No. 16 Tygarts Valley (7-2) at No. 1 Tug Valley (3-0)
Sunday, Nov. 15 at 1:30 p.m.*
Best Wins: Tygarts Valley has one win against a team with a winning record and that’s the 44-21 triumph against Gilmer County. Tug Valley doesn’t have a lot of games period, but the 22-20 early season win against Sherman helped keep the 6-3 Tide out of the postseason as they finished No. 17.
Worst Loss: For Tygarts? The Bulldogs played two playoff teams. One was a narrow 39-34 loss to Class AA Elkins. The other, humbling 49-12 defeat to Doddridge last weekend. We’ll go with option two. For Tug? It’s season? The Panthers are 3-0 and already missed out on seven regular season games. And, if Mingo County’s numbers don’t improve, and soon, then the COVID map of many colors will hand Tug Valley it’s only loss of the season sadly.
Players to Watch: Quarterback Josh Bright along with fullback Daniel White and running back Caden Boggs give the Bulldogs a balanced offensive attack. It’s been a while since Tug has played, but in its last game, QB Joby Sorrell had a career day, throwing for 444 yards and six touchdowns on 27 of 46 passing.
Outlook: Bleak for Tug Valley, but only because of tomorrow’s COVID color map. Mingo County’s daily percent positivity has been falling, but it’s still in the red and there’s little chance a significant enough change will come by Saturday’s official map. That being said, if the game is played …
Prediction: Tug Valley 35-14
No. 15 Madonna (7-2) at No. 2 Greenbrier West (8-0)
Saturday, Nov. 14 at 7:30 p.m.
Best Wins: Madonna’s best win was its first, a 50-20 torching of Wahama (6-4) in its opener. West has some big wins, but the one that stands out is the 40-20 triumph against No.8 Pendleton County.
Worst Loss: For Madonna? The Dons put up a good fight in the loss to Scott, but didn’t have an answer for Maddox Walter and Conotton Valley, losing 48-0. For Greenbrier West? No options here. The Cavaliers best win was also its smallest margin of victory.
Players to Watch: Madonna’s offense is predicated on the pass as quarterback Santino Arlia has thrown for 2,043 yards and 26 touchdowns, with Lucky Pulice (733 yards, six TDs) his main target. The Cavs, meanwhile, are most certainly run first, especially given they have Class A’s top offensive weapon in running back Noah Brown. Brown has 911 yards through eight games and 16 touchdowns, but rarely does Brown touch the ball after the first half. Quarterback Kaiden Pack is more than capable when called upon, throwing for 917 yards.
Outlook: Madonna’s showing against the Rockets and their run-heavy attack is not a good sign given Brown is a step or two above Walter. If the Dons can find success through the air, they can keep it close, otherwise, could be over in a hurry.
Prediction: Greenbrier West 35-21
No. 14 East Hardy (5-2) at No. 3 Doddridge County (6-1)
Saturday, Nov. 14 at 1:30 p.m.
Best Wins: East Hardy’s 33-0 win against Petersburg in the season opener was a big to get things started. For Doddridge you could go with the 31-0 win against a 4-4 Class AAA Lincoln County team, but beating 8-2 Ritchie County 9-8 at Ellenboro was a big boost.
Worst Loss: For East Hardy? Both the Cougars losses were close, and they were competitive in a 21-7 loss at Shadyside, a team that reached the Ohio regional final round. For Doddridge? One loss here against AA Herbert Hoover, but it was the most the Bulldogs surrendered defensively by far.
Players to Watch: The Cougars rely on the rushing and passing of Christian Dover along with the backfield talents of the Millers, Alex and Mason. Doddridge’s best weapon is its staunch defensive unit. The Bulldogs have Three shutouts and only twice have allowed double digits in points in seven games. Offensively, Reese Burnside leads the charge.
Outlook: This game should be a close one. The Cougars have waged some battles, but Doddridge has a few more quality wins and isn’t coming off a 21-14 loss to Pendelton County.
Prediction: Doddridge County 14-7
No. 13 Wheeling Central (6-3) at No. 4 St. Marys (8-1)
Sunday, Nov. 15 at 1:30 p.m. *
Best Wins: Central close the regular season winning five of six, but the biggest was the 33-14 win against Williamstown. St. Marys 34-26 win against Ritchie County is tops, though the blowout against a pretty good Frontier team, 55-20, on Halloween Eve is mighty impressive as well.
Worst Loss: For Central? The 33-0 shutout loss to Fort Frye was humbling, though, the Cadets are still alive in the state semifinals in Ohio. For St. Marys? The lone loss was a 20-7 setback against rival Williamstown on the road.
Players to Watch: Central will no doubt provide a steady dose of the ‘house’ as Jordan Waterhouse has 1,005 yards and 13 touchdowns on the ground. Central can pass if needed, but the ground game is the big-ticket item this season. The Devils employ a stable of capable runners, led by Tre Moss’ 867 yards and 14 touchdowns. Quarterback Brennan Boron and Ben Long both average better than six yards per carry as well.
