— By Wes McKinney
GAMES TO WATCH
Class AAA vs. Class AA
Class AAA No. 1 Spring Valley (8-0) at Class AA No. 6 Point Pleasant (7-0)
When: Friday at 7:30 p.m.
Last Week: Spring Valley is rested after a bye week. Before the idle time, the Timberwolves easily dispatched of St. Albans on Homecoming at the Wolves Den, 60-6. “We came out and took care of business like we were supposed to,” Spring Valley coach Brad Dingess said. “Our defense played really well. We had a couple of turnovers, but they weren’t able to capitalize on it.”
Point Pleasant took to the road for the final time during the regular season and shutout Man, 49-0.
“I was pleased with the way our kids handled playing our last regular season road game,” Point Pleasant head coach David Darst said. “We went to Man and took care of business. I was pleased with what did offensively and defensively we were able to get a shutout.”
Why It’s Important: This is a matchup of two of the best in their respective classes and the winner of this game can begin to focus on hosting multiple playoff games.
“They aren’t giving up very many points,” Dingess said referring to the Point Pleasant defense that has pitched two shutouts this season and is only allowing an average of 15.7 points per game. “It’s a big game. We will have our hands full for sure. It’s a huge game for both us.”
Point Pleasant has been tested by Mingo Central and Pikeville, Ky., already this season, but this might be the biggest test of the regular season for the Big Blacks.
“Coach Dingess has done a good job of building a big, strong and fast football team,” Darst said. “They do a good job of executing their plays. They are everything you’re supposed to be when you’re the number one team in Class AAA. For us to have a chance to bring the number one team in AAA into our place, it’s exciting.”
Players to Watch for Spring Valley: As the opposing coach, Darst is delighted to see the toughness that Spring Valley has established along both the offensive and defensive lines.
“I’m an old school guy and I like physical football teams,” Darst said. “Spring Valley is so physical on both sides of the ball. Defensively, they do a great job of getting to the football and making tackles.”
Players to Watch for Point Pleasant: In the other two close calls, Point Pleasant has had in its 7-0 record, quarterback Cason Payne has orchestrated two fourth-quarter scoring drives to lift the Big Blacks to wins over Mingo Central and Pikeville.
“I don’t know if you can really contain him,” Dingess said of the veteran Point Pleasant signal caller. “He’s going to get his yards both rushing and passing. You just have to try to limit him on the big plays. They can drive the field. Everything goes through Payne.”
Class AAA
No. 9 Parkersburg (5-3) at No. 6 Huntington (6-2)
When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Last Week: To put it in simple terms, Huntington’s 21-7 setback at Cabell Midland in the Battle of the Shield was a humbling loss for the Highlanders.
“I don’t think we played well in any phase of the game,” Huntington coach Billy Seals explained. “Give Cabell Midland credit because they outplayed us on Friday night. You have to throw records out the window in a rivalry game. We didn’t get the job done and that starts with me.”
Why It’s Important: After two straight losses for Huntington, the games don’t get any easier as the Highlanders welcome in a red hot Parkersburg team that has won four straight games after a 1-3 start to the season. And Seals understands the urgency of righting the ship before the postseason.
“We need to realize that the game of football is played with emotion, toughness and grit,” Seals said. “We need to get back on track with those types of things. We need to realize that time is ticking especially if you’re a senior. We’re only guaranteed three more games, so take advantage of the things in front of you.”
Players to Watch Parkersburg: While quarterback Jake Johnson and running back Tyler Mohler have been key in the success of the Big Reds this season, it is apparent fortunes changed for Parkersburg when Brenton Strange returned to the lineup from injury.
“Jake Johnson is a very good quarterback,” Seals said. “Brenton Strange makes a lot of plays that kids can’t make. He’s obviously a weapon, but they have weapons all over the place.”
Players to Watch for Huntington: The Huntington offense will look to get back on track after being held under 200 yards of total offense in the defeat at Cabell Midland.
Class AA
Chapmanville (5-3) at No. 10 Mingo Central (6-2)
When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Last Week: Chapmanville grinded its way to a win as it took out county rival Logan 26-8 to move to 5-3 on the season.
