Published: October 14, 2008 11:56 pm         

Fayette County teams to meet in marquee matchup Friday

A marquee game doesn’t have to involve Class AAA teams only.

Perhaps the biggest game in the area this year pits Class A No. 9 Fayetteville (6-1) hosting No. 5 Mount Hope (6-0) in a game with serious playoff rating ramifications.

It’s also Bridge Day weekend and it’s Fayetteville’s homecoming.

“I would say, if you like Single-A football and you want to see two teams who enjoy getting after each other, then that’s the game to be at Friday night,” Mount Hope coach Eddie Souk said.

“We try not to make any game bigger than any other,” Fayetteville coach Dave Moneypenny said. “It’s obviously full of excitement. I know the people in Fayetteville are excited about it. And I’m sure a lot of people in Mount Hope are excited about it. From the outside looking in I think it can merit (being one of the top games of the year).”

Mount Hope is led by talented running back Da’Von Marion, who averages just a tad under 200 yards rushing per game.

Fayetteville counters with a talented group of backs led by first-team all-stater Drew Weis.

But the key to this game is going to be in the trenches. Both teams feature a strong, tough line.

“For a single-A, Fayetteville is just huge,” Souk said. “They are easily the best (group of lineman) we’ve played against this year.”

“You don’t have a back averaging 200 yards on his talent alone, and (Marion) is plenty talented,” Moneypenny said. “You have to have a good line to do that and they certainly have a good line.”

Pocahontas County might have snuck up on most of the state, especially in light of the Warriors No. 2 ranking in Class A and perfect record (7-0).

But not Warriors coach Mike Knisely.

“We returned a majority of our players (from last year’s playoff team) and they dedicated themselves, especially the seniors,” Knisely said. “This group won two championships in their youth league, went undefeated in junior high and have been three-year starters. We don’t get a lot of press or a lot of publicity because of where we’re located (Dunmore, in Pocahontas). We might have snuck up on some people. A lot of people around the state might be surprised we are ranked as high as we are. But the people that know us, no, I don’t think they’re surprised.”

The Warriors feature a balanced attack.

Dexter Skidmore stepped in for graduated all-state back Cyrus Bennett and has rushed for 945 yards on just 81 carries, with 15 touchdowns.

Pocahontas uses two quarterbacks, and both are proficient.

Mike Callison has completed 24-of-39 for 678 yards and nine touchdowns. More importantly, he has not been intercepted.

When the Warriors want to get the ball into Callison’s hands in other ways — he has been a receiver and wingback during his career — Casey Withers is behind center. He has completed 12-of-14 for 152 yards and three TDs.

Derek Kiner is the Warriors’ top receiver and he has 26 catches for 703 yards. Eleven of his grabs have gone for touchdowns.

It’s been a tough year for Wyoming East quarterback Thad Grogg, who lost his father and coach Andy (a Wyoming East assistant) right as the season was ready to start.

His uncle and Warriors head coach Kevin Grogg, who lost his brother and best friend, understands.

“I don’t think he’s been as focused as he needs to be, but it’s understandable,” Grogg said. “I think he’s dealing with it well, away from football. But when we are at the field, that’s where it starts to come back. The kids have Andy’s picture in their lockers, there’s stuff written on the board. There are constant reminders. He has gone through moods where he just doesn’t want t play football. They disappear quickly. But I understand and the kids understand. We have a lot of confidence in Thad (a first-team all-stater as a sophomore last year). And he has confidence in himself.”

Wyoming East enters Friday’s rival game with Westside at 5-1 and ranked No. 6 in Class AA. Westside is 3-4 and No. 21.

“A playoff berth would be a big thing for this team,” Grogg said. “From where we started to where we’ve come, I’m really proud of these kids. And I’m proud of Thad. He went through something a lot of young men don’t have to deal with. And when you do that, you come out a stronger person.”

Webster County’s Timmy Miller is emerging from the shadows.

Over the last two weeks, Miller has been charged with guarding two of the better receivers in the state — Sherman’s 6-foot-5 Jacob Rollo and shifty Oak Hill sophomore Deandre Leonard.

And in both instances, he shut down the duo.

Rollo had a touchdown but it came late, against junior varsity defenders.

And Leonard had a late touchdown on what coach Steve Skidmore said “was just an outstanding catch by the young man.”

