The race for the Kennedy Award took a lackluster turn this week as most of the leading candidates were left sitting on the sidelines.
Musselman’s Blake Hartman? Berkeley County was orange so no game. Spring Mills Keon-Padmore Johnson? Same. Oak Glen’s Hunter Patterson? The Bears were supposed to play the Cardinals and didn’t fill the opening.
Ethan Payne wasn’t derailed by COVID, but still got caught up in a numbers game—namely, Scott’s lack of football-playing capable players. Both Poca and Herbert Hoover received forfeit victories.
That’s good for the Dots in terms of playoff position. But it didn’t do the reigning Kennedy winner any favorites stats-wise.
A quick look at nine candidates, both from the top and second tiers, coming into this week, only four of them got to get on the field.
One of those, Independence’s Atticus Goodson, returned from his own two-week COVID-map vacation. The layoff did likely help Goodson get back to 100 percent, so it wasn’t all bad.
He responded as expected, rushing for 265 yards on 18 carries, finishing with two lengthy touchdown runs—92 and 55 yards. The Patriots got back on the winning track as well by handling Nicholas County 42-0.
In typical 2020 fashion, Berkeley County is orange again, meaning another week without the two frontrunners getting any on-field action.
Yes folks, let us raise our hands and give COVID-19 the proper salute, letting it know it’s “number 1” in our hearts.
Hartman and Padmore-Johnson aren’t the only top-tier candidates likely to be off a second week in a row. But unlike these two, there’s a different reason for this player’s absence.
Will Someone Play Cabell?
Cabell Midland (4-0) is undefeated and already owns impressive wins against Poca, Huntington, Parkersburg South and Hurricane.
What the Knights haven’t been able to do lately is play. Their last win, 28-20 against the Redskins, came on October 9 at Hurricane.
This weekend should have seen one of the year’s most highly anticipated games come to fruition. Martinsburg was coming to town for a rematch of last season’s Class AAA title game.
But alas, Berkeley County, orange, you get the picture. Cabell County is in yellow, able to play. They were in yellow the week before, and green the week before that. Yet, no games.
George Washington and Cabell had a game schedule, but a stay-at-home advisory from the Cabell-Huntington Health Department caused the two schools to voluntarily call of the game, despite being color-coded okay to play.
The Knights, and top-tier Kennedy candidate, senior fullback Jakob Caudill, have played just two games in the last six weeks and are in danger of going a third-straight week without a game.
When available, other teams seem to juggle and find opponents to play. The Knights aren’t as lucky.
As of this writing, Cabell still doesn’t have a game for this weekend to replace Martinsburg. Its next game is the original regular-season finale against St. Albans on November 6.
Here’s hoping that luck changes this week.
Kicking in the Door
South Charleston’s Trey Dunn was late to the party, as were the rest of the athletes in Kanawha County. But the Black Eagles’ QB has put together some masterful performances through four games.
Last week, Dunn literally pulled double duty, leading his team to victory not once, but twice. SC took care of St. Albans on Monday and later took down the Huntington Highlanders a few notches in a 42-21 win.
Against HHS, Dunn had 360 yards and four touchdowns on 13 of 21 passing. He also ran for two scores and 74 yards. Monday, Dunn appeared somewhat human, throwing three picks against the Red Dragons’ secondary. But he also tossed four TDs for 191 yards on 12 of 18 passing.
The Black Eagles take on Riverside this week and with each game that passes, Dunn is making himself more and more part of the Kennedy conversation.
Other Candidates
Gage Michael, Fairmont Senior
Michael threw for 214 yards and four touchdowns, adding another score on the ground as Fairmont Senior made quick work of Lewis County in a 45-0 victory. Michael and company head to Elkins this week to take on a 5-2 Tigers team that’s won three straight.
Noah Brown, Greenbrier West
Brown was “held” scoreless and finished with just 73 yards as Greenbrier West rolled past Sherman, 41-14, improving to 8-0. The Cavaliers balance in both the run and pass game was on display and the coaching staff spread the wealth offensively.
Carson Deeb, Bluefield
Deeb and the Beavers rebounded from a tough loss to Parkersburg by taking it to Class AAA Oak Hill, 35-9. The Beavers’ senior QB threw for 287 yards and four touchdowns against one pick, connecting on 9 of 14 passes. The Beavers are off this week as of now.
Statewide Notables
Grant Cochran, Princeton: Tigers’ QB had another huge game, throwing for 286 yards and five touchdowns in torching Lincoln County, 54-14. He was 19 of 26 on the night and added a rushing touchdown for good measure. The Tigers take on Greenbrier East this week.
Dylan Griffith, Sissonville: Speaking of the Spartans, they lost in a shootout to Class AA Sissonville, thanks in large part to Griffith. He rushed for 318 yards and three touchdowns on 33 carries in the 60-47 shootout.
Maddex McMillen: Speaking of shootouts, Woodrow Wilson’s QB nearly led a monumental comeback against George Washington. McMillen threw for 366 yards and four TDs on 16 of 22 passing as the Flying Eagles fell 45-42.
Bryson Singer, Parkersburg; The Big Reds are playing like the Big Reds of old again, with Singer leading the charge. He had 220 yards on 10 carries and threw for 219 yards, accounting for six total touchdowns as Parkersburg torched visiting John Marshall.
Dustin Adkins, Meadow Bridge: Tuesday night football was good to Meadow Bridge’s QB as Adkins tossed six touchdowns and threw for 285 yards on 14 of 19 passing in a 40-14 triumph against Van.
