— Story by Taylor Kennedy
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — As we head into Week 5 of the 2020 high school football season, there are a number of teams that have yet to start their season. The teams competing for the first time this week include: Clay-Battelle, Meadow Bridge, Midland Trail, Mingo Central, Morgantown, Oak Hill, Trinity (Morgantown), University, and Winfield. Last Saturday’s color-coded map indicated that those nine schools can begin their season this week.
There was a game Monday evening, and there will continue to be games throughout the week. There is one team that will play twice this week.
Here is a preview of the nine teams that are scheduled to play this week, and a look at who those teams will be playing against.
Clay-Battelle Cee Bees v. Calhoun County Red Devils
Clay-Battelle will make the journey down south to Calhoun County to take on the Red Devils. This will be the Cee-Bees’ first game due to Monongalia County being ineligible to begin its season.
Clay-Batelle looks to build off its 6-4 record last season, including back-to-back shutout wins to end the season. Clay-Battelle will be replacing eleven seniors from a season ago, including quarterbacks Levi Carrico and Seth Casino. The Cee-Bees will look to either upcoming senior Cooper Watson or sophomore Carson Shriver to take the quarterback reins. They will have help up front as four linemen return.
Calhoun County will be trying to earn its first win of the season. The Red Devils are 0-4 to begin the 2020 season. Calhoun County is coming off a 60-8 loss to No. 1 St. Marys last week. This game against Clay-Battelle will be the first of back-to-back home games for the Red Devils.
Friday’s matchup will be the fourth all-time meeting between these two schools. These two schools faced off last season as Clay-Battelle won 21-14. The Cee Bees lead the all-time series 3-0.
Midland Trail Patriots vs Meadow Bridge Wildcats
The Midland Trail Patriots will head across Fayette County to take on county rival Meadow Bridge. This will be the first game for both squads as their county was ineligible to compete due to COVID-19.
Midland Trail is coming off a 6-5 season under head coach Frank Isaacs. The Patriots clinched its third straight playoff appearance last year, but lost in the first round to East Hardy.
Meadow Bridge looks to improve off a 6-4 season under Dwayne Reichard. The Wildcats missed the playoffs for the fourth straight year.
The last meeting between these two teams came last year. Meadow Bridge defeated Midland Trail 14-2. This will be the 27th all-time meeting between these programs. Midland Trail leads the series 16-10.
Mingo Central Miners v. Man Hillbillies (Wednesday) & Oak Hill Red Devils (Friday)
Mingo Central will be playing two games in three days. The Miners will welcome the Man Hillbillies (0-1) into James H. “Buck” Harless Stadium on Wednesday. Mingo Central will then head to Fayette County on Friday to take on Oak Hill.
The Miners are coming off an impressive 9-3 season. Mingo Central was able to make it back to the state playoffs for the eighth straight season. The Miners reached the state quarterfinals, and lost to Class AA state champion Bridgeport. Mingo Central lost wide receiver Drew Hatfield due to graduation, but the Miners return quarterback Daylin Goad and wide receivers Devin Hatfield and Isa Scales.
Man played its first game last week against Wheeling Central. The Hillbillies fell 19-0 to the Maroon Knights. Man finished the 2019 season 8-3. The Hillbillies reached the playoffs last season for the first time since 2015.
Oak Hill will also be competing in its first game of the season. Like a lot of other schools, the Red Devils had other games scheduled, but they could never play due to their county being ineligible. Oak Hill is looking to improve off a 3-7 season. During the offseason, Oak Hill hired Dave Moneypenny as their new head coach.
Wednesday’s game will be the third ever meeting between Mingo Central and Man. The last time the Miners and Hillbillies faced off was back in 2012, as Mingo Central won 30-14. The series is split 1-1. Friday’s matchup between Mingo Central and Oak Hill will be the first meeting all-time.
Morgantown Mohigans v. Musselman Applemen
Morgantown will welcome Musselman into Pony Lewis Field Friday night. The Mohigans will begin their 2020 campaign under first-year head coach Sean Biser. Biser spent the last 16 seasons at Keyer, making 14 playoff appearances.
Morgantown is coming off its first three-win season since 1991. The Mohigans are returning key offensive threat Deondre Crudup.
Unlike the Mohigans, Musselman has already played four games. The Applemen’s only loss came against defending Class AAA state champion Martinsburg. In the last two games, Musselman is averaging 43 points per game, while only allowing 14 points. Senior Blake Hartman recently became Musselman’s all-time leading rusher.
This will be the 11th all-time meeting between the Mohigans and Applemen. These two have faced off against each other for the last seven years. Musselman won last season’s game 35-0 at Waldeck Field. The Applemen has won three of the last five games. The all-time series is tied at 5-5.
Trinity Christian Warriors (Morgantown) v. Madonna Blue Dons
Trinity will head to the northern panhandle to take on Madonna. The Warriors will begin its 2020 season with a new face at the head coach position. In the offseason, Trinity hired Chris Simpson as its new head coach replacing Marcus Law.
The Warriors are coming off their first full season since 2010. Trinity started last season 2-0 with wins over Maptletown, Pa. and Hannan before losing its next eight. The Warriors will be young this season as they have eight upperclassmen.
Madonna is already four games into this season. The Blue Dons squeezed past Steubenville Catholic (OH) 34-28 last week. Madonna finished last season 6-4-1, and clinched a spot in the state playoffs.
This will be the second all-time meeting between these two. Last season was the first meeting between Trinity and Madonna. The Blue Dons defeated the Warriors 32-6.
University Hawks v. Albert Gallatin (PA)
University will welcome out-of-state opponent Albert Gallatin, Pa. to Mylan Pharmaceuticals Stadium Friday evening. The Hawks look to start off on the right foot.
University witnessed its second losing season in 25 years a season ago. The Hawks finished the season with a 3-7 record. They won two of their first three, but would not earn another win until October 18. University will look to returning quarterback Chase Edwards for some help on the offensive side of the ball. The Hawks averaged 19 points per game last season.
This will be the second opponent Albert Gallatin has faced this season. Back on September 18th, the Colonials faced Brooke and won by nine.
When University and Albert Gallatin meet on Friday, it will be the eighth all-time meeting. These two schools squared off against each other last season, and the Colonials won 13-12. Albert Gallatin has won the last three over University, and the Colonials lead the series 4-3.
Winfield Generals v. Fairmont Senior Polar Bears
A rematch between two schools that faced off in the first round of the 2019 playoffs a season ago. Fairmont Senior defeated Winfield 63-34 at East West Stadium.
Winfield is coming off an impressive year. The Generals won seven games, which was three better than the season before. Winfield started last season winning four of its first five. The Generals lost Nick Vance due to graduation. Vance recorded over 1,500 rushing and 1,600 passing yards. Senior John Covert will look to lead Winfield back to the playoffs.
Fairmont Senior has completed three of its games this season. The Polar Bears won their season opening game against North Marion, but since then they have lost their last two. Kent State commit Gage Michael looks to be the spark for his team as he has ten total touchdowns this season.
This will be the second meeting all-time between these respected programs.