CHARMCO (WVDN) – Greenbrier West has had a historic start to the 2022 season. The Cavaliers set a school record with five consecutive shutouts to open the season, breaking a 4-game tie with the 1981 and ‘83 squads. Last week in the win over Meadow Bridge, they set a record for first-half points scored with 54. Ty Nickell tied a program record by hitting the 1,000-yard rushing threshold in the fifth game of the season. Hayden Ridgeway tied a school record by hitting seven PATs in the win over Webster County. That’s an impressive list, but the Cavaliers are most proud of the fact they’re off to a 5-0 start. With each passing week, this group of Greenbrier West gridders only wants to do one thing, win the next game.
This week’s opponent hasn’t been on the schedule for eleven years, but they’re familiar to Cavalier football fans. Shady Spring began an on-again, off-again series with Greenbrier West in Head Coach Toby Harris’ last season of his first stint as head coach, 1977. Harris’ Cavaliers dismantled that Tiger team 42-6. Harold Wicks threw three touchdown passes and rushed for another in that inaugural win. The Cavaliers would go on to win six of the next seven games between the two schools before the series took a two-year hiatus following the 1984 tilt. The series resumed from 1987 through 1990 with the Cavaliers winning all four games.
The most competitive streak between the teams began in 2002 and ran through the 2011 season. It was the season opener for both schools. Lewis McClung was the Cavalier head coach for the entire ten-year run. Charlie Als led the Tigers from 2002 through 2004 and current Shady Spring coach Vince Culicerto took over in 2005. The Cavaliers and Tigers split that last segment of the series 5-5. Every time the Cavaliers defeated the Tigers in the opener, they qualified for the playoffs. Twice the Cavaliers advanced to the Class AA semi-finals. Shady also prospered in years that they beat the Cavaliers, qualifying for the playoffs three of five times. Two of those seasons saw Shady advance to the Class AA semi-finals. The series ended when Greenbrier West dropped to Class A and Shady Spring jumped to Class AAA before the 2012 season.
Greenbrier West is averaging 45.6 points per game. Shady allows, on average, 33.6 points per game. The Cavaliers boast a ground game that churns out 295.8 yards per game and has scored 23 touchdowns. West has also thrown the ball with efficiency, completing 27-45 passes for three touchdowns. The Cavaliers have been so effective on offense that they’ve only punted the ball five times in five games. In the 54-0 win over Meadow Bridge, West ran only 17 offensive plays, scoring touchdowns on five of them. Ty Nickell and Independence tailback Judah Price lead the area in rushing yards and touchdowns, with a mere two yards and 1 touchdown separating the two. Price had a big night against the Tigers, rushing for 242 yards and six touchdowns. Nickell has a different running style but will look to match that output if not that style.
Shady Spring is averaging 18.2 points per game and was shut out in the loss to Independence. Greenbrier West hasn’t allowed a score all season, and the shutout streak has grown into a rally cry for the defenders. Players hold their teammates accountable for blown assignments, missed tackles, or poor technique in practice. The attention to detail has paid off in game action. The Tigers’ offense was stifled by Independence in their shutout loss, and the Cavaliers will look to apply the same pressure.
Seniors Adam Richmond (6’3”, 205 lbs.) and James Sellards (6’0”, 215 lbs.) are a pair of big backs that make the Tiger running game go. Richmond has 286 yards rushing and four touchdowns and Sellards has complimented that output with 262 yards and 3 touchdowns. Richmond has also snagged five passes for 150 yards and a touchdown. Brady Green has completed 28 passes in 71 attempts for four scores and three interceptions as the Tigers’ signal caller. Senior Tyler Mackey has pulled down nine passes for 282 yards and two touchdowns.
This will be Greenbrier West’s first game on artificial turf since the Cavaliers traveled to Scott on October 2, 2020. The Cavaliers defeated the Skyhawks 47-0 that evening, rolling up 356 yards rushing and five touchdowns with another 98 yards through the air and two scores. West is 7-8 all-time when playing on a synthetic surface. Shady’s H.B. Thomas Field received turf installation before the 2021 season.
Fans coming to the game and listening on the radio should note that the game has a 7 p.m. kickoff. Local radio coverage begins at 6:30 on Rock 95.
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