By Tom Bragg, For Lootpress.com
Herbert Hoover has been solid in rolling out to an unbeaten start to the 2024 West Virginia high school football season, but the Huskies have had the homefield advantage in three of those games.
The one trip away from Elkview was a 13-7 win in overtime at Nitro – a fantastic game but by far Hoover’s worst offensive output of the season. This week the Huskies, No. 4 in this week’s WVSSAC Class AAA state playoff ratings, hit the road again, this time to take on Chapmanville (1-4).
The Tigers have dropped four consecutive games after opening the season with a win against Sissonville, but Joey Fields said his team isn’t overlooking its opponent. Chapmanville can be a tough play to play, and Fields knows it.
“It’s a road test,” Fields said. “The last time we were down there was the year we went to the state championship game (2021). They had a playoff team and I think it was 28-28 at the half. It’s a tough place to play, especially where we’ve got to travel from, and I know they’ll be prepared. They’ve got a physical group, so we’ve got to go down there and play well to come out with the win.”
Last time out, Herbert Hoover cruised past county rival Sissonville 63-19 in a game that was 21-0 after one kickoff return and two offensive plays for the Huskies. Senior quarterback Dane Hatfield ran for 195 yards three touchdowns while Talon Harrison, Blake Fisher and Devin Silvas each scored twice in the victory.
“I don’t know if it’s a good thing or bad thing starting out 4-0. We haven’t done that in a couple of years,” Fields joked. “Our guys, we like our locker room. It’s enjoyable to come to practice. They kind of understand the message, but not because it’s coming from the coaches but because it’s spoken and shown by our leaders. We’re finding ways to win ballgames, we’re staying healthy and if you’re doing those things you can improve each week, and I think we’re doing that.”
***
Riverside got its first win of the season last week against visiting South Charleston, and the Warriors made some waves on social media in the process.
Late in the first half, Riverside lined up to attempt a 97-yard field goal. You read that correctly. The idea was the field goal kicker could kick it just as well off a tee as he can with a punt, and a field goal attempt can be downed – and returned – like a punt. Warriors’ coach Heath Huffman said they were just trying to have some fun with it.
The trouble for Riverside was South Charleston called a timeout when the Warriors lined up for the long kick initially. It gave them a chance to get set up for a return, and when Riverside eventually booted it, the Black Eagles took it back for a touchdown.
“It’s a combination of things,” Huffman said. “Our punt snapper is hurt, so we’re not having very good snaps on our punts. Our kicker can kick the ball just about as far off the tee as he can punting the ball. And we were trying to have some fun. We lined it up and it was great, but somehow they got a timeout called, and then they covered it.
“We were just trying to have some fun and do some things different.”
***
Nitro (4-1) passed its test against visiting Wayne last week with a resounding 52-6 win against the Pioneers, but another battle awaits the Wildcats this week on the road at unbeaten Ripley (4-0).
The Vikings come into Friday’s contest with wins against South Charleston (0-5), Ravenswood (0-4), Lincoln County (0-5) and Point Pleasant (1-2), so Friday’s contest with Nitro will represent a significant step up in quality of opposition. But don’t sleep on Ripley just because of a so far lackluster schedule. Vikings’ senior running back Noah Casto leads a run-heavy attack with 82 carries for 559 yards (139.8 per game) to go with 13 touchdown runs.
Elsewhere in the Kanawha Valley this week, Princeton (5-0) puts its perfect record on the line with a trip to Putnam County to take on Winfield (3-2). Two weeks ago the Generals lost at Wayne but bounced back nicely one week ago when they pounded Logan 47-6.
In Kanawha County the spotlight will be on “The Hill” for the battle between cross-town rivals George Washington (4-1) and visiting Capital (2-2).
Both teams will be looking to get back in the win column after the Cougars fell 31-19 at Stadium Field against Parkersburg while GW suffered its first defeat of the season, losing 28-18 at Spring Valley.
***
Let’s take a look at where each Kanawha, Putnam and Boone county school stands in this week’s batch of WVSSAC playoff ratings.
* Kanawha County: Class AAAA – No. 10 George Washington; Class AAA – No. 4 Herbert Hoover, No. 10 Nitro, No. 15 Capital, No. 26 Riverside, No. 30 South Charleston, No. 31 St. Albans; Class AA – No. 26 Sissonville.
* Putnam County: Class AAAA – No. 9 Hurricane; Class AAA – No. 16 Winfield; Class AA – No. 10 Poca, No. 22 Buffalo.
* Boone County: Class AA – No. 16 Scott; Class A – No. 13 Sherman, No. 33 Van.
nnn
Other Kanawha, Putnam and Boone games this week:
– PikeView (0-5) at Sissonville (0-5)
– Hurricane (3-2) at St. Albans (0-4)
– Roane County (5-0) at Poca (3-2)
– Calhoun County (0-4) at Buffalo (2-3)
– Paden City (1-3) at Van (0-5)
– Scott (2-2) at Mingo Central (2-2)
– River View (4-0) at Sherman (2-1)
– OFF – Riverside (1-4), South Charleston (0-5)
