Five thousand yards is getting it done, no matter if you play in Class AAA or Class A.
That’s an average of 1,250 yards per season for four years. Not every talented back in the state becomes the feature back as a freshman either, so you’d likely have to skew that average a bit.
But that’s the mark Robert C. Byrd’s Jeremiah King hit last week during a 31-16 win against Greenbrier East. On his first carry of the game — a carry that resulted in a 52-yard game.
Talk about eclipsing the mark with authority. King later added a 15-yard TD run to cap that drive as part of a 330-yard, 3-touchdown performance on the road against the Spartans.
He logged 30 carries in the game, averaging 11 yards per tote. Not too shabby at all.
In a season where most of the top Kennedy Award favorites are quarterbacks, two of the top three running backs come from Class AA where King is joined by Independence’s Atticus Goodson.
The Patriots had a bye week and were slated to face Poca tonight until a COVID shutdown derailed that plan.
The other top back is Martinsburg’s Braxton Todd, who ran for 172 yards on 10 carries while adding a 10-yard TD reception—in the first half mind you—as the Bulldogs rolled up 436 first-half yards and six touchdowns in a 58-7 whitewashing of Sherando on the road.
West Virginia has some talented running backs, but King, Goodson, and Todd are clearly a cut above the rest. The question is, can they amass enough stats and impressive wins to knock off who’s becoming the clear favorite during the early season?
Speaking of the Favorite
South Charleston’s Trey Dunn continues to carve up opposing defenses as the defending Class AAA champion Black Eagles continue to run roughshod atop the competition.
The latest victim was St. Albans, which was no match for SC in a 55-0 loss.
Dunn threw for 286 yards and five touchdowns on 19 of 26 passing while adding another touchdown on the ground.
The rest of the state can breathe a collective sigh of relief as the Black Eagles are on their bye this week. The following week, SC hits the road to face a tough Spring Valley squad, followed by home games against GW and Parkersburg. A home contest vs. undefeated Huntington on October 22 looks like it could be barnburner as the Highlanders recently took down previously unbeaten Cabell Midland and are playing extremely well.
Welcome Back Bryson
Parkersburg’s Bryson Singer finally turned in the type of performance PHS fans were waiting for this season. The result was a 28-20 Big Reds’ win that helped Singer and company get off the winless schneid.
PHS made the switch to move Singer to running back from QB in the second quarter and it paid off as he rushed for 206 yards and four touchdowns while leading the team in receiving with 66 yards on a pair of receptions.
The move paid dividends, but we’ll see if it’s a permanent switch to take advantage of Singer’s rushing ability, or if he’ll return to the quarterback spot this week as PHS faced heated-rival Parkersburg South
Continued Emergence
Parkersburg South receiver Cyrus Traugh continued his strong early-season play against Woodrow Wilson.
Patriots’ quarterback Robert Shockey threw for 227 yards and three TDs on 15 completions—11 of those went into the soft hands of Traugh, who finished with one receiving TD.
Traugh also ran four times for 66 yards and two touchdowns, accumulating 222 all-purpose yards of offense. That’s more than WW had collectively as a team as the Patriots rolled to a win.
Yes, They Still Pass
Princeton’s run-heavy attack in its previous win didn’t give Kennedy candidate and budding junior QB Grant Cochran a lot of stats to add to his season totals.
Facing Oak Hill, that changed as Cochran threw for 265 yards and three TDs on an efficient 19 of 23 passing as the Tigers won 55-30.
The Tigers were set for a stern test this weekend against the Linsly School, but Princeton is in quarantine and will be unable to face the Cadets.
Other Top Performances
Chase Edwards, University
Hawks signal caller threw for 357 yards and six touchdowns—yes, six—on 16 of 23 passing as University dismantled previously unbeaten Brooke, on the road, 52-20.
Isaiah Smith, Lincoln County
Smith ran for 209 yards and two TDs, caught 80 yards worth of passes including another score and tacked on not one, but two return touchdowns, as Lincoln County took it to Ripley.
Ethan Haught, Ritchie County
Rebels QB passed for 347 yards and four touchdowns while rushing for 101 yards and three scores as Ritchie County took down Wahama in a Class A showdown.
Ean Hamrick, Gilmer County
Hamrick threw for 333 yards and four TDs while rushing for 76 against Wirt County.
Cam Cole, Bridgeport
Cole made the most of his “limited” work in the Indians’ victory against Liberty. Cole toted the leather just five times, resulting in 205 yards and four TDs in the 54-6 win.
