Prep notebook: Early schedule tough on Huntington [The Charleston Gazette, W.Va.]

Aug. 27--No team envies Huntington's position during the opening month of the season. A few may even extend empathy.

The Highlanders start out with three teams that advanced to the Class AAA playoffs last year -- two-time defending champion South Charleston, Spring Valley and Parkersburg. (The other week is an open date.) Those three opponents combined to go 28-8 last year.

Huntington, meanwhile, is trying to turn things around for its program after going 0-10, 1-9 and 1-9 the past three seasons.

In SC tonight, Huntington faces a team that's been riding high and returns a bushel of skill-position players, including quarterback Tyler Harris, who won the Kennedy Award last year as the top player in West Virginia.

"Obviously, South Charleston is a great measuring stick for us, to see where we are as a program," said second-year Huntington coach Billy Seals. "Are we South Charleston's caliber right now? No. We're in a rebuilding phase. We want to compete with teams and be in the game and have a chance in the fourth quarter and maybe make a play and win it.

"Tyler Harris is another one of those kids who, every time he touches the ball, he has a chance to make something happen. Getting Pierria' Henry back, I've told our coaches, is just another weapon you've got to try and defense. They've got so many weapons -- that football program is pick your poison. Coach [John] Messinger's done a great job down there. In my eyes, they're the team to beat until somebody beats them."

In addition to Harris and Henry, the receiver and potential Division I basketball recruit who has recovered from a serious leg problem, the Black Eagles sport 1,400-yard rusher Ray Coleman and receiver Moe Makhene (31 catches, 547 yards, seven touchdowns).

SC may also get another Coleman in the backfield this season, as 6-foot-2, 220-pound Ray-Sheed Coleman, a sack machine on defense and Ray's younger brother, could play some fullback.

"If we line up in a two-back set," Messinger said, "you're going to see both Coleman brothers. We're going to get [Ray-Sheed] some reps."

Messinger isn't worried about having enough reps to go around for his crew of talented playmakers.

"This is not a selfish bunch of kids," he said, "other than the fact they want to win, plain and simple."

Offensive overflow

There's been one constant since neighboring rivals Nitro and Poca resumed their season-opening football series in 2006 -- offense, and plenty of it.

The points and yards have flowed freely the past four seasons, with Nitro winning three of games by scores of 38-35 (in 2008), 48-33 (in 2007) and 40-12 (in 2006). The Dots won last year 20-14.

That 20-14 outcome was actually low-scoring for each team last year, because the Dots wound up allowing 34.6 points per game and Nitro 34.4.

In those four recent meetings, the Wildcats have averaged 434 yards and Poca 341. But all the offense didn't come without a cost -- the teams have also averaged 20 penalties between them in that time.

Nitro expects to lean on the running of Michael Hall, and Poca on versatile quarterback Jason Cuffee.

Rush to judgment

It was an unusual season for Hurricane last year.

The Redskins, who rolled up the rushing yardage in previous seasons with Kennedy Award candidate Terrell Martin, were led by Dustin Wilkerson's total of 386 yards for the entire year.

Don't expect that paucity to continue, starting tonight against Putnam County rival Winfield. Redskins coach Willis May expects more production out of his ball-carriers and hopes for a more traditional and balanced offense.

"We had too many young kids running the ball last year -- three, four sophomores," he said. "We had a bunch of kids growing up and, hopefully, our offensive line is better. We'll find out if we're stronger. Hopefully, we're more aggressive, and I think we'll be able to run the ball.

"We'll do whatever we have to do. If it takes passing, we'll pass it. If it takes running, we'll run it. It's all about giving our kids the best chance. Our system allows us to do that. It's multiple enough that if we've got Terrell Martin, we're going to get him 9 yards a carry and let him run. If we've got Travis Jones, we'll throw the ball all over the lot. Make sure both parts are consistent. I don't know if we're better at one than we are the other."

In last year's 17-16 loss to Winfield, the Redskins outrushed and outpassed the Generals, but Tyler Kincaid's 12-yard interception return for a touchdown gave Winfield the lead for good, which it protected with a late blocked extra point.

Winfield can also be expected to lean on an offensive line that averages nearly 250 pounds.

Indians ambush?

Sissonville nearly pulled the upset at Chapmanville last year, losing 34-19 to a Tigers squad that would later reach the Class AA playoffs, while the Indians went 3-7.

The Tigers are again expected to contend for a high playoff seed, especially with the addition of Dustin Botsch, a 1,000-yard rusher who transferred from Logan. But they probably know not to look past the inexperienced Indians.

Last year, Sissonville outrushed Chapmanville 255-177 and played a solid game in most respects -- the Indians had no turnovers and just three penalties for 15 yards, while the Tigers lost three fumbles.

But Tyler Cox's 92-yard kickoff return for a TD gave Chapmanville a spark and the Indians wound up 0-of-6 passing and couldn't mount a comeback.

Gilbert gauge

More often than not, a game against Gilbert serves as a gauge for Buffalo.

Beat the Lions, tonight's opponents, and the Bison is a good bet for the Class A playoffs. Lose to Gilbert and Buffalo might be on the outside when postseason berths are awarded.

Three times in the previous four years (since the teams resumed their regular-season series in 2006), that's been the barometer for the Bison, including last year's 40-0 setback to the Lions.

Buffalo had two distinct problems in last year's game with Gilbert -- winning the line of scrimmage and bell security. Gilbert led in rushing yardage 368-46 and Buffalo lost all four of its fumbles.

Also last year, Buffalo saw starting quarterback Caleb Dunn knocked out of the game with a concussion and freshman Levi Jordan was thrust into duty.

Reach Rick Ryan at 304-348-5175 or [email protected].

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