statewide attention with a hot start so far this season.
The Eagles are ranked fifth in the Class AAA playoff rankings, up one spot from a week ago.
Hedgesville is coming off a 42-12 win over Preston in Week 6 in a game that saw Malakai Brown score four touchdowns – three on receptions from quarterback Jason Plotner and one on an interception return for touchdown.
Plotner has led the way for the Eagles all season, and, as one of the leading passers in the Eastern Panhandle, is a big reason for the success this team has had.
“He’s 6-5 and he can sit in the pocket,” coach Joey Yurish said. “He’s a really good pocket passer. He’s got a really good arm and some really good athletes around him.”
A win this week would be huge for the Eagles not only as it relates to playoff rankings, but to the mind set of a team that is looking to make a return trip to the postseason and put themselves in the conversation amongst the better teams in Class AAA.
“We’re just trying to change the culture around Hedgesville,” Yurish said. “We’re trying to build a program with the guys we have. We’ve got a really good group of young guys to establish that program, and a great coaching staff and guys around me, so hopefully we’re able to build off of that.”
Musselman won last year’s matchup, 49-13.
Martinsburg (6-0) at Sherando, Va. (4-1), Friday
The Martinsburg Bulldogs continued to roll last week with a 57-0 win on homecoming over Eastern Panhandle foe Washington.
Martinsburg scored 50 points on its first 16 plays, led by Jarod Bowie and quarterback Tyson Bagent who completed 10-of-14 passes for 173 yards and two scores.
This week the Bulldogs end a five-game homestand and head to Virginia to face what may be their toughest test of the year against a 5-1 Sherando squad. Sherando’s first loss of the season came last week by three points, 31-28, against Liberty (Va.).
This week’s game will be the second this season against an Eastern Panhandle opponent for Sherando, which defeated Jefferson, 48-12, in Week 2.
Over the course of Martinsburg’s 20 straight wins, Sherando provided the toughest test last season, as the Bulldogs won, 35-28, in their second game of 2016.
Sherando is averaging 52.2 points per game this year while surrendering 15 points per game.
There are three undefeated teams left in Class AAA, with Martinsburg behind both Huntington and University in the Class AAA playoff rankings.
Tucker County (2-4) at East Hardy (6-0), Friday
Now ranked second in the WVMetroNews Power Rankings and No. 2 in the WVSSAC Class A playoff rankings, the 42-6 over Pendleton County.
Quarterback Clay Skorvron continued to sling in for the Cougars in the win, completing 14-of-24 passing for 240 yards and three touchdowns. His top target was Brett Tharpe who had five catches for 142 yards and two touchdowns.
The Cougars are one of five undefeated teams left in Class A, and one of two, along with Midland Trail, that sits at 6-0.
Tucker County has two wins this season, defeating Tygarts Valley, 42-0, and Moorefield, 20-10.
Hampshire (2-3) at University (6-0), Friday
Following a 53-12 loss to Keyser a week ago, things get even tougher this week as the Trojans travel to Morgantown to take on the undefeated University Hawks.
Hampshire opened the season 2-1, but have lost two in a row to fall below .500 for the first time this season.
If the Trojans, who rank 21st in the Week 6 WVSSAC Class AAA playoff rankings hope to put themselves back into the playoff picture, they will have to do so against Clay Bailey, Amir Richardson, Trevor Barnhart and co. from University, the second-ranked team in Class AAA.
Keyser (4-1) at Man (1-4), Friday
The Keyser Golden Tornado continued to roll in Week 6, defeating visiting Hampshire, 53-12, in Romney.
Christian Ravenscroft and Brady Ours each scored two touchdowns in the win for Keyser, which ranks sixth in the latest WVSSAC Class AA playoff rankings.
This week’s opponent is a 1-4 Man squad that is coming off a 14-0 loss to Lincoln County. The Hillbillies’ lone victory this season came in Week 5 at home against River View.
Spring Mills (3-3) at Jefferson (0-5), Friday
The Spring Mills Cardinals were defeated in Week 6, 28-26, by Boonsboro and fell to 3-3 on the season.
Despite the loss, Spring Mills remains in the playoff picture, tied for 13th with George Washington.
Brock Shockey scored two rushing touchdowns in the game while Evin Hurt and Trenton Kerns each added one against Boonsboro.
Jefferson comes into this week’s game off of a bye week and still seeking its first win of the season.
Other games:
Brunswick at Berkeley Springs (1-4), Friday
Washington (0-6) at Frankfort (1-5), Friday
Northern Garrett, Md., at Moorefield (0-5), Friday