Scattered thunderstorms during the morning becoming more widespread this afternoon. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 89F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%..
Tonight
Scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Cloudy skies after midnight. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. Low 72F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%.
Scattered thunderstorms during the morning becoming more widespread this afternoon. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 89F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%..
Tonight
Scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Cloudy skies after midnight. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. Low 72F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%.
During a Halloween weekend of scary, Huntington High School football is wary.
The Highlanders (7-1), fourth in the ƵSSAC Class AAAA ratings, visit Parkersburg (3-5), the No. 16 team in the division, at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Stadium Field.
On paper, the game is a mismatch. Every team the Big Reds have beaten, Huntington High has battered worse. Parkersburg also has lost to Hurricane and Cabell Midland, squads the Highlanders have defeated.
Highlanders offensive lineman Aryn McPherson said he feels good about where he and his teammates are entering the contest.
ƵWeƵve worked really hard,Ƶ McPherson said. ƵThe offensive line works well as a unit. We look great. WeƵve had some really big tests and we look really good. We get to do a lot in this offense. I give credit to (offensive line) coach (Brent) Terry.Ƶ
So did Huntington coach Billy Seals.
ƵCoach Terry does a great job with the offensive line,Ƶ Seals said. ƵI really like where we are there.Ƶ
The Big RedsƵ Matt Kimes agreed with McPhersonƵs Ƶreally goodƵ assessment. The third-year coach, though, extended it to every area of Huntington, not limiting it to just the offensive front.
ƵTheyƵre a really good football team, very well-coached,Ƶ Kimes said. ƵItƵs a great challenge. They do good things offensively and defensively and create problems for you.Ƶ
Kimes, though, said he and his players welcome the challenge. The Big Reds would like to climb out of 16th place in the ratings and avoid a first-round playoff trip to No. 1 Martinsburg, the defending state champion. An upset of the Highlanders would go a long way toward making that happen.
ƵWe havenƵt played our best football yet,Ƶ Kimes said. ƵIf we can put together all four quarters, hopefully weƵll have an opportunity to compete.Ƶ
Parkersburg hasnƵt beaten Huntington since 2020 in a series tied 14-14. The Highlanders have been without injured safety and West Virginia University signee Zah Jackson the last two weeks, yet dispatched South Charleston 59-14 and Capital 49-7.
Kimes said Huntington features plenty of other weapons capable of doing major damage. Air Force signee Keegan Sack averages more than 7 yards per carry. Avonte Crawford has thrown for 1,248 yards, completing 70% of his passes. Tavian Chandler, Jamari Tubbs and Tayveon Wilson make up a formidable receiving corps.
The Big Reds counter with hard-running Jakel Shelton, who has 684 yards and six touchdowns. Cooper Cancade has completed 63% of his throws for 1,217 yards and rushed for 302.
Parkersburg has moved the ball well in all its games, but likely will be challenged by an Huntington defense that has played at a high level in six consecutive wins.
