BEVERLY — The demise and downfall of the Fort Frye Corps of Cadet Class of 2024 has been greatly exaggerated.
After a tough loss to Burnsville (51-16) in Week 1, many thought this might be the year the Cadets finally slipped back.
But since that loss, the Cadets have resumed playing Cadets-style football, winning against Belpre (72-6), Wheeling Central Catholic (38-19) and Waterford (35-7) and heading into Friday night’s home game against Harrison Central on a three-game winning streak.
Last week, Eric Hack’s Cadets beat arch rivals and neighbours Waterford at home despite conceding 14 penalties in the first half alone.
Tyce Beasley led Fort Frye with 147 yards and two long touchdowns, while Clayton Miller caught a touchdown from quarterback Grady Hesson and ran for another touchdown.
The Cadets defense didn’t allow Waterford a first down until late in the third quarter.
Fort Frye held the ball against the Cats for the middle part of the game, launching 26 consecutive attempts and wasting nearly 16 minutes of game time.
The Huskies come into this game on a three-game losing streak, having lost to Buckeye Trail (44-41), Malvern (38-28) and Union Local (49-13).
Harrison Central’s only win this season came in Week 1 against the Claymont Mustangs (28-13).
Key players to watch for the Huskies include running backs Michael Quito and Blake Atkins and kicker Noah Thaxton.
The two teams did not play against each other in 2023.
Marietta (3-1) vs. Whitehall (0-4)
WHITEHALL — After proving themselves with a heartbreaking win over Claymont last week, the Marietta Tigers (3-1) hit the road to take on the winless Whitehall Yearling Rams on Friday night.
Marietta rushed for 324 yards and 22 first downs in a 28-13 win over the Mustangs last week.
Coach Jason Schaub’s Tigers were once again led by the backfield duo of Seth Britton and Kobe Alexander, who gained all but four of Marietta’s 330 yards of total offense.
Britton led the team with 180 yards on 23 carries, while Alexander had 146 yards on 21 carries and both scored two touchdowns.
Defensively, the Tigers were also very good, holding Claymont to 218 total yards and two turnovers.
The Tigers’ only loss this season was a 42-21 defeat to unbeaten Athens in Week 3, but they also have wins over Morgan (13-12) and John Marshall (10-0).
The Tigers’ three wins have come against teams that are yet to win since the start of 2024.
Wyoming comes into the game needing a win after losing its first four games to Hamilton Township (21-0), Northland (37-12), Pleasant (48-6) and St. Charles (40-20).
Marietta did not play Whitehall-Yearing last season.
Nelsonville-York (3-1) vs. Waterford (2-2)
WATERFORD — The start of the 2024 season has been a roller coaster for coach Eric McCutcheon and the Waterford Wildcats.
The Cats won against Alexander (40-0) and Shenandoah (35-7) in Weeks 1 and 3, but lost to Caldwell (26-14) and Fort Frye (35-7) in Weeks 2 and 4, respectively.
On Friday night, the Wildcats will take on a very strong Nelsonville-York team that comes into the game on a modest two-game winning streak.
Waterford is led by quarterback Hayden Miller, running back Colten Jones and lineman Dylan McCutcheon.
Hayden Miller scored the Wildcats’ lone touchdown against Fort Frye, rushing 13 times for 109 yards.
The Buckeyes beat Trimble (21-14) in Week 1 and lost to Logan (19-0) in Week 2 before defeating Liberty Union (33-0) and River Valley (48-7) over the past two weeks.
Key players for Nelsonville York include quarterback Cameron Sullivan and running backs Landen Immen and Austin Gauthier.
The two teams did not play against each other last season.
Valley (3-0) vs. Frontier (2-2)
NEW MATAMORAS — The Frontier Cougars will look to make it three straight wins when they welcome the unbeaten Valley Wetzel Lumberjacks to Cougar Field on Friday night.
After a heartbreaking loss to Bridgeport (38-34) in the season opener, followed by a 35-13 loss to Miller, the Cougars bounced back in a big way with wins over Beallsville (39-0) and Shadyside (35-18).
In last week’s win over the Tigers, Frontier was blessed with the performance of senior quarterback Tru King, who completed 6 of 10 pass attempts for 100 yards and two touchdowns, and also rushed the ball 15 times for 66 yards and one score.
Junior tailback Caleb Kirkpatrick ran 20 times for a team-high 88 yards, Austin Kephart and Avery Powell each caught touchdown passes from King and Aden Bills returned an interception 50 yards for a fourth-quarter touchdown.
The Lumberjacks had wins over Tygarts Valley (46-33), Hancock (33-0) and Clay Battelle (33-7).
Key players to watch for Valley include quarterback Gavin Darby and receivers Ryder Gravett and Colleton Kincaid.
Last season, Valley High School defeated the Cougars at home, 44-31.
Belpre (0-4) vs. Beallsville (1-3)
BEALLSVILLE — The Belpre Eagles came close to winning their first game of the season last week, but fell to Federal Hocking in overtime, 48-40.
The Eagles will try to get back at that elusive win on Friday when they travel to Beallsville to take on a Blue Devil team that picked up its first win of the season last Friday night.