“We played real well last week. In fact, we played well at Wayne we just couldn’t make enough plays to win the game,” Chapmanville head coach Rob Dial said in reference to his team’s narrow 20-14 loss to Wayne the week before. “Our guys really bounced back. We had a great week of practice last week. We played a great defensive game against Logan.”
Mingo Central notched a 50-21 victory at Herbert Hoover.
Why It’s Important: Last week’s win was ultra-important for the Tigers as they kept their name in the playoff picture. Chapmanville starts the week No. 19 in the WVSSAC Class AA playoff ratings. “
Our kids are smart enough to know where we stand in the big picture without us having to talk about every day,” Dial said. “We just try to focus on the opponent we have coming up each week. This week it happens to be a great Mingo Central team. We play in a great conference and unfortunately a lot of those great teams just beat each other up.”
Chapmanville will need to win at least one of its final two games to sneak into the postseason in 2018.
Players to Watch for Chapmanville: The Tigers’ ability to control the line of scrimmage both offensively and defensively and replicate their game plan versus Logan, this week against Mingo Central, may decide the outcome.
“We have to contain their big plays,” Dial said. “If we can make them take eight, 10, 12 plays to score, then that’s a good thing. We have to make sure we control the ball on offense, protect the ball. Three of our four scoring drives against Logan were 12 or more plays.”
Players to Watch for Mingo Central: The passing attack for the Miners has the attention of Dial.
“The Hatfield brothers at receiver are explosive,” he said. “They can take the ball and go score with it anytime they have it. They have a great quarterback in the Goad kid — he’s both a run and passing threat.”
No. 11 Wayne (6-2) at Logan (3-5)
When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Last Week: Wayne grounded a potent Sissonville aerial attack as it won its sixth straight game with a 49-7 victory in the regular season home finale. “We came out and took away some things that Sissonville did best,” Wayne head coach Tom Harmon said.
“Some nights this time of year you hope you can string together some games like the one we played Friday night.”
Meanwhile, Logan was clipped against Chapmanville as it fell to 3-5 with a 26-8 defeat.
Why It’s Important: With the six straight wins, the Pioneers have re-entered not only the postseason discussion, but also set themselves up to potentially land in the top eight of the Class AA playoffs.
“Over the next two weeks, everybody is going to go back to 0-0,” Harmon said. “We have put ourselves in a position where over these last weeks we’re going to try to finish out things right.”
Players to Watch Wayne: Aaron Adkins was the latest Wayne offensive player to have a big night as he rushed for 102 yards and two touchdowns in the contest against Sissonville. It was the first time in 2018 that the Pioneers had a 100-yard rusher in a game.
“Offensively, you try to make yourself hard to defend,” Harmon said. “We have a bunch of guys that aren’t selfish and don’t have an ego about them. Everybody is willing to share the wealth.”
Players to Watch Logan: The Logan offense has put up 30 or more points in five of eight games this season, but the Wildcats are just 2-3 in those contests.
Class A
Tolsia (4-4) at Pikeville, Kentucky
When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Last Week: Tolsia gave up a season-high 57 points in a 57-32 loss at Tyler Consolidated two weeks ago. After being 4-2 and in firm control of its playoff destiny, consecutive losses have moved the Rebels’ record to 4-4.
Why It’s Important: Because of its strength of schedule, the .500 record still has Tolsia knocking on the door of the playoff picture. The Rebels start the week 19th in the Class A WVSSAC playoff ratings. However, Tolsia will most likely need to defeat a very good Pikeville team this week before playing Hannan in Week 11 to get into the playoffs.
Players to Watch Tolsia: Quarterback Tanner Copley and Devin Crum have been at the forefront of the offensive attack for the Rebels.
Other Games: River View (3-6) at Sherman (7-1); Van (7-1) at Valley Fayette (1-8); Scott (1-7) at Winfield (3-5); Buffalo (2-6) at Lincoln County (6-2); Parkersburg Catholic (8-1) at Hannan (0-7); Tug Valley (4-4) at Man (4-4)