Huntington High SchoolÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Tayveon Wilson (11) lines up against a Martinsburg defender on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023, at Bob Sang Stadium in Huntington.
Huntington High SchoolÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Tayveon Wilson (11) lines up against a Martinsburg defender on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023, at Bob Sang Stadium in Huntington.
Before the first quote is uttered from Huntington High football coach Billy Seals or MartinsburgÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Dave Walker, an examination of some statistics is fascinating.
The Highlanders and Bulldogs each enter FridayÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s 7:30 p.m. game at Bob Sang Field with a record of 0-1. Huntington High lost 49-0 to Oakland (Tennessee) last week at George Rogers Clark High School in Winchester, Kentucky. Martinsburg fell 28-0 at home against Camden (New Jersey).
ThatÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s rare for the West Virginia Class AAAA powers. The Bulldogs last lost an opener Aug. 28, 2016, 26-24 to Woodson High of Washington, D.C. The Highlanders fell to Spring Valley 29-28 in the first game of the 2022 season.
Camden handed the Bulldogs a shutout defeat for the first time since Oct. 14, 2005, when Jefferson won 32-0. It was MartinsburgÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s first loss on the field since Nov. 26, 2022, when it lost at Huntington High in the playoffs. (The Bulldogs later forfeited a victory over Musselman on Oct. 4, 2024.)
Martinsburg hadnÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t lost a season opener nor been under .500 since 2016, when it opened with a 26-24 loss to Woodson. ThatÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s also the same year the Bulldogs last started 0-2, also falling to Sherando (Virginia) 21-14.
Just as astonishing, Camden was led by a freshman quarterback in Gregory Wyche, who passed for 178 yards and three touchdowns.
Huntington HighÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s margin of defeat against Oakland was its worst since a 49-0 setback at Point Pleasant on Nov. 20, 2015. The loss was the HighlandersÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ first time being shut out since a 36-0 loss to Spring Valley on Nov. 16, 2018, and the most points given up since a 62-21 defeat to Martinsburg on Dec. 4, 2021.
Both the Highlanders and Bulldogs made mistakes with the football. Huntington High gave up two kick returns and one fumble return for touchdowns. Martinsburg committed three turnovers. Both teams were victimized in the second quarter, when the Highlanders allowed 22 points and the Bulldogs yielded 20.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œYou canÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t make mistakes any time, but particularly not against a good team,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Walker said. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œWe made too many mistakes.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
Walker said he was relatively pleased with MartinsburgÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s defense and overall effort. He took blame for not having the Bulldogs as prepared as they mightÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ve been.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œWe gave up some big plays,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Walker said. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œThey have some really good athletes who made plays.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
Seals offered a similar assessment of HuntingtonÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s performance against Oakland, based in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œTheyÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™re a great football team,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Seals said of the Patriots. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œThey have two guys committed to Southeastern Conference schools.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
Seals said the Highlanders didnÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t perform up to their standards to give themselves a chance.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œWe made too many mistakes, gave up too many big plays,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Seals said. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œYou canÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t do that against a good football team.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
Martinsburg certainly qualifies as a good team.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œThey set the standard in the state,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Seals said.
Either the Highlanders or Bulldogs has won the large-school state title each year since 2021, with Huntington High capturing the 2022 championship. In 2023 and 2024, Martinsburg beat the Highlanders in the semifinals and in the championship game in 2021. Huntington knocked off the Bulldogs in the 2022 semifinals.
Huntington HighÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s output was modest against Oakland. Tayveon Wilson, whoÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s committed to Clemson as a wide receiver, started his first game at quarterback and went 7 of 15 for 56 yards and ran 10 times for 52 yards. Deuce Olden caught three passes for 38 yards. The Highlanders were outgained 412 yards to 155.
Martinsburg generated a bit more offense against Camden but was hurt by three sacks.
