Clay Battelle, Local Sports, Morgantown, Sports, University

Prep football previews: MHS, UHS look to get over .500

Morgantown at Wheeling Park, 7 p.m.
The Mohigans have been a prep football Jekyll and Hyde this fall — one week it’s a 24 point first half effort, the next it’s a seven-point struggle over four quarters.
After erupting for three touchdowns in the third quarter against Linsly on Sept. 22, the offensive struggles have taken control, with MHS recording just 10 points in its last five quarters.
The offense will certainly need more focus headed into Week 7 as MHS travels to face Wheeling Park and its stout offense, which averages over 50 points per game. The Patriots enter following their first loss of the season, a 57-51 shootout against a Parkersburg team the Mohigans defeated in Week 1.
The Mohigans are looking to rebound from a tough loss of their own, as they dropped a 13-7 defensive struggle against Musselman last Friday.

University at Mountain Ridge (Md.), 7 p.m.
Despite losing starting quarterback Logan Holgorsen to injury, UHS coach John Kelley is confident in his offense heading into Week 7. His concerns revolve more around the defensive end.
As the Hawks prepare to battle Mountain Ridge (Md.) Kelley anticipates a stout challenge for his defensive unit. The Miners rebounded from an 0-2 start to win three straight contests where they have averaged 45 points per game, largely in part to running back Iosefa Pua’auli, who averages over 200 yards per game on the ground.
“The defense has their work cut out for them. They’ve won three games straight and have a Division I recruit at running back. Our defense is going to have real tough time with him,” Kelley said.
UHS enters following a 60-6 rout of St. Albans last Friday which saw the Hawks gain 260 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns in the absence of Holgorsen. The run game operates behind the legs of the dynamic trio of Logan Raber, Anthony Williams and Ben Gribble.

Paden City at Clay-Battelle, 7:30 p.m.

C-B looks to keep its playoff hopes alive as the season encroaches upon its final stretch.
The Cee-Bees know how tough it is to find the Class A playoffs even with just three losses, as they were snubbed in the playoff standings after a 7-3 finish in 2016.
“Everyone is hungry to get out there and keep getting wins,” said senior Nathan Swaniger. “It’s almost as if our backs are against the wall. Everyone is going to go out there every game and try a little bit harder.”
The Cee-Bees will look for their second straight win as they host Paden City, who enter with just one lone win, allowing over 42 points per game defensively, for their 2018 homecoming game.
“It’s been a great week here at Clay-Battelle and the student body has been superb,” coach
Ryan Wilson said. “The thing we stressed to our kids on Monday is that everyone has a job.”