Friday’s Big Game Breakdowns: Week 11

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Get 30% Off Your Subscription with Code PRZWV30 at Checkout!</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>The Stock Up Showcase is Returning to West Virginia on January 3rd in Bridgeport! Use Code SUWV25OFF for a 25% off discount at checkout! Register <a href="https://events.prepredzone.com/e/2594/register/stock-up-showcase-west-virginia">HERE</a></em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Friday night brings another loaded slate of games across West Virginia, with big matchups in every class and plenty of teams looking to make a statement. We're breaking down some of the best games on the schedule, taking a closer look at the key matchups, players to watch, and what each result could mean moving forward. These are the games that have our attention heading into another big Friday night.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>HERBERT HOOVER AT HUNTINGTON</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The Game:</strong> Herbert Hoover brings a perfect 9-0 record into its final regular-season game, traveling to Huntington for one of the biggest cross-classification matchups of Week 11. The Huskies have been one of the state's most dominant teams all season, averaging more than 50 points per game and winning eight games by at least 29 points. Huntington enters at 6-3 after recent losses to George Washington and Cabell Midland, but the Highlanders are always a top team in AAAA, with a young team this year. This is a major test for Hoover before the playoffs and a chance for Huntington to finish the regular season with a win over one of the state's top teams.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Keys to the Game:</strong> Can Huntington slow down Hoover's ground game? The Huskies are averaging nearly 300 rushing yards per game, led by RB [player_tooltip player_id='1155316' first='David' last='Robinson Jr'], who is approaching 1,900 yards for the season. Hoover doesn't need to rely on one player, either, with multiple runners capable of producing big plays. Huntington has to limit explosive runs and force the Huskies into longer third downs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Huntington has to find a way to score. The Highlanders have averaged 37 points per game this season, but they managed only 14 against Cabell Midland last week. Hoover has allowed just 87 points all season, so Huntington can't afford another quiet offensive performance.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hoover needs to handle Huntington's physicality. The Huskies have dominated most of their schedule, but this will be a significant jump in competition. Huntington has size and athleticism to challenge them at the line of scrimmage, and the Highlanders won't be intimidated by an undefeated record. If Hoover can't establish control early, this could become a very different game than the Huskies have experienced most of the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Matchup to Watch:</strong> Robinson Jr is the player Huntington has to account for on every snap. He's been the engine behind Hoover's offense all season, combining explosive speed with the workload of a feature back. Huntington's defense has several experienced pieces and will need to keep Robinson from reaching the second level. If the Highlanders can force Hoover to win through the air, they have a much better chance of keeping this game competitive. If Robinson gets loose early, Hoover could control the game from there.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Score Prediction:</strong> Herbert Hoover 35 Huntington 24</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>SOUTH CHARLESTON AT PRINCETON</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The Game:</strong> #3 South Charleston and #5 Princeton meet in a massive Class AAA finale with both teams entering at 7-2 and 6-3, respectively. The Black Eagles have been one of the state's most explosive teams, averaging more than 46 points per game and coming off a 54-14 win over Spring Valley. Princeton answered with a 62-12 rout of Hurricane and has won 20 of its last 23 games dating back to last season. This one has major postseason implications, with both teams looking to enter the playoffs with momentum and a strong position in the bracket.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Keys to the Game:</strong> South Charleston needs to control the line of scrimmage and keep Princeton from turning this into another high-scoring track meet. Junior RB [player_tooltip player_id='1309691' first='Malakhi' last='Hope'] has been one of the state's most productive backs and is coming off a 280-yard performance, so the Black Eagles have the offensive firepower to stress Princeton's defense throughout the night. Princeton will need to answer with its own ground game while protecting the football and taking advantage of scoring chances when South Charleston's defense commits extra defenders to the run. Both teams have been putting points on the board at a high rate, making early-down success and field position critical in a game where one or two empty possessions could swing the outcome.