High School Football Capsules
Trending
RITCHIE COUNTY AT WILLIAMSTOWN
Game time: 7 p.m. Friday
Last year's result: Williamstown 67, Ritchie County 8
RCHS (1-2): lost to Tyler Consolidated, 54-7; d. Gilmer County, 49-32; lost to South Harrison, 61-34
WHS (3-0): d. Ravenswood, 47-7; d. Tyler Consolidated, 49-0; d. Wheeling Central, 36-25
Key RCHS players: QB Turner Shriver, RB Jonah Hamilton, WR Jenner Keen
Key WHS players: QB Lynken Joy, RB Cooper Billingsley, WR Cooper Martin
Game notes: The beat keeps going for Williamstown High School and head coach Chris Beck.
The double-A Yellowjackets, who are tied for seventh with fellow 3-0 South Harrison, faced a 19-0 deficit last week before storming back to score 29 unanswered points en route to upending host Wheeling Central.
Ritchie County head coach Jared Shipe's Rebels lost this affair 67-8 a year ago in Ellenboro and the visitors can't expect WHS to lose three first quarter fumbles this week.
Lynken Joy rushed for more than 200 yards versus the Maroon Knights as the 'Jackets went for 351 ground yards as a team.
ROANE COUNTY AT LEWIS COUNTY
Game time: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Last year's result: Roane County 34, Lewis County 0
RCHS (3-0): d. Shady Spring, 36-12; d. Lincoln County, 42-12; d. Clay County, 47-46
LCHS (1-2): lost to Fairmont Senior, 55-3; d. Braxton County, 3-0; lost to Elkins, 27-20
Key RCHS players: RB Lane Watson, RB Shay Harper, RB Clay Walker
Key LCHS players: QB Eli Jones, RB Alex Goodwin, WR Garrett Moates
Game notes: It wasn't easy last Friday night, but Roane County head coach Paul Burdette's Raiders held on for a wild 47-46 win at Clay County.
The Raiders, currently rated No. 1 in Class AA, square off against No. 19 triple-A Lewis County. RCHS already has 3A victories versus Shady Spring and Lincoln County.
Last week, Clay County held a 26-19 intermission advantage, but couldn't hold it.
Panther quarterback Noah Collins went for 353 yards and five touchdowns, but the Raiders will not face the same type of offense this week.
Look for the Raiders to continue to utilize their punishing rushing attack as the Minutemen allowed 235 yards rushing last week to Nick Bowers in their loss to Elkins.
POINT PLEASANT AT RIPLEY
Game time: 7 p.m. Friday
Last year's result: Point Pleasant 42, Ripley 0
PPHS (1-1): lost to Fairland, 30-13; d. Gallia Academy, 33-28
RHS (3-0): d. South Charleston, 38-19; d. Ravenswood, 38-13; d. Lincoln County, 35-6
Key PPHS players: K Alex Shrader, RB Issaac Creel
Key RHS players: QB Tyson Pritt, RB Noah Casto, OL Cooper Durst
Game notes: First-year Ripley boss Ryan Simon and the Vikings are likely to face their biggest test to date on Friday.
The Big Blacks of veteran head man David Durst easily handled the Vikings a year ago and are coming off a bye week following a tight win versus Gallia Academy.
Ripley, which is rated No. 6 in Class AAA, will need a solid team effort in order to improve to 4-0.
TYLER AT PETERSBURG
Game time: 7 p.m. Friday
Last year's result: Did not meet.
TCHS (1-1): d. Ritchie County, 54-7; lost to Williamstown, 49-0
PHS (3-0): d. Berkeley Springs, 48-28; d. Wyoming East, 34-7; d. Pendleton County, 31-20
Key TCHS players: QB Brady Strode, RB Brandon Winfrey, WR Reese Davis
Key PHS players: QB Payton Metheny, WR Peyton Tingler
Game notes: Opportunity is knocking for Tyler Consolidated.
The Silver Knights, who had last week off after a 49-0 loss to Willamstown, will have the opportunity to upset current top-ranked Class A foe Petersburg.
First-year head coach Shane Shockey's Vikings jumped out to a 25-14 halftime advantage last week against previous unbeaten Pendleton County to improve to 3-0.
Tyler Consolidated enters the fray rated 17th in single-A.
RAVENSWOOD AT DODDRIDGE COUNTY
Game time: 7 p.m. Friday
Last year's result: Doddridge County 40, Ravenswood 0
Ravenswood (0-3): lost to Williamstown, lost to Ripley 38-13; lost to Wahama 62-19
DCHS (2-1): def. St. Marys 41-0; lost to Wahama 48-24; def. Gilmer County 47-14.
