BUNKER HILL, W.Va. — Although ranked fourth in the state in Class AAA and coming off a huge 48-28 win over Virginia’s defending state champion Woodgrove, Musselman (4-1) coach Brian Thomas knows that his team can’t underestimate Morgantown (1-4).
“We’re excited,” Thomas said. “Us and Morgantown is always a good game. I’ve been the head coach for seven years now and (it’s been) the biggest rivalry we have in terms of the score. We’ve had some great physical games against them, and I have a lot of respect for Lacy. (He’s) going to have his squad ready to play. There’s no (slowing down) for us just because we came off a big win last week; we can’t come out unprepared because they’ll easily beat us.”
And although he didn’t delve too deep into his game plan to take on the Mohigans, one wonders if he’ll play his ground-and-pound scheme that eviscerated the Wolverines again this week. That play calling highlighted star running back Blake Hartman, who had 291 yards on 18 carries and four rushing touchdowns. He also had a 94-yard kick return score.
“I think anytime you have a player like (Blake), you want to get the ball in his hands as much as possible,” Thomas said. “Jacob Miller, we try to get the ball to him as well, as well as some other skill kids that can do special things. As a coach it’s tough because (Blake) is a kid you want to get the ball to as much as possible, but we also want to give other kids opportunities.”
After the Woodgrove game, Thomas told the Journal’s David Statman that he thinks Hartman is “the best football player in the state of West Virginia,” and although he had a similar tone this week, he noted that he didn’t want to downgrade any other players.
But skill is skill, and you have to call it as you see it: Hartman is a monster on the grid and is a defense’s worst nightmare. His versatility in any spot — namely halfback and receiver — has helped the Applemen in numerous situations.
“I don’t want to backtrack on what I said, (but) he’s the most versatile state. He can do so much,” Thomas said. “As far as the things he can do … He’s a good receiver and plays quarterback in some sets. Defensively he’s played cornerback, free safety, strong safety and linebacker.
“I know for sure I’ve never coached a player that can do so many things as well as Blake can. He’s elite in everything he can do.”
Hartman alone is something Morgantown prepared for after the Mohigans gave up 248 yards on the ground last Friday against Linsly. Lacy has been placing a player in a number 6 jersey all week to work on spotting Hartman come Friday due to Musselman’s utilization of the junior in multiple positions.
“It comes down to our linemen, because they throw a bunch of formations at you,” Lacy said. “The Hartman kid — it seems like we’ve been playing him forever — is one of the best players in the state. We have to find him since they move him around and try to get you misaligned, but you can’t (completely) replicate someone of his caliber. Linsly exposed (our misalignments) and this football team will, too, and make us look silly.”
“No matter what formation they’re in, we need to find (number) 6,” defensive coordinator Matt Kelly said. “At the end of the day, they want to get him the ball. Every adjustment we made keeps him in mind. Their line up front is big, about 250 across, and their center Ethan Northcraft will get out and pull, so we need to play their line.
“We’ve done self-scouting to figure out what we’ve done wrong defensively. Out of 20 or 21 quarters, including overtime, we’ve shut teams out in eight of them. The quarters we have teams scoring all over us comes down to us not communicating. It’s either someone isn’t lined up right or they aren’t doing their job. We’ve been harping that this week.”
Countering Hartman
Lacy has two playmakers of his own who should aggravate Musselman: Gunner Lattimore and Preston Fox. Lattimore, who’s played just four games, is 21 for 30 for 352 yards and has two touchdowns. Fox has 20 receptions for 337 yards and two scores and averages nearly 17 yards per catch and 68 yards per game.
“We need to find ways to get Preston Fox the football (since he’s) one of our playmakers,” Lacy said. “We’ve expanded the pass game with Gunner in there since he’s (been) more comfortable.”
And as for that 6-year rivalry that has Morgantown and Musselman in a 3-3 deadlock?
“Brian (and I have) developed a friendship over the years,” Lacy said. “We’ve had some great games recently, and I think the visiting team has won most of the games which is surprising after that 3-hour bus ride. (As far as the physicality) he’s right. It’s been that way for about seven years, so, yeah, it’s become a great rivalry. He’s doing great things with that program.”
Other area games:
No. 15 University at Albert Gallatin (Pa.), 7 p.m.
UNIONTOWN, Pa. — After an “uncharacteristic” blowout loss at home against Fairmont Senior, coach John Kelley had questions about his Hawks (2-3) team. What he’s not questioning, it seems, is a possible move to put freshman Chase Edwards into the No. 1 quarterback spot over Joseph McBee.
“Everyone’s questioning whether we can do anything the rest of the season,” Kelley said after last Friday’s loss. “I know one thing, if we play like that, we aren’t going to win another game. We’ll come to practice and try to get better, pump ourselves up and get some confidence to go from there.”
Tonight will be a spotlight to determine if “everyone’s” concerns are right, or if the loss to the Polar Bears was just a nose bleed. Albert Gallatin (3-1) comes into the contest off a big loss of its own, falling to Allegany (Md.) 49-28. Notably, all of the Colonials’ wins have been at home.
Calhoun County at No. 20 Clay-Battelle, 7 p.m.
BLACKSVILLE, W.Va. — Calhoun County (1-4) may be in the basement of the Class A rankings, but Clay-Battelle coach Ryan Wilson isn’t doubting the team’s prowess.
“They have played a very tough schedule, and it’s not like they’ve lost to 0-3 teams,” Wilson said. “Their quarterback is awesome, (and at) 6-foot-2, 240 pounds all he has to do is flick the ball and it can go 40 yards.”
His preparedness is understandable, and with a beat-up CeeBees (2-2) team, Calhoun has a shot at pulling off the upset. The Red Devils barely beat Wirt County 8-6 in the season opener and proceeded to lose four straight to Webster, Doddridge, Tyler Consolidated and St. Marys — three of which are in the top 15.
Something C-B can hang onto going into the contest is that it can hang with the best of the class, holding No. 4 Tygarts Valley to a 7-point lead going into the fourth quarter last Friday. As long as they maintain a clean game and don’t rack up 10 penalties like they did in Mill Creek, things should work out.
No. 11 Madonna at No. 22 Trinity, 7 p.m.
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — It’s been three weeks since Trinity Christian (2-2) has played, which could either be beneficial or detrimental to the revitalized Warriors.
After suffering a 50–0 loss to Harding (Ohio) on Sept. 13, coach Marcus Law had to forfeit the team’s road game against the Maryland School of the Deaf due to lack of players.
Now, coming out of a bye in Week 5, the Warriors host No. 11 Madonna (4-1). The Blue Dons are riding a two-win streak after defeating Cameron on Friday. Additionally, the Blue Dons are 1-1 on the road, while Trinity is 2-1 at home.
TWEET @andrewspellman_
