Hurricane Helene caused a huge mess and a plethora of adjustments for local high school football programs Friday and Saturday, allowing Tri-State communities to show their teamwork and ingenuity.
The most notable change featured Ironton moving its game with Canadian opponent Clarkson North from storm-damaged Tanks Memorial Stadium to Green High in Franklin Furnace, Ohio, two-and-one-half hours before kickoff.
Several games were switched from Friday to Saturday, including Portsmouth at Chesapeake, Gallia Academy at Coal Grove and Johnson Central at Boyd County. One game, Point Pleasant at Mingo Central, was canceled.
Fairland adjusted for its home game with South Point when a tornado warning ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥” rotation was detected in the clouds eight miles north of the school ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥” moving kickoff from 7 to 8 p.m. and making several alterations to accommodate the homecoming festivities.
ChesapeakeÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s homecoming dance took place Saturday after the 6 p.m. football game, to the chagrin of some parents. The contest was played without the bands or cheerleaders.
Spring ValleyÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s football field appeared more suited to its formidable bass fishing team at 3:45 p.m. Friday. The City of Ceredo, though, pumped out the standing water before the 7:30 p.m. kickoff against George Washington. Timberwolves athletic director Tim George praised the C-K group for its effort and also GWÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s team for leaving the visitorÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s locker room ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œnearly spotlessÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ despite playing in the mud.
COACH SPEAK: Ana Carr is the new swimming coach at Huntington High.
South Point girls soccer coach Summer Collins won her 75th career game. Spenser Smith is the new softball coach at Unioto.
AMAZING STATS OF THE WEEK: Former Gallia Academy punter Andrew Toler of Rose Hullman won the Heartland Conference special teams player of the week honor for the second consecutive week after averaging 48.3 yards on seven punts, including a 70-yarder that went out of bounds at the 1-yard line. An NCAA Division III All-American, Toler leads the nation in punting average at 48.18 yards per kick.
Bridgeport football extended its streak of non-losing seasons to a West Virginia record 57 with a 48-0 victory over Robert C. Byrd. Riverside attempted a 97-yard field goal Friday in a 56-20 victory over South Charleston. The play essentially served as a punt and was returned 40 yards for a touchdown.
Chesapeake volleyballÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Abbey Isaacs made her 500th career dig, as did Rock HillÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Samantha Bamer. Rock HillÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s JÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ynn Risner made her 1,000th career kill. Greenup County volleyballÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Peyton Powell made her 700th career kill. Portsmouth Notre DameÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Lyndsey Schaefer recorded her 1,000th assist. South PointÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Gracie Carmon turned in her 500th career assist. SouthernÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Jaylynn Hupp issued her 1,000th career assist.
South Point girls soccerÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Jasmyn Jones scored her 100th career goal. Trimble beat Southern in football for the 25th consecutive time. The Tomcats lead the series 40-4. Zane Trace defeated Piketon 23-0 in boys soccer. Aidyn Danison tied a program record with seven goals in UniotoÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s 13-0 win over Southeastern.
Coal Grove footballÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Kaden Murphy carried 13 times for 232 yards against Gallia Academy. Teammate Caden Turner ran for 124 yards and four two-point conversions. Fairview plays two football games in five days, having played Powell County on Monday and going to Nicholas County Friday.
Recruiting roundup
COMMITMENTS: Spring Valley girls basketball players Allie Daniels (West Viginia Wesleyan) and Ella Giles (West Liberty). Girls basketball players Addie Davis of St. Marys (West Virginia Wesleyan), Daysha Reid of Portsmouth (Georgetown College).
OFFERS: Fairland footballÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Quintin Cremeans, Jack Hayden and Kam Kitts (University of Pikeville).
VISITS: Huntington High footballÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Tayveon Wilson (Virginia Tech) and Titus Pratt (Morehead State). Spring Valley softballÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Sydney Turner (Marshall). Rock Hill footballÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Brody Simpkins (Eastern Kentucky). Ashland footballÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Cam Davis (Georgetown College). South Point footballÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Brayden Hanshaw (Morehead State) and trackÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Emma Layne and Derrick Taylor (Marshall).
NOTES, QUOTES, ANECDOTES: Former Huntington High star Mikal Dawson was named a captain of Marshall UniversityÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s menÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s basketball team. Mingo Central is seeking a football opponent for Oct. 11.
Fairland (5-0) is the lone undefeated high school football team in the Tri-State. AshlandÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s boys and girls won the East Carter Invitational cross country meet. Rock HillÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s boys won the Cross the Creek cross country meet at Washington Courthouse.
Chesapeake basketball star Kate Ball was voted the schoolÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s homecoming queen. South Gallia allowed all who graduated from the school or now-defunct Southwestern or Hannan Trace into FridayÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s homecoming football game with Portsmouth Notre Dame for free.
West Virginia UniversityÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s highest-graded football players through four weeks were former Spring Valley tackle Wyatt Milum on offense and former Ironton linebacker Reid Carrico on defense. St. Marys won the Little Kanawha Conference golf title. IrontonÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s boys and FairlandÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s girls won Ohio Valley Conference golf championships.