Belpre began the season with blowout losses to Monroe Central (59-12), Fort Frye (72-6) and Alexander (44-0) before heading into a shootout with the Lancers.
Key players for head coach Kevin Welsh’s Eagles include quarterback Luke Davis and running backs Alex Parker and Aiden Mullins.
The Blue Devils got off to a tough start with shutout losses to Rosecrans (46-0), Newcomerstown (40-0) and Frontier (39-0), but got off to a strong start last week with a 26-8 win over Hundred to earn their first points of the season.
Key players to watch for the Devils are running back Jayden Billingsley and receiver Hunter Cole.
The two teams had not played against each other before last season.
Caldwell (2-2) vs. Edison (3-1)
RICHMOND — The Caldwell Redskins will look to bounce back after a tough loss to Monroe Central when they visit the Edison Wildcats on Friday night.
The Redskins’ two-game winning streak was ended last week with a 42-13 loss to the Seminoles.
Caldwell lost to Buckeye Trail (21-19) in the season opener before winning against Waterford (26-14) and Wellsville (43-0).
Coach Chance Rucker’s Caldwell team is led by running back Gavin Leake, quarterback Ethan Klock, lineman Guyler Preston and linebacker Jonah Moracco.
Edison was disappointed in its season-opening loss to the Shenandoah Zeps (42-40), but has bounced back since with three straight wins over Cameron (30-22), Southern (42-24) and Oak Glen (51-6).
The Wildcats’ key players are quarterback J.D. Henderson and skill players Andrew Kirkman, Matt Evans and Kilvean Meredith.
In 2023, the two did not face each other.
Union Local (4-0) vs. Shenandoah (2-2)
SALASVILLE — The Shenandoah Zeps will look to end their losing streak at two when they host the unbeaten Union Local Jets on Friday night.
The Zeps have had very close games so far with three of their four matches decided by three points or less, including a 30-27 loss to Buckeye Trail last week.
Shenandoah, under first-year head coach Mac McLean, opened the season with wins over Edison (42-40) and Shadyside (21-19) before losing in week three to Waterford (35-7).
Key players for the Zeps include point guard Braxton Barnett, running back Landon Moore and receivers Colten Gress and Hunter House.
Union Local is looking for its fifth straight win after wins over Southern (34-20), Buckeye Local (42-21), Indian Creek (27-26) and Harrison Central (49-13).
Last year, Union Local started the season with a 20-8 win at home against the Zeps.
Ritchie County (1-2) vs. Williamstown (3-0)
WILLIAMSTOWN — A week after overcoming a 19-point deficit to stun Wheeling Central Catholic, the defending state champion Williamstown Yellowjackets return home to take on the Ritchie County Rebels.
The Jackets followed up last week’s blowout loss to the Maroon Knights with 29 straight points to win 36-25 and record their 22nd straight victory.
WHS also has wins over Ravenwood (47-7) and Tyler Consolidated (49-0).
Quarterback Linken Joy passed for two touchdowns and ran for a third, while Cooper Billingsley ran for two more.
Jackson Fulton and Cooper Madden both caught Joy’s touchdown passes.
The Rebels beat Gilmer County (49-32) in Week 2 but lost two straight to Tyler (54-7) and South Harrison (61-34) before and after.
Ritchie County’s key players include quarterback Turner Schreiber, running back Jonah Hamilton and receiver Jenner Keene.
Last season, the Jackets beat the Rebels 67-8 in Ritchie County.
Crooksville (3-1) vs. Morgan (0-4)
MCCONNELLSVILLE — The Morgan Raiders will once again look to earn that elusive first win when they host the Crooksville Ceramics on Friday night.
The Raiders’ struggles have intensified over the past two weeks, with shutout losses to New Lexington (30-0) and Tri-Valley (65-0) where they failed to score a single point.
Morgan also lost to Marietta, 13-12, and to Warren, 24-21.
Coach Seth Brown’s Raiders are led by quarterback Hayden Polley, running back Hayden Banks and receiver Tavian Myers.
The Ceramics opened the season with three straight wins over Fisher Catholic (36-0), Southern (27-20) and Burn Union (19-7), before winning two straight games last week against Meadowbrook (40-20).
Last season, the two teams met in the regular season finale with the Raiders beating Crooksville 33-7.
Monroe Central (4-0) vs. Buckeye Local (1-3)
LAYLAND — The Monroe Central Seminoles are piling up one impressive win after another and look to be a team to be reckoned with in the D-6 playoffs later in the season.
The Noles are coming off a commanding 42-13 win over the Caldwell Redskins last week and will look to extend their winning streak to five when they visit the Buckeye Local Panthers on Friday.
Quarterback Tucker Howell had another great game for MC, completing 5 of 8 passes for 185 yards and also carrying the ball 11 times for 143 yards.
AJ Rutter had 154 yards on 12 touches, while Copper Howell and Corbin Farnsworth led the defense with 12 and 10 tackles, respectively.
Monroe Central also won against Belpre (59-12), Bridgeport (48-0) and River (52-6).
The Panthers’ lone win was a 41-20 victory over Shadyside in Week 3, with losses to Bellaire (38-6), Union Local (42-21) and Burnsville (57-7).
Monroe Central defeated Union Local 39-6 last season.