Third time is a charm for Jackets', Wheeling Central
Monday, November 28, 2005
By JIM BUTTA - The Parkersburg News & The Parkersburg Sentinel

PARKERSBURG - Twice last year, Class A powers Williamstown and Wheeling Central appeared headed to a showdown on the gridiron.

The first meeting -a regular season game - was cancelled when flood waters ravaged the Ohio Valley.

Weirton Madonna spoiled the second one in the semifinal round of the playoffs when it upset Williamstown.

"We thought for sure we'd be playing Williamstown," said Maroon Knights head coach Mike Young. "But, the flood forced us to cancel out of the regular season game and then Madonna upset them in the playoffs."

Wheeling Central went on to defeat Madonna by a 34-7 score to capture its second state title in three years.

"I don't think it matters," said coach Terry Smith of Williamstown (13-0). "We would have liked to play because you can use a game like that as a measuring stick to see how far your program has come."

Both coaches will get that opportunity at 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, when the teams meet for the Class A championship at Wheeling Island Stadium.

"We may be ranked No. 1, but we are a huge underdog in this game," added Smith, now 24-1 as head coach of the No. 1 ranked Yellowjackets. "We are going to be playing this game on their home field and they are the defending state champions."

The No. 15 Maroon Knights (9-4) won't be the only returning state champions looking to keep a grip on the titles they won in 2004, however.

Also back for another shot at the championships will be Class AAA kingpin Morgantown as well as Class AA title holder Bluefield.

The Class AAA final is a rematch of the 1998 championship featuring a then-J.R. House led Nitro team against Chris Yura and his Mohigan teammates from Morgantown. House, now playing his football at West Virginia University after spending six years playing professional baseball, and Yura are both gone, but there will be plenty of offensive stars on both teams when they meet at 12 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 3.

No. 3 Nitro (12-1) is led by Kennedy Award favorite Josh Culbertson and his closest competitor for the award, wide receiver Chris Fulmer, while No. 1 Morgantown (13-0) is led by junior quarterback Charlie Russell and a defense which has allowed only 32 points in its first three playoff games.

In Class AA, No. 11 Bluefield (8-4) will be making its fourth straight appearance in the 7:30 p.m. Friday contest while the No. 4 Red Riders (12-1) will be playing in the championship game for the first time since a player named Quincy Wilson led them to a 20-17 victory over DuPont in the 1998 title tilt.

"Congratulations to all of you," said WVSSAC executive director Mike Hayden. "You all did a great job of getting here and none of you will be losers despite the outcome this weekend."

The Super Six-as the trio of high school championships have come to be known-will again take place at Wheeling Island Stadium. Fans attending the games can begin purchasing advanced tickets today while fans unable to attend may listen to the game on the MetroNews network or watch the games on Charter Communications.

Channel 19 will carry the Class AAA game live on Saturday while the Class AA and Class A games will be aired on a tape-delayed basis-Class AA from 10 p.m. until 1 a.m. on Dec. 2 and Class A from 9 p.m. until midnight on Dec. 3.