Outlook: The defending Class A champs find themselves in familiar territory, a tough regular season schedule has them hitting the road in round one. That hasn’t stopped the Knights from winning the Super Six in the past and I don’t think it will here. This team has come far offensively since the opener loss to Poca.
Prediction: Wheeling Central 28-21
No. 12 Buffalo (5-2) at No. 5 Midland Trail (4-1)
Sunday, Nov. 15 at 3:00 pm *
Best Wins: Surprisingly enough, Buffalo’s best win is Midland’s only loss, a 7-0 win at Midland back on October 24. Midland’s best win(s) is either the Wayne or Shady Spring game. Neither had a winning record, but both are AA and the Pioneers traditionally are a strong program.
Worst Loss: For Buffalo? That 42-7 loss to Buffalo was painful. The Payne brothers had big nights that game. For Midland? Losing to Buffalo, at home, and facing them again at the same locale can’t be ideal for mental preparation.
Players to Watch: A big key for the Bison this season is the passing of Jackson England. England threw the decided TD pass in the second overtime to beat Trail, among other notable plays he’s made this season. Robert Ruffner has 571 yards and three TDs for the Patriots while Chris Vines has thrown for 425 yards.
Outlook: Midland looked good in its finale, but that was against Pocahontas County. Buffalo is coming of a narrow loss to a Man Hillbillies’ team all of Class A is happy didn’t qualify. The Bison have better quality wins and a two-game edge in game experience. It may be hard to beat a team twice in a season, but I’m taking the herd to get it done.
Prediction: Buffalo 14-7
No. 11 Tolsia (4-2) at No. 6 Williamstown (5-2)
Sunday, Nov. 15 at 1:30 p.m.*
Best Wins: Beating your rival Wayne 59-6 is always a good thing for Tolsia. Speaking of beating your rival, Williamstown had to feel good following the 20-7 win against St. Marys.
Worst Loss: For Tolsia? The 28-22 loss to Mingo Central at home hurts, given the Miners lack of games played this season. For Williamstown? Like Wheeling Central, the Yellowjackets fell victim to Fort Frye (49-7) by a wide margin. But it was the loss to the Maroon Knights to end the regular season that was worse. That was a victory many in Wood County likely felt the ’Jackets would claim.
Players to Watch: Tolsia utilizes the passing of Jesse Muncy and the running of John Wilson. Williamstown’s big-play threat is running back Trevor Oates and his 966 yards and 10 touchdowns through seven games. Brayden Modesitt is also capable runner and passer.
Outlook: Williamstown has faced a tougher schedule and has the postseason pedigree advantage on the Rebels. Look for the Yellowjackets to advance.
Prediction: Williamstown 28-14
No. 10. Wirt County (5-2) at No. 7 Ritchie County (8-2)
Saturday, Nov. 14 at 1:30 p.m.
Best Wins: Wirt’s regular-season ending 48-7 hammering of Clay-Battelle was a good jump start and put an end to the Cee Bees playoff hopes. Ritchie County’s best win came at home in a 28-21 triumph against Moorefield.
Worst Loss: For Wirt? The Tigers have played, and lost by large margins to two playoff teams, Doddridge County (33-7) and St. Marys (26-7). For Ritchie? The Rebels lost to the same two teams, though coming up a point short against the Bulldogs is worse given the chance at winning that game.
Players to Watch: Garrett Parsons’ 507 yards and eight scores leads the Tigers’ ground attack while Dylan Lowe has thrown for 693 yards and six scores. Gus Morrison leads the Rebels’ ground game with 874 yards and 12 touchdowns, followed by Dakota Wayne with 501 and six. QB Ethan Haught provides balance with 1,160 yards and 18 touchdowns against just one pick.
Outlook: Ritchie has more offense, more balance and has better comparative scores against the two same teams each lost to. Plus, the Rebels have won six straight since starting 2-2 and are playing their best football.
Prediction: Ritchie County 28-7
No. 9 Moorefield (4-2) at No. 8 Pendleton County (5-2)
Friday, Nov. 14 at 7:30 p.m.
Best Wins: Moorefield picked up a nice 24-22 win at home against AA playoff participant Herbert Hoover. Pendelton finished strong by beating East Hardy 21-14 to close out the regular season.
Worst Loss: For Moorefield? The Yellow Jackets are 15 points away from being unbeaten. The 6-0 home loss to rival East Hardy in September likely stings a bit more than the 28-21 road loss to Ritchie. For Pendelton? The Wildcats had zero luck slowing down Noah Brown and Greenbrier West on the road, 40-20.
Players to Watch: Pendleton’s Dalton Dunkle has turned in some solid rushing efforts, as has quarterback Isaiah Gardiner. Matt Jenkins piles up rushing yards in bunches for the Yellow Jackets, who then rely on their stout defense to put teams away.
Outlook: Last season Moorefield won the regular-season matchup before Pendleton got revenge in the postseason, 26-7. Call it a hunch, but I’m thinking Moorefield reverses its fortune advances for the first time since it reached the semifinals in 2015.
Prediction: Moorefield 14-7
