Imagine it’s a Sunday evening in late October.
You sit down for a pivotal Sunday Night Football matchup between the Packers and 49ers, Bills and Chiefs or Eagles and Cowboys.
The payoffs don’t start for another two months at best but the matchup serves as a litmus test between title hopefuls and conference contenders.
That’s what this Friday night feels like with key area showdowns between in-class opponents likely to shape the perception of several teams moving forward.
Independence (1-1) at Nicholas County (1-1)
A pair of Class AA teams hoping to make deep playoff runs, both Independence and Nicholas County opened their seasons with tough losses to Class AAA foes (Oak Hill and Herbert Hoover) that are currently 2-0. Both teams also picked up road wins in Week 2 with Indy blanking Class AAA Brooke and Nicholas toppling Chapmanville.
Independence has won the last four games in the series, coinciding with its rise to title contention and statewide relevancy. Nicholas County hasn’t missed the playoffs in back to back years since 2006 and after missing the postseason last year, an early win over an Independence team that’s expected to contend would help keep that rebound streak alive.
Independence, playing its third straight road game to open the season, features an emerging set of triplets in QB Brock Green, WR Christian Linksweiler and RB Sylas Nelson. Nelson is fifth in the area in rushing yards (230), Green is sixth in passing yards (242) and Linskweiler is fifth in receiving yards (137).
Leading the way for Nicholas County is running back Devin Nash who has 252 yards from scrimmage and two scores this season.
QB Coleton Hellems rebounded from a two-interception performance in Week 1 to complete 5 of 8 passes for a pair of scores in the win at Chapmanville.
Expect this one to heavily impact the playoff picture down the road.
Princeton (2-0) at Oak Hill (2-0)
For the second time in as many seasons, Princeton and Oak Hill will clash with identical 2-0 records. Princeton won last year’s regular season matchup 42-28 in what was a competitive back-and-forth contest. The playoff contest? Not so much.
Princeton rolled the Red Devils 37-7 when the two teams matched up in the first round of the playoffs last year but the story of the season was the growth of the program under first-year head coach Davon Marion. The playoff berth was the first for the program in Class AAA since 2013 and only the second since that point.
Princeton, the state runner-up that feels disrespected in early Class AAA polls, is on the war path, aiming to make a statement each week. Last week’s victim was Bluefield, a team that had never allowed 63 points to an in-state opponent until the Tigers rolled in and scored at will in a 63-7 victory.
Both teams lost several star players from last year’s squads but reloaded in the offseason. Oak Hill acquired former Beckley QB Devin Richardson while Princeton picked up Penn State commit in edge Daniel Jennings, both of whom should play a pivotal role in Friday’s matchup.
Richardson is second in the area with 373 yards passing, trailing behind Princeton’s Chance Barker who has 491 and six passing touchdowns. Richardson’s also deadly with his legs as he has 142 yards rushing with three scores on the ground but he’ll need to navigate a pass rush that features Jennings and all-stater Kalum Kiser.
Marion is no slouch either on the sideline. His defensive game plan held Kennedy Award winner Dom Collins to under 100 yards in both contests including a season low 36 yards when the teams played in Week 3 last year. That created opportunities for running back Marquel Lowe who compiled 222 yards from scrimmage in that contest. Marion will be forced to pick and choose again as Princeton’s triplets of Barker, Lowe and Brad Mossor have kept the ceiling as high as it was a year ago.
Parkersburg South (1-1) at Beckley (2-0)
Since Beckley and Parkersburg South resumed this series in 2020, it’s been one-sided with South boasting a 4-0 record and 35.7 point average margin of victory.
If Beckley truly feels like it can make noise this season it starts with this game.
South comes in a 1-1 with its loss coming against Wheeling Park in Week 1.
The Beckley defense has been stout with A.J. Thomas’ three interceptions leading the way early. That defense will be tested against a South team that has a pair of receivers with over 100 yards on the season. Devon Forshey (152 yards) and Taj Joyce (209 yards) lead the receiving core while QB Collin Hayes has 121 yards rushing and 411 passing as a dual-threat player. Eli Bartley rounds out the offensive attack with 207 yard and six rushing touchdowns on the season.
Beckley’s offensive attack is mostly one-dimensional in preference but multi-faceted in personnel. Two weeks into the season the Flying Eagles have six players with over 40 yards rushing, led by Konnor Ray (183) and Bryce Ford (132).
This game has been the one loss in Beckley’s 5-1 starts over the last two season. The schedule only features one more Class AAAA team after the late reclassifications from August, making it that much more meaningful for the Flying Eagles in their pursuit of a home playoff game.
Full Week 3 ScheduleÂ
Independence at Nicholas County
Liberty at Mingo Central
Meadow Bridge at Wyoming East
Midland Trail at Braxton County
Parkersburg South at Beckley
PikeView at James Monroe
Princeton at Oak Hill
Richwood at Bath County, Va.
Shady Spring at Summers County
Tolsia at Mount View
Westside at Man
Open: Greenbrier West, Montcalm
