Week 9 of the prep football season is here. As the playoff picture molds into its final shape, several area teams, including a pair of double-A playoff hopefuls, have the opportunity to climb into the upper echelon of the class.
Montcalm (4-3) at Meadow Bridge (5-2)
Both Montcalm and Meadow Bridge are hovering on the playoff bubble. Meadow Bridge is currently in at No. 15 while Montcalm is at No. 19, on the outside looking in. Meadow Bridge still has an outside chance to make the playoffs if it loses but a loss would be catastrophic for Montcalm’s playoff hopes.
The Generals have missed out on the playoffs the last two years despite a pair of 8-2 finishes and a 14-12 loss at home to Meadow Bridge last year played a large role in keeping them out.
Friday’s matchup between the two teams that are the antithesis of one another.
Meadow Bridge has attempted just 21 passes on the season, relying on its ground and pound attack that’s led by Kaiden Sims. Sims leads the area in the rushing categories of yards (1,396) and yards per game (232.7) and is second in touchdowns (17). He pounded Montcalm last year, rushing for 220 yards and two touchdowns on 33 carries
The Generals prefer an aerial approach.
Montcalm quarterback Jaylen Younger leads the area in passing yards (1,567) and yards per game (223.9) and is second in passing touchdowns (16) and completions (101). His favorite receiver has been Tristan Cline, the area leader in yards (746) and receptions (49). The Generals aren’t all finesse though. They feature a pair of 300-yard backs in Jeremy Shrewsbury (305) and Tyler Stephenson (354) with both averaging over 40 yards per game.
Meadow Bridge slowed that passing attack last year, holding Younger to 109 yards passing.
Oak Hill (6-1) at Bluefield (3-3)
Oak Hill hits the road again after escaping with an overtime victory against winless Buckhannon-Upshur last week.
Seven games into the season the formula is clear for the Red Devils – play stout defense and piece together just enough offense to squeak by. Oak Hill has yet to score 30 points in a game and the only other area teams to share that company are winless Class A Richwood and one-win Class AA PikeView.
The offense has mostly relied on QB Devin Richardson to make plays to move the ball. He’s rushed for 484 yards and eight touchdowns, adding 906 yards and five more scores through the air. Running back J.D. Mauritz is the only other player on the team with more than 300 yards rushing or receiving.
The Red Devil offense will attempt to find a new gear Friday when it travels to Class AA Bluefield, aiming to keep its hold on a home playoff game. Bluefield has endured its own offensive struggles against a challenging schedule that has featured five games against schools in Class AAA or AAAA, a step above Class AA where the Beavers currently reside.
For the most part the run game has been fruitless for Bluefield with just one player (Willis Wilson) over 250 yards on the season. That trend carried early into the Beavers’ win over Grayson County last week before they fully embraced the passing attack and for good reason. Freshman QB Max Simpson has thrown for 731 yards over six games, a more impressive feat when considering he attempted just seven passes and threw for five yards across his first two starts. Over his last four games where he’s been trusted to execute the offense and air the ball out, he’s thrown for 181.5 yards per game. And that may have to be where Bluefield finds its offensive production moving forward.
The trouble for Simpson is Oak Hill head coach Davon Marion has already faced one freshman QB this season and forced that offense into three turnovers in a 21-20 victory.
A win is mandatory for Oak Hill to retain a home playoff game with Class AAAA clashes against Beckley and University on the horizon. Bluefield’s schedule has benefited it to the point it’s in position to host a playoff despite a 3-3 start. A win would vault the Beavers further up into the ratings, possibly as high as four and even higher if they can win out.
Princeton (7-0) at Independence (5-2)
Princeton survived its biggest test of the season last week when it squeaked out a 14-7 win over Class AAAA Beckley. Independence enjoyed its most productive game on offense that same night, thrashing Mingo Central 52-28 in a career outing for Sylas Nelson (319 scrimmage yards, 5 TDs) and Brock Green (281 yards passing).
The performances put Nelson over 1,000 yards on the season and made him the area leader in rushing touchdowns with 18 while Green notched the first 1,000-yard passing season of his young career.
For that stellar duo, success may be harder to come by this week.
Princeton has allowed more than 20 points just twice and those were in games they led 31-7 (Oak Hill) and 48-14 (Winfield). When lining up on offense the Patriots will have to contend with a Princeton defensive line led by star edge rushers Kalum Kiser and Daniel Jennings who have nine sacks each. That doesn’t bode well for an Independence offensive line that’s banged up and starts multiple freshmen along the front.
