MOV has game of the week
Class A takes center stage
PARKERSBURG — One of the biggest prep games, if not the biggest, of Week 9 takes place in the Mid-Ohio Valley this evening.
Pleasants County is the place for a titanic Class A matchup, which could prove to be a state championship game preview after everything is said and done in the postseason.
Top-ranked South Harrison visits No. 3 St. Marys in a battle of undefeated teams at 7:30 p.m. inside Bill Hanlin Stadium. Brad Jett’s Hawks stand at 7-0 with a high-powered offense (53.5 points per game) led by running back’s Freddy Canaray and Cam Barnette, along with an experienced offensive line.
Meanwhile, Jodi Mote’s Blue Devils are 6-0 on a 20-game winning streak. A tough defense has been the calling card St. Marys has hung its hat on the last few weeks. Defensive coordinator Jay Powell’s unit is allowing nine points per game, with the highest points total allowed coming against Marietta in a 63-19 win back on Sept. 14.
Something is going to have to give in the contest as the lowest number of points South Harrison has scored this year were 28 in the opener against Doddridge County.
Of course, an offensive shootout isn’t out of the question either as Mote’s Blue Devils also can put points on the board (47.6 ppg).
Speaking of Doddridge County, Bobby Burnside’s squad finds itself in another battle of ranked Class A teams one week after a 20-3 road win over No. 11 Ravenswood. The green and yellow-clad Bulldogs (6-2), who are on a six-game winning streak, rose to No. 10 in the playoff ratings and sit just two spots out of a home playoff game at Cline Stansberry Stadium.
Standing in their way this week is No. 12 Valley (Wetzel) (5-2), winners of four in a row.
Burnside-coached teams are tough to beat at home, and Valley has had mixed results with away games this year (1-1).
Rising up two classes, it seems No. 12 Parkersburg High (4-3) can’t escape big games no matter how hard it tries. Such is life in the Mountain State Athletic Conference, where Mike Byus’ Big Reds (4-3) welcome in No. 9 Hurricane (4-3) for a 7:30 p.m. contest.
Both teams come in off losses. Hurricane lost to No. 1 Huntington, while PHS couldn’t slow down the rushing attack of Cabell Midland in a 63-35 setback.
If Byus’ team hopes to host a playoff game, the Big Reds must win out. Fortunately, there are no more trips out of town scheduled for the Big Reds. Riverside visits next week, before the campaign ends with a visit to crosstown rival Parkersburg South.
South also is back home after a bye in Week 8. Mike Eddy’s Patriots (2-5) host Greenbrier East (1-6) at 7 p.m. inside the Erickson All-Sports Facility.
Over in Ohio, the Pioneer Valley Conference Game of the Year takes place at 7 p.m. in Sarahsville. Fort Frye (7-1) meets Shenandoah (7-1) in a matchup with huge playoff implications aside from the league impact. Eric Huck’s Cadets come in with a 5-game winning streak over the Zeps and stand at 3-0 in league play. Meanwhile, the Zeps are 1-1 and in need of a win to keep their league championship hopes alive.
Other games on tap for this weekend include (all games scheduled at 7 p.m. unless noted otherwise): Williamstown (4-4) at Parkersburg Catholic (0-6), Saturday; Roane County (AA) (0-7) at Class A No. 14 Ravenswood (4-3), 7:30 p.m.; Wirt County (3-4) at Ritchie County (2-6); Magnolia (2-6) at Tyler Consolidated (4-3); Paden City (2-5) at Van (3-5), 7:30 p.m.; Hannan (2-5) at Gilmer County (1-6), 7:30 p.m.; Calhoun County (0-8) at No. 6 Webster County (6-1), 7:30 p.m.; Belpre (3-5) at Eastern (3-5), 7:30 p.m.; Federal Hocking (0-8) at Waterford (7-1), 7:30 p.m.; Warren (0-8) at Linsly (7-1), 7 p.m. and Dover (5-3) at Marietta (4-4).