Parkersburg South heads to Princeton to close out regular season

Parkersburg South’s Collin Hayes, left, looks to pass as teammate Eli Bartley blocks during last week’s game at Spring Mills.
(Photo by David Pennock)

PARKERSBURG — The wacky world of high school football has reached the final week of the regular season for West Virginia schools.

The latest drama gives Parkersburg South an opportunity to possibly host a first-round game in the postseason if outcomes turn out in the Patriots’ favor on Friday night.

Several days after Spring Mills defeated Parkersburg South last Friday, the Cardinals had to forfeit four wins after using an ineligible player. As a result, South (5-4) moved up one slot in the Class AAAA rankings to No. 8 as it prepares for Friday’s game at Class AAA No. 2 Princeton (9-0).

A week ago at this time, South was the No. 9 seed and would have to travel to No. 8 George Washington. The tables have turned because if the playoffs started today, the Patriots host GW at Erickson All-Sports Facility.

“In order to host we definitely need to come out with a win,” South coach Nate Tanner said before learning of the penalty assessed to Spring Mills.

South would prefer to control its own fate. Princeton, which enters the contest averaging 52.6 points per game, is coming off an 81-6 win over Greenbrier East last Friday.

Our kids will play hard regardless – they don’t go into a game intimidated or scared,” said Tanner, who is 3-2 versus the Tigers in head-to-head meetings. South leads the all-time series, 10-3.

“Princeton has a lot more to lose than what we do,” Taner continued. “I believe they are trying to go undefeated for the first time in school history.”

Since West Virginia high schools went to a 10-game regular season, Tanner is spot on.

The Tigers of long ago finished 6-0-3 in 1926 and 8-0 in 1943.

“Princeton has several good playmakers,” Tanner said. “From what we have seen on film, they’ve made a lot of big plays. We will need to have a bend-not-break mentality.”

Public enemy No. 1 is Princeton’s Marquel Lowe, who has rushed for 676 yards with 13 touchdowns and caught 16 passes for 386 yards for another six TDs. On the defensive side of the ball, Lowe ranks second on the team in tackles with 46 and has 7.5 tackles for loss.

Backfield mate Daniel Jennings leads the team in rushing with 786 yards to go with 11 TDs. At quarterback, Chance Barker has completed 69% (88-of-128) of his pass attempts with 26 completions resulting in TDs. Barker has only thrown two picks.

Defending the passing game was a point of emphasis for South.

“Our Kryptonite was defending the perimeter last week – we really struggled with that,” Tanner said. ”

Continuing to gain ground in the South rushing department is Eli Bartley, who surpassed 1,000 yards for the season in just eight games after finishing with 104 yards on 22 carries against Spring Mills. For the year, Bartley has rushed for 1,036 yards with 14 TDs.

Contact Kerry Patrick at kpatrick@newsandsentinel.com