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Matchup to Watch:</strong> Sophomore ATH [player_tooltip player_id='1716366' first='Tramel' last='Musgrove'] has taken over at quarterback for the Black Eagles over the last couple of games and has sparked the offense with his ability to make plays in multiple ways. Princeton now has some film to study, but Musgrove is a special athlete who can stress a defense as both a runner and a passer while also making an impact on defense. [player_tooltip player_id='1309691' first='Malakhi' last='Hope'] will draw plenty of attention from the Tigers, which could create opportunities for Musgrove to attack a defense focused on stopping the run. His limited experience as a passer this season makes that part of the matchup especially interesting, as Princeton will have to account for a quarterback who can hurt them with his legs as he develops confidence as a passer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Score Prediction:</strong> Princeton 28 South Charleston 21</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>WHEELING CENTRAL AT WILLIAMSTOWN</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The Game:</strong> #6 A Wheeling Central travels to #2 AA Williamstown in a matchup that gives both teams a high-level test heading into the postseason. Williamstown enters the night at 9-0 and has been one of the state's most consistent teams all season, while Wheeling Central is 5-4 after winning four of its last five. The Maroon Knights are coming off a 42-36 win over Cincinnati College Prep Academy (OH), while Williamstown handled Wayne 46-6 last week. Both teams have the offensive firepower to make this a game where early success could decide the winner. This game has developed into a rivalry over the years when Williamstown was in Class A, and the two proud programs have had a lot of playoff battles in the past fueling some extra emotion tonight. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Keys to the Game:</strong> Wheeling Central will need to find a way to slow down a Williamstown offense averaging 38 points per game without allowing the Yellowjackets to establish control early. The Maroon Knights have been productive on the ground themselves, averaging nearly 240 rushing yards per game, with senior RB/LB D1 commit [player_tooltip player_id='1304656' first='Dustin' last='Sanner'] coming off a four-touchdown performance last week and senior QB [player_tooltip player_id='1157631' first='Nico' last='Kusic'] being a dual-threat in their unique spin series offense. Williamstown has its own backfield threat in sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2228227' first='Daniel' last='Cunningham'], while junior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1624330' first='Breck' last='Allen'] has been efficient through the air and can punish defenses that overcommit to the run. Whichever defense handles the opposing ground game better could have a major say in how this matchup unfolds.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Matchup to Watch:</strong> Both teams have a veteran group up front, making the battle along the line of scrimmage one of the most important matchups of the night. Wheeling Central is senior-heavy in the trenches, led by [player_tooltip player_id='1155194' first='Dominic' last='Paesani'] and a group of teammates who have played a lot of football. Williamstown has its own experienced front, led by senior OL/DL [player_tooltip player_id='897609' first='Christian' last='Hoosier'], one of the top linemen in the class. Whichever team wins the line of scrimmage and consistently wins the physical battle up front will put itself in a strong position to control this game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Score Prediction:</strong> Wheeling Central 28 Williamstown 21</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>JAMES MONROE AT TUG VALLEY</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The Game:</strong> #10 AA James Monroe will head to #3 A Tug Valley in one of the best Southern WV matchups of the regular season finale. The Mavericks enter at 6-3 and have won three straight, while Tug Valley sits at 8-1 after rolling through Man 46-12 last week. The Panthers have already secured a home playoff game, but a win would strengthen their seeding position heading into the postseason. The Mavericks won convincingly last season, 49-6 over a banged-up Tug Valley squad at that point in the year, but expect the Panthers to provide a much tougher challenge this year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Keys to the Game:</strong> James Monroe will have to limit the explosive plays that have fueled Tug Valley's offense all season, starting with quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1154693' first='Preston' last='May']. May accounted for 397 total yards and six touchdowns against Man, including 339 passing yards and five scores through the air, while [player_tooltip player_id='1145831' first='Cameron' last='Slone'] gives the Panthers another major threat on the outside. The same is true for Tug Valley, which has at times struggled to stop explosive plays on defense this year, and it will be interesting to see if James Monroe can take advantage of that with sophomore QB [player_tooltip player_id='1591192' first='Bentley' last='McCroskey'] making his first career start for the injured [player_tooltip player_id='2266592' first='Jayden' last='Miller']. He'll have senior WR [player_tooltip player_id='2266600' first='Bryce' last='Gardinier'] as a great safety valve, who's been excellent for the Mavericks this year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Matchup to Watch:</strong> This is a game where James Monroe could finally get their run game going and outmatch a smaller Tug Valley front. They've leaned on the pass until now, but tonight they'll have the chance to establish the run and keep an explosive Tug Valley offense from getting extra possessions. The Panthers have a plethora of playmakers at their disposal, and the dual-threat and very experienced [player_tooltip player_id='1154693' first='Preston' last='May'] can quickly take over a game if you let him. You have to be able to run the ball in November, and tonight will be a big test for both programs to prove it.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Score Prediction:</strong> Tug Valley 42 James Monroe 34</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->