Ridgeview Wolfpack (1-0)
VS.
Shelby Valley Wildcats (2-0)
When: Friday, August 31 at 7:00 p.m.
Where: The Ridge, Rose Ridge, Va.
Series all time: Ridgeview leads 1-0 (Last meeting Ridgeview defeated Shelby Valley 34-6 on August 31, 2017 in Robinson Creek, Ky.)
The Ridgeview Wolfpack take the field against Grundy (August 24, 2018 by Tonya Sterling Grant)
On Friday night, the Ridgeview Wolfpack look to continue their early season success as they host an interstate showdown against the Wildcats of Shelby Valley, Kentucky.
The Wildcats travel across the state line having won their first two contests of the season, including a 43-35 double overtime thriller against Pike County Central last Saturday.
The Wildcats offense is known for one thing. That is run, run and run the ball some more. Don’t look for quarterback Samuel Stanley to throw the ball much in this one. Stanley only has one pass through the first two games this season. It was a huge one though, the 10-yard game winner last Saturday night. The Wildcats have three very capable backs who share the workload. The trio is led by Seth Johnson. Johnson had 220 yards on 25 carries against Pike Central and reached paydirt twice on the afternoon. Also toting the rock will be Clay Morgan (6 carries, 94 yards, 2 TDs vs. Pike Central) and Dalton Meade (10 carries, 60 yards, 1 TD vs. Pike Central).
All three backs also play defense, where Meade appeared to be the play maker there as he racked up 18 tackles last Saturday. Johnson also had one interception on the defensive side of the ball.
On the Wolfpack side, they are also known for carrying the mail with their own double trouble of Trenton Adkins and Matthew Sexton. Both gentlemen are coming off of huge games against Grundy last week as Adkins had 147 yards and two scores, while Sexton amassed 112 yards and two scores. Sexton also had two scores receiving as well with 85 yards.
The big question for the Pack entering Friday night’s affair will be who will get the nod at quarterback? McKenzie Sproles started at Grundy last week but shifted to wide receiver in the second quarter. Tyler O’Quinn came in at QB and performed admirably going 5-5 for 124 yards and 2 TDs.
On defense, the Pack will be led by Coalfield Sports defensive player of the week, junior linebacker Alijah Sproles. Sproles had six tackles, five tackles for loss and one sack in the win over Grundy.
On a down note, the Pack will be without wideout Gabe Counts who suffered a broken hand in week one. Look for Counts to be on the sideline anywhere from three to six weeks.
The weather forecast predicts showers on Friday night, so it could be a wet, wild and wooly affair on the Ridge.
My prediction: Ridgeview 42, Shelby Valley 14.
(Shelby Valley helmet credit to @SV_Football17 on Twitter)
I was born a Haysi Tiger but unfortunately succumbed to a broken heart on a cold rainy afternoon in King William, Virginia on December 6, 2014.
However, I was reincarnated as a Wolf, and became a runner of the Ridgeview Wolfpack on August 28, 2015. You now hear me howling most autumn Friday nights high atop Rose Ridge in Dickenson County or anywhere else my Pack of hungry Wolves may be, from Grundy to Falcon Hill or from Ben Hur to Pikeville, Kentucky.
I never wolfed down (pun very intended) a Tiger Taco like Mr. Brady Hess, but I was and still am known to devour a pizza from Pizza Factory on Main Street in Haysi.
I have always wanted to write about sports and now I have the opportunity to thanks to those who have built this wonderful place on the world wide web. Hope y’all enjoy.
