Spring Valley’s miraculous road victory at Martinsburg, snapping the defending champion Bulldogs’ 57-game winning streak garnered much of the prep football attention across the Mountain State this weekend.
Deservedly so. Talented teams have come calling at Cobourn Field in recent memory only to be sent home packing hours later with a humbling experience.
To see the power running Timberwolves flex their muscles so only added to the one constant in this COVID-shaped football season: the new normal is anything but.
What is normal though is the race for the Kennedy Award, which stretches into its third week.
Again, some candidacies have yet to get off the ground at all—Daylin Goad at Mingo Central, any athlete residing in Kanawha or Monongalia Counties. Many this week saw their insane numbers of the last few weeks tempered slightly.
Take Fairmont Senior’s Division I quarterback Gage Michael for instance. Michael still put up numbers to be proud off through the air, but his usual dual-threat potency was half held in check.
The result saw the unbeaten Bridgeport Indians take care of the Polar Bears.
Further north, Oak Glen’s Hunter Patterson still put up impressive numbers, but they were less than his usual allotment as the Golden Bears spread the wealth offensively in a shootout against previously unbeaten John Marshall
Others, like defending Kennedy winner Ethan Payne of Poca and Cabell Midland’s Jakob Caudil have watched from cancelation isolation following promising starts.
The sooner all counties are colored “Gold” or better, the sooner we can get a clearer picture of this race with all expected candidates having their say-so.
For now, some are speaking louder than others.
Frontrunners
Atticus Goodson, Independence
Other Kennedy leaders may have witnessed their numbers return to more reasonable levels this week. Don’t count this Independence running back amongst them.
The Goodson Express showed no signs of checking into the station for routine maintenance. He churned out 301 yards and six touchdowns on just 21 carries. That’s 14.3 yards per carry. Goodson added two receptions for 30 yards in a dominating 56-8 win against Shady Spring.
The Patriots are off this week as of this writing as original opponent Westside resides in a Gold county.
Hunter Patterson, John Marshall
Patterson did the majority of his damage on the ground against John Marshall, logging 195 yards on 11 carries with a pair of TDs runs—38 and 22 yards, respectively. The team’s leading receiver, Patterson finished with only one catch for 16 yards as it was Gage Patterson’s number called most often through the air in the 55-46 win against JM.
Oak Glen, which recently moved into the top spot of MetroNews’ Class AA Power Rankins, is also off this week.
Gage Michael, Fairmont Senior
Michael was a respectable 17 of 31 passing for 228 yards and a touchdown against Bridgeport. He even ran for two touchdowns. But the diminutive quarterback was held to zero total rushing yards as the Indians’ defense found a way to stifle Michael’s feet in the 44-33 win.
Michael will get a chance to redeem himself this week with a tough Musselman team coming to town.
Blake Hartman, Musselman
Speaking of Musselman, senior Blake Hartman became the school’s all-time leading rusher, eclipsing the 5,200-yard mark for his career with an impressive showing in a 43-7 road thumbing of Holidaysburg, Pa.
Hartman rumbled for 230 yards and four touchdowns on 20 carries.
He’ll try to equal those marks against a Polar Bears’ run defense eager for redemption following the Bridgeport game.
Keon Padmore-Johnson, Spring Mills
Like many of his counterparts across W.Va., Padmore-Johnson’s numbers returned to Earth somewhat this week. However, that didn’t stop the Cardinals’ quarterback from another impressive showing and victory.
Padmore-Johnson ran for 144 yards and two touchdowns while passing for 167 yards and another two as Spring Mills took care of Jefferson, 52-28.
The Cardinals face a stern test this week as they travel to take on undefeated Class AA opponent Frankfort. The Falcons are coming off their own victory against Berkeley Spring, 41-0.
In the Mix
Carson Deeb, Bluefield
Beavers’ QB finally got back on the field after a solid but tough outing against Princeton and a COVID-cancellation in Week 2.
Deeb threw for 215 yards on 11 of 15 passing with four touchdowns in a 48-2 thumping of AAA Woodrow Wilson. The Beavers’ senior tacked on a rushing TD for good measure.
Next up is a rare rematch with the Princeton Tigers who defended Deeb well in Week 1. Those same Tigers took the air somewhat out of the passing attack of fellow Kennedy candidate Sam Schuler of Parkersburg South last week.
We’ll see if Deeb and head coach Fred Simon have some new wrinkles to the Beavers’ passing attack.
Noah Brown, Greenbrier West
Brown logged 106 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries as the Cavaliers spread the offensive wealth in a 40-20 win against a solid Pendleton County outfit.
Brown has 414 yards through three games and is running hard. But for a Class A candidate to overtake such a strong AAA and AA field, he’ll need bigger games to keep pace.
Jeremiah King, Robert C. Byrd
King’s rushing line—14 carries, 152 yards, three touchdowns—was down slightly from his previous totals, but still enough to keep his YPG average above 200 (208.3).
If King can equal those totals this week against a stalwart Bridgeport Indians’ defense, his name will quickly rise these ranks.
Kevon Warren, Martinsburg
It was Warren’s turn this week to tote the leather and he responded with 164 yards and a touchdown against Spring Valley.
The Bulldogs are off this week after their first loss in 65 home games. Perfect time to regroup and get back to doing what the Bulldogs do best—win.
Sam Schuler, Parkersburg South
Schuler’s hot start was tempered somewhat by Princeton’s excellent pass defense. He still managed 225 yards on of 30 of 40 passing with one touchdown and one interception while rushing for another score in the loss.
The Patriots (1-2) have faced a tough schedule thus far and it doesn’t get any easier as they travel to Monarch Stadium in Moundsville and face off with John Marshall.
Other Notable Performances
Derrick Derrow, John Marshall
Speaking of the Monarchs, they seemingly have someone new each week step up with major numbers.
This time, it was quarterback Derrick Derrow, who threw for 352 yards and five touchdowns in a loss to Oak Glen. Derrow completed 20 of his 36 passes and nearly led the Monarchs back from a sizable deficit.
The Monarchs proved in the first two weeks they have a tough ground game. Derrow showed JM can work through the air last week. This week’s matchup vs. South has the makings of a potential aerial show.
Xavier Lopez, Bryson Lucas, RCB
King wasn’t the only Eagles’ player causing havoc for the Preston Knights. Lopez threw for 344 yards and three touchdowns on just 13 of 18 passing. Lucas caught seven of those passes for 195 yards.
