Huntington's Avonte Crawford (3) cuts across the thirty yard line as the Cabell Midland High School football team takes on Huntington on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, in Ona.
HuntingtonÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Keegan Sack (1) runs between Cabell MidlandÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Marcus Dean (15) and Kanon Dillon (22) during a game on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, in Ona.
Huntington's Avonte Crawford (3) cuts across the thirty yard line as the Cabell Midland High School football team takes on Huntington on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, in Ona.
HuntingtonÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Keegan Sack (1) runs between Cabell MidlandÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Marcus Dean (15) and Kanon Dillon (22) during a game on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, in Ona.
ThatÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s stands for Healthy Huntington High School football. The Highlanders (4-1) were healed up for the first time all season Friday, much to the chagrin of Cabell Midland, which suffered a 52-7 walloping in the Battle for the Shield rivalry at the Castle in Ona.
The margin of victory was the largest in the history of the series.
Taviun Chandler, a 6-foot-3, 170-pound senior wide receiver defensive back, performed well, returning a fumble 47 yards for a touchdown and catching a 35-yard pass to set up another score.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œReally good player for us,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Seals said of Chandler. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œHe continues to get better. Jamari Tubbs continues to get better. Tayveon WilsonÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s back full speed. HeÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s been out for three weeks. Zah Jackson continues to make plays. Avonte Crawford is healthy. WeÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™re finally a healthy football team and we havenÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t been that way all year. WeÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™re continuing to get better.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
Huntington HighÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s healings came at a bad time for the Knights (0-5), on a six-game losing streak dating to 2023, the longest the program has experienced since 1998.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œItÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s the first game back for a few people,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ said Crawford, who completed 7 of 9 passes for 110 yards and two touchdowns. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œInjuries happen. ItÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s part of the game. ItÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s feels good to be 100 percent healthy.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
The night wasnÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t all bad for Cabell Midland. Trailing 14-0, the Knights put together an 11-play, 55-yard drive that began with 5:33 left in the first quarter and ended at 10:22 of the second when Chandler returned the fumble for a touchdown.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œWe just did a poor job at defensive end on that one drive,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Seals said. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œOur ends were running up field and getting trapped. We really didnÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t make any changes. We just got better at what we do.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
Huntington High outgained Cabell Midland 378-132, with 80 of the KnightsÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ yards coming on a touchdown pass from Eian Duffy to Jefrey Lewis with 4:41 left in the game.
Seals said he was pleased with his teamÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s effort.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œAny time youÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™re 1-0 at the end of the week, itÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s a good week,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Seals said.
Crawford said he was ecstatic to win but only to an extent.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œIÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™m happy,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Crawford said. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œIÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™m never satisfied. I think we can get a lot better. We matured a lot and have more discipline. We still had some stupid penalties, but IÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™m happy with where we are.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
Both teams return to action at 7:30 p.m. Friday, the Highlanders at Spring Valley (3-2), the Knights at Musselman (0-5).