Key Ravenswood players: Owen Curtis (QB/DB), Bobby Richards (RB/LB)
Key DCHS players: Caleb Hall (RB/LB), Brysen Dixon (QB/DB), Landon Thomas (WR/LB), Lyric Blake (RB/DB)
Game notes: No rest for a weary Ravenswood outfit which has endured a stretch of three opponents with perfect 3-0 records. Now the Red Devils face another tall task against a rated Doddridge County team which bolted out to a 47-0 halftime lead last week against Gilmer County. The Bulldogs showcased a balanced attack. The Brysen Dixon to Landon Thomas connection resulted in a pair of TDs. Ravenswood seeks to snap a nine-game, regular season losing streak and a six-game drought against DCHS after having gone 4-0-1 in the first five meetings with the Bulldogs.
MAGNOLIA AT CAMERON
Game time: 7 p.m. Friday
Last year's result: Cameron 54, Magnolia 6
Magnolia (0-2): lost to Wirt County, 48-24; lost to River (Ohio) 48-20
Cameron (2-1): lost to Edison (Ohio) 30-22; def. Hundred 35-0; def. St. Marys 46-21
Key Magnolia players: Hunter Oates (RB), Kingston Christen (QB), Matthew Anderson (RB), Finn Loy
Key Cameron players: Klyspan Wallace (RB), Kason Angel (QB), Mason Scott (WR)
Game notes: Cameron is not shy about scoring points, especially with the likes of quarterback Kason Angel, who threw for two touchdowns and ran for another in last week's win against St. Marys - a game in which St. Marys fell behind 40-6 by halftime. Teammate Klyspan Wallace also is a handful out of the backfield after rushing for 136 yards and three TDs against the Blue Devils. Magnolia owns a healthy 18-5-1 advantage in the series with Cameron, but have been outscored 107-14 in the past two meetings - both resulting in Blue Eagle losses. Under coach Tim Brown, Cameron has won 12 of its last 14 games. The Dragons have reached the state state semifinals each of the past two seasons.
GILMER COUNTY AT TUCKER COUNTY
Game time: 7 p.m. Friday
Last year's result: Tucker County 34, Gilmer County 28
Gilmer County (1-2); def. Calhoun County 18-7; lost to Ritchie County 49-32; lost to Doddridge County 47-14
Tucker County (3-0): def. Pocahontas County 54-6; def. Tygarts Valley 68-0; def. East Hardy 20-7.
Key Gilmer County players: Rodney McCord (RB/LB), Rico Schoolcraft (RB/DB), Remington Huffman (QB/DB)
Key Tucker County players: Jacob Reall (RB/LB), Garrett Wilfong (WR/DB)
Game notes: Tucker County picked up an impressive win last week against East Hardy. Running back Jacob Reall's two touchdowns and Garrett Wilfong's pick-six left East Hardy trailing 20-0 with less than two minutes remaining before halftime. Under coach A.J. Rapp, Tucker County has won 22 of its last 23 games over the three-year stretch. The Mountain Lions currently own a 13-game regular season winning streak. Despite falling behind Doddridge County 47-0 at halftime, Gilmer County managed to post a second-half shutout and put two plays into the end zone. Rodney McCord accounted for one with a 49-yard run.
BELPRE AT BEALLSVILLE
Game time: 7 p.m. Friday
Last year's result: Did not play.
Belpre (0-4): lost to Monroe Central 59-12; lost to Fort Frye 72-6; lost to Alexander 44-0; lost to Federal Hocking 48-40 (OT)
Beallsville (lost to Bishop Rosecrans 46-0; lost to Newcomerstown 40-0; lost to Frontier 39-0; def. Hundred 26-8.
Key Belpre players: Alex Parker (RB/QB/OLB), Luke Davis (QB/DB), Aeden Mullins (RB/DB)
Key Beallsville players: Jayden Billingsley (RB), Hunter Cole (WR).
Game notes: The outlook appears optimistic for Belpre this week after falling just short in last week's overtime loss to Federal Hocking. Beallsville and Belpre are meeting for only the second time, and the first time since a Beallsville 48-32 win at Ralph Holder Stadium nearly 30 years ago. Judging by several of their opponents in the opening half of the season, the Golden Eagles haven't backed down from anyone after playing Monroe Central and Fort Frye, who are ranked sixth and ninth, respectively, in Ohio Region V.
MARIETTA AT WHITEHALL-YEARLING
Game time: 7 p.m. Friday
Last year's result: Did not play.
