Friday Nights in the Country Roads: Key matchups to watch
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It’s officially the first Friday of high school football in West Virginia for the 2023 season, and PrepRedzone West Virginia takes a look at five games across the state to watch closely this weekend. Huntington vs. Spring Valley Arguably the…
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Continue ReadingIt’s officially the first Friday of high school football in West Virginia for the 2023 season, and PrepRedzone West Virginia takes a look at five games across the state to watch closely this weekend.
Huntington vs. Spring Valley
Arguably the game of the week, Huntington starts their 2023 season looking for a state title by taking on Spring Valley. The Highlanders have gone 26-2 over the last two seasons while being dominant on both sides of the ball, which includes averaging 41.5 points per game over the last two seasons. Their defenses have been just as dominant, allowing just 13.7 points a game.
Huntington is stacked with talent, and key names such as top 2024 prospects Robby Martin Robby Martin 6'4" | 275 lbs | OL Huntington | 2024 State WV , wide receiver Wayne Harris Wayne Harris 5'11" | 170 lbs | WR Huntington | 2024 State WV , defensive lineman Kiyou Jackson Kiyou Jackson 5'10" | 290 lbs | DL Huntington | 2024 State WV , tight end Marshall Christus Marshall Christus 6'4" | 180 lbs | TE Huntington | 2024 State WV , and kicker Jonny Aya-ay Jonny Aya-ay 5'9" | 155 lbs | K Huntington | 2024 State WV are just a few names to know. The Highlanders also have the top-ranked 2025 prospect in defensive back Zah Jackson Zah Jackson 5'10" | 185 lbs | DB Huntington | 2025 State WV and the fourth-best prospect in the 2026 recruiting class in Aryn McPherson Aryn McPherson 6'3" | 300 lbs | OL Huntington | 2026 State WV .
While not as successful as Huntington in the last two years, Spring Valley has been a very good program in its own right. Over the last seven seasons, the Timberwolves haven’t lost more than three games in any single season, including an 8-3 record last season and a 9-3 record in 2021. They have quite a bit of talent themselves, including 2024 prospects linebacker Sam Booth Sam Booth 6'2" | 225 lbs | LB Spring Valley | 2024 State WV , wide receiver Tate Adkins Tate Adkins 6'3" | 180 lbs | WR Spring Valley | 2024 State WV , and defensive back Ethan Null Ethan Null 5'10" | 160 lbs | DB Spring Valley | 2024 State WV . They also will expect big contributions from 2025 prospects, WR Jalyn Abercrombie Jalyn Abercrombie 5'10" | 175 lbs | WR Spring Valley | 2025 State WV , linebacker Braeden Booth Braeden Booth 5'11" | 185 lbs | LB Spring Valley | 2025 State WV , and athlete Gabe Dixon Gabe Dixon 5'10" | 165 lbs | WR Spring Valley | 2025 WV .
James Monroe vs. Wheeling Central Catholic
This should be an excellent matchup between James Monroe and Wheeling Central Catholic. Last year, James Monroe went 13-1, which included knocking Wheeling Central Catholic out of the playoffs in the state semifinals. Wheeling Central Catholic had a great year themselves, going 10-2. Their only other loss came to Beaver High School out of Lisbon, Ohio.
Notable prospects for James Monroe include 2024 RB Cooper Ridgeway Cooper Ridgeway 6'0" | 185 lbs | RB James Monroe | 2024 WV , 2025 defensive lineman Brady Baker Brady Baker 6'3" | 280 lbs | OL James Monroe | 2025 State WV , 2025 ATH Layton Dowdy Layton Dowdy 6'0" | 160 lbs | ATH James Monroe | 2025 WV , and 2026 defensive lineman Cade Dillon Cade Dillon 6'2" | 225 lbs | DL James Monroe | 2026 WV . For Wheeling Central Catholic, keep a close eye on 2024 K Eli Tucker Eli Tucker 6'0" | 185 lbs | K Wheeling Central | 2024 State WV , 2025 wide receiver Braden McWreath Braden McWreath 6'2" | 185 lbs | WR Wheeling Central Catholic | 2025 State WV , and a pair of 2026 prospects in defensive back Joey Hall Joey Hall 5'10" | 150 lbs | DB Wheeling Central Catholic | 2026 State WV and running back Isaac Martin Isaac Martin 6'0" | 215 lbs | RB Wheeling Central Catholic | 2026 State WV . This should be a great game in Wheeling on Friday night and one that sets the tone of what to expect for both programs going forward.
