Barring Preston on the bye, local Class AAA teams had another rough week, each picking up losses.
It wasn’t all bad, though, considering University (2-4) snapped back to put up a fight against Albert Gallatin, Pa. The 13-12 loss knocked the Hawks down from No. 14 to No. 16, and the young team next takes on Mountain Ridge (Md.) on Friday in Frostbur. The Miners (2-3) have played just one other West Virginia Class AAA school, Hampshire, shutting out the Trojans 36-0.
Additionally, the Miners are 1-2 at home and have allowed 99 points on their turf. The Hawks are slightly outmatched, averaging 15.8 points per game on offense and 29.5 points allowed on defense while Mountain Ridge, in total, has averaged 20 points per game and allowed 29.6 points. It will come down to which offense is clicking better.
Morgantown (1-5) is coming off a 35-0 road defeat to Musselman – an uncharacteristic loss for the seven-year series that has always been close. The Mohigans drop one spot to No. 23 heading into a Thursday night game against No. 6 Wheeling Park (4-1) who is rested coming off a bye.
Wheeling Park’s offense is mighty, averaging 41.6 points per game, compared to a
Preston – locked with the Mohigans and Brooke High for the No. 22 spot last week – moves up one spot following losses by both teams. The Knights (1-4) are slated to take on Class AA powerhouse Bridgeport (5-1) Friday. The Indians are ranked fourth in their class and have outscored opponents 173-81. A win at home would snap the Indians’ 1-1 home record.
Class A
Clay-Battelle – the only area team to win last week – jumps four spots to No. 16 after coming from behind to defeat Calhoun County 21-14. The Cee-Bees (3-2) next face Paden City (2-4) on the road.
The Wildcats are 1-0 at home but are coming off a 19-6 loss to No. 21 Cameron on Friday. The Wildcats have the home-field advantage plus an offense that averages 24.5 points per game, one that has logged two 50-point games. C-B’s defense averages 22.2 points allowed per game, while Paden City averages 31.6 points allowed.
After three weeks without playing, Trinity Christian had the rust knocked off by Madonna in a 32-6 loss. Falling four spots to No. 26, the Warriors (2-2) prepare for what should be an easy home game against the winless Bridgeport (Ohio) Bulldogs. That being said, the Bulldogs almost defeated Madonna in Week 1, losing by just three points. Bridgeport’s defense has allowed 248 points (41.3 per game) while only mustering 106 (17.6 per game). The freshman trifecta of Davon Eldridge, Drew Boczek and Levi Teets could have a big week after clicking in the second half of Friday’s game.
Class AAA Top 10
No. 1 Cabell Midland (6-0) | Last week’s rank: 1
Cabell Midland remains in the top spot after defeating Riverside 45-8. The group now has 72 points and 13 bonus points.
No. 2 Martinsburg (6-0) | Last week’s rank: 2
Martinsburg continues its record-setting win streak with a 62-0 trouncing of Eastern Panhandle foe Washington.
No. 2 Parkersburg South (6-0) | Last week’s rank: 3
The Patriots are vying for a top spot with Martinsburg and Cabell Midland – all undefeated teams. South and Martinsburg are both tied with 69 points and 11 bonus points.
No. 4 Musselman (5-1) | Last week’s rank: 4
Musselman remains in the No. 4 spot with a 35-0 home win over Morgantown.
No. 5 Spring Valley (5-1) | Last week’s rank: 7
Spring Valley jumps two spots with a 41-0 blowout win over Capital. The group now has 57 points and eight bonus points.
No. 6 Wheeling Park (4-1) | Last week’s rank: 5
The Patriots’ bye allows Spring Valley to edge into the No. 5 spot. Park next plays Morgantown on Thursday night after a close win in Week 5.
No. 7 Huntington (3-2) | Last week’s rank: 6
Huntington falls one spot after losing to Parkersburg South 30-21.
No. 8 Riverside (3-2) | Last week’s rank: 7
Riverside’s loss to Cabell Midland pushes the Warriors back one spot. Although 3-2, the Warriors are one bonus point behind Huntington in the rankings.
No. 9 Spring Mills (3-2) | Last week’s rank: 10
A bye week for the Cardinals and losses around the class push them up one spot. One bonus point behind Riverside, the Cardinals return to action on Friday against Martinsburg.
No. 10 Parkersburg (3-2) | Last week’s rank: 11
Also on a bye, the Big Reds move up one spot with class losses. Parkersburg is three points behind Spring Mills and Riverside, and have five bonus points. The group returns to action this week against No. 12 George Washington (3-3).
Class A Top 10
No. 1 Doddridge (5-0) | Last week’s rank: 2
The Bulldogs take the top spot with a 35-0 win over Wirt County. Although Pendleton County won as well, Doddridge has 43 total points (30 points, 13 bonus).
No. 2 Pendleton County (5-0) | Last week’s rank: 1
Pendleton dropped one spot although beating Tucker County 41-14. Pendleton has one less point than Doddridge overall with 36 points and six bonus points.
No. 3 Midland Trail (5-1) | Last week’s rank: 3
Midland Trail remains in the No. 3 spot with 48-36 win over Class AA’s Westside. The win gives Midland Trail nine points, bringing its total to 39 with 10 bonus points.
No. 4 Tygarts Valley (5-0) | Last week’s rank: 5
Tygart’s Valley barely escaped the upset by Richwood with a 35-33 win. It moves them up to take over the No. 4 spot from Wheeling Central who lost to Fort Frye (Ohio).
No. 5 Williamstown (5-1) | Last week’s rank: 7
Along with Wheeling Central and Tolsia’s losses, the Yellow Jackets defeated conference opponent St. Marys 35-0 to move up two spots.
No. 6 Ritchie County (4-1) | Last week’s rank: 7
The Rebels snapped back from a loss to rival Doddridge County to defeat Ravenswood 41-13 and move up one spot.
No. 7 Greenbrier West (4-1) | Last week’s rank: 10
Greenbrier West jumped three spots with a monster 43-6 win over Meadow Bridge. The group is two bonus points behind Ritchie heading into a Friday night contest with Pocahontas County.
No. 8 Wheeling Central (4-2) | Last week’s rank: 4
The blowout loss to Ohio’s Fort Frye knocked the Maroon Knights down four spots, but they have a chance to recuperate with a bye this week. They return to action in Week 8 against Martins Ferry (3-3), another Ohio team.
No. 9 Madonna (5-1) | Last week’s rank: 11
Thanks to a 386-yard air raid in Friday’s 32-6 road win over Trinity, Madonna jumps into the top 10. The Blue Dons were one point shy of tying for the No. 8 spot.
No. 9 Tolsia (4-2) | Last week’s rank: 6
A 43-6 loss to Kentucky’s East Carter knocked the Rebels down three spots to tie for the No. 9 spot with 38 total points. Tolsia now has a bye week to figure out how to tackle No. 18 Buffalo (3-2) in Week 8. Both Tolsia and Madonna have 33 points and five bonus points.
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