Marietta (3-1): d. Morgan, 13-12; d. John Marshall, 10-0; lost to Athens, 42-21; d. Claymont, 28-13
Whitehall-Yearling (0-4): lost to Hamilton Township, 21-0; lost to Northland, 37-12; lost to Pleasant, 48-6; lost to St. Charles, 40-20
Key Marietta players: RB Seth Britton; LB Braydon Frye; OL/DL Zach Carver
Key Whitehall-Yearling players: TE/DL Meade Bakeye
Game notes: The Marietta Tigers are seeking their first 4-1 start since 2016.
They'll square off on the road against a Whitehall-Yearling team that has yet to come out on the winning side of the scoreboard. The Rams are a Division II program, but they haven't scored more than 20 points in a game this season. They've surrendered 37 or more points in three of their four games.
Marietta will look to go with its bread and butter on offense, which is the backfield duo of Seth Britton and Kobe Alexander. Britton is one of the areas leading rushers with 635 yards and six touchdowns.
HARRISON CENTRAL AT FORT FRYE
Game time: 7 p.m. Friday
Last year's result: Did not play.
Harrison Central (1-3): d. Claymont, 28-13; lost to Buckeye Trail, 44-41; lost to Malvern, 38-28; lost to Union Local, 49-13
Fort Frye (3-1): lost to Barnesville, 51-16; d. Belpre, 72-6; d. Wheeling Central, 38-19; d. Waterford, 35-7
Key Harrison Central players: RB Mykel Quito; RB Blake Atkins; K Noah Thaxton
Key Fort Frye players: RB Clayton Miller; QB Grady Hesson; WR Luke Phillis
Game notes: Fort Frye and Harrison Central are on opposite trajectories.
The Cadets lost their week one game to Barnesville but have since won three straight, while the Huskies won their opener over Claymont but lost their next three contests.
Despite the 1-3 record, Harrison Central is a quality program that Fort Frye isn't taking lightly. The Huskies play a tough schedule, and their last three opponents are a combined 11-1.
Fort Frye has spread the ball around nicely to its playmakers through four games, with Clayton Miller, Tyce Beardsley and Luke Phillis all making impacts. First-year quarterback Grady Hesson has done a nice job running the offense.
VALLEY AT FRONTIER
Game time: 7 p.m. Friday
Last year's result: Valley 44, Frontier 31
Valley (3-0): d. Tygarts Valley, 46-33; d. Hancock, 33-0; d. Clay-Battelle, 33-7
Frontier (2-2): lost to Bridgeport, 38-34; lost to Miller, 35-14; d. Beallsville, 39-0; d. Shadyside, 35-18
Key Valley players: QB Gavin Derby; WR Ryder Gravette; WR Koleton Kinkade
Key Frontier players: RB Caleb Kirkpatrick; QB True King; WR Avery Powell
Game notes: It all starts with Gavin Derby for the Valley Lumberjacks.
The senior quarterback had a hand in all five of the team's touchdowns in Monday's win over Clay-Battelle, including two passing and three rushing. He's the ultimate dual threat and will pose a tough challenge for Frontier's defense, which has allowed just 18 points combined since week two.
The Cougars have some firepower of their own on offense. Quarterback True King has passed for 600 yards and seven touchdowns this season, with Avery Powell being his No. 1 target with 345 yards and five TDs. Caleb Kirkpatrick adds another element on the ground, as he's carried 75 times for 449 yards and five scores.
Friday's game in New Matamoras could end up being a shootout.
NELSONVILLE-YORK AT WATERFORD
Game time: 7 p.m. Friday
Last year's result: Did not play.
Nelsonville-York (3-1): d. Trimble, 21-14; lost to Logan, 19-0; d. Liberty Union, 33-0; d. River Valley, 48-7
Waterford (2-2): d. Alexander, 40-0; lost to Caldwell, 26-14; d. Shenandoah, 35-7; lost to Fort Frye, 35-7
Key Nelsonville-York players: RB Landen Inman; RB Austin Gautier; QB Cameron Sullivan
Key Waterford players: WR Max Roberts; OL Logan Jackson; TE Zavier Heiss
Game notes: Waterford has never been a program to shy away from the challenge, and the Wildcats have proven that with this season's schedule.
Waterford has gone up against some strong teams, most recently arch rival Fort Frye, and will do so again this week as 3-1 Nelsonville-York invades.
The Buckeyes have an impressive team with a lot of talent, including ball-carriers Landen Inman and Austin Gautier as well as quarterback Cameron Sullivan.
Waterford's defense, which has held its own against some dynamic offenses, will be put to the test.
Nelsonville-York is allowing just 10 points per game in 2024, but probably hasn't seen an offense like Waterford's. Running back Colten Jones and quarterback Hayden Jones have led the way, and both are capable of taking over a game.