Prep Football: Hurricane and GW clash highlights Week 10 slate

By Tom Bragg, For Lootpress.com

Both Hurricane and George Washington’s places in the Class AAAA state playoffs are secure, but when the two old Mountain State Athletic Conference rivals meet on Friday in Putnam County there will still be plenty on the line.

Bragging rights and the title of the Kanawha Valley’s top big school go to the winner, but more importantly it puts that team one step closer to securing at least one home game in the postseason.

Hurricane (6-2) comes into the clash winners of four consecutive games, averaging almost 55 points per game during that stretch. GW (7-1) features one of the Kanawha Valley’s top defensive units, however, and would love nothing more than to drag this game into the gutter and keep the scores low – like last season when the Patriots beat the Redskins 17-14 in South Hills.

“They’re very good on defense,” Hurricane head coach Donnie Mays said of GW. “They haven’t given up very many points at all, and they’ve been really sound in that department. They have some of the better linebackers in the conference playing at GW with Hunter Giacomo and Guner Flores. Those two guys are pretty good and we’re going to have to make sure that those guys are getting blocked.”

Hurricane senior quarterback Noah Vellaithambi is having a season worthy of Kennedy Award consideration for the Redskins, completing 66 percent of his passes (114 of 172) for 2,009 yards to go with 29 touchdowns and just five interceptions while also rushing for 789 yards on 80 carries with 13 rushing touchdowns.

“[Our offense vs. GW’s defense] is the most interesting matchup of the night,” Mays said. “They’ve done a good job of keeping people out of the end zone and we’ve done a pretty good job of getting there. We’re going to have to see what they’re giving up and take advantage of it. I know they’re going to make us work for it.”

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Herbert Hoover (8-0) at Hedgesville (2-5)

Herbert Hoover, No. 4 in Class AAA again this week, takes its high-scoring show on the road this week with a 273 mile trip to the Eastern Panhandle to take on Hedgesville.

The Huskies have scored at least 40 points in each of their last five games, topping 60 once and touching 56 in each of the last two weeks against postseason hopefuls Ripley and Elkins.

Hedgesville’s offense has struggled this season, failing to score more than 13 points in a game in each of the last six ballgames – all of them losses for the Eagles.

“They’ve faced some great competition,” Hoover head coach Joey Fields said. “They’ve faced the Martinsburgs of the world. The Morgantowns. They go play Spring Mills after us, so they see the best our state has to offer. But they’re at home.

“It’s about a mentality thing. It’s about fighting against the record of someone that you see and going out there and playing your best. At this time of the year, your best is required. You’re either getting better or you’re getting worse, and if you’re getting worse somebody is going to pass you up. You don’t want that happening come November.”

Scott (6-2) at Winfield (4-4)

The Generals dropped out of the playoff positions in Class AAA following last week’s loss to Nitro, but can likely bounce back into the top 16 next week with a win Friday against the visiting Skyhawks.

Easier said than done, however, as Class AA No. 9 Scott has not lost since Sept. 20 and rolled through the last month of the season with wins against Chapmanville, Mingo Central, Logan, Poca and Man.

Wirt County (7-2) at Sherman (6-2)

The Class A No. 11 Tide looks to bounce back and get itself back in position for a home game in the playoffs following a lopsided 47-12 loss last week at Greenbrier West – the third game for Sherman in a week after making up a weather-delayed contest against Mount View last Monday following an Oct. 18 win against rival Van.

The Tide could have its hands full again this week, however, as Class A No. 10 Wirt County makes the trip to Boone County riding a four-game win streak. The Tigers have been among Class A’s best offensive teams this season, ranking second in the state at 424 points scored – trailing only Wahama’s 506 points scored among teams in West Virginia’s smallest classification.

Last week in a 63-20 win against Gilmer County, the Tigers were led by a balanced attack featuring junior quarterback Tyler Smith throwing for 232 yards and three touchdowns, while senior Brody Ewing ran the ball 18 times for 181 yards and five touchdowns. Senior receiver Porter Goodwin was Smith’s favorite target against the Titans, catching five passes for 145 yards and two touchdowns.

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Where each Kanawha, Putnam and Boone football team sits in this week’s batch of WVSSAC Playoff Ratings, with the top 16 in each class qualifying for the postseason:

Class AAAA: Hurricane (No. 7), George Washington (No. 8)

Class AAA: Herbert Hoover (No. 4), Nitro (No. 5), Winfield (No. 18), Capital (No. 23), St. Albans (No. 27), Riverside (No. 29), South Charleston (No. 31)

Class AA: Scott (No. 9), Poca (No. 17), Buffalo (No. 23), Sissonville (No. 28)

Class A: Sherman (No. 11), Van (No. 30)

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Other Kanawha, Putnam and Boone games on the Week 10 schedule