WHO: #6 Nitro (8-1) at Greenbrier East (3-6)
WHEN: Friday, November 8 at 7:30 PM
WHERE: Spartan Stadium in Fairlea
LAST WEEK: Nitro (defeated Sissonville 67-0) GE (lost to Princeton 81-6)
COVERAGE: Streaming/TV: Greenbrier Valley Channel on Roku, YouTube, Facebook, and Optimum Ch. 5—Radio: 103.1, WRON
There’s just one more game left for the Greenbrier East Spartans when they host the 6th ranked Nitro Wildcats in their season finale which will also be senior night for the boys in green and gold. East is reeling from a tough loss to Princeton a week ago and will look to end 2024 with some kind of positive momentum for 2025.
ABOUT THE WILDCATS:
After struggling for several years, including a winless season in 2020-21, the Nitro Wildcats enjoyed some success a season ago when they finished 7-4 that included a state playoff appearance. This year, they are even better and enter their final game in Fairlea with a record of 8-1 and a Class AAA number 5 ranking.
Fourth-year head coach James McKinney has his team cruising on both sides of the ball, and they play an exciting style that has helped them put up 42.8 points per game. On the defensive side of the football, the Wildcats are allowing just 12 points per contest.
–Players to Watch—
Nitro: Josh Moody, Malachi Thompson, Xavier Patterson, Wyatt Sowards, Eli Littlejohn, Luke Shafer
Greenbrier East: Nate Suttle, Keshawn Bland, Kaden Stone, Jy Green
The Wildcats are led by quarterback Josh Moody and after a glance at his numbers, it comes as no surprise. Moody has thrown for 2,796 yards and 31 touchdowns on the season. He is also completing 70 percent of his passes. Last week, Princeton’s Chance Barker was the best quarterback the Spartans have faced this year, but Moody may take that title as he has been elite this season and leads the state of West Virginia in passing yards and passing TDs. His favorite target is Malachi Taylor who has hauled in 52 catches for 1,079 (leads the state) yards and 14 touchdowns. Luke Shafer also chips in with 40 receptions, 678 yards, and six TDs.
At running back, Nitro relies on Eli Littlejohn who has rushed for 1,079 yards and 19 total scores.
Xavier Patterson is a difficult matchup on defense, and he too leads the state in something—sacks—with 10.5 on the year.
Spartan Numbers (9 games):
Offense: 18.3 points per game
Team Defense: 35.2 points allowed per game
Summary:
With this being the last game and more importantly senior night, the hope is fans will show up one final time this season to support the players who have put in long hours and hard work all year long. The Spartans were hoping for a more successful season and a better record, but sometimes, things just don’t happen as we plan.
Injuries have mounted up for East as well and it is unknown as of now if those starters will return for the finale or go ahead and sit out and get ready for the rest of the school year.
Nitro is extremely talented and will provide a huge challenge to the Spartans. They aren’t quite on Princeton’s level of talent, but they are not that far from it. Moody is a Kennedy award candidate and the offense they run will have the ball in the air often. They love to take shots down the field frequently and after the Spartans inability to limit the Tigers passing game last week, look for the Wildcats to do the exact same thing this final Friday night.
