For those of you keeping track, the 2022 high school football season is flying by as we enter week #9 of regular season play this weekend! Sometimes, it is just fun to look back to last year and see where we would be standing if the championship games were being played this weekend! Last year’s championship games featured Huntington and Martinsburg in Class AAA with Martinsburg winning. In Class AA last year, the title game was decided between Fairmont Senior and Independence and it was the Polar Bears that took home the big trophy. In Class A, the two combatants were Williamstown and Ritchie County and it was the Rebels coming out on top. Now, as mentioned, if the championship games were this weekend, only one of the above six teams would be back and that would be the Yellow Jackets of Williamstown. In comparison, last season Williamstown was ranked #6 heading to Wheeling and when the rankings come out this week, the Yellow Jackets should be installed as the #1 and they will have six more bonus points than Wheeling Central who is projected at #2 this week. Also, of the above six teams that were in their respective championship games last season, five of the six should easily make the playoffs this season. In Class AAA, when the rankings come out, Huntington should be #3 with Martinsburg checking in at #6. In Class AA, Independence is #3 and Fairmont Senior, while not in the top 8, with their current record of (5-3) will be sitting at a respectful #10. In Class A, the Williamstown Yellow Jackets should be ranked #1, while last year’s Class A State Champion Ritchie County will miss the playoffs this year as in week #9, with a record of (2-5), the Rebels will come in at #29!
But again, that’s looking back a little and comparing two very different seasons! This week, as mentioned is week #9 of the regular season, and there are teams that can ill afford to lose this late in the year. Coming up this week, here are some games we will be keeping a close eye on during GAMENIGHT:
In Class AAA, #13 Princeton (4-2) will make the nearly 3 hour bus ride north to Bridgeport to take on the #5 Indians who after an off week sit at (6-1). The Huntington Highlanders, who will be ranked #3 are riding a 6 game winning streak and during that time have outscored those six opponents by an average of 50 to 8! The young men from Cabell County will make the short bus ride to Ona, WV to battle rival Cabell Midland, who this week should be ranked at #8 with a (5-2) record after losing to Hurricane (6-1) last Friday night by a final score of 35-14! Another Class AAA game this Friday night that is certainly worthy of buying a ticket for is the matchup between #10 and (5-2) George Washington as the Patriots travel to Spring Valley. The Timberwolves are currently ranked #6 with their (6-1) record.
Coming up in Class AA this 9th week of the season, you will find several great games to check out including #7 (6-1) Nicholas County heading to Coal City to take on #3 and undefeated Independence, currently checking in at (7-0). The Grizzlies are on a six game win streak and are averaging 47 points per game during that time, while their opponent this week certainly seems to be focused on getting that return trip to Wheeling Island. During their first seven games, the Independence Patriots have not been challenged on the scoreboard, and have been averaging outscoring their opponents 57 to 3!! What should be another great game featuring a Class AA team this week will also put the bright Friday night lights on a Class A team, as undefeated and #2 Roane County (7-0) will entertain Class A #4 Doddridge County (7-0)!
In Class A this weekend, pay special attention to a game that certainly has playoff implications as #16 St. Marys (5-2) will travel to #12 South Harrison (5-2)! And, topping the list of great games in Class A this weekend, will find the top ranked (7-0) Williamstown Yellow Jackets travelling to Ohio to battle the (8-1) Cadets of Fort Frye!
Just a reminder, be sure and join me and Dave Jecklin on GAMENIGHT for all the scores of all the games from week #9! We will be talking with radio play by play crews….head coaches and fans from 9:30 to Midnight on 48 great radio stations around the state. Plus, catch the live video and audio of GAMENIGHT @www.dev.wvmetronews.com!
Talk with you Friday night!