OVC Wrap Up: Week 1

[dragonsfan24]

With the new realignment in the OHSAA football divisions, all OVC teams (with the exception of Coal Grove, D6 R21) are now in the new D5 R17 where previously Fairland, SP, RH, and RV played in D4.

Chesapeake v. Oak Hill
After playing every game on the road last season, Coach Andy Clark and the Chesapeake Panthers opened their 2013 season at home, and were hoping to open with a 'W,' unfortunately, the Oaks had other ideas. Oak Hill used Peake's troubles in the red zone to their advantage. The Panthers were unable to get on the board after Austin Stone's TD completion to Andrew Saunders was called back for a chop block. A bright spot for the Panthers came in their defense holding Oak Hill to only 200 yards of offense as the Oaks soured the occasion with a 14-0 victory.
The Panthers (0-1) will need to dust that one off their shoulders and make adjustments quickly as they host the defending WVSSAC AA State Champions, the Wayne Pioneers (1-0) next week who are looking to repeat as champs after shutting out rival Tolsia 28-0 this week.

Coal Grove v. Meigs
After a perfect 5-0 conference record last season, the Hornets took away another OVC Championship, and Coach Dave Lucas & Co. hope to continue to use their signature smashmouth style of football to make another playoff run this season beginning with the Meigs Marauders coached by former Marshall and NFL player Mike Bartrum. Early on the Hornets and Marauders seemed to go TD for TD, with the Hornets leading 22-20 at the break. "Trading TD's" continued to be the game until late in the 4th when CG mounted a 44-32 lead on the Marauders. But Meigs came charging back, using a pair of late the Marauders tied it up at 44 with 1:41 remaining in the game before going for 2 to take the lead 46-44 and held off the Hornets on the ensuing possession to seal the win.
The Hornets (0-1) will also need to dust that one off, as they travel to Wheelersburg (1-0) next week who is fresh off a 49-12 routing of rival Ironton.

Fairland v. West
After a dismal 5-5 campaign in 2012, the Dragons welcome new head coach Cullen Homolka to the Fairland Football family. Coach Homolka and the Dragons opened up with familiar foe, the Portsmouth West Senators (sidebar: PW and Fairland have played each other in Week 1 for as long as I can remember) and hoped to have a similar result to last year's 34-14 win. Fairland used their high-flying offense lead by Chance Short, Kyle Sowards, and Evan Maddox to strike early and often and going into the break lead 28-7. The Dragons took advantage of Senator penalties and miscues to tally up a 41-7 lead late in the game before West mounted a last ditch effort to put more points on the board. Even a game delay by the sprinkler system would not dampen the Dragons, as they brought home a 41-29 victory.
The Dragons (1-0) will come home to Jim Mayo Memorial Stadium for their home opener against another familiar foe, the visiting Meigs Marauders (1-0).

River Valley v. Southern
Last season, River Valley managed only a 2-8 overall and 1-4 conference record, and as Coach Jerrod Sparling and the Raiders their final season of OVC play, it doesn't look much better. Injuries and inexperience plagued River Valley in their opening game at home against Southern. The Tornadoes capitalized on the Raiders woes on their way 31-0 win.
River Valley (0-1) will host Adena (0-1) who is looking to bounce back from a 47-21 defeat at the hands of McClain.

Rock Hill v. Minford
Last season Coach Todd Knipp's Rock Hill Redmen posted a conference record of 1-4 in a 1-9 season. They began their 2013 campaign at home hosting the Minford. The Falcons dominated throughout with their physical brand of football, and took away a 40-6 win. The Redmen (0-1) make the trip out 141 to Gallipolis next week to visit Gallia Academy (0-1) who are hoping to bounce back from being on the bad end of a 62-19 decision against Athens.

South Point v. Fleming Co. (KY)
First year coach Rick Marcello did not receive a kind welcome to the conference as South Point found themselves with a 1-4 conference record and a 1-9 overall record last season. Hoping to turn things around, the Pointers opened their season against the Fleming Co. Panthers who were hit hard by graduation after posting a 7-5 record and making it the 2nd round of KHSAA playoffs last season. The Pointers started off the season on the right foot winning the game 20-14.
The Pointers are off to a 1-0 start for the first time since 2005, and travel to Wellston (0-1) next week who will be ready to play their home opener and put this week's 54-18 loss to rival Jackson (who met for the 100th time this season) behind them.


OVC Week 2 at a glance:
Chesapeake (0-1) v. Wayne (WV)(1-0)
Coal Grove (0-1) @ Wheelersburg (1-0)
Fairland (1-0) v. Meigs (1-0)
River Valley (0-1) v. Adena (0-1)
Rock Hill (0-1) @ Gallia Academy (0-1)
South Point (1-0) @ Wellston (0-1)


This year I will be writing for elitetristatesports.com specifically about the OVC. Each week I will have a Preview and Wrap Up of the week's games and hope to feature an "OVC Athlete of the Week" and would like your help in recognizing young men for their hard work on and off the field.

[unclebob]

Awesome write up! thanks for all the info

[mattash]

Nice write up

[dragonsfan24]

Dragonsfan24, you obviously didn't go to the Rock Hill/Minford game. Nobody dominated that games until the third quarter. The score was 7-6 at halftime!

Going off of info/updates given by others. Don't shoot the messenger.

The more/better quality updates passed along, the better things will be. But when I get more information about Minford's size, strength, and ability to put points on the board than "at halftime they lead by a point," obviously that is what I have to go off of.

Moral of the story: Don't be bitter with the blogger, because he could have just left you out all together, and if you don't like the information that he's being given, give him better info.

[StonewallJackson89]

Word up!

[cghornet10]

Any stats from the South Point/Fleming Co. or River Valley/Southern games?

[dragonsfan24]

Any stats from the South Point/Fleming Co. or River Valley/Southern games?

No. I've searched through the Herald Dispatch, Ironton Tribune, Ashland Daily Independent, Portsmouth Daily Times, and the Maysville Ledger Independent looking for anything on the SP/Fleming game other than a score. Nothing. Same for the Minford/RH game.

I finally found one article in the Gallipolis Daily Tribune on the RV/Southern game. It doesn't mention anything about RV's QB being sidelined with an injury, that was thanks to folks on here who were at the game.

[RVRaiderFan]

I do the radio broadcasts for RV, give me a little time and I will have stats for you from Southern game.

Yes, Dayton Hardway, RV starting QB is injured. Mild sprain of MCL, out 2 to 4 weeks. Problem is, the back up QB is a Freshman.....who left the team on Tuesday! There is no 3rd string QB. SO....Friday night, the Raiders had their #2 WR playing QB....did I mention that it was the first time in his football career that he played the QB postion?!?!? Needless to say, we are highly anticipating Dayton's return!