PARKERSBURG - Just call them streak-busters.
On Friday night, Little Kanawha Conference members St. Marys, Ritchie County and Doddridge County were faced with the daunting task of improving their records against programs that traditionally had their numbers on the gridiron.
This time, however, was a different story as the Blue Devils and Rebels utilized late-game touchdowns while the Bulldogs unleashed a dominating defense to finally pick up victories against long time rivals.
No. 11 St. Marys (5-1) received a 1-yard scoring run by senior Derek Barnhart with 3:11 remaining in its contest with arch-rival Williamstown to break a 14-game losing streak against the maroon and gold, 22-17.
No. 12 (Class AA) Ritchie County (4-2) surrendered 452 rushing yards to its long-time nemesis, Ravenswood, but Jessie Hilvers' 49-yard touchdown run with 3:24 showing on the clock ended the Rebels' 11-game losing streak versus the Red Devils.
There were no last-minute heroics needed in West Union, however, as the Bulldogs of first-year head coach Bobby Burnside held visiting Parkersburg Catholic to 118 total yards en route to picking up their first win over the Crusaders in a long time, 35-7.
All three wins elevated the victors into better positions to earn one of the 16 slots in the state playoff fields while Williamstown (3-3), Ravenswood (2-3) and Parkersburg Catholic (2-4) head into this weekend needing victories to retain any hope of playing in the post season.
In other games involving Wood County schools, Parkersburg High received a game-high 167-yards rushing from Adam Lindamood to overcome a stubborn Riverside team, 38-35.
Across the Little Kanawha River, however, the story was different as visiting Friendship Collegiate Academy of Washington, D.C., got a game-high 220 rushing yards from Jonathan Haden to post a 60-10 win over Parkersburg South.
The Big Reds (4-2) took a 38-28 lead on Codey Roney's 34-yard field goal with 1:45 left to play, but had to hold off a late rally by the Warriors (1-4).
Parkersburg South actually took a 7-6 lead over the nationally-ranked Knights from FCA when Jordan Quiocho scored on a 22-yard run and Isaac Boles connected on the ensuing PAT and only trailed by nine, 19-10, at the intermission. But, that would be as close as the Patriots would get as FCA dominated the second half.
In other action in the LKC, Roane County (3-3) traveled to Ripley to take on the Class AAA Vikings (3-3), but Tyler Pittenger rushed for 135 yards and Jake Martin added 111 as Ripley won, 27-19.
Hunter Bradley had a solid game for the Raiders, finishing with a game-high 158 yards on 22 carries.
At Mt. Zion: South Harrison ran its record to 3-3 with a 42-0 shutout of homestanding Calhoun County (2-4). Austin Glaspell rushed for 196 yards and a trio of touchdowns for the Hawks.
At Glenville: Host Gilmer County (2-4) tasted victory for the second time this season.
Austin Cunningham tossed touchdown passes of 13 and 57 yards and the Titans' defense forced four turnovers en route to a 26-0 shutout of Tygarts Valley.
At Clarksburg: It took two extra periods, but visiting Braxton County finally picked up an 8-7 win when Jacob Yanero scored on an 8-yard run and then added the winning 2-point conversion.
In TVC play, defending conference champion Wahama displayed why the White Falcons are still the team to beat with a 35-7 win over Southern while Trimble blanked Waterford, 49-0, Federal Hocking shutout South Gallia, 56-0 and Eastern raced past Belpre, 48-20.
Rounding out Friday's scores, Magnolia knocked off Monroe Central (35-15), Cambridge continued its domination of Marietta (41-7), Cameron swept past Paden City (40-18) and Jackson was 10 points better than Warren (36-26).
