Webster County (0-2) at Greenbrier West (2-1)
Friday, Sept. 14, 7:30 p.m.
Cavalier Field, Charmco
Radio: WRLB 95.3 (7 p.m.)
Series: Greenbrier West leads 29-12
Last Meeting: (9/25/2020) Greenbrier West 73 Webster County 6
Last week: The Cavalier defense was instrumental in a 32-0 home win over Pocahontas County. Cole Vandall picked off a Braedan Hayhurst pass late in the second quarter and returned it 43 yards for a touchdown. Vandall added a 6-yard touchdown run in the first quarter and a 15-yard scoring toss to Roy Loudermilk in the second in what was arguably his best all-around performance of the season. Chase McClung moved to the free safety position after starting at corner in the first two games. His third-quarter interception led to the second of Jayden Robinson’s two touchdown runs on the night. McClung also had three receptions for sixty yards. Ty Nickell had his second straight 100-yard rushing effort. The Cavaliers shut the Warriors out for the second straight season and twelfth time in program history.
Webster County dropped a 43-14 decision to Tygarts Valley at home to begin the season 0-2. Sophomore Rayden Triplett got the Highlanders on the scoreboard first with an 80-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. After the Bulldogs had tied the game 7-7, Conner Bell hit Kyle McMillion with a 53-yard halfback pass for a 14-7 Highlander lead. Tygarts Valley would come back to score two touchdowns in the second quarter, the second with only 16 seconds remaining in the first half, to carry a 21-14 lead into the halftime break. It was all Bulldogs in the second half as they outscored Webster County 22-0 for the win. The Highlanders were held to under 100 yards of offense on the night. Webster County’s defensive unit was susceptible to the pass, allowing Bulldog quarterback Lucas Bright to throw for two touchdowns in the contest.
The matchup: Greenbrier West has shown steady improvement since their opening week loss to Buffalo. They’ve cut down on offensive mistakes, and the defense has taken on the identity of a bend but don’t break unit. McClung has asserted himself as a big-play threat for the Cavaliers with a 43-yard touchdown catch versus Summers County and a 44-yard reception against Pocahontas County. Tygarts Valley wide receiver Garrett Gibson caught five passes for 70 yards against the Highlanders including a 31-yard touchdown reception, so look for McClung to have a big night. Nickell has settled into his role as the lead ballcarrier for West with back-to-back 100-yard games, highlighted by a 75-yard touchdown at Summers County. Bulldog running back Nate Hulver carried for 90 yards last week in Upper Glade and tacked on two touchdowns, one being a 71-yarder to cap the Tygarts Valley win. Nickell, Robinson, and Vandall should find room to run behind an offensive line that’s gotten better each game. Chase Franklin anchors the line, and Dale Treadway was able to return from injury last week to help solidify the unit.
Miscellaneous: Greenbrier West is tied for twelfth in Class A in the first set of WVSSAC Playoff ratings released on Tuesday. The top 16 teams in each class qualify for the playoffs.
The Cavalier JV squad continued to roll on Monday night. They defeated James Monroe 32-8 at Linside. Pikeview is the next scheduled opponent, but Mercer County Schools went remote on Tuesday night, suspending all athletic activity. Greenbrier West will attempt to find another opponent.
The Cavaliers dominated this matchup in every imaginable fashion last season on their way to a school-record 73 points. West scored touchdowns by rushing, passing, interception return, fumble recovery, and punt return.
Highlander head coach Rodney Tenney is in his fourth season at Webster County, guiding the Highlanders to a 6-5 mark in 2018, which included a Class A playoff appearance. Building on that success in 2019, Tenney’s squad set a school record by averaging 35.1 points per game, however, in 2020 the Highlanders set a dubious school record by allowing a whopping 63.3 points per game. Tenney has an 11-22 record overall, 4-12 on the road. Before his current job, Tenney had a successful run at Covington High School. Tenney’s Cougars went 26-22 from 2012-15 with playoff appearances all four seasons. His 2015 Covington team fell to the Cavaliers 41-19 on a rare Thursday night game. Oddly enough, his only win over Greenbrier West came on a Thursday night in 2018, a 26-20 double-overtime victory that was the Highlanders’ last over the Cavaliers.
Cavalier head coach Toby Harris is on the cusp of yet another career milestone. With his next victory, Harris will have amassed 100 coaching wins in his football career. 86 of his wins have come over thirteen seasons at Greenbrier West. His 13 other wins came at Oak Hill from 2005-07. Before the series with Webster County began in 1976, Harris led his Cavaliers against the Webster Springs Wildcats. Almost 51 years ago to the day, Bobby Bonner had a 42-yard touchdown run and Marvin Moore added touchdowns of five and six yards in the 22-6 West victory at Rainelle. Harris is 4-0 vs the Highlanders.
This page is available to subscribers. Click here to sign in or get access.