W.Va. Prep Report: Playoff Week 1

A little time can go a long way.

That’s what John Marshall Coach Mike Linsky is saying after spending a few hours with University of Charleston Coach Tony DeMeo, picking up pointers about his triple-option offense.

“He’s a football junkie,” said Linsky, whose ninth-seeded Monarchs (8-2) visit University of Charleston Stadium on Friday night for a first-round playoff game against No. 8 South Charleston (8-2). “He could talk football for hours and hours and hours.”

Linsky knows a little about offense himself, winning a Class A state title at Duval in 1982 and the 1996 Class AAA state title with the Monarchs. A former proponent of the wing-T, Linsky said his offense has evolved into a more wide-open attack with shotgun formation.

“If we run, we run out of the shotgun,” Linsky said.

Sound familiar?

That’s what the Black Eagles and Monarchs are faced with on Friday.

South Charleston will put the game in the hands of senior quarterback Shaad Coleman, who has thrown for more than 1,300 yards with 14 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He has five receivers with at least 10 receptions each.

He has met his match with JM junior quarterback Cy Mozingo.

“He falls right in line with our other quarterbacks,” Linsky said. “The only thing right now that separates him from being the best we’ve ever had is that he’s not very big.”

The Monarchs have boasted All-Staters Jarod Rine — now in the Baltimore Orioles’ farm system with the Class A Frederick (Md.) Keys — and Zach Amedro, a record-setting QB who graduated in May, but not before throwing for almost 3,000 yards as a senior at JM with 33 touchdown passes. Amedro is a freshman at Appalachian State.

Mozingo’s numbers are modest by comparison — 134-of-230 (.583) for 1,681 yards with 12 touchdowns and eight interceptions.

His top pass catcher is sophomore Logan Jarrett, but barely. Jarrett has 35 catches for 457 yards and two touchdowns. Sophomore Mark Sampson has 33 receptions for 548 yards and six scores.

The running attack is balanced as well, with senior Evan Hewitt rushing for 545 yards on 79 carries and 11 scores and junior Josh Brady running for 469 yards on 80 carries and seven touchdowns.

Diversity is just what the doctor ordered for the Monarchs, who could see a mirror image when Friday’s game kicks off.

“We still run the triple option and run the standard trap and chase,” Linsky said. “We have two backs (Hewitt and Brady) who are capable.

“We had South Charleston’s film of Spring Valley last weekend. There’s no question they have some athletes. I’m not sure yet what they’re trying to do with them. You have one formation one play and another formation another play.”

The Black Eagles are led by Jeremy Booker and Dominique Green, with just under 20 catches apiece. Will Collins, Shane Hall and Tommy Spurlock all have at least 10 catches.

Tailback Spurlock, who rushed for 1,000 yards as a junior, has fewer than 800 this year.

Booker said all of the Black Eagles are working toward one end — winning.

“Players don’t worry about carries,” Booker said. “If one player is doing well, then that means somebody else is doing his job. It all plays out. Everybody plays together and does their jobs."
Wheeling

Only five Northern Panhandle teams qualified for the State with four of them playing on the road. In Class AAA only John Marshall will play in the postseason, while in Class AA, Weir will play at home, while Magnolia travels to Princeton to take on Mount View. In Class A, defending champ Wheeling Central and runner-up Weirton Madonna both return but will have to travel.

FRIDAY GAME

John Marshall Monarchs (8-2) vs South Charleston Black Eagles (8-2) at Laidley Field – The Monarchs are back in the playoffs for the first time since 1999. Last Saturday night, they jumped out to a 49-0 lead just 13 minutes into the game with Spring Valley. John Marshall will bring its spread offense and team speed to Laidley Field Friday night, the first time JM head coach Mike Linsky has ever chosen a Friday night in the postseason. Linsky is seeking to become the first coach to win a state title in four different decades. His Monarchs are led by junior QB Cy Mozingo is 134 of 230 for 1681 yards with twelve touchdowns and eight interceptions. Sophomore wideouts Mark Sampson has grabbed 29 balls for 450 yards and 6 scores, while Logan Jarrett has snared 35 tosses for 457 yards and 2 touchdowns. The RB tandem of Evan Hewitt (550 yards and 11 touchdowns) and Josh Brady (470 yards and 7 scores). The two Monarch losses have been to Steubenville, Ohio and Morgantown, which are a combined 21-0.

SATURDAY GAMES

Logan Wildcats (5-5) at Weir Red Riders (9-1) – These two teams are no strangers to each other, having met in the state basketball semi-finals and in the state baseball championship in recent years with Logan winning both. First-year coach Eric Meek has seen his Red Riders lose only to John Marshall. Weir is led by QB Brandon Sperlazza, who 39 of 71 for 707 yards while throwing 11 touchdown passes and 8 interceptions. RB Dawand Smith has rushed for 1,000 yards and 13 scores, while running mate Corey Lyons adds 1,164 stripes and 15 touchdowns.

Magnolia Blue Eagles (7-3) at Mount View Golden Knights (7-3) – Magnolia returns to the playoffs for the first time since 2001 when Mark Batton’s team beat Mount View 15-11 before falling to Poca in the semifinals. QB Josh Sims is responsible for nearly 3,000 all-purpose yards. Sims has rushed for 900 yards and 15 touchdowns, while throwing for 1,420 yards and 13 scores. The Saturday afternoon contest will be played at Princeton.

Wheeling Central Maroon Knights (6-4) at Greenbrier West Cavaliers (10-0 ) – The defending state champs literally have the long road to travel. Head Coach Mike Young saw his team earn a trip to the playoffs by outscoring Oak Glen 44-22 to capture the 15th seed. The Maroon Knights have suffered its four losses to Weir, Steubenville Catholic, Harrison Central, Ohio, and Linsly. Central features a strong running game behind Brandon Tucker who has rushed for 1300 yards and Chris Martin who has run for nearly 800 stripes.


Weirton Madonna Blue Dons (8-2) at South Harrison Hawks (9-1) – These two met last year in the playoffs with Madonna prevailing 22-14. QB Justin Gilson has thrown for 650 yards while running for another 600. Two-way standout Matt Ceran has over 900 yards and 14 scores on the ground. Head coach Bob Kramer had done a remarkable rebuilding job with the Blue Dons after graduation claimed most of the starters from last year’s squad which lost to Wheeling Central in the finals.