The penultimate week of the prep football season has arrived. The stakes are high with playoff implications all around.
Beckley (5-3) at Oak Hill (7-1)
A year ago Oak Hill came to Beckley and escaped with a 21-19 victory that propelled the Red Devils into the playoffs and ultimately knocked the Flying Eagles out of them.
Beckley doesn’t have to worry about that this year with all Class AAAA teams guaranteed a spot in the playoffs. Oak Hill is in a different spot. Despite suffering just one loss, the Red Devils sit at No. 7 in the Class AAA ratings, on the cusp of securing a home playoff game. A win over a Class AAAA foe would help that cause and more importanttly solidify a playoff berth.
There’s an added layer as well.
This game marks the first time Oak Hill QB Devin Richardson will face his former team. Richardson, who started at QB for Beckley last year, transferred to Oak Hill after passing for 996 yards with 12 touchdowns. He comes into Friday’s matchup with 1,170 yards passing and seven touchdowns but he’s taken off as a runner.
After finishing with just 54 yards on 37 carries a year ago, he’s currently leading the Red Devils in rushing (83-562-9), making him a true dual-threat QB.
Beckley made a change at QB in the second half of a loss to Spring Valley last week in an effort to generate a spark, though it remains to be seen if that change will be permanent. Regardless, the Flying Eagle offensive attack moves predominantly on the ground and does so effectively. They average 229.9 yards rushing per game, at 5.5 yards per carry clip.
Bryce Ford leads that assault with 669 yards and four touchdowns on the season. He’s one of three Beckley rushers with over four or more rushing scores on the season, joined by M.J. Staples and Konnor Ray. They’ll challenge an Oak Hill defense that comes in allowing just 14.1 points per game.
Richardson highlights most of the offensive output for the Red Devils but he has a pair of receivers in Armonyi Hicks and Carson Treadway that have over 300 yards each. They’ll be tasked will solving a Beckley secondary that doesn’t give much up in the vertical passing attack. Spring Valley receiver Jalyn Abercrombie had over 200 yards receiving against the Flying Eagles last week but the bulk of that came in the short game after the catch.
When tested vertically the Flying Eagles have been efficient with A.J. Thomas leading the back end. He has six interceptions on the season, leading the team.
Westside (6-2) at Shady Spring (6-2)
Westside comes into this matchup after a blowout loss at Tug Valley last week. Shady Spring is riding a three-game win streak after toppling Nicholas County 27-21 on the road. This game impacts the playoff hopes of both teams. While are comfortably in the playoff field, a skid to end the season could easily change that outlook.
Westside concludes with Shady and Mount View while Shady has Westside and Class AA power Wheeling Central.
Westside still has an outside chance at hosting a playoff game and needs to cash in on the triple-A points presented by Shady Spring. Shady sits at No. 12 in the playoff ratings but just outside the field are teams like Winfield and Keyser, eager to capitalize on any missteps in the final two weeks of the season.
This matchup presents numerous challenges on both sides.
Westside prefers taking to the air and has capitalized with big plays, averaging 13.3 yards per completion. Quarterback Kadien Vance the engineer with 1,604 yards passing and 22 touchdowns to just two interceptions. He’s efficient as well, completing 67 percent of his passes. He’s a threat as a runner on top of his arm talent, leading the Renegades with 659 yards (82.4 per game) rushing and 12 touchdowns.
His stable of receivers are reliable and explosive. Kyler Kenneda is third in the area in receiving yards (744) and first in receiving touchdowns (11). Coltin Lester doesn’t have as many yards (379) but leads the team in receptions (44) as a chain-mover. They’ll be tasked with solving a Shady secondary that’s hawked the ball repeatedly. Jalon Bailey and Nathan Easley lead that unit, presenting a challenge for Westside’s explosive passing offense.
Shady has maintained a fairly balanced offense led by QB Cal Culicerto. Culicerto has 880 yards passing and 10 touchdowns on the season, despite missing two games. His go-to receiver has been Easley, the team leader with 366 yards on 21 receptions. Evan Romage paces the rushing attack with 657 yards and seven scores.
The Tigers are a team built on playing complementary football from the defense generating takeaways to the offense balancing itself in the run and pass games. For the Tigers to continue their playoff charge they’ll need to utilize that formula once again.
Greenbrier West (5-4) at Midland Trail (3-5)
At 3-5 and five spots out of the playoffs, Midland Trail is unlikely to make up enough ground in double-A to make the postseason. Greenbrier West is right on the bubble, coming into its final game of the regular season rated No. 16 in single-A.
The playoffs started for West last week and the Cavs responded with a blowout victory over Sherman. They’ll try to replicate that success Friday in Hico. A win against a double-A team should provide enough points for the Cavaliers to secure a playoff berth even if they’ll have to spend the final week sweating it out.
West has had to rely on the next man all year long with injuries ravaging its best players. Brandon Poticher responded with a 200-yard rushing performance last week, easing some of the load carried by QB Evan Vandall. Vandall is the area’s fifth leading rusher with 733 yards and 14 touchdowns from the QB position.
Princeton (8-0) at Greenbrier East (3-5)
Princeton enters this one just two wins away from a perfect regular season and home-field advantage through the playoffs. East enters in desperate need of win if it wants to make the postseason. The two teams played twice last year with Princeton taking both contests.
The Tigers have a prolific offense led by QB Chance Barker (22 passing touchdowns), Brad Mossor (784 receiving yards), Marquel Lowe (928 yards from scrimmage) and Daniel Jennings (629 rushing yards).
East’s offense has been well-rounded led by QB Brody Hamric (14 passing touchdowns), receiver Nate Suttle (568 yards) and running back Brady May (624 yards). The trouble for East will be keeping Hamric clean against a pass rush that’s starved for a sack, having failed to secure one a week ago.
Week 10 scheduleÂ
Friday, Nov. 1
Beckley at Oak Hill
Bluefield at Giles, Va.
Greenbrier West at Midland Trail
Liberty at Summers County
Meadow Bridge at Buffalo
Montcalm at Richwood
Nicholas County at Ripley
PikeView at Poca
Princeton at Greenbrier East
Westside at Shady Spring
Wyoming East at Van
River View at Eastside, Va.
Open: Independence, James Monroe, Mount View
