Grafton is better than its record

Grafton is better than its record

West Virginia Class AA No. 3 Herbert Hoover will take on No. 14 Grafton at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at University of Charleston Stadium in Charleston.

The Huskies (9-1) should roll over the .500 Bearcats (5-5), right?

Better take a long look at why Grafton's record is average before judgment is passed on the scrappy Taylor County team.

Starting out the year, as most teams do, Coach Mike Skinner thought the Bearcats could win every game.

"I really thought we matched up well with every team on our schedule," Skinner said.

"But we ran into some good competition in the middle, lost a couple of linemen along the way, and we feel fortunate to finish where we did."

After a 2-0 start with wins over Philip Barbour and Lewis County, Grafton went on a five-game skid before rebounding to win the last three games.

During that five-game stretch, the Bearcats played four playoff teams -- Berkeley Springs, Magnolia, Liberty-Harrison and Winfield.

The only opponents they overmatched them were Berkeley Springs and Winfield, but Skinner thinks the Bridgeport loss is the one that turned the team around.

"That game really sparked us," Skinner said.

"Our team did a complete turn around after that."

Skinner, who is in his 28th season as head coach, leads his team into the playoffs for the first time since 2001 when they were bounced out early.

Looking back at recent history, Grafton made the semifinals in 1999, the state finals in 1997, and were crowned state champs in 1984 -- one of three state football titles for the school.

This year, the Bearcats were led on the field by senior quarterback Andy Leach.

Leach has completed 55 passes for 1,188 yards, 10 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
His favorite target is Luke Boyles with 28 receptions for 366 yards and two scores.

Skinner has three running backs who will touch the ball at any given moment.

Junior Corey Westerman had the bulk of the carries and the yards, racking up 427 yards on 80 carries, with seven total touchdowns -- five rushing, two receiving.

Jared Shaw carried the ball 76 times for 362 yards and one score. James Willis carried just 39 times but picked up 321 yards and scored four touchdowns.

Leach has run for 236 yards.

Skinner said that he doesn't believe his team has played against a team like Hoover.

"They can cause you a lot of problems in a hurry," Skinner said. "We are going to have to stop their running game if we expect to win the game."

The new surface at UC Stadium will not alter Skinner's approach to the game.

In fact, the Bearcats played on similar turf at Fairmont and Bridgeport.

When asked if Grafton would try to run or pass more on Saturday, Skinner laughed.

"We are going to do whatever we have to do to win," Skinner said.