Parkersburg’s Sylas Cheuvront (2) carries the ball throughout a recreation in opposition to Riverside earlier this season at Stadium Area. (Photograph by Brian Cox Images)
PARKERSBURG — Issues go from powerful to more durable for fourth-year Parkersburg head coach Matt Kimes and the Huge Reds.
Following a 37-30 setback final week at Stadium Area to present No. 2 George Washington, which is the lone remaining undefeated quad-A program except for fellow 6-0 and top-rated Morgantown, the pink and white face one other Mountain State Athletic Convention problem this week with a street journey to Bob Sang Stadium to tangle with No. 3 Huntington.
Head man Billy Seals’ Highlanders bounced again from a season-opening 49-0 setback to Oakland within the Volunteer State by knocking off two-time defending state champ Martinsburg (22-20), Spring Valley (38-7), Hurricane (68-20) and after a bye a 38-6 victory final week at Capital.
HHS dual-threat senior signal-caller Tayveon Wilson, who was Clemson’s first 2026 tight finish commit, related on 11 of 14 makes an attempt for 160 yards with 4 touchdowns whereas dashing six instances for 35 yards versus the Cougars.
“He’s a very good soccer participant,” mentioned coach Kimes. “They’re getting the ball in his arms each play placing him at quarterback. He’s not your prototypical sit-in-the-pocket quarterback, however he’s received a pleasant launch and a robust arm. They create a whole lot of challenges. That’s for positive.”
The operating again brother tandem of Trevon Okonkwo (10-107-1) and MeShawn Okonkwo (7-53) allowed Wilson to have his most effective recreation thus far versus Capital.
“We’re fairly good. Hunter Leavitt (team-high six go breakups) might be going to be restricted or out. Apart from that we’re as wholesome as we’ve been,” Kimes replied when requested concerning the damage entrance.
“Guys getting again and staying wholesome to this point. We’re fairly wholesome and firing on all cylinders so to talk and excited to go see if we are able to go compete just a little bit.”
The one frequent opponents are Spring Valley and Hurricane. The Timberwolves beat the Huge Reds, 30-20, after PHS opened with a 44-7 loss at Morgantown. PHS began its three-game win streak in opposition to the Redskins (45-16) after which beat rival South (20-17) and Riverside (48-0) earlier than arising quick to GW.
“I believe that’s the energy of their staff this yr offensively is their offensive line,” Kimes added. “They’ve received guys which are returning and a whole lot of expertise, and large, and powerful, and athletic and taking part in the suitable method upfront. They play they usually end each block. They appear to get pleasure in ending blocks.
“They play with that proper perspective. We’re going to should match it. We’re going to should match the physicality and they will try to run the ball to setup all the things else. That’s the place their focus is and that’s what we’re going to try to give attention to is attempt to gradual their run recreation down the very best we are able to.”
The Huge Purple protection additionally must deal with wideouts Andreas Reese, who had three TDs on his 5 grabs that lined 68 yards, and Kellen Rife (2-49-1).
Though this week presents one other tall process for the Huge Reds, coach Kimes continues to be inspired with the general development of his squad.
Versus the GW Patriots, PHS opened a 17-6 lead on a Cole Sisk area purpose, a Sylas Cheuvront landing run and a Brady Thorn receiving rating from quarterback Alex Greer.
Regardless of a 17-9 halftime cushion, GW pushed forward 23-17 earlier than Ethan Jones raced 76 yards to paydirt late within the third to tie it.
“I believe after the Morgantown recreation our message was that there’s a reasonably large hole if they’re a state title contending staff, we received a whole lot of room to develop and shut that hole,” Kimes mentioned. “I felt like we’ve executed that during the last six weeks. We’ve gotten higher each week and performed most likely our greatest recreation of the yr final week in opposition to GW. We performed very well first half and got here out starting of the third quarter just a bit bit unfocused. Perhaps didn’t come out of half with the identical depth that we wanted to they usually took benefit of it and type of went on just a little run there. It was a 14-point swing they usually had the momentum. It was type of forwards and backwards after that, however we confirmed some resilience and received again in it and had an opportunity to win on the finish with the ball going inside their pink zone, and simply didn’t end. I believe we take a whole lot of positives out of that recreation.
“It proved that we are able to compete with among the prime groups within the state. Hopefully we are able to construct upon that this week and proceed to develop in apply. Like I instructed these guys and I’ll hold telling them if we hold enhancing each week, and you understand not taking part in our greatest soccer now, however hold enhancing and we’ll be taking part in our greatest soccer right here in a month we ought to be a troublesome out for somebody within the playoffs. There was only a play right here and there in each the Spring Valley and the GW recreation the place if these performs don’t occur or we carry out our project or if we don’t have psychological errors possibly we win each of these video games and we’re sitting right here with just a little bit completely different report and just a little completely different outlook. We’re nonetheless making an attempt to determine easy methods to win and it’s onerous to win, particularly with the groups we play and we now have an enormous problem once more this week.”
Jones (71-504-6), Greer (61-453-4) and Cheuvront (31-178-6) have been the principle cogs for the PHS dashing assault.
The sophomore QB is finishing 48.2% of his makes an attempt for 535 yards with six touchdowns and as many picks. Thorn (14-212-2) and Tytan Parsons (11-133-2) have been his prime targets.
Mike linebacker Devin Widman continues to steer the PHS protection with 51 tackles and three sacks. Adam Elder has two sacks and 9 tackles for loss whereas Cheuvront has two blocked kicks.
The Highlanders will look to maintain the great instances rolling versus the Huge Reds on homecoming as HHS has received the final 4 conferences and holds a 16-14 benefit within the all-time collection.
Contact Jay Bennett at jbennett@newsandsentinel.com