In both games, Miller, also a receiver, had more receiving yards then the receiver he was charged with guarding.

He had a 74-yard touchdown reception against Oak Hill.

“He’s a better than average defensive back, but his strength is on the offensive end,” Skidmore said. “He’s a basketball player, really. A big two guard. We’re predominately a running team. Both (Sherman and Oak Hill) loaded the box against us. We can throw if we have to. Having Timmy, our quarterback doesn’t always have to make a perfect throw. He’ll go up and get it in most instances.”

Webster (6-1) is No. 7 in Class AA and they face a big test this week against No. 16 Greenbrier West (4-2).

Speaking of West, the Cavaliers are playing in Class AA for the first time since 2001. They had been a playoff consistent in Class A the last seven years.

“For us, it’s not much different right now,” coach Lewis McClung said. “In our area, we’re going to play the same teams, regardless of what classification we’re playing in. We’ll try to pick up some (Class AA teams). But when you play Fayetteville, Pocahontas and Midland Trail, those teams are normally winning six, seven games and it’s just as good as playing a Class AA team with two or three wins.”

It’s been a winning formula for Greenbrier West over the years.



SSAC High School Football Computer Ratings

PARKERSBURG (AP) — The Secondary School Activities Commission’s high school football computer ratings released Tuesday, with team records and points. The top 16 teams in each class advance to the playoffs beginning Nov. 14:

CLASS AAA

Team Rec Pts Pvs

1. South Charleston 7-0 15.14 1

2. Hurricane 6-0 14.00 3

3. University 7-0 13.57 4

4. Wheeling Park 5-1 12.83 7

5. George Washington 6-1 12.43 6

6. Capital 6-1 12.00 t8

7. Morgantown 6-1 11.86 t8

8. Bridgeport 5-1 11.67 2

9. Cabell Midland 5-2 10.57 5

10. Nicholas County 6-1 10.00 10

11. Parkersburg South 5-2 9.43 12

12. Fairmont Senior 4-2 9.00 13

(tie) Martinsburg 4-2 9.00 11

14. Musselman 5-2 8.86 14

15. Spring Valley 4-2 8.67 15

16. Woodrow Wilson 3-3 6.83 t19

17. Lewis County 4-3 6.71 —

18. Princeton 3-3 6.50 t16

19. East Fairmont 3-3 6.33 —

20. Brooke 3-3 6.17 t16

CLASS AA

Team Rec Pts Pvs

1. Keyser 6-0 12.33 1

2. Grafton 6-0 11.83 3

3. Chapmanville 7-0 11.57 2

4. Wayne 5-1 9.67 4

5. Ravenswood 5-1 9.17 6

6. Wyoming East 5-1 8.50 8

7. Webster County 6-1 8.14 11

8. Weir 5-2 7.86 5

9. Scott 4-2 7.83 9

10. Point Pleasant 5-2 7.71 t13

(tie) Shady Spring 5-2 7.71 12

12. Philip Barbour 5-2 7.57 7

13. James Monroe 4-2 7.33 15

14. Tolsia 4-2 7.17 t13

15. Magnolia 4-3 6.57 17

16. Greenbrier West 4-2 6.50 10

17. Bluefield 3-3 6.33 20

(tie) Frankfort 4-2 6.33 16

19. Independence 4-3 5.57 t18

20. Oak Glen 3-3 4.50 —

CLASS A

Team Rec Pts Pvs

1. Wheeling Central 6-1 10.00 4

2. Pocahontas County 7-0 9.71 5

3. Matewan 6-0 9.50 2

4. Williamstown 5-1 9.33 1

5. Mount Hope 6-0 9.17 3

6. Madonna 6-0 9.00 6

7. Wahama 6-0 8.83 7

8. St. Marys 6-1 7.86 8

9. Fayetteville 6-1 7.71 t9

10. Big Creek 5-1 7.17 11

11. Tucker County 4-2 6.33 14

12. Calhoun County 4-2 6.00 15

13. Parkersburg Cath. 4-2 5.83 t9

14. Man 3-3 5.50 12

15. Iaeger 4-3 5.43 13

16. Clay-Battelle 5-2 5.29 16

17. Cameron 4-2 5.17 17

18. Midland Trail 3-3 5.00 18

19. Meadow Bridge 4-3 4.71 t19

(tie) South Harrison 4-3 4.71 —