JOHNSTON: Fort Frye football and food for thought

November 12, 2019

BEVERLY — Fort Frye’s Braden Medley pounced on the Dalton fumble at the 2-yard line like it was a sirloin steak. Ah, the sweet taste of Fort Frye victory. Then, Cadet running back Tyler Fisher took an Ian Ellis hand-off and raced, like he was late for Mindy’s supper, 98 yards to the house. All of a sudden, instead of the Cadets being buried in pasta, 21-7, they’d knotted the score at 14-all. “That was big, right at the beginning of the game,” said FFHS head chef Eric Huck afterwards. “They (Dalton Bulldogs) were about ready to score and we got a turnover. Then, we ran a ...

MONDAY MORNING QUARTERBACK: WVU loss not good for sleep

November 11, 2019

Those among you who attend WVU home football games may have noticed that for some reason the return trip from Morgantown across Route 50 seems to become longer and longer. That is what happens after three consecutive home losses, this one an embarrassing blowout to a Texas Tech team with a losing record. Coming off the field at the end of the first half, in his interview with the sideline reporter head coach Neal Brown was succinct: “I apologize to our fans”. Indeed it was the kind of performance that would cause a coach sleepless nights. The defense, which played so well at ...

ALBRIGHT: South’s Brandon Penn can add to Kennedy Award resume tonight

November 8, 2019

Raising the roof seemed appropriate. Hopefuls for the vacated South quarterback position needed to gain as much possible arm strength in the offseason. Nate Tanner’s hiring as the next Patriots’ grid-iron head coach marked a new era in more than one way. Throwing motions after all ...

JOHNSTON: Joe Bergin feeling, looking good

November 5, 2019

Joe Bergin has had an amazing comeback. The seventh-year Marietta College men’s boss faced a life without Pioneer soccer for five-plus weeks last May and June with a heart issue and a journey to the Cleveland Clinic. But happy to say, Bergin, a former MC soccer standout and 1986 grad, was back coaching and preparing for the 2019 season at the start of the summer. “They fixed all the things they needed to fix, and the heart works,” said Bergin after Marietta College defeated the Baldwin Wallace University Yellow Jackets, 3-1, Saturday night in a showdown match at Marietta ...

ALBRIGHT: Bulldogs versus Yellowjackets is as big as games come

October 31, 2019

One hearty “Thank you” goes out to the Williamstown and Doddridge County football teams. The Bulldogs and Yellowjackets successfully executing the game plan against Parkersburg Catholic and Valley (Wetzel) respectively last week brought to life this column. For now, Mid-Ohio Valley sports fans are in for a late Halloween treat Friday night at Williamstown High School. One of the game of the year candidates play out under the light at the northern Wood County high school. Much like one season ago, Bobby Burnside’s Bulldogs (8-0) and Terry Smith’s Yellowjackets (8-1) enter this ...

ALBRIGHT: Ty Moore has been just that … more… for the Williamstown football team

October 28, 2019

Ty Moore performed his running back gig well again Saturday night. Williamstown walked out with a 45-10 rivalry victory over Parkersburg Catholic because of this performance. What else is new? It wouldn’t be surprising if the Crusaders came down with a touch of Yellowjacket fever. Moore’s 198 yards gained and four touchdowns via his bruising style, especially late, stung the Crusaders. You want big runs? He had a few of those. No scamper though impacted more than his first in the opening possession of the second half. Sluggish starts have been a problem for the ...