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Photo by Kristin Mazgaj
Frontier’s Lucas Cox (6) runs with the ball during a high school football game against Bridgeport earlier this season.
SARAHSVILLE — It’s hard to imagine a more successful beginning to a high school football career than the one Shenandoah rookie quarterback Braxton Barnett has experienced in the first two weeks of the 2022 football season.
Barnett has led the Zeps to back-to-back, lopsided wins over Newcomerstown (48-8) and Shadyside (38-20) by passing for more than 500 yards and a staggering nine touchdowns.
Hunter Yates has hauled in four touchdown passes over the first two games while Brenden Portman has collected three.
The Zeps success hasn’t all came via the passing game as the running back tandem of Jacob Feldner and Sam Townsend have each tallied a 100-yard rushing game.
After the sudden resignation of head coach Johnny Jones prior to the win over Shadyside, Josh Lowery has taken over the head coaching duties.
Waterford comes into the game looking to get back on track after a tough, 46-22 loss last week to an outstanding Williamstown team.
The Wildcats got an excellent game from junior Dylan Taylor who accounted for all three of Waterford’s scores, with two of them coming from 65-yards out.
Senior quarterback Jake Pantelidis leads the Waterford offense which all features all-purpose back Lane Cline as well as a pair of capable receivers in Gaibe Ponchak and Mason Heiss.
Waterford, which opened the season with an 18-6 win over Crooksville, has won the last two battles against Shenandoah including last year’s 14-6 win at home.
MARIETTA (0-2) VS ATHENS (0-2)
ATHENS — After a rough couple of weeks to begin the 2022 campaign, the Marietta Tigers will look to score their first win of the season Friday night when they travel to Athens to battle the also winless Bulldogs.
The Tigers struggled in their season opener as they fell to River (52-22) and things didn’t get much better at all in week number two as visiting West Muskingum hung a 33-2 loss on the Orange and Black.
The Tigers lone points came when Junior Smith blocked a punt that squirted out of the end zone for a safety.
Smith also came up with an interception on defense for the Jason Schob-led Tigers.
Marietta figures to start freshman Kinzyn Lutchmansingh once again at quarterback while Jakel Shelton, Seth Britton and Bryce Dotson should all see plenty of touches against Athens. The season has began in similar fashion for Athens as they have lost to Philo (47-6) and Gallia Academy (38-15).
Key players for the Bulldogs include quarterback Landon Wheatley, backs Braeden Young and Anthony Sutton as well as receiver Marcus Stevers.
Last year the Tigers came away with a thrilling, 36-28 overtime win over Athens at Don Drumm Stadium,
BEALLSVILLE (1-1) AT FRONTIER (1-1)
NEW MATAMORAS –Frontier rallied last week for a big last-second win over Miller giving the Cougars a whole lot of momentum as they head into their home opener Friday night against Beallsville.
Senior Lucas Cox scored a touchdown and a two-point conversion with just 47 seconds left in the game to lead the Cougars to the thrilling 21-20 win last week.
Cox has rushed for more than 100-yards in each of his first two games as Cougar starting quarterback.
Other key players to watch for Frontier are receiver Brenden Buck, who hauled in a 41-yard touchdown pass from Cox as well as backs Liam Benson, Noah West and Blake Brooker.
Beallsville comes into the game with a tad less momentum after a 54-0 thumping last week at the hands of Newcomerstown.
The Blue Devils, who opened the season with a 41-6 win over Millersport, are led by quarterback Garrett Perkins, running back Conner Hagen and receiver Brandon Louden.
Last season Frontier rolled to a 66-8 win at Beallsville.
BELPRE (0-2) AT ALEXANDER (1-1)
ALBANY — After a pair of disappointing losses at home to begin the 2022 season, Belpre will hit the road to take on Alexander for the first of three consecutive road games for the Jimmie Bell-coached Golden Eagles.
Belpre has failed to score a point thru the first eight quarters of the season, suffering losses to first Warren (62-0) and then Meigs (50-0) last Friday at Ralph Holder Stadium.
Among key players to watch for Belpre include quarterback Willis Starcher and running backs Jake Alkire and Carter Cox.
