If reading this week’s story brings about strong sensations of deja vu, I apologize ahead of time. Though when the COVID map of many colors fails to cooperate, there’s not much this poor scribe can.
I can’t make up numbers which aren’t being produced on-field, just so you fine folks have something different to read.
Two from the original top tier of candidates were able to find live game-action last week. That’s right, two.
I’m adding two new names to that list. One is emerging both statistically and victoriously as a top player in Class AAA. The other may have gotten a late start but a) he’s put up some impressive numbers and b) his team is 5-0 and that’s at or near most of the other names on this list in terms of games’ played.
The list of last week’s inactives reads as thus: Musselman’s Blake Hartman; Spring Mills’ Keon Padmore-Johnson; Oak Glen’s Hunter Patterson; Poca’s Ethan Payne; Cabell Midland’s Jakob Caudill; Bluefield’s Carson Deeb; and Greenbrier West’s Noah Brown.
Berkeley County is in the orange yet again, meaning the top two contenders, along with three of Class AAA’s top 10 teams will be sidelined for the third straight week.
Should that trend continue next week without intercession, the AAA playoffs will begin with umpteen-time defending champion Martinsburg, Musselman, and Spring Mills.
Even though Spring Valley beat Martinsburg earlier this season, could a AAA title won without having to go through the Bulldogs be done so without the accompanying asterisk? More on that next week and, hopefully, with better news.
That being said, there are still two candidates to talk about, four, when you factor in the latest additions to the list. We’ll also highlight some of the top performances from around the state.
Return of the King
No, Poca’s Ethan Payne didn’t get to play last week. A last minute cancellation saw to that. But Robert C. Byrd’s Jeremiah King exploded in a big way for the Eagles.
King was a member of this list earlier in the season before a couple average games saw his name fall off. Offensive balance could be blamed, as could facing the Bridgeport defense.
But King was at his best last week in a big win against North Marion. The senior rushed for 332 yards and four TDs in the 30-17 win against the Huskies.
In the process, King became the school’s all-time leading rusher. More importantly, RCB improved to 6-2 and set itself up in good position with the playoffs looming and a winnable game upcoming this week.
New to the List
Wheeling Park’s Beau Heller is quietly putting together a stellar season up in Ohio County. No so quiet if you’ve faced the Patriots’ high-powered offense.
On the road at Parkersburg South, Heller masterfully carved up the Wood County Patriots’ secondary. He finished with 275 yards and five touchdowns on 21 of 26 passing. That’s a passer rating of 153 and a completion percentage of nearly 81.
For the season, Heller is 125-for-170 for 1,684 yards with 23 TDs against just three picks. Three. That’s better than one pick for every 55 attempts.
Heller sat behind a two-time all-state QB the last season, so his name has been a slow roll to reach household status this season outside of the Upper Ohio Valley footprint.
But people are learning it now. The team’s lone loss came against St. Clairsville, 26-21, way back in Week 1. That same Red Devils team is currently 9-0 and readying itself for an Ohio Division IV regional final game. AA equivalent or not, that’s a solid team.
Park has a high-powered offense that also features senior running back Stevie Mitchell, who averages 156.9 yards per game and has 15 rushing TDs to his credit.
The Patriots will be a force to be reckoned with comes playoff time, which looks to be the next time Park will be back in action.
Marshall County turned up gold, meaning the Monarchs and Patriots couldn’t hold their yearly backyard brawl. JM quickly found a willing opponent. Park hasn’t been as lucky.
New to the List, Part Deux
South Charleston sophomore Trey Dunn has certainly made the most of his limited on-field action this season.
Dunn has the Black Eagles 5-0, including a frenzied three-game in 10-days stretch from Oct. 21 through last Friday’s dismantling of Riverside, 56-8.
His most recent outing includes 306 yards passing and six touchdowns.
Through five games, Dunn has 1,495 yards and 20 TDs, completing 68 percent of his passes and averaging 299 per game.
A capable runner, he’s scampered for 219 yards and six touchdowns. As a team, the Black Eagles average better than 500 yards per game.
Dunn may not have the time to make up for the late start to his season. But if he continues to put up these numbers both this season, and in the future, his name will note doubt be a fixture in any future Kennedy Award conversation the next two seasons.
Other Leading Candidates
Gage Michael, Fairmont Senior
Michael threw for 172 yards and three TDs and rushed for 150 and another as Fairmont Senior took care of Elkins, 40-20.
Atticus Goodson, Independence
Goodson eclipsed the 1,500-yard mark for the season after rumbling for 237 yards on 25 carries, totaling five TDs as the Patriots hammered Lincoln County (AAA) 62-8.
Through seven games, Goodson has 1,506 yards and 24 touchdowns.
Other Notables
Grant Cochran, Princeton: Cochran is putting up big numbers too for a sophomore—big numbers in general. This time the Tigers QB threw for 339 yards on 10 of 17 passing with five TDs as Princeton took down Greenbrier East 56-14.
Dylan Blake, Pikeview: Pikeview is having a rough season but that hasn’t stopped receiver Dylan Blake from having a standout campaign. Blake caught seven passes for 221 yards and three touchdowns in a 40-26 to Lincoln High.
Peyton Thomas, Berkeley Springs: Thomas rushed 25 times for 240 yards and a pair of scored in an upset win against Class AAA Ripley.