When the Princeton offense takes the field the matchups aren’t favorable for the host Patriots there either. After serving one-game suspensions last week, Marquel Lowe and Brad Mossor, the team’s leading rusher and receiver, respectively, will suit up aiming to make up for lost time.
Lowe has rushed for 609 yards on just 55 carries, averaging just over 100 yards per game. Mossor has 715 yards receiving and nine touchdowns on 36 catches, leading the area in receiving yards per game (119). Jennings isn’t bad either, proving as much with 250 yards (203 rushing, 47 receiving) and two touchdowns against Beckley last week.
It’s all tied together by a stout offensive line and standout first team all-state QB in Chance Barker. Barker has thrown for 1,521 yards with an area-high 21 touchdown passes.
The challenge for Independence’s defense will be getting to Barker and disrupting the offense. Landon Riddle, Myles Greenway, Alex Blankenship and Isiah Conley all have games with multiple sacks and Kaden Bradbury has one with multiple interceptions, meaning the talent to do so is there.
Independence’s approach on offense could be the most intriguing part of this matchup. If Indy QB Brock Green has a notable flaw it’s that his feet seemingly disconnect from the rest of his body in the traditional drop back game, but he’s able to mitigate that with his howitzer of an arm. It still comes at the cost of fluidity in the pocket and the ability to subtly navigate it as the rush arrives. The Patriots have utilized sprint outs to move the pocket and protect the line in recent weeks. That may be the way to go again in passing situations.
Shady Spring (5-2) at Nicholas County (5-2)
One of the most competitive rivalries in the area, Shady Spring beat Nicholas 28-27 in the final minute a year ago. The two teams now reside in different classes but the stakes remain high.
Nicholas County is rolling in off a 20-point victory over Class AAA Greenbrier East, a signature win that improved the Grizzles’ standing in the Class AA playoff race. Shady is staying afloat in Class AAA, but sits on the right side of the bubble at No. 15 for the time being. That puts extra emphasis on every game for the Tigers moving forward.
Fortunately they’re led by an opportunistic defense that excels at taking the ball away, led primarily by defensive backs Jalon Bailey and Nathan Easley. On offense they’re varied, distributing the ball well in the passing and running game.
Cal Culicerto has led the charge with 752 yards passing and nine touchdowns in five games.
Easley and Bailey have been efficient at hauling the ball in on offense as well with over 200 yards each.
Nicholas County figured to be a more pass-heavy team but turnovers and the emergence of Devin Nash have led to a solid ground assault for the Grizzlies. Nash leads Nicholas with 812 yards rushing, the third most in the area. Quarterback Coleton Hellems has struggled with a 44 percent completion percentage but is coming off his best outing of the season where he completed 6-of-7 passes for over 100 yards and a touchdown against East.
Spring Valley (4-3) at Beckley (5-2)
Following Beckley’s loss to Princeton, the Flying Eagles are now 1-8 after three consecutive 5-1 starts. A perfect way to buck that trend would be to nab a home victory over a talented Spring Valley team with a lethal passing attack.
Quarterback Liam McQuire leads the Timberwolves with 16 touchdown passes and 1,448 yards through the air. He also has eight interceptions which bodes well for a Beckley secondary that’s nabbed eight passes on the season, led by A.J. Thomas’ five interceptions.
His top target is Moss Award candidate Jaylen Abercrombie, a standout athlete with 31 catches, 567 yards and seven receiving touchdowns on the season.
McGuire is a threat to run the ball with 428 yards rushing but most of those duties are handled by running back Miguel Cain who has 771 yards and nine touchdowns on the season.
The high-powered offense averages 40.5 points per game which is where the Beckley defense comes in.
The Flying Eagles have allowed more than 14 points just once this year, in part because of their defense but also because of the style of offense they play. Their ball-control running attack leads to drives of 10-plus plays, burning clock and shortening the game. Bryce Ford (590 yards) and Konnor Ray (378 yards) lead that ground attack but six different players have over 100 yards rushing on the season.
One note for Beckley’s defense, this will be its first game without standout linebacker Landon Jones who suffered a lower leg injury against Princeton last week.
Week 9 Schedule
Friday, Oct. 25
Greenbrier East at Summers County
James Monroe at Petersburg
Midland Trail at Liberty
Montcalm at Meadow Bridge
Oak Hill at Bluefield
Phelps, KY at Mount View
Princeton at Independence
Richwood at Buffalo
River View at Twin Valley, Va.
Shady Spring at Nicholas County
Sherman at Greenbrier West
Spring Valley at Beckley
Westside at Tug Valley
Wyoming East at PikeView
