At the helm at Huntington Prep

At the helm at Huntington Prep

By Dave Morrison The games were, on a whole, about as competitive as a game of basketball could be, both beautiful in their skill and talent and br...

Woodrow, Oak Hill may need help in postseason chase

Woodrow, Oak Hill may need help in ...

Last year, Woodrow Wilson (6-3) faced Capital (5-3) in a winner-take-all battle for a potential berth in the Class AAA playoffs. Woodrow took care ...

Brown says Smith among best Big 12 has seen

Brown says Smith among best Big 12 ...

By Dave Morrison It’s not atypical for Geno Smith to breakdown game film as soon as an hour after playing a game. That was the case Saturday. ...

WVU makes record entry into Big 12

WVU makes record entry into Big 12

MORGANTOWN – Welcome to the Big 12 West Virginia? Forget that.  Welcome to West Virginia Big 12. On a record-setting day, that served as the ...

At the helm at Huntington Prep

By Dave Morrison

The games were, on a whole, about as competitive as a game of basketball could be, both beautiful in their skill and talent and brutal in their sheer competitiveness.

It was Mullens, in another era.

Bygone, probably, yet the legend of those days remains. It was kind of a Rucker Park, Appalachian style.

Like the others that grew up on that playground asphalt, Rob Fulford looks back with fondness on those days of his youth, when he found out what it was like to be a man on the basketball court.

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Woodrow, Oak Hill may need help in postseason chase

Last year, Woodrow Wilson (6-3) faced Capital (5-3) in a winner-take-all battle for a potential berth in the Class AAA playoffs.

Woodrow took care of its end, beating Capital 35-0, finishing 5-5 and getting into the playoffs where the Eagles lost at eventual state champion Martinsburg.

However, the Flying Eagles held their own for over a half and even scored the first rushing touchdown the Bulldogs surrendered on the season.

This time, it’s much the same scenario as Woodrow faces a Capital team coming off a huge upset of state runner-up and Kennedy Award-winner Ryan Switzer last week.

While most people feel the Flying Eagles are a virtual guarantee to make the field, even with a loss, Woodrow coach John H. Lilly feels his team is in a must-win situation.

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Brown says Smith among best Big 12 has seen

By Dave Morrison

It’s not atypical for Geno Smith to breakdown game film as soon as an hour after playing a game.

That was the case Saturday.

After putting together a record-setting performance against Baylor Saturday, Smith was breaking down the game tape and already focusing on Texas, this week’s opponent in Austin.

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WVU makes record entry into Big 12

MORGANTOWN – Welcome to the Big 12 West Virginia?

Forget that.  Welcome to West Virginia Big 12.

On a record-setting day, that served as the Mountaineers’ inaugural conference game as member the Big 12, WVU outscored Baylor 70-63 in a game that showcased a lot of offense and little defense.

West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith solidified his grasp on frontrunner status for the Heisman Trophy by putting up video game like numbers. The senior completed 45 of 51 passes for 656 yards and eight touchdowns, all but the attempts setting school records.

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Fayette showdown: Valley, Meadow Bridge put ratings, records on the line

It’s already a Fayette County rivalry, which means that it’s going to be an intense battle anyway.

Throw in the fact that both Valley (4-0) and Meadow Bridge (5-0) are both undefeated and both ranked in the Top 6 in Class A (Meadow Bridge No. 2 and Valley No. 6) and you have the making of a class small school battle Friday night at Meadow Bridge.

There are a lot of different ways to crunch the numbers heading into this game, and obviously the records and rankings are the most significant.

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Oak Hill squares off with Shady Spring

The question is pertinent. Shady Spring coach Vince Culicerto knew it was coming.

How do you stop Oak Hill’s Jalen Jones, the junior sensation who has 830 yards rushing and 13 touchdowns through four games.

“He’s fast and he runs hard,” Culicerto said. “And his line is opening up holes you can drive a truck through. We just have to hit him every time we get a chance. We have to try to contain him. We will definitely have an eye on him wherever he is on the field.”

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WVU, Smith on Magical Mystery Tour

MORGANTOWN – West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith entered Tuesday’s post-practice interview room decked out in a Beatles shirt, the front showing the cover of the Fab Four’s 1969 album ‘Abby Road.’

It was quite fitting. The Mountaineers, led by their Heisman Trophy hopeful signal caller, begin ‘The Long and Winding Road’ through the Big 12 this Saturday, hosting Baylor.

Whether or not this season proves to be a ‘Magical Mystery Tour’ will hinge just on how WVU traverses the rest of the schedule.

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The first word on Valley-Meadow Bridge showdown

It’s already a Fayette County rivalry, which means that it’s going to be an intense battle anyway.

Throw in the fact that both Valley (4-0) and Meadow Bridge (5-0) are undefeated and  ranked in the Top 6 in Class A (Meadow Bridge No. 2 and Valley No. 6) and you have the making of a classic small school battle Friday night at Meadow Bridge.

There are a lot of different ways to crunch the numbers heading into this game, and obviously the records and rankings are the most significant.

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Austin, Mountaineers get by Terps, 31-21

Dave Morrison

MORGANTOWN – When all the cylinders in the West Virginia weren’t firing, the Mountaineers went to the one spark plug they knew would work.

Tavon Austin caught 13 passes for 179 yards and three touchdowns as WVU turned back Maryland 31-21 Saturday at Milan Puskar Stadium.

West Virginia’s high-powered offense, that had averaged 612 yards per game in two previous starts, sputtered, by previous standards, to 363 yards against a Maryland defense that, to West Virginia’s defense, is pretty darned good.

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Woodrow looks to rebound; Meadow Bridge, Valley week before showdown

Woodrow Wilson coach John H. Lilly was not a happy camper Sunday night. And it stood to reason that his players were not happy players early in this week’s practice ahead of the Flying Eagles home game with Ripley Friday night.

Lilly’s consternation came not because his team lost to Spring Valley, 42-21 last week.

It was how the Flying Eagles lost.

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