Although they're separated by just about a 40-minute drive, Wheeling Central and Madonna don't spend a lot of time butting heads on the football field.
Although they're separated by just about a 40-minute drive, Wheeling Central and Madonna don't spend a lot of time butting heads on the football field.
It takes a playoff encounter to get the two northern parochial schools together, and that's what they'll get in the Class A semifinals at 7:30 Friday night, when Central and Madonna clash at Jimmy Carey Stadium in Weirton.
The teams met in the playoffs as recently as two years ago, when Central defeated Madonna 47-6 on its way to a fourth consecutive Class A state championship. They also squared off in the 2004 title game, with Wheeling Central emerging a 34-7 victor.
"They'd rather not play us during the regular season," Wheeling Central coach Mike Young said. "We've got a lot of schools that don't play us. We have to go outside the state and sometimes outside the country to find a game."
Indeed, Central (9-3, ranked No. 5 in Class A) opened the season against Holy Trinity, from Oakville, Ontario, in Canada, and came away with a 56-27 win. Also taking on teams from Ohio, Pennsylvania and Maryland, the Maroon Knights didn't face a West Virginia school until a 36-35 win over Linsly in the regular-season finale Nov. 6, and didn't take on a Secondary School Activities Commission member until disposing of Moorefield 47-6 in the opening round of the playoffs Nov. 13.
Madonna coach Bob Kramer said it doesn't make sense for the Blue Dons (12-0, ranked No. 1) to tackle Wheeling Central in the regular season.
"They're too big for us [enrollment-wise] to play during the season," Kramer said. "They're twice our size. Plus we have [Ohio Valley Athletic] Conference commitments within our own class. We're Class A in the OVAC and they're Class AA, so there's no real advantage to playing them in the regular season."
This year, Madonna looks loaded and ready to take on anybody, including Central. Take a look at some numbers:
The Blue Dons have outscored their 12 opponents 464-30, an average score of 38.7 to 2.5.
Madonna has allowed just four touchdowns in 12 games, and no team has reached the end zone more than once against the Blue Dons.
The Dons' smallest margin of victory was 14 points in a 22-8 win over Bridgeport, Ohio.
Madonna has outscored its first two playoff opponents by scores of 48-6 (Gilbert) and 48-0 (Tucker County).
Madonna's stout defense is led by linebackers and seniors Louie Comis and Grant Weaver.
"We've seen them in person and on film, and they're the real deal," Central's Young said. "They're the No. 1 team in the state. I'd pick them as the favorite if I wasn't the coach at the team they're going to play against Friday night."
Although they're separated by just about a 40-minute drive, Wheeling Central and Madonna don't spend a lot of time butting heads on the football field.
It takes a playoff encounter to get the two northern parochial schools together, and that's what they'll get in the Class A semifinals at 7:30 Friday night, when Central and Madonna clash at Jimmy Carey Stadium in Weirton.
The teams met in the playoffs as recently as two years ago, when Central defeated Madonna 47-6 on its way to a fourth consecutive Class A state championship. They also squared off in the 2004 title game, with Wheeling Central emerging a 34-7 victor.
"They'd rather not play us during the regular season," Wheeling Central coach Mike Young said. "We've got a lot of schools that don't play us. We have to go outside the state and sometimes outside the country to find a game."
Indeed, Central (9-3, ranked No. 5 in Class A) opened the season against Holy Trinity, from Oakville, Ontario, in Canada, and came away with a 56-27 win. Also taking on teams from Ohio, Pennsylvania and Maryland, the Maroon Knights didn't face a West Virginia school until a 36-35 win over Linsly in the regular-season finale Nov. 6, and didn't take on a Secondary School Activities Commission member until disposing of Moorefield 47-6 in the opening round of the playoffs Nov. 13.
Madonna coach Bob Kramer said it doesn't make sense for the Blue Dons (12-0, ranked No. 1) to tackle Wheeling Central in the regular season.
"They're too big for us [enrollment-wise] to play during the season," Kramer said. "They're twice our size. Plus we have [Ohio Valley Athletic] Conference commitments within our own class. We're Class A in the OVAC and they're Class AA, so there's no real advantage to playing them in the regular season."
This year, Madonna looks loaded and ready to take on anybody, including Central. Take a look at some numbers:
The Blue Dons have outscored their 12 opponents 464-30, an average score of 38.7 to 2.5.
Madonna has allowed just four touchdowns in 12 games, and no team has reached the end zone more than once against the Blue Dons.
The Dons' smallest margin of victory was 14 points in a 22-8 win over Bridgeport, Ohio.
Madonna has outscored its first two playoff opponents by scores of 48-6 (Gilbert) and 48-0 (Tucker County).
Madonna's stout defense is led by linebackers and seniors Louie Comis and Grant Weaver.
"We've seen them in person and on film, and they're the real deal," Central's Young said. "They're the No. 1 team in the state. I'd pick them as the favorite if I wasn't the coach at the team they're going to play against Friday night."
It's not wise to pick against Central, a perennial Class A title contender with six championships in the past nine years, including the four-year run from 2003-07. Last year, the Maroon Knights lost in the state semifinals to Williamstown.
"They're as good as they've ever been," Kramer said of the Maroon Knights. "We just have to play a very good football game against a very good football team. We have to avoid turnovers and mistakes."
Central's losses came against two Ohio Schools - Akron Buchtel (50-17), a AA school in Ohio's three-class system, and Class A Warren JFK (21-14) - and Brashear (28-17), a Class AAA Pennsylvania school where former West Virginia quarterback Major Harris matriculated.
Madonna and Wheeling Central had one common opponent during the regular season, Steubenville (Ohio AA) Central, and both came away with victories on consecutive weeks - Central won 45-26 at Steubenville Oct. 10, and Madonna won 33-8 at home on Oct. 17.
On offense, the Dons are triggered by quarterback Max Nogay, who has rushed for 959 yards with 20 touchdowns. Other top rushers are Jimmy Deter, who replaced injured starter A.J. Klein at midseason, and Comis). Nogay's top passing target is Connor Arlia.
Central's top skill-position players are senior quarterback Zach Hood, who's in his second year as a starter; junior running back Marcus Clifford; and senior receiver Jordan Sorge. They're working in tandem with a big (for Class A) offensive line that averages 230 pounds and is led by tackle Jordan West (6-2, 260).
The Central-Madonna winner will play in the Class A title game next Saturday night at Wheeling Island Stadium against the winner of the other semifinal between No. 2 Man (11-1) and No. 3 Richwood (12-0).
By the numbers
No. 5 Wheeling Central (9-3) at No. 1 Madonna (12-0)
RUSHING - Central: Marcus Clifford 152 carries, 1,244 yards, 17 touchdowns, Zach Hood 138-779-5; Madonna: Max Nogay 102-959-20, Jimmy Deter 76-858, Lou Comis 119-742-18
PASSING - Central: Hood 79-155, 9 interceptions, 1,511 yards, 15 TDs; Madonna: Nogay NA
RECEIVING - Central: Jordan Sorge 18-440-8; Madonna: Connor Arlia 32-502-5
Reach Nick Scala at 304-348-7947 or nsc...@wvgazette.com.
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