— By Wes McKinney
Class AAA
No. 2 Spring Valley (5-0) at No. 1 Capital (5-0)
When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Last week: Spring Valley went away from its usual ground game, and aired it out in a 62-21 win over George Washington.
“I don’t feel like you ever think you can put up that many points in a game,” Spring Valley head coach Brad Dingess said. “What they were giving us, allowed us to do some things.”
SVHS quarterback Will Adkins completed nine passes — five for touchdowns — while throwing for 302 yards.
“We didn’t really game plan to throw the ball that much,” Dingess said. “We can take advantage of some things if teams want to come up and press us in coverage — we can beat some people over the top.”
Why it’s important: Spring Valley has had Capital’s number recently, winning three straight games over the Cougars including a 20-14 win in the 2016 Class AAA semifinals. And in two of those matchups, the Timberwolves have held Capital to 14 points or less.
The secret for Spring Valley keeping the potent Capital offense grounded is actually its offense.
“The best defense is us having long drives on offense,” Dingess said. “But they are as big as anyone in the state up front. They’re going to be hard to push around. We have to win the line of scrimmage, and not have anyone turnovers.”
Players to watch for Spring Valley: In the recent wins over Capital, Spring Valley has used the big offensive line to pace the game, so Doug Nester, Zac Williamson and Wyatt Milum will be called upon to keep the Timberwolves’ offense moving forward.
Players to watch for Capital: Capital quarterback Kerry Martin gets most of the attention and rightfully so, but it’s the playmakers receiving the ball from Martin that concerns Dingess.
“They just have so many weapons everywhere. Usually, when you look at the film there’s some spots where you feel we can attack this,” Dingess said. “They have guys everywhere—they have a really good football player at every spot including special teams,” he continued.
No. 2 Huntington (4-0) at South Charleston (0-4)
When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Last week: Going into its bye week, Huntington cruised past Woodrow Wilson, 47-14, to improve to 4-0 on the season.
“I was proud of the way we came out early, executed and played our brand of football,” Huntington head coach Billy Seals said. “We were able to get some turnovers and take advantage of those.”
The Highlanders turned a couple of Woodrow Wilson turnovers into early points on its way to a 34-0 halftime lead. Ty Blackwell had four total touchdowns and Ty Wilcoxon rushed for two scores.
Why it’s important: After this contest with SCHS, Huntington starts a stretch of games against Hurricane, Capital and Cabell Midland. And despite what South Charleston’s record is heading into Friday, Seals knows the familiarity between the two programs.
“When everyone plays each other in the MSAC as much as we do, I think you get a good idea of what the other team likes to do,” he said.
This will be the fifth matchup between the two teams since the start of the 2016 season after the two squads played each other in the playoffs the last two seasons.
Players to watch for Huntington: It will be indicative for the Highlanders to take control up of the pace of plays against the speed of South Charleston.
“We want South Charleston to earn their scoring drives and we feel like that’ll be tough if we control the line of scrimmage,” Seals said.
Players to watch for South Charleston: “Shyleik Kinney is very dangerous at quarterback,” Seals said. “He can run it and throw it. They create all sorts of matchups with the athletes they present on the perimeter.”
Cabell Midland (2-3) at Riverside (1-4)
When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Last Week: Cabell Midland gave Capital fits before the Knights fell 20-7 in a defensive struggle at Laidley Field. CMHS led 7-0 at halftime before the Cougars scored 14 points in the third quarter and six more in the fourth quarter to down the Knights.
Why it’s important: After three tough losses, Cabell Midland has a chance to get back to .500 before a daunting task, facing Belfry, Kentucky.
Players to watch for Cabell Midland: Ivan Vaughn scored the lone touchdown of the game for Cabell Midland against Capital.
Class AA
Herbert Hoover (1-4) at Chapmanville (3-2)
When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Last week: Chapmanville continued to climb out of its 0-2 start to the season as the Tigers downed Scott 48-14. During its three-game win streak, CRHS has allowed just four touchdowns.
“It’s a testament to our young men and the character in which they have,” Chapmanville head coach Rob Dial said. “A lesser team, a lesser group of guys would have found excuses to not improve like we have this season. I like this team. I think it’s a group of hard-working guys—we’re blue collar. We’re not good enough to stop that process.”
Why it’s important: Chapmanville faces a dangerous 1-4 Herbert Hoover squad that is looking to fight its way back into the playoff picture in Class AA. “They are the best 1-4 team in the state. I’ve seen film of them, and the ball just hasn’t quite bounced their way this season,” Dial said.
Players to watch for Herbert Hoover: The Huskies’ veer option offense is led by quarterback Rhett Whitt. “They have a great quarterback in Rhett White,” Dial said. “We have to try to contain their option offense.”
Players to watch for Chapmanville: The defensive effort by the Tigers over the last three games has been led by defensive tackle Phillip Oxley, who “does a good job of clogging up the middle,” Dial said as well as linebacker Seth Whitt, who “is flying all over the field making plays. Our defense got better when we moved him from strong side linebacker to middle linebacker,” Dial said.
Scott (1-3) at Wayne (2-2)
When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Last week: Wayne aired it out in a 48-12 win over Nitro to even its record to 2-2. Gunner Harmon threw for 233 yards with 156 of those yards and two touchdowns going to Tanner Owens.
“We’re fortunate enough that we have some kids at the skill positions where other teams try to cheat on them and take them away,” Wayne head coach Tom Harmon said in reference of Nitro electing to stop the Wayne running game. “You have to do something well to make them cheat, and then make them pay for cheating.”
Meanwhile, Scott came off its bye week with a loss to Chapmanville, 48-14. The Skyhawks have given up 40 or more points in back-to-back games since their win over St. Marys in week two of the season.
Why It’s Important: Wayne has a chance to continue to gain some traction with a win over Scott. In a couple weeks, Wayne has a potential big game with Chapmanville on the horizon.
“We let the kids know that we have a pretty good football team, but we also have a long way to go to continue to get better,” Harmon said.
Players to watch for Scott: The Skyhawks also have tough players along the offensive and defensive fronts that Harmon says present problems for Wayne.
Players to watch for Wayne: After his breakout performance versus Nitro, Harmon will be the focus of the Pioneers’ offense along with running backs Mikey Bartram and Isaac Dean against Scott.
Class A
No. 10 Sherman (4-1) at No. 9 Fayetteville (4-1)
When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Last week: Sherman continued to build its impressive early-season resume with a convincing 28-3 win over Ravenswood on the road in week five of the season. With the win, it is the third, four-game win streak for the Tide of their last 17 games going back to the second game of the 2017 season.
Fayetteville is coming off a 33-0 shutout loss to Class A defending state champion Wheeling Central on the campus of Wheeling Jesuit last week.
Why it’s important: Friday night represents one of the last big tests of the season for the Tide. After the contest with the Pirates, Sherman will have a bye followed by four games against teams that have combined for four wins thus far in 2018.
Players to watch for Sherman: The Tide rode Timmy Harper last week against Ravenswood as he rushed for 235 yards to pace the Sherman ground game. J.T. Hensley ran for 121 yards against the Red Devils.
Players to watch for Fayetteville: Jordan Dempsey is a do-it-all player for the Pirates.
Other games: South Harrison (1-4) at Tolsia (3-2); Nitro (1-4) at Logan (1-4); Man (2-2) at Lincoln County (3-1); Montcalm (0-4) at Van (3-1); Tug Valley (2-2) at Buffalo (0-5)