By Tom Bragg, For Lootpress.com
QUINCY, W.Va. – Riverside raced out to a 19-0 lead in the first quarter last week against visiting South Charleston, but the Black Eagles rallied before the break to make it a 32-20 game at halftime.
It was at that point that Warriors freshman Malakhi Hope took matters into his own hands.
Hope, who scored on a seven-yard run in the first quarter, added touchdown runs of 88, 72 and 22 yards in the third quarter to help Riverside to a 56-20 victory – the team’s first win of the season that also snapped a seven-game losing streak dating back to last season.
The talented ninth grader finished last week’s win with 12 carries for 271 rushing yards to go with his four touchdowns. For his efforts, Hope has been named the Lootpress Kanahwa Valley Player of the Week.
The award is sponsored by The Law Offices of Brandon S. Steele.
“In the second half, we went back to what we know we can do,” Riverside head coach Heath Huffman said. “That’s where [Hope] comes into play.
“He’s got speed and vision. We clocked him at a 4.4 40 [yard dash]. I know that’s the coaches timing it, so I don’t know what he’s at exactly, but he’s fast. He can see the field – I’ve only had a couple of kids with his talent, that’s for sure.”
Hope has been one of the best freshmen in the state so far in 2024, averaging 150.8 yards per game – totaling 89 carries through five games for 754 yards and seven rushing touchdowns.
“He’s only 14,” Huffman said. “Our offensive line, we’re OK but we’re not dominating up front. This kid is doing some amazing things.”
Herbert Hoover senior Talon Harrison, who returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown last week against Sissonville and added another on the ground in the Huskies’ rout of rival Sissonville, won the Community Choice fan vote with more than 18,000 of the 36,376 votes cast. Harrison advances to the Community Choice poll at the end of the regular season, with the winner of that poll awarded a $500 scholarship by the Lootpress Foundation.
Player of the Week winners
Week 1: Dane Hatfield, Herbert Hoover
Week 2: Noah Vellaithambi, Hurricane
Week 3: David Robinson, Capital
Week 4: Sai’Vyon Brown, George Washington
Week 5: Malakhi Hope, Riverside
Community Choice
Week 1: Kam McBride, Poca
Week 2: Blake Fisher, Herbert Hoover
Week 3: Spencer Jones, Poca
Week 4: Peyton Grigsby, Capital
Week 5: Talon Harrison, Herbert Hoover
