No. 16 John Marshall (5-4) at No. 1 Cabell Midland (5-0)
Sunday, Nov. 15 at 1:30 p.m. *
Best Wins: Cabell Midland’s schedule has a number of impressive wins, but none more so than the 62-20 drumming of Poca. True, the Dots are Class AA, but one of AA’s best and feature two Division I talents in the Payne brothers, Ethan and Toby. John Marshall’s best win came in a 39-0 shutout of Parkersburg South. The Monarchs’ secondary intercepted Patriots’ QB Sam Schuler multiple times and rendered their run game non-existent.
Worst Loss: For Cabell? None. It’s had one close game, the 28-20 win against Hurricane. The biggest loss is probably game experience and time thanks to COVID. For John Marshall? There are multiple options but the 68-33 home loss to Princeton likely hurt the worst. Before kickoff, JM was 4-1 with its only loss a shootout to Oak Glen. By halftime, things looked bleak. After a win against Brooke, blowout losses to Parkersburg and Keyser followed. The combined record of the team’s JM has beaten is 8-33 while the same for its losses is 25-7.
Players to Watch: Cabell’s midline option attack starts with the fullback and the Knights’ have the state’s best at that position in Jakob Caudill. A 5-9, 213-pound bruiser busting through the heart of the defense is tough to stop. In five games, Caudill averages 150 yards per game, eight per carry and has scored 10 touchdowns. JM counters with the Ohio Valley’s scoring leader and one of its top dual threats. Senior Dalton Flowers averages 144.8 yards per game and eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark with 1,303 through nine games. As a receiver, Flowers has 15 catches for 243 yards. Combined, Flowers has scored 23 touchdowns.
Outlook: If recent trends continue, the road back to Glen Dale will be a long one for the Monarchs and their fans. The defense struggled against Keyser in a 53-21 loss and while the Golden Tornado don’t run an option-based attack, they do have a run first, second, and when in doubt, run again philosophy. Keyser’s line and skill position people aren’t Cabell’s either.
Prediction: Cabell Midland 35-14.
No. 15 Ripley (6-3) at No. 2 South Charleston (5-0)
Sunday, Nov. 15 at 3:00 p.m. *
Best Wins: South Charleston lights the scoreboard up on everyone thus far, but the 49-24 win against George Washington stands out, not just cause GW is a playoff team, but for how the SC defense held the Patriots’ offense fairly in check while the Black Eagles scoring barrage continued unabated. Ripley plays a large number of AA opponents so the 21-7 triumph against Lincoln County stands apart from the rest.
Worst Loss: For SC? Similar to Midland, the Black Eagles missed a lot of time, primarily at the start of the season. Every snap is important in the development of sophomore QB Trey Dunn, though judging by the results, he’s doing just fine. For Ripley? You could easily point to the home blowout to Spring Mills. But the Cardinals are the No. 9 ranked team and have one of the most dynamic offensive talents in the state. No, the worst loss is 29-13 to 5-5 and AA opponent Lewis County at home to snap a two-game winning streak.
Players to Watch: The aforementioned Dunn is on a tear in five game, throwing for 1,495 yards and 20 TDs against four picks. That’s an average of nearly 300 per game. Eight of those TDs have met the soft hands of Donavin Davis, who averages nearly 28 yards per reception and 100 per game. The Vikings employ a more ground-based attack. Kadin Hall is the team’s leading rusher with 746 yards and seven TDs through nine games. Joey Ramsey is also a capable threat, checking in with 13 touchdowns.
Outlook: South Charleston averages 50 points and nearly 500 yards per game and is doing so against far better competition overall. The defense is fast and nasty and will get penetration at the line. Ripley may be in for a long afternoon.
Prediction: South Charleston 42-18
No. 14 University (3-3) at No. 3 Musselman (6-1)
Saturday, Nov. 14 at 1:30 p.m.
Best Wins: Musselman has a few options here, but let’s go with its most “recent” win, the 49-7 tally against Hurricane. You never want to comparison score, but Cabell bested the Redskins by eight. The Applemen? Slightly more. Best win is easy for University, the 44-13 win against Oak Hill. For one the game was for a playoff spot. The Hawks were also playing without starting quarterback Chase Edwards.
Worst Loss: For Musselman? There’s only one option and that’s the 51-33 loss to Martinsburg. While a three-touchdown loss is never a positive, the Applemen were able to move the ball against the ’Dogs while the game was still in doubt. For University? This has to be the 69-15 drubbing it took in the MoHawk Bowl against Morgantown. Again, not to compare scores, but Musselman beat the Mohigans 42-9.