Jefferson vs. Spring Mills
We move onto Jefferson vs. Spring Mills, which should be a fun one in Martinsburg on Friday night. Jefferson was 8-4 during the 2022 season, making it into the state playoffs before falling to Huntington. Spring Mills, on the other hand, struggled going 4-6 but are potentially ready for a bounce-back season this fall.
The Jefferson offense is led by 2024 wide receiver Keyshawn Robinson Keyshawn Robinson 5'11" | 175 lbs | WR Jefferson | 2024 State WV , who is currently committed to West Virginia. Defensively, they’re led by defensive linemen Quintin Goins Quintin Goins 6'3" | 250 lbs | DL Jefferson | 2024 State WV and linebacker Nolan Meehleib Nolan Meehleib 6'2" | 205 lbs | LB Jefferson | 2024 State WV . The top talent for Spring Mills includes DB Zachary Bender Zachary Bender 5'9" | 160 lbs | DB Spring Mills | 2024 State WV and LB Alex Eaton Alex Eaton 5'9" | 180 lbs | RB Spring Mills | 2024 State WV . They’re also stacked in 2025 talent, including ATH Maxx Anderson, RB Kamren Taylor Kamren Taylor 5'8" | 160 lbs | RB Spring Mills | 2025 WV , DL Prophet Guillaume Prophet Guillaume 6'3" | 230 lbs | DL Spring Mills | 2025 State WV , DB Keyon Mills Keyon Mills 5'10" | 175 lbs | DB Spring Mills | 2025 State WV , OL Brayden Kirk Brayden Kirk 6'2" | 250 lbs | OL Spring Mills | 2025 State WV , and OL Peyton Neff Peyton Neff 6'0" | 270 lbs | OL Spring Mills | 2025 WV . The Cardinals also have nine 2026 prospects either ranked or on our watch list. This Spring Mills team is on its way up and could surprise many this fall.
Parkersburg South vs. Capital
Last year, Parkersburg South won this game 59-0 en route to a 12-2 record. Capital will look for payback on Friday night as they look to build upon their positives from the 2022 season.
Parkersburg South will be competing for a state championship this fall, led by nearly a dozen players who are either ranked or on our watch lists for the 2024 – 2026 recruiting classes. In the 2024 recruiting class, RB Gage Wright Gage Wright 6'0" | 200 lbs | RB Parkersburg South | 2024 State WV , a Virginia Tech wrestling commit, leads the Patriots’ offense but is by no means the only one. The Patriots also have WR Triston Walker Triston Walker 6'5" | 180 lbs | WR Parkersburg South | 2024 State WV on the offensive side of the ball while being led LB Turner Garretson Turner Garretson 6'0" | 225 lbs | LB Parkersburg South | 2024 State WV and LB Dylan Fleak Dylan Fleak 5'11" | 180 lbs | LB Parkersburg South | 2024 State WV on the defensive side of the ball. Also, be sure to keep an eye on this week and throughout the season RB Eli Bartley, LB Kaidyn Johnson Kaidyn Johnson 6'2" | 200 lbs | LB Parkersburg South | 2026 State WV , WR Taj Joyce Taj Joyce 6'4" | 180 lbs | WR Parkersburg South | 2026 State WV , RB Logan Mason Logan Mason 5'8" | 175 lbs | RB Parkersburg South | 2026 WV , OL Brody Nesselrotte Brody Nesselrotte 6'3" | 255 lbs | OL Parkersburg South | 2026 WV , RB Dedrick Riggs Dedrick Riggs 5'10" | 185 lbs | RB Parkersburg South | 2026 WV , and WR Derek Sandy Derek Sandy 5'8" | 165 lbs | WR Parkersburg South | 2026 WV .
For Capital, 2024 wide receiver Taevion Davis is one of the bigger names to watch, while 2025 DL Tucker Van Meter Tucker Van Meter 6'3" | 255 lbs | OL Capital | 2025 State WV and 2026 QB Fernando Valdivia Fernando Valdivia 5'9" | 160 lbs | QB Capital | 2026 State WV and LB Camdyn Harris Camdyn Harris 5'9" | 175 lbs | RB Capital | 2026 State WV are prospects to keep a close eye on.