Alexander comes into the game on the heels of a 43-14 loss after edging Eastern 14-13 in their season opener.
Last season the Spartans rolled to a 55-14 win over Belpre.
CALDWELL (2-0) AT STRASBURG (0-2)
STRASBURG — Second-season Caldwell head coach Chance Rucker and his Redskins will look to make it a perfect three-for-three when they make the trip up Interstate-77 Friday night to take on winless Strausburg.
Caldwell got off to a good start with a 17-6 win over Buckeye Trail in week one and looked even better in week number two when they blanked Steubenville Catholic Central (48-0) in their home opener.
Junior quarterback Cale Bender has rushed for a pair of touchdowns in both games while the ‘Skins have also gotten strong starts from senior running backs Tyce DeVolld and Marhsal Sayre as well as sophomore receivers Alex Herlan and Ethan Crock and senior Braxton Dudley.
Sayre had a great game last week rushing for 136 yards and three touchdowns on just 12 carries.
Strausburg comes into the game still lookng for their first win after lopsided losses to Rittman (32-6) and Waterloo (40-14)
Last years game between the two schools was an epic shootout as Caldwell outscored the Tigers 61-40 at the Noble County Fairgrounds.
RIVER (2-0) AT MONROE CENTRAL (0-2)
WOODSFIELD — Heading into the 2022 campaign a lot of folks pointed the finger towards River as one of the area teams to keep an eye on and through two weeks the Pilots have certainly lived up to the billing.
After rolling to a win over Division III Marietta (52-22) in their season opener on the road, the D-7 Pilots stayed in their own division to down the powerhouse Trimble Tomcats (28-18) in week number two.
Quarterback Kabel Isaly leads a solid River offense that also features running back Finn Bowers and receivers Ty Long, Lucas Dennis and River Thompson.
The Seminoles come into the game on the heels of a wild loss to Bridgeport (50-44) a week ago in a game that saw the two teams combine for six fourth quarter touchdowns.
Monroe Central held a 22-point lead at one time in the game but were unable to hold off the Bulldogs.
Sophomore quarterback Tucker Howell has been brilliant for the Josh Ischy-coached Seminoles as he passed for five touchdowns last week alone.
Key targets for Howell include Carter Knowlton, Logan Powell and Xavier Kinney.
Last year the Pilots downed the ‘Noles 48-26.
MORGAN (2-0) AT PHILO (1-1)
DUNCAN FALLS — For the first time since 2007, the Morgan Raiders are winners of their first two games to open the season.
The Chase Bowman-led Raiders will look to make it three-in-a-row Friday night when they make the short trip to Duncan Falls to take on the Philo Electrics.
Morgan opened the season with a solid 54-34 win over River View and then downed Warren 28-24 in week number two in a game that saw all 52 points scored in the opening half.
The Raiders got outstanding performances from their skill players including quarterback Logan Niceswanger who completed 16-of-22 pass attempts for 283 yards and a score while also rushing for another.
Receiver Kole Seari hauled in 7 pass receptions for 137 yards while running back Carson Copeland carried the rock 22 times for 127 yards and a touchdown.
The Electrics downed Athens (47-6) in their opener before dropping a hard-fought 14-13 decision last week to Carrolton.
Key players for Philo include the quarterbacking duo of Case Fink and Demetrius Strickland as well as backs Blake Linkous and Max Zimmerman and receivers Cader Searls and Griffin Wells.
The two teams did not meet the past two seasons with Philo winning the last matchup between the two 49-13 back in 2019.
RAVENSWOOD (1-0) AT ST. MARYS (0-1)
ST. MARYS W.Va. — The Red Devils opened the season in grand fashion last Friday with a 48-0 shellacking of Magnolia.
St. Marys comes into week number two looking to even their record after falling to Roane County (30-20) on the road for the second straight season.
The Blue Devils fell way behind early only to make a spirited second half comeback thanks in large part to 143 second half rushing yards from Joey Ramsey.
St. Marys quarterback Luke Powell fired a pair of second half touchdowns including one to Chance Cox.
Last season on the road the Blue Devils downed the Red Devils 30-14.
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