Players to Watch: Musselman has the luxury of the state’s best player making a home in its backfield. Senior Blake Hartman is the Kennedy Award frontrunner has accumulated 1,416 yards and 24 touchdowns in seven games this season. He averages 10.7 per carry and 202 per game. For University, if Edwards is unable to play it will be up to Jaedan Hammack to get the ball into the playmaking hands of senior receiver Tracy Brooks. Brooks has 526 yards receiving and 11 touchdowns through six games.
Outlook: With or without Edwards, this is a tall task for University. While Musselman doesn’t run the same style of offense as Morgantown, the Applemen are run-heavy with Hartman the feature. On the opposite side, Musselman’s defense did a good job corralling Hurricane’s Israel Borrero, who also runs out of the gun, in their matchup.
Prediction: Musselman 48-17
No. 13 George Washington (3-2) at No. 4 Martinsburg (4-1)
Friday, Nov. 13 at 7:30 p.m.
Best Wins: Martinsburg has faced, and defeated, teams with two of the state’s best offensive talents. But the 82-27 win against Spring Mills stands out for its margin of victory alone. GW’s best win might be against the Class A Man Hillbillies, 34-7. That’s not a knock on GW but more a testament to the ridiculously difficult schedule Man played this season. Plus, GW’s other two wins came against teams with a combined two wins, AAA or not.
Worst Loss: For Martinsburg? A loss? Well yes, it actually happened for once. And at home no less as Spring Valley held off the Bulldogs 22-20. For GW? While the score differential against SC was great, the 21-0 loss to Princeton likely stings more. It’s the week before the playoffs, at home against a fellow AAA playoff participant and the Patriots put up a goose egg. Not the way they wanted to start the second season.
Players to Watch: As usual, Martinsburg’s balanced attack and embarrassment of riches in terms of talent doesn’t produce eye-popping individual statistics. That happens when you can spread the ball around. But since moving Kevan Warren to splitting time at quarterback and running back, it provided a spark to the offense. The senior has thrown for 354 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 383 yards. That’s allowed fellow senior Naieem Kearney to flourish recently, with 428 yards and seven touchdowns. George Washington will attempt to counter with the passing of R.T. Alexander, who has 817 yards with 12 TDs against five picks in five games.
Outlook: What separates Spring Valley from other teams Martinsburg faces is that the Timberwolves are huge up front and physical. GW’s line is good, but it’s not Spring Valley’s. The more finesse a team tries to be offensively, the more it plays into the hallmark of a Martinsburg defense … speed. This may not be as lopsided as Martinsburg’s usual first-round playoff feasts, but don’t look for an upset. The Bulldogs haven’t played in nearly a month and they are hungry.
Prediction: Martinsburg 56-21
No. 12 Washington (5-4) at No. 5 Bridgeport (6-1)
Saturday, Nov. 14 at 1:30 p.m.
Best Wins: Bridgeport has a few candidates on this list, but the 42-7 win against Morgantown was most impressive. The Mohigans looked dominant as first-year coach Sean Biser’s offense was rolling. The Indians shut that down—hard. Washington has put it to a few AAA teams, but the narrow 20-19 clipping of the Frankfort Falcons is the Patriots’ best win.
Worst Loss: For Bridgeport? The Indians have just one loss, Spring Valley. In a matchup of beefy, power running teams, the T-Wolves held the edge in a 35-10 verdict. For Washington? Martinsburg or not, losing 55-0 isn’t doing wonders for the ole self-confidence.
Players to Watch: Bridgeport has a stable of ball carriers from which to choose, led by Cameron Cole, J.T. Muller and Hayden Moore, each who went over the 100-yard mark against Morgantown. Washington’s big-ticket item is the running of Frankie Amore, who’s totaled 1,331 yards and 18 touchdowns, averaging 8.5 per tote.
Outlook: Bridgeport is the blue blood here. Washington doesn’t have near the postseason pedigree of the Indians. And while that 55-0 loss to Martinsburg is glaring, who hasn’t been there? But for the Pats’ purposes against Bridgeport, giving up 55 in a 55-35 loss to a run-based team like Class AA Keyser doesn’t bode well for their chances here.
Prediction: Bridgeport 35-7
No. 11 Hurricane (4-2) at No. 6 Spring Valley (4-1)
Sunday, Nov. 15 at 1:30 p.m. *
Best Wins: Both teams have big wins over Parkersburg, though both came before PHS really turned the corner. But that 60-36 triumph still stands as Hurricane’s best win. For Spring Valley, it’s hard to top defeating Martinsburg and snapping the Bulldogs’ record 57-game winning streak.
