Ritchie and Wirt will meet a little later than planned

Tigers back in the playoffs for first time since 2012

ELLENBORO -- Ritchie County and Wirt County are no strangers when it comes to football.

Normally, the two programs will square off for a regular season game at some point during the fall. In 2020, however, the game was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, the Tigers and Rebels will square off in a Class A first round playoff game at 1:30 p.m. Saturday.

"Week seven, we were scheduled to play Wirt," said Ritchie head coach Rick Haught. "Because of this crazy year, it didn't happen. We're right next to each other, and Wirt County is somebody we've played for many years. We're familiar with each other. This is a nice first round playoff game, history-wise and community-wise."

While Wirt County was only able to play seven games this fall due to the pandemic, Ritchie played a full 10-game slate and put together an 8-2 record. Wirt comes in at 5-2.

In 10 games, the Rebels scored 35.5 points per game while allowing 13.4. Their two losses were to Doddridge County (9-8) and St. Marys (34-26). Doddridge (33-7) and St. Marys (26-7) also handed the Tigers their only two losses.

Wirt County has a pair of pass rushers in Logan Powell (4.5 sacks) and Dylan Toler (4 sacks) who can get after the quarterback. Returning first team all-state defensive back Nathan Murray, who has four interceptions this season, can also make things difficult for opposing QBs. That's what they'll need to do Saturday against Ritchie QB Ethan Haught.

"That a key," said Wirt head coach Jason Hickman. "We're going to have to mix up our coverages a bit. It comes down to the trenches. We have to put some pressure on that kid. They've done a good job of protecting him. We've got to make him uncomfortable. We can't let him stand back there and have all day to throw. Any quarterback could make some mistakes if they're under pressure. We'll try to get after him a bit."

Haught, a sophomore, has picked apart defenses all season. He's completed 66 of 125 passes and thrown for 1,298 yards, 21 touchdowns and just one interception.

"As good as the stats are, the one interception is the one that sticks with the young QB.

"He threw that pick at Roane," coach Haught recalled. "I called a slant. He had told me they were trying to take that away, but I called it anyway. He was mad coming off the field. I told him I thought it was good to get the first one out of the way. I thought we were being too careful. He's a really solid quarterback in his decision-making. On offense, there's some deception there, and he does a good job of carrying out fakes. He's very careful with his passes, almost to the extreme. We have a nice group of receivers which makes us really tough to defend."

His leading receiver is Graden McKinney, who has 20 catches for 471 yards and five scores. Gus Morrison has been a force out of the backfield for the Rebels, carrying 95 times for 964 yards and 13 TDs. He's also a receiving threat, catching 15 balls for 377 yards and 10 scores. Dakota Wayne is another running option. He rushed 105 times for 565 yards and seven touchdowns in the regular season.

"They have a lot of different weapons," said Hickman, whose team is trying to treat this like any other week.

"We're trying to keep it as normal as possible. Obviously there's more intensity in the air. The kids know the situation they're in. We want to make sure the kids understand to do things to the best of their ability, and we'll see where we are when the clock hits zero."

Defensively, Morrison and McKinney have five interceptions each, while Wayne has a team-leading five sacks and 15 tackles for a loss.

Quarterbacking the Tigers will be Dylan Lowe, who has completed 39 of 77 passes for 777 yards, seven TDs and three picks. Kolton Parsons has 16 receptions for 478 yards and five TDs. Garrett Parsons is the leading rusher with 106 carries and 739 yards. He's scored 17 total touchdowns.

"They're senior-laden with a lot of experience," Haught said. "I think they're very familiar with one another. They're solid on offense, and the things they do, they do very well. We played them last year and they were solid on the defensive side of the ball, and I think that's carried over to this year. They flow to the ball and they swarm to the ball really well."

Both coaches agreed the turnover battle will be a big factor in the game.

"Regardless of who you're playing, you can't turn the ball over," Haught said. "If we can get a couple of turnovers and create a short field, that helps. It's just basic football. We've got to block and tackle well, and good things will happen."

Added Hickman, "We played (Ritchie) pretty well last year. We have to play good football. We have to be fundamentally sound. They're going to make you play a full game and take advantage of any mistakes you make."

Contact Jordan Holland at jholland@newsandsentinel.com.