WHO: AAA #8 Greenbrier East (6-3) at AAA #5 Nitro (8-1)
WHEN: Friday, November 7 at 7:00 PM
WHERE: Underwood Field in Nitro, WV
LAST WEEK: GE (defeated James Monroe 29-14) N (beat Capital 22-20)
LAST MEETING: Nitro beat Greenbrier East 68-20 in 2024
The Spartans face a tough road test to conclude their regular season this Friday when they will get on the bus and travel to Nitro to face the 8-1 Wildcats in a compelling top 10 matchup. Hoping to avenge last season’s blowout loss, Greenbrier East is better equipped this season to compete on the same level that Nitro has played so far this season.
Both teams are locks for the playoffs but seeding and home field advantage is up for grabs. Now, the Wildcats have all but guaranteed themselves a home playoff game next week, but the Spartans are right on that cutline. A win over Nitro would most likely elevate Greenbrier East a couple spots in the standings and would have Spartan Stadium filled to the brim on November 14.
A loss in this game will not hurt nor help Greenbrier East and they still could very well get a home playoff game with a loss depending on what happens around them in some other season finales. But there is no doubt that the Spartans want nothing more than to go into Underwood Field and escape with an upset victory and feel 100 percent more secure about their fate later in the week.
Players to Watch for Greenbrier East:
Brody Hamric: 117-of-209, 1,477 yds, 17 TD, 4 INT– 154 rush yds, 3 TD
Nate Suttle: 36 rec, 372 yds, 8 total TD
Kaden Stone: 20 rec, 330 yds– 5 INT, 7 total TD
Jy Green: 15 rec, 111 yds– corner
Keshawn Bland
AJ Godfrey: 219 carries, 945 yds, 15 TD
Grant Burdette: 36 rec, 474 yds, 5 TD
Gage Blevins
Players to Watch for Nitro:
Malachi Thompson: 43 rec, 873 yds, 11 TD
Eaian Duffy: 145-of-222, 2,507 yds, 29 TD, 10 INT
Jalei Burnette: 38 rec, 634 yds, 8 TD
Luke Shafer: 30 rec, 545 yds, 8 TD
Chris Radcliffe: 81 carries, 775 yds, 4 TD– 139 yds receiving
Takye Porter: 58 rushes, 495 yds, 11 TD– 18 rec, 178 yds– 142.1 AP YPG, 17 total TD
Cohen Lusher: 74 tackles, 37 TFL, 16 sacks
Malik Brown: 40 tackles, 4 INT
Wyatt Sowards: 77 tackles, 18.5 TFL
Tale of the Tape Outlook:
Nitro’s numbers immediately jump off the page. With three receivers over 500 yards, the leader of the pack is Malachi Thompson who is committed to play football next season for Rich Rodriguez and the West Virginia Mountaineers. Porter and Radcliffe are dynamic in the backfield and Duffy has slung it around the yard all season. But Nitro’s defense may be where their golden goose lays. Lusher has an incredible 37 tackles behind the line of scrimmage to go along with 16 sacks. Sowards is another guy that is always around the football and in the opponent’s backfield.
The Spartans will have to go to some unique formations on offense to try and confuse the Wildcats D. Green and Stone may be the two most important pieces on the field as they will have to cover the receiver trio from the Wildcats. After Stone’s huge game last week versus James Monroe, his confidence is high. The Spartans have been in every game this season, including their three losses, and haven’t been truly blown out at all. They will come at Nitro swinging, in hopes of the Wildcats taking some punches.
Nitro:
Points per Game: 43.7
Points Allowed per Game: 10.6
Greenbrier East:
Points per Game: 30.8
Points Allowed per Game: 20.0