Worst Loss: For Spring Valley? Given the impressiveness of its wins, the 27-18 road loss to Fairmont Senior was a bit of a head scratcher. The Polar Bears do boast on of AA’s top players and managed to do what Martinsburg couldn’t. For Hurricane? Another easy pick, the 49-7 home loss to Musselman a week after coming up just short against Cabell.
Players to Watch: Spring Valley can pass and when it does, QB Jack Roy does a fine job. But the Timberwolves main form of balance comes in having more than one capable ball carrier running behind its punishing offensive line. The main beneficiary is Cole Diamond who has 475 yards and three touchdowns. Borrero is Hurricane’s main driving force offensively. He’s thrown for 936 yards and 13 touchdowns on 56 of 93 passing.
Outlook: Hurricane has faced two power running teams, losing to both. The Midland game was close. The Musselman man was not. And while close, Spring Valley likely holds the offensive line edge against Cabell. Borrero is the Redskins main hope to keep it competitive so expect the Hurricane coaching staff to study the Fairmont Senior film intensely.
Prediction: Spring Valley 35-14.
No. 10 Princeton (6-2) at No. 7 Wheeling Park (7-1)
Sunday, Nov. 15 at 5:00 p.m. *
Best Wins: Princeton’s trouncing of John Marshall in Moundsville has to be Tigers’ best win. At that point, no one saw it coming. For Park, the Morgantown win was impressive but more so was the 28-14 win against Oak Glen (6-1), the No. 5 team in AA.
Worst Loss: For Park? Only one option, though falling to St. Clairsville (Ohio) 26-21 out of the gate with a new quarterback isn’t bad, considering the Red Devils were undefeated before falling in the Division IV regional semifinal round in Ohio. Princeton has two losses, both to the same team—Bluefield. Both games were close, one a low-scoring affair, the other a shootout.
Players to Watch: Wheeling Park’s late emerging Kennedy candidate Beau Heller has 1,719 passing yards and 23 TDs against three picks. He’s matured rapidly as a first-year starter and shows a penchant for making the right decision. Backfield mate Stevie Mitchell is also a top-tier AAA running back with 1,255 yards and 15 TDs. Princeton sophomore QB Grant Cochran has 2,139 yards and 25 TDs against six picks and completes nearly 60 percent of his passes. He has two lethal weapons in Ethan Parsons and Josiah Honaker on the perimeter.
Outlook: In Park’s best win, they were able to contain one of the state’s top playmakers in Oak Glen’s Hunter Patterson and hold a dangerous offense to 14 points. Bluefield was able to pass all over Princeton the second time around with Carson Deeb. Deeb doesn’t have quite the weapons or the line Heller has. This still should be one of, if not the best AAA game in the first round.
Prediction: Wheeling Park 28-14.
No. 9 Spring Mills (5-2) at No. 8 Parkersburg (6-2)
Sunday, Nov. 15 at 1:30 p.m. *
Best Wins: Parkersburg’s top triumph is the 29-8 shutdown of visiting Bluefield that handed the Beavers their first loss. For Spring Mills, it was the 43-14 road win against Ripley in a game that wasn’t even that close.
Worst Loss: For PHS? Probably the season-opening 42-7 defeat to Spring Valley is the worst loss. The later defeat to Hurricane wasn’t much better, but at least there, the offense showed life. For the Cards? No, it’s not the 82-27 loss to Martinsburg. The offense still had some success in that game. No, it was the 21-20 loss to AA playoff participant Frankfort. A winnable game, a slightly different outcome would have Spring Mills hosting this week.
Players to Watch: The Cardinals are led by the top dual threat QB in the state in Keon Padmore-Johnson. Lightning quick and equally adept at throwing on the run as in the pocket, KPJ has amassed 1,860 yards passing with 23 touchdowns against one interception while rushing for 930 yards and 10 touchdowns. Parkersburg counters with its own multi-faceted QB in Bryson Singer. Singer has 1,235 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns while passing for 687 yards and 11 scores.
Outlook: This is my “upset” pick for the first round, though in an 8-9 game, both teams are evenly matched. Padmore-Johnson is able to make plays with both his arm and legs and can create something out of nothing when a play breaks down. That should allow his playmakers to get open at the second level as he extends the play. If the Cardinals can keep Singer relatively at bay, they have a good chance.
Prediction: Spring Mills 35-28
Note: Games marked with an asterisk are in danger of being affected by Saturday’s COVID county-color map.
