Week 4 of the prep football season has arrived and it would make a lot more sense if it took place 200 years ago.
There are 16 games featuring local teams this week and six of them involve our former brethren from Virginia.
Lets crack into the top matchups
Scott (1-1) at Independence (2-1)
Scott took it on the chin in its Week 2 opener against Wayne, suffering a 26-6 loss.
But the Skyhawks didn’t have to wait long to prove they’re worthy of contention in Class AA. A trip across the county border is in order from the folks from Boone as Independence aims to pluck a feather from the Skyhawks to stick in its cap. And the Patriots very well may.
After a Week 1 setback at Class AAA No. 2 Herbert Hoover, the Patriots have won two in a row, knocking off Class AAA Brooke and another Class AA playoff hopeful in Nicholas County. The offense and defense have hummed in those win. The Brooke win was a 20-0 shutout effort and the Patriots defense secured six sacks and intercepted Nicholas County QB Coleton Hellems twice in last week’s 41-14 victory.
Myles Greenway leads the charge with 4.5 sacks while Kaden Bradburry has a pair of interceptions. As a team the Patriots have picked off five passes this season, returning two for scores.
The offense has been equally impressive, piling up over 500 yards last week.
Sylas Nelson leads all area players with 458 yards rushing, adding six scores. He’s complemented by QB Brock Green, who has thrown for 461 yards, and receiver Christian Linksweiler who’s fourth in the area in receiving yards with 259. Along with Dalton Adkins, the quadruplet forms an explosive offense.
Nate Easterling leads the aerial assault for the Skyhawks, surrounded by talented running back David Fennessey and speedy receiver Carson Brineger. The winner grabs statewide headlines in pursuit of a Class AA title.
Bluefield (1-2) at Beckley (2-1)
When former New England QB Tom Brady played the Baltimore Ravens, he’d write on his wristband “Find 20 each play.” No. 20 was Hall of Fame safety Ed Reed, arguably the greatest to ever play the position.
Bluefield QB Max Simpson may want to write “Find 5 every play” on his wristband Friday. No. 5 is of course Beckley safety A.J. Thomas, a ball magnet that’s picked off four passes through three games.
Both teams come in searching for important victories. Bluefield rallied from a 40-19 fourth-quaretr deficit to topple Class AAA Greenbrier East last week with Simpson’s 380 yards passing leading the way. Beckley struggled through a 35-19 home loss to Parkersburg South but found a viable passing attack with QB Gaige Price.
Price has thrown for 253 yards and two touchdowns with four interceptions but 182 of his passing yards came last week in a breakout performance. Still, don’t expect Beckley to abandon its bread and butter – the ground game. Through three weeks the Flying Eagles are averaging 237 yards rushing per game, picking 5.7 per carry. Not bad.
Bluefield’s offense had largely struggled before the freshman Simpson’s coming out party last week. He threw for 315 yards in the second half alone, connecting with Willis Wilson eight times for 191 yards and a score.
Battered, the Beavers are likely to be without key two-way starter Jeff King. It makes the task of slowing Konnor Ray (244 yards rushing) and Bryce Ford (176 yards) more difficult.
James Monroe (1-2) at Liberty (1-2)
James Monroe opened its season with a pair of losses to Class AA contender Wheeling Central and Class AAA Shady Spring. The Mavericks rebounded last week with a blowout win over PikeView and get a chance to even their record at Liberty.
Liberty’s lone win also came against PikeView, in blowout fashion as well.
Chase Shea has filled in admirably at QB for the Raiders in the absence of Jaxson Workman, throwing for 217 yards with a pair of touchdowns at a 58 percent clip. Isaac Williams leads the ground attack with 199 yards on the season.
James Monroe’s offense has struggled against a stout schedule. Collectively the Mavericks have thrown six interceptions and have just one rusher (Ben Comer) with over 100 yards on the season.
Princeton (3-0) at Pulaski, Va. (0-2)
Pulaski pushed Princeton last year, a game the Tigers took 49-40.
A run-heavy option team in the past, the Cougars give Princeton’s run defense a good early-season test. With as high-powered as the Tiger offense is, sometimes the best defense is to keep them on the sidelines. And for good reason.
Princeton QB Chance Barker leads the area in passing yards (715) and touchdowns (8) while his top target (Brad Mossor) is second in catches (21), receiving yards (339) and receiving touchdowns (4).
Running back Marquel Lowe is fifth in the area in rushing with 336, adding seven rushing scores. Princeton’s upcoming slate features a strong array of running teams, much like they’ll likely see in a playoff run.
Week 4 ScheduleÂ
Bath County, Va. at Meadow Bridge
Bland County, Va. at Mount View
Bluefield at Beckley
Craig County, Va. at Montcalm
Greenbrier East at Alleghany, Va.
Greenbrier West at Pocahontas County
Hurley, Va. at River View
James Monroe at Liberty
Nicholas County at Lincoln
Oak Hill at Lincoln County
Pendleton County at Richwood
PikeView at Westside
Princeton at Pulaski, Va.
Scott at Independence
Wheeling Central at Midland Trail
Wyoming East at Summers County
