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Kanawha Valley Report: Week 12

GAMES TO WATCH

CLASS AAA

No. 10 Huntington (5-5) at No. 7 George Washington (7-3)

When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.

Last week: The Highlanders hung with Spring Valley but fell short, 19-11. GW edged Capital, 20-17, to ensure itself of having homefield advantage in the opening round of the playoffs.

Who to watch for Huntington: Brocton Blair is a big part of the Highlanders establishing their rushing attack and trying to limit the opposition on the ground. 

Who to watch for George Washington: Quarterback R.T. Alexander seems to get better and more comfortable by the week. With several capable wide receivers and a quality offensive line, Alexander can do damage through the air or with his legs.

No. 13 South Charleston (4-6) at No. 4 Parkersburg South (9-1)

When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.

Last week: The Black Eagles failed to reach the .500 mark in a 62-21 loss to unbeaten Cabell Midland. The Patriots pounded Parkersburg, 49-14.

Who to watch for South Charleston: Freshman quarterback Trey Dunn has been solid most of the season, while Romeo Dunham is a big asset at defensive back and on special teams.

Who to watch for Parkersburg South: Brandon Penn has been a catalyst throughout the season. Against the Big Reds, Penn passed for 196 yards and rushed for 98 more. He had a hand in four of the team’s five offensive touchdowns and also returned a fumble 30 yards for a score in the win.

No. 14 Hurricane (4-6) at No. 3 Spring Valley (9-1)

When: Saturday, 1:30 p.m.

Last week: The Redskins secured a spot in the postseason with a 38-12 win over St. Albans. The Timberwolves held off Huntington, 19-11.

Who to watch for Hurricane: Quarterback Austin Womack and tailback Christian Hill are the keys offensively. Hill rushed for 214 yards and a pair of touchdowns a week ago, giving him more than 1,000 rushing yards in three seasons.

Who to watch for Spring Valley: The Timberwolves have numerous contributors on a balanced offense, including quarterback Nate Ellis. Ellis threw a touchdown pass to Zane Porter a week ago, while Luke Christopher reached the end zone on a run. Wyatt Milum 

No. 15 Riverside (4-6) at No. 2 Cabell Midland (10-0)

When: Saturday, 1:30 p.m.

Last week: The Warriors suffered a 25-6 loss to Greenbrier East, while the Knights knocked off South Charleston, 62-21.

Who to watch for Riverside: To have a chance at keeping this competitive, the Warriors will need to possess the ball often. That means tailback Caden Easterling and quarterback Javonte Elzy will need to be at their best.

Who to watch for Cabell Midland: J.J. Roberts is a home run threat every time he has the ball. The Wake Forest commit has stepped up all season and his speed adds another dimension to an offense that can also look for power back Jakob Caudill to produce.

CLASS AA

No. 14 North Marion (7-3) at No. 3 Poca (10-0)

When: Saturday, 1:30 p.m.

Last week: The Huskies lost out on any chance at homefield advantage in the first round by falling at Liberty Harrison, 21-8. The Dots finished off a 10-0 regular season with a 32-0 win at Wayne.

Who to watch for North Marion: The Huskies’ offense never got on track in last week’s loss to Liberty. As a result, North Marion opens the postseason with a tougher first-round matchup. To play with Poca, the Huskies need a sharp performance from quarterback Gunner Murphy, who will look to Tariq Miller and Jahkari Mesidor on the perimeter.

Who to watch for Poca: Tailback Ethan Payne easily led the state in scoring this year with 276 points that came via 46 touchdowns. Payne is a focal point of what the Dots do on both sides of the ball, but quarterback Jay Cook can also hurt opposing defenses.

No. 16 Winfield (7-3) at No. 1 Fairmont Senior (10-0)

When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.

Last week: The Generals were no match for Mingo Central in a 55-20 setback. The Polar Bears blanked East Fairmont, 53-0, to record their 24th straight win.

Who to watch for Winfield: Tailback John Covert has been a standout throughout the season and scored all three of his team’s touchdowns in last week’s loss.

Who to watch for Fairmont Senior: Much like the aforementioned Payne, FSHS quarterback Gage Michael is squarely in the mix for the Kennedy Award. The dual threat is the straw that stirs the drink for the Polar Bears. Michael has plenty of weapons at his disposal and is protected by an experienced offensive line that features Zach Frazier, a West Virginia commit. 





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